Fun Willis Facts

Here are a few quick facts about the biggest building in Chicago.

• The building designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and was completed in 1973.
• It stands 1,450 feet and 110 stories high, or 1,730 feet its including antenna towers.
• It has 3.8 million square feet of office and retail space.
• It’s the tallest building in the Western hemisphere.
• It was the tallest building in the world from 1974 to 1998.
• With its antenna, it’s now the third tallest building in the world.
• It has the highest observatory in Chicago at 1,353 feet.
• You can see 40 to 50 miles on a clear day from the Skydeck.
• You can see four states from the Willis observatory.

From the Sears Tower to Willis Tower

Even though Chicagoans got a kick out of the suggestion that we should now refer to the building as “The Big Willie,” it was difficult for many to accept the change in name. From the building’s beginnings, Sears and Roebuck was the main occupant. The building was planned in order to consolidate all of their Chicago employees, who had been spread across various offices throughout the city, into one Loop location.

In 2003, Sears was no longer the primary occupant of the building and lost their naming rights, but the building was still called the Sears Tower until 2009. Then, the London-based insurance company Willis Group Holdings leased enough of the building to claim the name. Chicagoans just had to get used to the change!

The Skydeck

While the building is mostly commercial offices and retail space, the Skydeck is what makes the Willis Tower the most visited attraction in Chicago. It has interactive displays, high-powered telescopes and “knee-high” activities for young children who come to visit.

But probably the most popular part of the Skydeck is “the Ledge”, or  glass boxes that jut out from the side of the building and allow you to look straight down at the city of Chicago.

The Willis Tower is a great learning experience and a beautiful way to see the city– our company would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t been able to go before!

The White Sox are one of baseball’s most storied franchises, and while the organization isn’t struggling with a 100 year world series drought like the Cubs, the history of this South Side ball club is just as interesting. From the Black Sox of the early 1900s to 2005’s World Series Champions, the White Sox are one of baseball’s great storylines. Founded in 1900 as the Chicago White Stockings, the Sox have been at the center of some of Major League baseball’s most defining moments, to some of its greatest controversies. Here are just a few attractions you need check out at when you take in a game at “The Cell.”

Comcast Fundamentals Deck

The pitching and batting cages, whiffle-ball field, and coaching clinics that make up the Comcast Fundamentals Deck are a favorite among Chicago’s younger baseball fans. Located in left field, this between innings pit-stop gives young ballplayers the chance run the bases and burn off some energy before the seventh-inning stretch. Don’t forget to bring your glove!

Private Bank Fan Deck

This two-tiered deck sits on top the concessions in center-field and offers a panoramic view of the ballpark, not to mention the perfect family photo op. The post-game firework display on June 5th seen from this vantage point is sure to impress to all sports fans.

White Sox Champions Brick Plaza

Whether you’re interested in World Series scandals or World Series Champions, the bricks in the White Sox Champions Brick Plaza chronicle it all. The exhibit, located in front of the ballpark’s main entrance, is lined with bronze statues that capture the great moments of the Sox’s 2005 World Series run. This is a must see for fans interested in one of the more unique franchises in baseball.

Right off of CTA red line, only a few stops down from our humble Chicago Popcorn shop, U.S. Cellular field offers a unique experience for baseball fans of all ages. Get your Tickets Today!

Shedd’s Main Exhibits

Shedd features five permanent exhibits which you visit all year round. Each one represents a distinct kind of marine life, educating you about a huge variety of plants and animals. Amazon Rising lets you experience the river world of rain forest-dwelling plants and animals– you’ll find fierce and fearsome fauna like piranhas, crocodiles and anacondas hidden in the beautiful jungle flora. Caribbean Reef takes you to the tropics to explore life underwater through a 90,000 gallon circular habitat that gives you 360 degree view of a reef community. Waters of the World includes 80 habitats that show you everything from frogs to octopi. The Oceanarium is a large scale ocean habitat which houses many of Shedd’s most famous inhabitants like its Beluga whales. And finally, the Aquarium’s newest exhibit is Wild Reef, which lets you get a diver’s eye view of over 500 ocean species including its most popular inhabitants– sharks!

