The convention is fast approaching and we thought we would share with you some information we gave earlier about sights and how to reach the convention hotel.
See you soon, Shoshanah Seidman Co-chair AJL 2009 in Chicago TOURS AND CHICAGO HIGHLIGHTS Did you know that skyscrapers were invented in Chicago? We recommend that the best way to see them, and all of the stunning architecture in downtown Chicago, is to go by boat up the Chicago River. We have pre-arranged architectural boat tours of the city, on Sunday or Wednesday afternoon (see registration form for times and prices). And speaking of architecture, there will be a year-long exhibit at the Art Institute on the master architect of Chicago, Daniel Burnham. In addition to our convention, your itinerary could include the Spertus Institute Museum, which has striking exhibits, the new Illinois Holocaust Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, and beautiful Michigan Avenue. There are "EL" tours, walking tours, jazz and comedy clubs, Frank Lloyd Wright home tours and Second City. The hotel is right near Millenium Park's Pritzker Pavilion where the Grant Park Orchestra plays for free almost every night. Fireworks can be seen off of Navy Pier, and Taste of Chicago ends on July 5, the first day of our convention. Jewish Chicago: On Sunday afternoon, July 5, we will offer a Chicago Jewish tradition - "Chicago Jewish Roots," a bus tour of Chicago's Jewish history led by renowned geographer and historian Dr. Irving Cutler. See your registration packet for details. The 2008 National League Central Division Champion Chicago Cubs will have HOME games that week, so think about getting your tickets to Wrigley Field when they go on sale. The 2008 American League Central Division Champion Chicago White Sox will be playing Cleveland at U.S. Cellular Field on July 7 and 8, and tickets will be available for purchase as well. (NOTE: The convention planners are not going to purchase a block of tickets - we encourage you to make plans on your own.) GETTING TO CONVENTION Two convenient airports service Chicago: O'Hare International Airport and the Chicago Midway Airport. Each is roughly 30 minutes from the hotel, and each has easy connections for ground and public transportation. Shuttle service to downtown hotels is available from both airports. The Airport Express Shuttle from O'Hare costs approximately $28.00 one way; service from Midway costs approximately $23.00. Discounts are available for roundtrip tickets and for two or more passengers. For information, see www.airportexpress.com. Taxis are also available. Expect to pay approximately $40 from O'Hare and approximately $30 from Midway. Public transportation is another option. Take the Blue Line train from O'Hare (exit at the Clark/Lake station) or the Orange Line train from Midway (exit at the State/Lake station). You can then walk or take a cab to the hotel. It will be a little over an hour from either airport and costs $2.25 for a rail ticket. See www.transitchicago.com. Amtrak (www.amtrak.com), Greyhound (www.greyhound.com), and the Megabus (www.megabus.com, servicing select Midwest cities) are also options with stations in downtown Chicago. Parking, either valet or self-parking is available at the hotel as well. Updated travel information will be posted on the AJL website convention page in the spring. Shoshanah Seidman Selector Jewish Studies, Northwestern University Co-chair AJL2009 in Chicago 847-491-7585 --- Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: hasaf...@osu.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
