Chicago's McCormick Place

View facing south.

Happy Memorial Day folks!

Just a brief post about McCormick Place, which is where the 2011 SVU Conference will be at. Built in 1958, McCormick Place is the nation's largest convention center with a total of 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space.

McCormick Place consists of several buildings, so I just wanted to clarify exactly where the conference will be.


View facing north.

The conference will be at Lakeside Center. Lakeside Center is easy to identify in-person because it's next to Lake Michigan and it's the only building at McCormick Place that is painted black.



The Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is the most convenient accommodation for the conference because of its proximity and the fact that it's connected to the Lakeside Center via a skybridge.

Make your hotel reservations at:
https://resweb.passkey.com/go/VascularUltrasound



Here's a map to really hit the point.

Thanks folks and have a happy Memorial Day.
-Manny :)

SVU OFFERING FREE SHUTTLE BUS TO NAVY PIER!!!

SVU will provide a FREE shuttle bus to and from Navy Pier on Friday evening, June 17. The SVU Shuttle Bus will leave the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel at 7:00pm, and leave Navy Pier at 10:30pm to return to the hotel. Don't miss out on this GREAT oppurtunity to spend a Chicago summer night on the lakefront! General Admission is free, but there's so much you can do there to enjoy yourself!

Take a ride on a 15-story Ferris wheel.



Take a 7-minute ride on Navy Pier's prize attraction and see stunning views of Chicago's skyline and lakefront from the 150 foot-high Ferris wheel. The current Ferris wheel was modeled after the very first Ferris wheel, which was built for Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The Pier's Ferris wheel has 40 gondolas, each seating up to 6 passengers. In the evening, the Ferris wheel's 40 spokes, spanning a diameter of 140 feet, are illuminated by thousands of sparkling lights. Ticket prices are $6.00 but check out the combo packages to save money.

18 Hole Miniature Golf Course



Pier Park Miniature Golf course is one of the newer attractions at Navy Pier and gives you a chance to practice your putting skills on an 18-hole Chicago-themed course that courses its way around the base of the Ferris Wheel.

Cruises



Go sail the Tall Ship Windy at Navy Pier's resident 148-foot long ship. Several 90-minute cruises are offered throughout the day offering you breath-taking views of the city from Lake Michigan. Windy holds up to 150 passengers per cruise and passengers are encouraged to help raise and trim her 11 sails and often take turns at the ship's wheel. Tall Ship Windy is docked near the west end of Festival Hall, across from RIVA Restaurant (you can't miss it). Cruises are available daytime and evenings from May to October.

Seadog I, II, IV and Extreme



Are you ready for an amazing speedboat experience? Seadogs I, II, and IV offer
30-minute Lakefront Speedboat Rides and 75-minute Architectural Tours along the Chicago River. If you don't mind getting wet and don't get sea sick then you have to ride on the Seadog EXTREME! The EXTREME is a jet-propelled thrill-ride, and is 30% faster. The boat makes 180°-360° spins, slalom runs and sharp twists and turns! All Seadog boat rides depart daily from the Pier’s Dock Street.

Take the Architectural Tour along the Chicago River



View of Chicago River looking East from Michigan Ave.

Trump Tower lies adjacent to the Chicago River.



View of Trump Tower looking up.

Although SVU will be offering a FREE shuttle for Friday, June 17, there will not be a firework show on that day. However, if you're in Chicago early or want to go to Navy Pier after the AC Conference ends, there will be a FREE firework show on Wednesday June 15 at 9:30 pm and Saturday June 18 at 10:15 pm.



For more information on entertainment, ticket combo deals, dining, and shopping. visit www.navypier.com

Stay tuned for my next blog post featuring NFL legend Joe Theismann and his campaign "Find the AAAnswers" as he will be speaking at the AC Conference.

Have a nice Memorial Day Holiday!!!

Mannan V.

Visit Barack Obama's House (sort of)

Barack Obama's house is located in the historic south side neighborhood of Hyde Park. It was in this humble neighborhood where the president lived and taught law at the University of Chicago nearby.



The president's official home address is:
5046 S Greenwood Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615

Unfortunately, the Secret Service keeps tight security around the neighborhood and no one is allowed to drive by the house or even stroll past it.

