SPQR Gathering -- Chicago -- August 8-9, 1998

SPQR Gathering -- Chicago -- August 4-6, 200

The third Gathering is planned for August 4-6, 2000.

The original SPQR Gathering (August 8-9, 1998) is now history, but this page will remains up, providing Chicago tourism information.

A second Gathering was held on August 20-22, 1999, featuring a dinner at a North Side restaurant and a visit to the newly-reopened Egyptian Galleries at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. This was also the weekend of the Chicago Air and Water Show, one of the summer's blockbuster events.

This page will provide information about the planned SPQR gathering, and about Chicago, where it is to be held. This page is being updated regularly; page information and addresses below.

Consult Magnos' letter for latest and most complete information.

Listen to a greeting from Chicago (162K) or to

background music (on request --- click on "play" arrow)

(note: soundscript may not work properly for Internet Explorer -- under investigation)

The Original Post of Magnos Alexandros

(lightly adorned with graphics and links by FeAudrey)

Note that the schedule below was for the first gathering.
lightening bolt

The first annual AS Citizens’ Gathering has drawn interest from far and wide! Now in its final stages of planning, the weekend event, beginning the evening of Friday August 7 and concluding on the morning of Sunday August 8, includes a diverse itinerary of events. I hope that the efforts of myself and the good citizens who have been so generous with their time will provide a memorable occasion. And here it is:

Friday Evening

Updated!Dinner at the Berghoff (previously listed as "at the Palmer House") 5:00 PM
open book

Reception at Harlan J. Berk Gallery, 7 PM:

A private reception at Harlan J. Berk Galleries in downtown Chicago. Harlan Berk is one of the nation’s leading experts on ancient and medieval coinage, and his gallery is internationally recognized. He and his staff will host our group in his beautiful gallery. We will have the opportunity to see the various collections within the gallery and speak with Mr. Berk or his vastly knowledgeable staff. This is a very special and generous offer extended by Mr. Berk, allowing us to see and discuss a wide variety of coinage and artifacts drawn from all epochs of history. And I am informed that refreshments will be provided. Not to be missed! You may thank Artus Papirius for his efforts!

Saturday:

Breakfast 7-9 AM

10 AM-12:30 PM:

ankh

A visit to the world-famous Field Museum of Natural History at the south end of the incomparable Grant Park. The Field houses an extensive collection of ancient artifacts, and our own Cleopatra Hatshepsut will provide a 45 minute guided tour of the Egypt exhibit. I for one am most eager to see this; in addition the museum contains holdings from many other periods, plus the famous dinosaur collection (well, it’s a slightly earlier period, but still history!) to which ‘Sue the Tyrannosaur’ will soon be added.

12:30-3:00 PM

Free time to do as you wish, including lunch wherever. Some ideas include: visit the Art Institute, also in Grant Park. The Institute contains still more interesting artifacts, a wonderful display of Native American artifacts from various cultures and epochs (note from FeAudrey: these Native American collections are in the previously-described Field Museum), and not incidentally the world’s premier collection of Impressionist art. In addition, the elegant galleries hold many famous works from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and modern era. The Institute also boasts a very pleasant outdoor courtyard restaurant which is most delightful to visit for lunch on a warm August day.

Other possibilities: the Adler Planetarium is a 400 yard walk from the Field, and also possesses a large collection of items which make it possibly the most extensive such organization in the US. The famous Shedd Aquarium holds an enormous (you guessed it--the largest such!) habitat of arctic sealife in natural surroundings. And of course many other exhibits. The Museum of Science and Industry is a short cab ride south, and has many interesting, often interactive exhibits, plus the famous type VII-C German submarine, the U-505.

4:00-? PM
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A most gracious citizen, Kallistos Alexandros hosts a buffet style Greek dinner at his home in Chicago’s western suburbs. Yum! Enjoy the chance to mix and mingle convivially, and to enjoy the typical beauty of a Midwestern summer evening.

Sunday Morning

Free to do whatever you please, and departures home.