Shedd’s Summer Events

This summer, you can also get to know the animals of the Shedd Aquarium through an interactive aquatic show called Fantasea. Adult and baby Beluga whales, sea lions, dolphins, penguins and a red tail hawk perform alongside knowledgeable trainers in the show, which occurs at the Oceanarium amphitheater. Audience members get to touch penguins, watch the red tail hawk fly and see the oceanic mammals interact with their human trainers. Learn more about showtimes and tickets here.

Shedd’s Famous Surroundings

Finally, Shedd Aquarium located in one of Chicago’s most recognizable areas–the Museum Campus. After you’ve had your fill of aquatic life at the Aquarium, you can walk to the Field Museum or the Adler Planetarium for equally engaging experiences learning about our earth or about outer space.

Whether you are an animal lover, want a touch of the ocean in the Midwest or just don’t want to miss one of Chicago’s best attractions, our Chicago popcorn company highly recommends checking out at least one of the famous Shedd exhibits!

In fact, Chicago Magazine just took the time to rank what they consider the top 40 movies filmed in Chicago. From Public Enemies to Ordinary People, there is something for every Chicago movie fan, whether you love a hard-boiled detective flick or a sweet romantic comedy. We’ve pulled the ones we think illustrate our city best– see if you agree!

10. Adventures in Babysitting – One of our favorites that didn’t make the Chicago Magazine list, this ’80s classic features a scene where one of the characters nearly slides off the slanted face of the Stone-Smurfit Building. How can we leave that out?

9. High Fidelity - John Cusack’s quintessential role as a music-loving, lovelorn bachelor in this film is now so famous that it’s a cinema cliche. While the book was set in London, the city Chicago co-stars in the film. Scenes shot in Wicker Park, Lincoln Park and some of Chicago’s best live music venues capture the audiophile side of the city.

8. North by Northwest- Hitchcock teamed up with star Cary Grant for this gritty 1959 film that follows a New York ad exec mistaken for a spy as he is chased across the country– and of course, through scenic Chicago.

7. About Last Night – This ’80s romantic drama shows that some things in Chicago never change. Twenty years later, people still love to play in softball leagues and to gather at Mother’s, a bar at Rush and Division featured in the film.

6. The Dark Knight - After years of New York holding the title that was supposed to be ours, Christopher Nolan brought the Batman franchise back to Chicago. Our city takes on a new darkness in the film, in which Chicago buildings and Lower Wacker Drive make for some of the most suspenseful actions scenes ever filmed.

5. My Best Friend’s Wedding – America’s Sweetheart Julia Roberts, the debut of a young Cameron Diaz, and a scene where whole cast sings a Dionne Warwick song make this movie good, but the Chicago setting makes it great. Roberts’ character tries to stop a wedding by chasing her best friend from the North Shore, down Michigan Avenue, all the way to Comiskey Park and back.

4. Risky Business – One of Tom Cruise’s earliest films made immortal by him lip-synching in his underwear, Risky Business takes place on the affluent North Shore of Chicago and asks, what would a teenage boy really get up to if left home alone in the city of Chicago?

3. Home Alone – Here’s another story of a boy left at home alone in Chicago– only this time, he’s fighting off two bumbling burglars. Starring in maybe the best slapstick comedy of the ’90s, Macaulay Culkin was lauched into immediate child stardom. And twenty years later, the North Shore home where the movie was filmed still gets visits from fans!

2. The Blues Brothers – Second City theater alums John Belushi and Dan Akroyd are considered adopted Chicagoans after creating a movie that has become part of Chicago mythology. You can find homages to these kings of soul all over the city, including welcoming travelers near our store location at Midway Airport.

1. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – For the sheer number of Chicago landmarks covered by this movie, it has to be best one ever filmed in our city. The story takes the cast from the Ben Rose home in Highland Park (Cameron’s house in the film), to Wrigley Field, the Art Institute, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Sears (now Willis) Tower, and the red Calder sculpture in Federal Plaza. Add a cruise down Lake Shore Drive in a vintage Ferrari, and there simply isn’t a film out that can compete with Ferris Bueller’s Chicago-ness.

We highly advise you to grab some gourmet popcorn, cheesecorn or caramelcorn to snack on and settle in for a Chicago movie marathon! To find more movies based or set in Chicago, read more here.

Second City

This group has been a Chicago improve mainstay for decades. Founded in 1959, Second City has produced some of Saturday Night Live’s most famous cast members like Bill Murray, Tina Fey, and Dan Akroyd, and the comedy troupe is also responsible for cultivating talents like The Office’s Steve Carell and Comedy Central darling, Stephen Colbert.