Despite this, the president's home is now one of the hottest landmarks to visit in Chicago. Some bus companies offer tours of the Hyde Park neighborhood with "stops at Barack Obama's home".

Check out Gray Line Chicago's "South Shore Tour" ($23) for a trip through the president's neighborhood:
Gray Line Bus Tours

There is one particular company that may offer a better view of the president's home. Bobby's Bike Hike is a company that specializes in touring Chicago on bikes. They have several tours that include sightseeing and even eating.

One particular tour they have is the Historic Hyde Park Tour ($45). The tour starts at 8:30am Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and covers about 22 miles worth of biking. Their stops include the University of Chicago campus, Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and a stop at Barack Obama's house!!!

Even if Barack Obama's house seems unaccessible, many tourists opt for areas the Obama family have been to. Here's the official list of Obama-related sites in Chicago:

Restaurants:
Spiaggia: The restaurant Barack and Michelle Obama went to on Valentine's Day in 2008. Barack's favorite dish is the wood-roasted scallop.
Topolobampo: Awesome restaurant by Top Chef judge Rick Bayless.
R.J. Grunts: A more casual restaurant frequented by the Obamas.
Sepia: Another fine dining restaurant. A favorite of Michelle Obama.
MacArthur's: Fine southern cuisine.

Shop:
57th Street Books: The Obama family spent a lot of time perusing the books in this store. This is also where Barack Obama spent a lot of time studying on Thursdays.
Maria Pinto Boutique: The first lady is frequently seen wearing design's by Chicago's Maria Pinto.

Do:
Promontory Point: The Obama family spent a lot of time along Chicago's famous Lake Shore Drive (the lakefront area of Chicago). In 2005 Barack Obama once mediated a dispute on replacing the limestone slabs at Promontory Point.
Chicago White Sox: The president's favorite baseball team.
University of Chicago: This is where Barack Obama taught constitutional law from 1992-2004. Michelle Obama also worked there as the Vice President of University of Chicago Medical Center.

*****

When you come for the SVU Conference, why not take a presidential side tour while you're here?

Have a great weekend everyone,
Manny :)

Take a Class at The Second City in Chicago

Chicago is home to one of the oldest and best improv comedy clubs in the world, The Second City. Opened in 1959 by a group of students from the University of Chicago, The Second City has long been the training grounds for some of the most successful actors, writers, comedians, and directors in the country.

The Second City is the largest training center for improvisation and acting in the country with 13,000 students a year at schools in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Toronto. Cast members tour all over the world providing entertainment and laughter.


Alumni from The Second City

Some of the most notable alumni from The Second City include Tina Fey, Steve Carrell, Amy Poehler, Bill Murray, Dan Akroyd, Bonnie Hunt, Mike Myers, and Stephen Colbert.


Tina Fey talking about her favorite Chicago restaurants.

So when you visit the SVU Conference this year, here are some entertainment options at The Second City.

1) Take a drop-in improv class ($15).

This is for people who know nothing about comedy and just want to have fun and meet new people. This 2-hour class is different than what they have for serious students. No registration is necessary. Just drop by either Sunday 6-8pm or Wednesday 10pm-midnight.

2) Take a walking tour ($15).

Take a humorous and historic walking tour of Chicago’s beautiful Old Town neighborhood. Every Sunday at 1pm and every Wednesday at 4pm.

3) See a show ($16-$22).

Watch a show. June 12th-25th there are shows running every night at 8pm.

*****

For calendar of shows or to buy tickets or reserve a spot on the tour, check out The Second City's website at:
http://www.secondcity.com/

-Manny :)

Beautiful Chicago: A City in a Garden

When Chicago was first incorporated as a city in 1837 it chose a Latin phrase “Urbs in Horto” as its motto meaning “A City in a Garden”.


My neighbor's garden back in 2009.

Once a swampy outpost, Chicago has had a long history of landscaping and horticulture innovation. Back in the day many horticulturalists had to find ways to fight the freezing winters and crazy winds. Many immigrants created humble gardens or found ways to import exotic plants. In the 1850's laws were enacted to unify agencies and resources in order to create the nation's first comprehensive park and boulevard system.


Walking towards Millennium Park.

