Archival Outlook • March/April 2020 • Take It Outside: Chicago’s Front Yard and Beyond

Summer may still feel like the distant future, but soon it will be time to open our doors and welcome you all to Chicago for ARCHIVES^✻RECORDS 2020. After spending our long winters cooped up inside, Chicagoans approach the summer with gusto, trying to squeeze as many minutes outdoors as possible until the gray light of fall. The site of the Annual Meeting, the Hilton Chicago, is perfectly situated to encourage you to do the same. Sitting on Michigan Avenue, the Hilton is right across the street from the 313-acre Grant Park, also known as Chicago’s Front Yard.

Lake Michigan is only a short walk through the greenery of Grant Park, as is Chicago landmark Buckingham Fountain. Stroll through the park in any direction to see numerous public art pieces, including Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture (“The Bean”) and Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain—both on the north end of Grant Park in Millennium Park.

Chicago is a destination for world-class museums, four of which make the park their home. The Art Institute of Chicago will display the Monet and Chicago exhibition all summer. On the south end of the park you’ll find Museum Campus, location of the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, and the Field Museum.

Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and Mayor Lori Lightfoot have designated 2020 as the Year of Chicago Music, a celebration of Chicago’s musical heritage. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to catch some live music outdoors through music festivals, neighborhood fairs, and the city’s Night Out in the Parks initiative, which brings a wide variety of cultural events into parks across Chicago. Near the conference hotel, enjoy the Millennium Park Summer Music & Film Series, which brings weekly concerts and films to Frank Gehry’s stunning Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

In addition to its jogging and bike paths, tennis courts, and recreational fields, the park provides some unique athletic offerings. The Climbing Wall complex, located in Maggie Daley Park, offers different types of climbing for all levels of experience. You can rent all equipment—even climbing shoes—on site. Circling the climbing walls, winter’s popular Skating Ribbon welcomes roller blades and scooters during the warm months.

If skating’s your thing, don’t miss Grant Skate Park, a 3-acre skate park, performance space, and sculpture park. Designed in conjunction with community skateboarders and bikers, the concrete plaza-style skate park has ramps, rails, ledges, and plenty of space for spectators.

For a more leisurely experience, the 18-hole mini golf course in Maggie Daley Park takes Chicago as its theme. The course features replicas of Chicago landmarks, such as the Willis Tower, the Wells Street Bridge, and the Daley Plaza Picasso sculpture.

With eight major league professional sports teams, Chicago has you covered on spectator sports. Both the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs have home games scheduled during the Annual Meeting, but for something closer to the hotel, head to Soldier Field. This year, Major League Soccer team the Chicago Fire returns to its original home of Soldier Field after playing in the nearby suburb of Bridgeview for several years.

Many of Grant Park’s attractions are within walking distance of the Hilton Chicago, but there’s another transportation option right outside the hotel’s doors: Divvy, Chicago’s bike-sharing system. Rent one of the bikes from the Divvy station across the street and return it to any of the stations throughout the park or the city at large. Cyclists have easy access to Chicago’s neighborhoods via the Lakefront Trail, an 18-mile stretch of paved trail that follows Lake Michigan through several other parks to the Edgewater and South Shore neighborhoods on either end.

Chicago’s waterways offer another option for exploring the city. Just north of Grant Park, where the Chicago River and Lake Michigan meet, you’ll find multiple opportunities for Chicago architecture boat tours. Or head out on your own via the Chicago Water Taxi, which has several routes through downtown and out into the neighborhoods. For the adventurous, make your way down the river or out on the lake in a kayak. Rentals and lessons are available through Urban Kayak or some Chicago Park District locations.

During the long conference days, make time to escape the hotel air conditioning and enjoy a bite or a drink with colleagues. Stop for some ice cream or Italian ice at one of the stands in Grant Park, or pack a picnic to enjoy while taking in a movie or concert at Pritzker Pavilion. For a sit-down affair, try the terrace at Terzo Piano, located in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Modern Wing, or the rooftop at Cindy’s in the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel for spectacular views and delicious food. In the summer, the options for socializing outside with colleagues are nearly endless, so get ready to go outside and explore Chicago!