Rediscovering My City

I got a new job, as many of you know. I'm a content manager for a tourism marketing company--yes, the perfect job! My client...Chicago. Fitting, I'd say, considering I live here, and know it pretty well, despite being a transplant. So, basically my job is to market Chicago as a destination. For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know I already do this a lot in my personal time, so it's been a natural transition to do it professionally, too.

However, as someone who lives here, I do tend to gravitate to what I know and what I like. I have my favorite restaurants, stores, bars and even festivals. I find that I stick to the same four or five neighborhoods, mostly because they're close to my apartment. As far as attractions, well, I don't really go to very many, except when friends or family come to town and I play tour guide for a couple days. But this job has opened my eyes to a number of things I never knew existed, from off-beat tours to dynamic museums. It's even inspired an idea for my birthday--a kayak tour on the Chicago River!

Here are just a few places I never thought about going before:

Clark House

Source: City of Chicago

Smart Museum of Art

Source: University of Chicago

National Museum of Mexican Art

Source: UpChicago.com

And I also learned about some interesting events, exhibits and shows going on around the city, such as Chicago Ideas Week (which I will be getting tickets for), Theatre Week and Exposition Chicago.

Another great part of this job is that I've found some new websites that provide information on developments around the city, such as new hotels, city planning and beautification projects, and transportation updates. I'm definitely more informed about what's happening in the city, which always comes in handy.

I know Chicago is an incredible city, but there was so much about it I never knew until now. It really makes me wonder how much we take advantage of the places we live, not really appreciating them for what they are. I lived in Denver for 18 years--though the first few are a bit fuzzy--and I never realized how great it is until I left for college. It wasn't until I spent some time away that I realized how lucky I was to live there. I feel that with Chicago, I didn't make the same mistake, I have realized how fortunate I am to live here. And I plan on experiencing even more of what this city has to offer--now that I know there is a lot I've been missing.

Pardon My Absence

So...it's been a while...how are things?

I apologize for my lack of posting this month. August somehow got away from me--the new job, a quick trip back to Denver for training/visiting family, setting up my home office, etc. But now that I've gotten acclimated to my work schedule, I will be much more diligent about posting.

And lucky for all my loyal readers, there are many trips in the works--D.C. in October, back to Denver for the holidays/a bachelorette party, a wedding in Champagne in January, Belize in February, and, if all goes to plan, BRAZIL FOR THE WORLD CUP 2014!! (That last one all depends on the bidding process for tickets, so keep your fingers crossed that we get what we want!)

Thanks again for continuing to tune in to see where life will take me next. It's certainly be a whirlwind year so far, and I only expect it to continue.

Controversial Arenas

The economic conditions in many states have caused government officials to seriously evaluate budgets and how taxpayer dollars are being spent. The ultimate goal is to come up with a spending plan that will dispense funds to areas that need them the most, while also helping to stimulate economic growth and make a profit through investments and new business opportunities. However, there is not always agreement over how or what will accomplish that goal. For some, education, public defense, infrastructure and healthcare, are considered the most important investments, as they are beneficial to locals. For others, tourism, hospitality, athletics and entertainment, qualify as the most worthy of state money, as they bring in lots of foot traffic and profits.

Detroit plans to spend more than $400 million in taxpayer funds to build a new hockey arena for the Red Wings. In addition, the developer committed another $200 million to build retail, office, residential and hotel spaces. Advocates say it is the kind of development needed to attract people and private investment  dollars in Detroit, which is in the midst of a financial crisis. In fact, just last week the city filed for bankruptcy, becoming the country's largest public sector to do so. The move could cut pension benefits to city employees and retirees, a big concern for many residents. Even with the bankruptcy, Detroit still plans to build the arena. Opponents of the idea say the project won't have enough economic impact to make it worth the cost, and argue that it is the wrong spending priority for the city, which has a number of other areas that trump a sports stadium.

Detroit's current hockey stadium. Source: CNN

But the governor and city planners believe a stadium is the right move, as it will create an estimated 8,000 construction jobs, a big boon for a city with high unemployment. Not only that, but the stadium is estimated to create more than $1 billion in direct spending in Detroit over the next 30 years, according to a university study. This is due to the fact that it will be in the middle of a depressed city and in a good location next to a baseball and football stadium, which will encourage private investment in other infrastructure.

While a new stadium in Detroit might be the answer, it may not be the best move for other cities. More often than not, stadium and arena projects have little economical impact because a city may already be thriving or they are in a poor location.

Chicago recently announced plans to build a $173 million basketball arena for DePaul University next to its convention center, McCormick Place. The stadium is part of a larger plan, called "Elevate Chicago," to revamp the center, as well as Navy Pier--considered one of the top attractions in the city. While the arena is ultimately to serve as the home of the Blue Demons (DePaul will fund a portion of the construction cost), it will be used more as an event center for McCormick Place, hosting trade shows and conventions.

Digital rendering of DePaul Arena. Source: Huffington Post

The amount of money from taxpayers to pay for the DePaul stadium is about $55 million--considerably less than Detroit--but there are a few people who do not agree with using that money for an arena. There are many people who think Chicago already has plenty of arenas that can be used for games, events, shows, etc., and the money could be put towards other things--such as education.