Today Chicago has over 500 parks covering over 7,300 acres. Chicago's largest park, Lincoln Park, gets over 20 million visitors a year making it the second most-visited park in the U.S. after New York's Central Park.

The parks are run by the Chicago Park District (CPD). CPD is the oldest (established in 1934) and most well-financed park district in the country. Chicago spends more money on its parks than any other city in the United States (yay higher taxes!). CPD is in charge of overseeing 33 beaches, 9 museums, 2 conservatories, 16 lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, and a harbor system with enough capacity to hold 5,000 boats. According to a CPD 2008 financial report, CPD is also in charge of 534 baseball fields, 10 ice-skating rinks, 618 tennis courts, 44 soccer fields, 372 volleyball courts, 2 zoos, and 228 sandboxes (I wonder who had to count those!).



*****

In 1989 a resurgence of Chicago's “City in a Garden” motto was spearheaded by former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.


Walking along State St. near the Chicago Public Library.

The mayor's goal was to beautify the city to attract its most important resource: human talent. It was the mayor's hope that making Chicago an attractive city to live in would bring in residents, investors, employers, job seekers, and tourists.

Richard Daley's plans seemed to have worked when in 2001, Boeing chose Chicago as its new metropolitan headquarters over Dallas and Denver.


Walking through Wrigleyville for a Cubs game.

Since 1989 $5.2 billion has been spent improving Chicago's walkways, parks, and streets. 300,000 trees have been planted throughout Chicago since then as well.


Some random shops around Chicago Ave.

*****

For more information about the Chicago Park District check out:
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/

For an awesome history book of Chicago's parks, check out The City in a Garden: A Photographic History of Chicago's Parks by Julia Sniderman Bachrach.

*****

Yayyyy...it's half way to Friday. :)

-Manny

Disclaimer: Chicago's beauty subject to change based on weather, temperature, windiness, rain, cloudiness, etc.

Iconic Foods of Chicago

Some cities or regions have food that is attributed to them.

New England is known for its clam chowder. Philadelphia is known for its cheese and steak sandwiches. Seattle is known for coffee. Some say New York has the best pizza. Buffalo in New York is famous for its buffalo wings. Maine is known for its lobster. Boston has Boston baked beans. And Scotland has uh...haggis. And the list goes on and on.

Chicago can officially claim its own regional specialties. When you come for the SVU Conference, see if you can try any of the following foods.



Chicago-style Hotdog
What makes a Chicago-style hotdog unique is its specific ingredients. These are the rules for a true Chicago-style hotdog:

-A true Chicago hot dog MUST be made by the Vienna Beef Company. Founded during the Chicago World's Columbian Expedition (1893), the company introduced Chicago to the Vienna-style (i.e. frankfurter) weiner.
-The hotdog must be 100% beef.
-The hotdog must be steamed, but boiling is okay too. Grilling it would not make it Chicago-style.
-The hotdog must be served on a poppy seed bun.
-The following condiments are the ONLY things allowed on the hotdog:
* Yellow mustard
* Bright green relish
* Onions
* Tomato wedges
* Pickle spear
* Sport peppers
* Celery salt.
-NO ketchup is allowed. I repeat NO KETCHUP is allowed. Adding ketchup is a felony in Chicago.

This hotdog was perhaps popularized during the Great Depression because it offered a full meal with veggies at a low cost.



Maxwell St. Polish
The Maxwell St. Polish is simply a Polish sausage served with mustard and grilled onions. It is said to have been introduced to the people of Chicago in 1939 by Jim Stefanovich who took over his aunts street stand on Halsted and Maxwell street.



Italian Beef
The Italian Beef sandwich originated in Chicago in the 1930's. It's simply cuts of sirloin beef placed on Italian bread and topped with giardiniera (Italian relish of pickled vegetables or sweet peppers). The beef is wet-roasted in broth made with garlic and oregano. After it's cooked the beef is sliced and placed in its original broth for hours.

Perhaps the most popular place to get Italian Beef sandwiches is Al's No. 1 Italian Beef, which has been open astonishingly since 1938. Also remember that the bread is purposely served wet (drenched in broth). You can ask for it dry.



Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Deep dish pizza was invented in the U.S. in 1943 (post-World War II) by Ike Sewell at his Chicago-based restaurant, Pizzeria Uno.