On the main stage is Taming of the Flu, a hodgepodge of sketches having to do with everything from Chicago cabdrivers to Canadian expats living in Chicago. Currently showing on the second stage, The Absolute Best Friggin’ Time of Your Life takes the audience back to a simpler time: the 1990s. This hysterical satire celebrates the budget surplus, low employment rates, and a time when Clinton was king. Whether you’re a Chicago resident or visiting for the weekend, this show is a must see.

Steppenwolf

This Theater was founded in the basement of a Highland Park church by actor Gary Sinise in the 1970s. Now located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park area, the Steppenwolf has fashioned itself in one of the premier stages in the city, and the Steppenwolf’s summer billings are sure to only add to its reputation.

This summer, Frank Galati’s production of Samuel Beckett’s famous comedy Endgame will be playing at the downstairs theater of the Steppenwolf from April 1-June 6th. This touchstone of 20th century absurdist drama tries to make sense of the meaning of life, within the confines of a single, dimly lit room. A panel discussion proctored by the Steppenwolf staff will take place after the performance. Part-time playwright, comedian, and author David Sedaris will be performing a one-man show for Steppenwolf audiences from June 8th-June 13th. Part sketch comedy, part stand-up, Sedaris will be reading passages of his soon-to-released book, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary.

Neo-Futurists

For the Chicagoan looking for something a little more underground, check out the Neo-Futurists. This collective of independent artists, actors, and writers began in the late 1980s and it has become the theater for experimental improve and short plays. These productions aren’t for the faint of heart or young children, and the Neo-Futurists take pride in their eccentricities. Their shows are heavy with audience participation, and promise an experience unlike any you’ve ever had in a playhouse.

If you’ve ever wondered what thirty plays performed in under 60 minutes looks like, then check out the Neo-Futurists production of Too Much Light makes the Baby Go Blind. This Neo-Futurist production tries to do just that. The plays are chosen at random by the loudest members of the Audience who are encouraged to scream out the titles of the plays they want to see most. The subject matter ranges from hysterical to heart breaking, and new plays are added each week just so you’ll never see the same show twice.

Navy Pier’s Construction
Navy Pier was originally built to serve as a docking point and cargo area for freighters on Lake Michigan. Construction started in 1914, ended in 1916, and cost around $4.5 million. Although it was mostly populated by warehouses, the developers realized that the end of the pier could be used as a recreational area for Chicagoans, with cool winds relieving the heat during the summer.

Although the pier was built primarily for marine purposes, and four more piers were supposed to be built, it turned out to be much more successful as a meeting place for Chicagoans and tourists. Mass-produced cars and trucks made marine freight much less necessary, and the other piers were never built. During the ’20s and ’30s, the pier incorporated more entertainment features like a children’s park, picnic areas and a dance hall and found new popularity as a destination.

Navy Pier’s Other Uses
While now we think of the Pier as an iconic Chicago destination that is always seen on postcards, it served much more utilitarian purposes for many years. With the United State’s involvement of World War II, the Pier reverted back to heavy marine usage. It was leased to the Navy and became the home of the USS Wolverine and the USS Sable. It was used a training station for 60,000 sailors as well as 15,000 pilots.

After WWII, the Navy and city of Chicago gave the pier over to the University of Illinois. It became the location of a two-year degree program for veterans to receive a college education. It also hosted events during this time. When the University moved to its downtown Chicago campus in the ’60s, the Pier fell out of use.

Without a purpose, the Pier basically became an eyesore for Chicago. Until the late ’80s, there were no plans for its use, and no one wanted to invest in rebuilding it. But finally in 1989, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority planned and executed a $200 million renovation, giving us the Navy Pier we know today.

Today’s Navy Pier Attractions
The early ’90s renovation installed many of the attractions people flock to the Pier for, including:

• the 150-foot Ferris wheel
• the IMAX theater
• the Chicago Shakepeare Theater
• the Children’s Museum
• Smith Museum of Stained Glass
• fast food dining areas, including the famous Billy Goat’s Tavern
• a concert stage
• an interactive fountain

There are also multiple fair rides located on the pier, and throughout the year, various festivals celebrate the season. During the summer, weekly fireworks shows from the Pier can be seen throughout the city but are best enjoyed on the Pier itself. This summer, Navy Pier will host the AeroBalloon for its second summer stay– you can observe the city from 350 feet up in the basked of a huge helium balloon anchored on the Pier.