Advocates for the project argue that the arena, along with a new hotel, will bring in more private investments for retail, dining and other attractions around the convention center. In fact, one of the goals of the project is to beautify the two blocks north of the center, which are pretty vacant and boring. Building up the area will make it more of a destination for not only tourists, but for locals, too.

Travel News Update

A lot has been going on in the world this week...and it's only Tuesday!

IT'S A BOY! Prince William and Duchess Catherine welcomed their newborn son on July 22 at 4:24 p.m., London time. He weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and no name has been announced yet. The world anxiously awaited outside St. Mary's Hospital to see the couple with their new baby. The set of doors to Lindo Wing has not been watched so closely since Princess Diana gave birth to William 31 years ago. William and Catherine emerged on Tuesday evening, carrying the baby in a cream-colored blanket. After a quick wave to the press and cheering crowd, the couple strapped their son into the car seat of a black SUV and drove off to Kensington Palace.

The Pope returned to South America on Monday as Francis arrived in Rio de Janeiro to thousands of admirers who gathered in the streets to see him. The crowds were so enthused to see the Pope that they mobbed his car as he drove through the Rio city center to his reception ceremony. As people gathered around his small, four-door Fiat, blocking the route to the government palace. Francis, however, was unfazed. In fact, he rolled down the window to greet people, shaking hands and kissing babies...what a great politician he would make.

A Southwest flight crash landed at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Monday evening after the landing gear collapsed. Flight 345 from Nashville landed on runway 4 before the gear collapsed, causing it to skid the rest of the way on its nose. The cabin filled with smoke as people's items went flying everywhere. Ten people were injured in the incident, with no casualties. The National Transportation Safety Board is investing what might have caused the accident. The Boeing 737 had last been inspected on July 18, but no details of that were released. (I hope all other Southwest planes are inspected, because I'll be flying on one next week.)

An earthquake struck northwestern China yesterday, killing at least 89 people and injuring hundreds more. The Gansu province felt the first and strongest tremors at 7:45 am Beijing time. The quake, which measured 6.6, toppled farmer's homes and severed power lines. Nearly 2,000 homes were destroyed, and more than 22,000 were damaged. About 123,000 people were affected by the quake, and 31,600 were moved to temporary shelters.

Chicago Tourism:

• On Monday, NBC 5 Chicago reported that Chicago had the highest ever hotel occupancy rate in the first six months of the year, leading to the most money ever generated by the hotels. For the second straight year, more than 90% of hotels rooms were booked for the month of June. And in 2012, Chicago welcomed more than 46 million tourists, and is on pace for even more this year. 
• The Taste of Chicago, one of the city's most popular festivals, had an estimated 1.5 million visitors--my family included--for an average of 300,000 people per day. 
• Mayor Rahm Emmanuel announced a private investment of $500 million from a Denver-based company will be used to improve the port of Chicago, boosting infrastructure and jobs. The money will be used to make an asset out of the port, which has long been underused and a drain on funds. The deal will also provide training, internships and jobs to students at nearby Olive-Harvey College. The area's alderman said Chicagoans are very unfamiliar with the port, and hopefully the project will help change that.

Survey stats:
A recent survey found that 61% of Americans plan to work during their vacations this year, compared to 52% last year. The Harris Interactive survey also showed that 34% of respondents plan to work but won't be happy about it; while 14% said they would be happy to work during vacation. About 22% said they would refuse to work on vacation, and 2% said they would quit their job if they had to. So why this need to work during play time? The recovering recession is the biggest reason, as workers want to show their bosses that they are indispensable to the company, even while out of the office.

Brazil Welcomes Pope for World Youth Day

There have been reports that the youths of today are not as religious as past generations, that they are not as connected to their faith and do not attend mass on a regular basis, if at all. And yet hundreds of thousands of young people flocked to Rio de Janeiro this week for World Youth Day, a week-long gathering of young Catholics celebrating their faith, learning about God, and engaging with others who share their interests and passions. It was founded by Pope John Paul II in Rome in 1984, with the first official event being held in 1986.

WYD happens every three years in a different country and features a new theme each time. The most recent WYD was held in Madrid carrying the theme "Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith." -Col 2:7. This year, it is being held in Brazil, an event made even more special by the fact that the new Pope is from the continent and has traveled from Vatican City to be a part of the festivities.

Pope Francis arrives in Brazil. Source: CNN

Pope Francis, the first Latin American Pope, journeyed to Brazil for his first trip abroad as pontiff. Not only will he be speaking to a country with more Catholics than any other, he will also be addressing millions of tourists visiting from around the world, putting him front and center of an extremely large audience of admirers. According to local officials, about 700,000 youths have already arrived in Rio, with the total expected to reach about two million.

Francis reportedly will not ride in the traditional glass-enclosed Pope-mobile, but rather an open-topped car, showing that he both is not afraid of the people and wants to be close to them. Upon his arrival in Rio, Francis made himself known as the "Pope of the poor," saying that he had neither gold nor silver, he only brought the "most precious thing" given to him: Jesus Christ.