This is what makes Chicago Deep Dish Pizza different:
-The dough is made with cornmeal and olive oil.
-The pan used to cook the pizza is "deep", which allows the pizza to have heightened sides.
-The toppings and meat are not placed on top of the pizza. Instead they are below the top layer. (this rule doesn't always apply)
-The pizza is topped with cheese and THEN the cheese is covered with tomato sauce.
-You eat the pizza with a fork.

I'm actually not a fan of Chicago-style pizza. I prefer thin crust. But I implore visitors to give it a try because it's still a part of Chicago's culture.



Pork Chop in Bone Sandwich
I'm not really sure if this can only be found in Chicago, but this is basically a pork chop sandwich...but the bone is still left on the pork chop! It's served with grilled onions and mustard.



Garret's Popcorn
Garrett Popcorn Shop has been around since 1949. They make popcorn, but what's unique is they basically mix the flavors. The Chicago Mix is cheese popcorn mixed with caramel popcorn. Savory and sweet combined to create a unique flavor.



Popcorn is not unique to Chicago, but tourists still make a stop at Garrett's for some cultural excitement. It's like how when I was in Boston (for my first clinical site), people always made trips to Mike's Pastry in the North End because of their legendary cannoli's...even though Boston isn't the only place to find cannoli's.

Jibarito Sandwich
A Jibarito is a unique Puerto Rican sandwich introduced in Chicago in 1996 by Chicago restaurateur Juan Figueroa.



A Jibarito is basically a sandwich made with meat, garlic mayo, lettuce, tomato, and onions. However, instead of using bread to contain the ingredients, fried green plantains are used. Plantains are a type of banana. Yes, a sandwich made with bananas...pretty cool huh?



Frango Mints
According to the U.S. Patent Office, Frango Mints were trademarked in 1918. Frango Mints are basically chocolate truffles made with peppermint and butter. Frango Mints were once exclusively made in Chicago by a department store known as Marshall Fields.



Marshall Fields was a department store that traces its roots back to 1852. Before there was a Walmart, Nordstroms, Target, or even Sears, there was Marshall Fields. Marshall Fields grew to be one of the most innovative and successful retailers of its time. Marshall Fields was the first to introduce the bridal registry, the first to offer in-store dining, the first to use escalators, and the first to offer tea rooms for ladies to shop and drink tea.

And it was only from Marshall Fields where people could buy Frango Mints. Today Frango Mints are available everywhere through Macy's, which purchased what was left of Marshall Fields in 2005. Many Chicagoans still miss the glory days of Marshall Fields. :(



Horseshoe Sandwich (only available in Springfield, IL)
Okay this isn't from Chicago, but I had to mention it because it's a crazy dish. It's unique to Springfield, IL and I got to try it when I visited there in December 2010.

A Horseshoe Sandwich is basically an open-faced sandwich. Its starts with toast that is topped with meat (i.e. ham, hamburger), french fries, and cheese. Wallah, that's it. I would definitely have a carotid duplex exam after eating one of these. :)

******

So these are some iconic foods from Chicago. They aren't exactly the finest or healthiest foods the city has to offer, but they are culturally significant and have stood the test of time.

Have a great Tuesday everyone,
Manny :)

Wrigley Field

WRIGLEY FIELD

If you're going to come to Chicago, then you absolutely HAVE to attend a Cubs Game!!! Your trip wouldn't be complete if you didn't. I bleed Cubby blue and so should you!! Visit the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, the pinnacle of Major League Ballparks. Nothing beats sitting under the sun and drinking a beer while enjoying one of baseball's most storied franchises. Wrigley Field is now in its 97th year of operation. Being built in 1914, it now ranks 2nd only behind Boston's Fenway Park (1908) as the oldest operating stadiums in the U.S.

Want to see whats going on outside Wrigleyville right now? Click on the link below to see a live HD stream outside the stadium!!

http://www.cubworld.com/category/a_cubworld_cam/

The best place to sit and enjoy yourself for a game is by far the Bud Light Bleachers!! The view is great and the atmosphere is amazing!!!

Deciding what to eat at game can be very difficult. If you want get what you paid for then you have to buy the 'Nachos in a Helmet'. For $15 its worth it and takes up to 3 people to eat it. Well, it only took Manny and I 10 minutes to devour it.

