Shopping
Although the Magnificent Mile is just to the north, the Loop does attract shoppers. State Street, once known as unpaved and muddy State Road, was renovated and transformed in the late 1800's to become the classy, polished avenue it is today.
On State Street is the historic Marshall Field's store (now Macy's), which is known for its celebrity signings and appearances, its annual holiday window displays and its famous twin clocks which have been a meeting point for Chicagoans for decades. The Carson Pirie Scott flagship store is another historic building that is over 100 years old. Truly, State Street is a shopper's haven in its own right, with over 100 stores including Old Navy, Filene's Basement, Lerner, The Body Shop, Sears and the Children's Place.
Other popular stores are scattered throughout the loop, such as Nine West, Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers and The Gap.
Cultural/ Theater District
The Flamingo Loop
The Art Institute of Chicago, on the eastern side of the Loop, is enormous, with a collection of over 5,000 years of art. The museum features exhibitions year-round, as well as lectures, workshops, performances and more on a daily basis. On the other side of the Loop lies the Civic Opera House. The Civic Opera House, home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, opened in 1929. The building has a 45-story office tower and two 22-story wings on either side, so that the Opera Building seems like a throne facing the Chicago River. The mezzanine foyer has thirty-one boxes. Above this level are two balconies, each of which seat 800. In total, the Civic Opera House seats 3,563 people.
Also in the Loop are a number of theaters. In the early 1990's, plans began for a live-theater district in Chicago. The plans included the renovation of four historic theaters. Today, these plans are complete and the Theater District spans several blocks in the Loop and includes six major theaters. These include the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (was Oriental Theater), The Chicago Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre, the Cadillac Palace Theatre, the Goodman Theatre and the LaSalle Bank Theatre (was Shubert Theatre). The Theater District is within walking distance of the Civic Opera House, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Art Institute and Grant Park, thus creating a vibrant cultural life within Chicago's business district.
The original "L" lines were opened in 1888
The "L"
The original "L" lines were opened in 1888. Although there was not much demand for an elevated train line at that time, the "L" system has continued to expand and is now one of the busiest in the world.
Although the train system is called "elevated", it is both a subway and an elevated system. The "L" consists of seven distinct lines, known by various colors. The "L" runs all over the city, and even to some suburbs. It connects urban dwellers directly to Chicago's two major international airports and forms a comprehensive link to almost every nook and corner of the city in synchronization with the bus system.
Lower Wacker
Scene of a real-life car chase and movies such as "Batman Begins" and "The Blues Brothers", Lower Wacker is one of Chicago's best-kept secrets. Locals know that Lower Wacker, which lies beneath Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue alongside the Chicago River, is an excellent way to bypass traffic and congestion. Circling about two-thirds of the Loop, Lower Wacker is actually at ground level (Wacker and Michigan are actually elevated) and in some places Wacker is actually tri-level instead of bi-level; the levels are designated "upper", "lower" and "lower, lower" Wacker.
Navigating the darkened corridors of Lower Wacker, drivers feel as though they are in an underground tunnel; it can be exciting during the day, and downright foreboding at night. Pedestrians are rarely seen walking along the sidewalks on Lower Wacker, although there are cars whizzing by at all hours. A quick drive down Lower Wacker is worth the possibility of getting hopelessly lost; it is a street unlike any other.
Swissotel Chicago
Neighborhood/Character
The Loop, although primarily a business district, is refreshingly full of works of art. Outdoor sculptures populate the Loop, such as the famous figure by Pablo Picasso, built in 1967 and made of Cor-Ten Steel to match the Daley Plaza, which it ornaments. Other outdoor sculptures include works by Marc Chagall, Joan Miro and Alexander Calder.
The Loop leads into several recreational areas as well. Grant Park is right at the edge of the Loop, across Michigan Avenue. This is the site of numerous festivals throughout the year, including the Jazz Festival, the Blues Festival, the Taste of Chicago and several film festivals. Grant Park is also home to Buckingham Fountain and the Grant Park Symphony.
Millennium Park, a newer addition to Chicago, has a bandshell and the "Bean", a huge sculpture that is already a major tourist attraction.
The Chicago River is another source of entertainment; locals and tourists alike tour the River by boat, taking in the view and learning about Chicago's architecture. Every year, the River is dyed green on St. Patrick's Day.
Although the Loop has long been a place where only business people gathered, the neighborhood is changing. Everyone can find their niche in this quickly-growing, multi-dimensional haven of art, recreation, culture and history as well as business.