WYD and the Pope's visit come at a crucial time for Brazil. The country has been experiencing a slew of street riots and protests against government corruption, largess, poor education and lackluster medical care, not to mention anger over World Cup and Olympic issues. The Pope is well aware of the turmoil in the country, which has been driven by the large wealth gap. Many protesters hope to use the visit to shine a light on the controversy they face in the country. The organizers of the protests that took place in June want to send a message that says, "look how we're treated."The energy surrounding the visit has led many to worry about security and safety. (A recent update reported that an explosive device was found near a religious sanctuary the Pope was planning to visit on Wed.)

While the political issues in the country are important, many believe the Pope also needs to focus on the waning Catholic faith. Yes, Brazil still has the most Catholics than any other country, as I mentioned before, but it has also been losing many followers. A recent study showed that about 25 years ago, Brazil was 90% Catholic. That has dropped to 65% today. There is also a growing group of secular Latin Americans with no religious affiliation. The Pope's visit could be seen as a reconciliation for the Catholic faith, and could help reverse the trends that have been going on the last few years.

To learn more about World Youth Day, check out the official website.

A Trip to the Neighborhood Hotel

Imagine having an hour-long massage at a resort spa, and then soaking in the hotel hot tub for a bit before heading back to your house just down the road. No, it's not a dream. Hotel amenities like restaurants, gyms, spas and pools, are no longer reserved just for guests. Locals are signing up for special memberships at hotels that get them perks even guests might not get.

The concept serves a couple purposes. First, hotels have these immaculate facilities that often are underutilized by guests, leaving pools and gyms practically deserted. Giving city residents access helps to boost business and make the initial investment worth it. Second, these memberships bring in people during off-peak seasons, which also gives hotels a revenue boost.

While leisure and dining packages are a big part of hotels' strategy, they are also looking for ways to lure residents for work. Business travel has slowed in recent years, and hotels are hungry for professional events that result in big profits. As a result, many have created workspaces for locals to use for interviews, small meetings or larger group get togethers. Hotels believe that this could result in people spending more on drinks and food while they work.

The hope is that these incentives could lead to larger bookings, such as a wedding or convention. Because who knows what kind of people will walk in next. If nothing else, hotels that are offering these kinds of packages and deals will gain positive word-of-mouth, which could also lead to more business down the road.

Of course, hotels are still providing nice perks to guests. Kimpton Hotels recently teamed up with boutique bicycle and gear company PUBLIC to create a customized fleet of bikes, which are complimentary for guests to use at all locations nationwide. The Kimpton bike features a cherry-red frame with orange and blue accents, cream tires, double walled rims, brass bell and rear basket. Kimpton is also offering custom picnic baskets with fare from chefs of hotel restaurants. The baskets come in three themes: light and healthy, romantic shareables, and local flair. Each basket will be inspired by the location and will have locally-sourced goods.

Kimpton Bike. Source: PR Newswire

Chicago, The Adventurous City

There are all kinds of athletic activities--traditional and offbeat--that are cropping up all over the place. And if it's something new, chances are people in Chicago are willing to try it. At least that's what a Facebook analysis of status updates indicates. The social network looked fitness-related mentions and check-ins over the last three months, as well as tracked usage of fitness-related apps. What it learned was that Chicago has the most mentions of "starting a new sport," and therefore dubbed it the most "Adventurous City."

While the accuracy of this analysis is somewhat arguable, I will say that being named the most Adventurous City is certainly a positive accolade. Especially considering that "adventure" is such a big trend. I recently spoke with the president of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, a global organization driven to help businesses thrive in adventure tourism, and he talked about the array of opportunities out there.

Now, when you think of adventure, what comes to mind? Climbing Machu Picchu? Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef? Skydiving...anywhere? Well, you're right, to some extent. Adventure travel does incorporate those kinds of intense experiences, which usually appeal to thrill seekers. But it doesn't have to be that level of excitement to qualify as adventure travel. It can be a bike tour through a forest preserve, or an easy hike around a reservoir, or even a culture tour of ancient ruins. A trip must have three elements to categorize it as adventure travel. First, it has to have some sort of physical activity, and it does not necessarily have to be extreme. In fact, hiking is probably the most common pursuit on adventure tours. Second, there has to be some kind of connection to nature. Third, it has to include some kind of cultural experience.

Chicago is home to people eager to try new sports, according to the analysis. Luckily, there are plenty of adventurous activities locals and visitors can enjoy in the city. The lakefront welcomes runners, bikers, boaters and swimmers, as well as paddle boarders and rowers. There are also a number of specialty fitness clubs for kickboxing and karate and spinning and so much more. Personally, I'd like to try rock climbing. I went a few times growing up in Colorado, but haven't done it in years. It would certainly be a change and a fun experience.

There are only a few rock climbing walls in the city, and most of them are part of fitness clubs, so I assume I have to be a member to use them. Some locations have a day pass to use the rock walls, such as Hidden Peak, which costs $10 for a day or $7 for a lunch time pass. I may have to do a little more research on it, but it could be a fun weekend activity.