In August,  you can check out Tall Ships 2010, where Pepsi and the Pier will partner to bring over 20 historic, tall ships in a mile long display to Chicago. The festival featuring the Tall Ships will feature events such as “ship viewing, on-deck tours, sailing excursions, nightly fireworks, arts and crafts, entertainment, and interactive greening initiatives.”

Navy Pier has attractions throughout the year and is always one of Chicago’s top destinations no matter the season. But as summer approaches, we’re more excited for the Pier than ever!

Lake Michigan Fast Facts
Lake Michigan is…

• The only Great Lake located entirely within US borders.
• The second largest Great Lake by volume, and the third largest by surface area.
• The largest lake by surface area residing entirely within one country.
• The fifth largest lake in the world.
• Bordered by Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.
• Almost 1000 feet deep at its deepest point.
• About the same size as the State of West Virginia.

Public Beaches and Parks Around Chicago
Although the Lake Effect can really bring in the cold winds and snow during the winter, as May approaches, all Chicago citizens forgive and forget as they get giddily excited for beach season. The Chicago Park District runs 26 miles of the Lake Michigan coast, and admission to all beaches along the coast is free.

Some of the most popular beaches come summertime include the Oak Street Beach which is closest to downtown and North Avenue Beach for dwellers of Chicago’s North Side. Promontory Point in Hyde Park also draws crowds, with some of the best views of city skyline from the South.

Along with the beaches, there is an 18-mile multi-use path that runs the entire length of the city and into the suburbs. It is perfect for runners, bikers, or those who commute to work by bike. Triathletes take advantage of the path’s proximity to open swimming, and marathoners use its length to train. It also makes for a beautiful scenic stroll and a great way to see the city!

Lakeshore Events
Along with the traditional recreation that the lake offers– like kayaking, sailing, fishing and swimming– there are even more ways to enjoy Chicago’s lake proximity throughout the year. Castaways, for instance, is the only bar and grill that is actually on the beach. When the boat-shaped bar opens yearly in May, it serves up food, drinks, ice cream and live music to North Avenue beach bums.

The Air and Water Show is another summer milestone in Chicago. The largest free aviation show in the world, it is also the second most popular event in Chicago with a huge attendance. People flock to the beach to watch stunt pilots, parachute teams, jet formations, water-skiing stunts and boat-jumping, and you can see the show from pretty much anywhere along the coast of Chicago.

In past years, the Lake has also been host to Red Bull’s Flugtag flying competition, where homemade, man-powered crafts vie to see who can glide the farthest before crashing spectacularly into the Lake. Also every year, Chicago citizens take the Polar Plunge into the frigid lake in March to benefit different charities. And of course, there are July 4th fireworks over Lake Michigan each year, along with weekly fireworks shows from Navy Pier throughout the summer.

Chicagoans know there is nothing like that first warm day that you can really take advantage of our lakefront lifestyle– and that’s why Lake Michigan is one of “NUTS ON CLARK”’s Chicago Icons!

About the Hancock
The construction of the Hancock was completed in 1969, and at that time, it was the tallest building in the world outside of New York City. It has a round 100 stories, and with its antennas, it stands at 1,506 feet tall. Now, it is fourth tallest building in Chicago and the sixth tallest building in the United States. It has around 700 condominiums, one of which is the 3rd highest residence in the world.

Visually, the building is known for its famous X-bracing, which gives it stability and allows it to sway in the wind. The X-bracing also allows the inside floorplans to be open and utilize more space, since interior beams aren’t needed to support the structure.

The Hancock’s address is 875 N. Michigan Avenue, placing it right on the Magnificent Mile. It’s perfectly located for anyone who wants to take in the views and then explore more of downtown Chicago’s attractions.

Chicago’s Iconic Sights from the Hancock Observatory
If there is one way to view the city, it’s from 94 floors up. Near the top of the Hancock Tower, you’ll find the Hancock Observatory. With a free multimedia exhibit about the views and the city, you can tour Chicago’s sites from above while learning about the history of the building and the city. Plus, the Skywalk allows you to feel the wind of the Windy City from nearly 100 stories up. There’s no glass, but there is a reinforced steel screen to keep you safe at such heights!