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ACCOMODATIONS

The Palmer House Hotel in downtown Chicago offers us splendid service and wonderful amenities which all should enjoy. Included are the ‘Aquae Thermae’ (thanks to Ceres Cornelius for that title), aka ‘Jacuzzi’ (whatever that is) They also have 4 restaurants, a lounge bar, and a street-side bar. Rates are 149.00/night single or double. ***

A $115/night rate is available at the Palmer House on summer weekends. The rate is available only through the hotel direct (800-number/main booking office doesn't have it yet); call 1-312-726-7500. Thanks to dottie Curius for her assistance in confirming this. *** Although I encourage everyone to stay here--it’s central to everything and we get a meeting/courtesy room for our very own--other hotels/motels are available. You can check out Hot Rooms for availability of various Chicago hotel rooms.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

The single best source for flight info can be found at www.easysabre.com, a menu or windows driven online flight info and reservation system. I strongly suggest you check it out; one may specify preferred times, airlines, class, etc. and make the reservation right away. The Palmer House has shuttle buses to Midway and O’Hare Airports, and some private transport is available on a limited basis. Plan to arrive so that you can check into your lodgings, relax and have dinner with us at 5 PM if possible. And if that’s not possible, definitely plan to be ready for the Harlan Berk reception at 7 PM!

For assistance with the aforementioned websites or additional info please leave a message at my domus.

I hope to see all of you there!

Magnos
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A little Chicago geography: Chicago has a gridiron street system. There are 800 street numbers to the mile, and the zero point is State and Madison. Addresses can be located by name ("Rush and Division"), by number ("1200 North, 100 East"), or a combination ("1200 N. Rush", or "100 E. Division"). There is a major cross street about every half mile; it will usually have a bus route running down it. The best freebie map is the CTA map (available at all "L" stations).

A little public tranportation information: There is rapid transit service from both airports to downtown. Cash fare (exact change or transit card required) is $1.50 (+.30 for a transfer); an unlimited-ride 24-hour (any day) CTA pass costs $5. (Updated!also available: 2 days/$9; 3 days/$12; 5 days/$18.) An unlimited-ride weekend Metra (commuter rail) pass also costs $5. Service is frequent and virtually all places of visitor interest are reachable.

Updated!
A little encouragement: If you are taking the trouble to come all the way to Chicago, consider exending your stay to take in some more of the city's sights -- museums and architecture are specialties.

The concierge desk at the Palmer House will give guests a card entitling them to some freebies at Marshall Field's (department store). Potter Palmer was a founder of Field's.

The City of Chicago Tourism Information center in the Loop is in the Cultural Center (the old Library building, an architectural landmark) at Michigan Avenue between Washington and Randolph. The center has all sorts of (free) maps, guides, discount coupons, and pamphlets on area attractions. There is a particulary attractive coupon book co-sponsored with American Express.

Chicago has been a center for architecture since 1871, when every ambitious architect in the country headed there for a piece of the post-Fire re-building pie. Walking tours are popular (guided, self-guided, or just explore whatever catches your eye).

The Field Museum's hours are 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, and the admission fee is $7.. There is more than enough there to keep you busy all day. The anthropology collections are founded on exhibit material from the 1893 World's Fair. The botany exhibits, even in their presently-reduced area, are the most extensive in the country. Geology and Zoology are also outstanding. The recently-renovated dinosaur halls are now included in the general admission price. A special "Butterflies" exhibit is now open.

Here are some informational websites:

Yahoo! Chicago (the local edition of the master web index)

General Collection of Chicago links ((museums, events, weather, transportation, etc)

O'Hare Airport (includes terminal maps)

Downtown map (from the official Tourism site)

Directory of Airfare Websites

Hot Rooms (discount reservations for Chicago hotels in all categories)

Chicago Weather Page

New! Directory of Free Days at Chicago Museums

And a few specific to our Gathering:

Harlan J. Berk Galleries (the coin dealer who is receiving us so generously)

Palmer House (Hilton) Hotel

The Berghoff Restaurant

The "Big Three" Museums

Field Museum of Natural History

Art Institute of Chicago

Museum of Science and Industry

Plus
In honor the Fiesta de San Fermin in Pamplona (just past), we offer Hemingway's Oak Park home.

Chicago Architecture

Chicago WebCams

South Loop Views

Various Buildings

Lincoln Park Zoo (Tiger Habitat)

Railroad Yards

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This page's URL is:

http://pages.prodigy.net/feaudrey/gathring/aug89chi.htm

(Last Updated April 2000)

Visit the SPQR Companion Page for all things Roman (including spoiler links).

Return to Ancient Sites, the Gathering topic, or the SPQR on-line game.

Graphics Sources

The background is from I_Claudius.
The header graphic is from ZyGRaphics (build-it-yourself freebie).
The gold icons are from Dana's Designs.
The owl graphic source is unknown.

FeAudrey invites all citizens to submit questions or suggestions .

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