While sitting in the bleachers keep an eye on the scoreboard. Every time there is a hit or run scored look up and you'll see a guy changing the numbers manually. During the game he'll usually poke his head out to get a view of the action!!

Wrigley also has the hardest outfield wall in the Majors!! Literally. Behind that beautiful green colored Ivy are rock solid bricks, so don't mistaken it for a soft cushion wall!! Also, this chain link fence on top of the wall is unique as it is the only of its kind. If the ball falls in there, its a home run!!

On your way out don't forget to stop and visit the Harry Caray statue located outside the Bud Light Bleachers. Check this guy out who's sporting Harry Caray's famous glasses!!

Remember what happened on August 8, 1988? I was only 3 years old. On 8/8/88, the first night game took place at Wrigley Field!!! Unfortunately, it was the last Major League stadium to have lights installed and have a night game. Hey, better late than never!!!!

Luckily for us the Cubs have plenty of home games while you will be in Chicago for the SVU Conference. Check out cubs.com for tickets and timings.

Any questions feel free to ask.

Thanks.

-Mannan

Chicago's Millennium Park

Hello vascular world! It's Friday today...time to jump for joy. :)



Today I'd like to talk about Millennium Park. No visit to Chicago is complete without visiting this place. Located along The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave.), Millennium Park is a free 24.5-acre public park that offers world-class art, music, landscape design, and sculptures. It's a modern urban park that truly reflects the spirit of Chicago. It's open daily from 6am-11pm.

I'll never forget my first visit Millennium Park. It was in September 2009 and I had just moved from California (my home state) to attend Rush. I was randomly dawdling through the streets of Chicago and I just felt compelled to visit an area of trees across the street.

And these were some of the things I saw:



This is Crown Fountain. An interactive public work of art by artist Jaume Plensa, Crown Fountain is a reflective pool placed between two huge pillars displaying faces of random Chicago residents.



Crown Fountain is unlike any other fountain in the world. It's a high-tech work of art, yet it's accessible, inviting, and crowd-friendly.



This is Cloud Gate by Indian artist Anish Kapoor. The sculpture is nicknamed "The Bean" and it sits atop the Park Grill restaurant in Millennium Park.



It is made out of 168 plates of stainless steel and yet it has NO visible seams. The design was found through a design competition and at first experts thought it was technologically impossible to complete...but here it is!



Cloud Gate is a photography magnet. My favorite aspect about Cloud Gate is that it reflects a beautiful panoramic view of the Chicago cityscape behind it.

*****

During my first visit to Millennium Park, I also noticed a huge group of people walking towards what looked like an amphitheater. I asked a random person what was going on and they told me there was a free opera that night. A free outdoor opera!? How cool is that?



I followed the crowd and came upon the most technologically advanced outdoor concert venue I have ever seen in my life, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the pavilion is the center piece of Millennium Park.



During the summers Millennium Park offers free world-class music at the pavilion. Not everything that plays there is for free as the venue is also used by touring musical acts like Tori Amos and Ray LaMontagne. People are free to bring their own food and have a picnic.



The acoustics are amazing for an outdoor venue. When I watched the opera that night it was super awesome.

*****

For more information about Millennium Park and a schedule of events happening there check out:
http://explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium.html

Here are some of the free world-class concerts happening at the same time as the SVU Conference:

June 6: Iron and Wine + The Head and the Heart 6:30pm. Free.
June 9: Hanngai + Aurelio Martinez. 6:30pm Free.
June 13: Phosphorescent + Campbell Brothers. 6:30pm Free.
June 16: Dandana: A Celebration of Muslim Voices. 6:30pm. Free.
June 20: Kings Go Forth + Ben L'Oncle Soul. 6:30pm. Free.

If you like classical music, the Grant Park Musical Festival is offering it's 77th season of FREE outdoor classical music led by conductor Carlos Kalmar. Here are some dates:

June 15: Opening Night Symphonie Fantastique with pianist Jean-Philippe Collard. 6:30pm.
June 17 & 18: Mendelssohn & Schoenberg by the Grant Park Chorus and Orchestra. 6:30pm.
June 22: Violinist Regina Carter and the Grant Park Orchestra. 6:30pm.

Have a great weekend everyone,
Manny :)