The Hancock Tower’s Sky-High Dining
In the various eateries of the Hancock Tower, you can dine in the sky. On the 95th floor, you’ll find the Signature Room, an upscale dining room fit for a formal dinner while you overlook the nighttime skyline. A floor higher you’ll find the Signature Lounge, a slightly more casual meeting place where you can enjoy a chic lounge atmosphere 1,000 feet up in the air.

Recently added to the Hancock’s dining offerings is the world’s highest Espression Cafe. The chic coffee chain serves Italian Lavazza coffees, food created by famous Spanish chef Ferran Adria, and “Espesso,” a coffee-foam treat that TIME Magazine called one of the best inventions of 2006.

Whether you want to dine, see Chicago from the sky or learn about the history of the city, the John Hancock buildings helps you achieve that experience. Just like eating Chicago popcorn is something we would recommend you don’t miss while you’re in Chicago, visiting this iconic Chicago building is at the top of “NUTS ON CLARK”’s must-do list.

When visiting or living in Chicago, a tour of the great architect’s work is a great learning experience and will introduce you to various neighborhoods of the city. As we cover all the best attractions of our home city, the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright can’t be overlooked!

Charnley-Persky House
One of Wright’s first projects in Chicago was the James Charnley House, now the Charnley-Persky House, which he created in partnership with Louis Sullivan, his mentor and first employer. The mansion still stands in Chicago’s Gold Coast, and you can tour the property and see its three-story atrium. As Wright’s work developed, his interiors became as important to the homes he designed as the architecture of the buildings. You can see him just getting his start in the atrium of the Charnley-Persky home.

The Rookery Building
Another famous Chicago building that displays Wright’s work is the Rookery Building. It became one of the few downtown properties where you can see his design when he remodeled the interior in 1905. Wright opened up the famous “Light Court” lobby to more natural light with his remodel and added the white marble and double staircase that make the room a popular spot for weddings and events now.

Oak Park’s Prairie Homes
Wright moved to the suburb of Oak Park in 1889. It was there between 1889 and 1913 that he developed his most recognizable style of design, the Prairie home. Prairie homes are created to embody the landscape of Illinois, and they are usually open plan homes with sloping roofs, clean sky lines and unfinished materials.

Many prairie homes designed by Wright are scattered throughout the suburbs of Chicago, but the main concentration is Oak Park, where Wright’s own home and studio are located. Along with viewing his own workspace and personal home, you can take walking tours, bike tours or themed tours (like “Wine & Wright”) of all of the Oak Park Wright homes. You’ll experience the architecture of the homes along with the famous interior details like stained glass and furniture designed by Wright that became his trademark.

Other Chicago Wright Buildings
Along with the private homes he designed in Oak Park, the famous architect has placed his fingerprints all over the city. The Unity Temple in Oak Park is a demonstration of what Wright could do with institutional interiors, creating awe and inspiration in a house of worship.

The Coonley House in the Riverside neighborhood shows what Wright could do with an unlimited budget. Designed for Avery Coonley, an heir to an industrial fortune and a huge admirer of Wright, the home basically allowed Wright to pursue his best work with freedom.

In another historic Chicago neighborhood, Hyde Park, there is his famous Robie House, featuring Wright’s signature overhanging roofs and outdoor terraces. It was the last home he designed from his studio in Oak Park and is generally considered the epitome of the Prairie style.

Chicago is known for its elegant architecture, and all of these properties add to the beauty of the city. Frank Lloyd Wright’s work enriches our home city, and we’re proud to share Chicago with such famous structures!

Wrigley’s Sports History
Wrigley is of course known to baseball fans as the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. But fewer know that for most of its existence it was a multi-sport facility, acting as home to Chicago’s NFL franchise, the Bears, from the 1920s to the 1970s. It is the oldest ballpark in the National League and the second oldest in use in Major League baseball, behind only Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox in Boston.

Its notable features include its adherence to an older style of ballpark– it still only seats around 41,000, making it one of the smallest ballparks in the Major League. Visitors will remember its ivy-covered brick outfield wall, its famous red signage and its hand-operated scoreboard– all relics of its long history. The field didn’t even have lights until the late 1980s, making for a limited number of night games!

Another feature of the Wrigley experience is the rooftop seating surround the ballpark. Many surrounding buildings have opened rooftop bars with bleacher seating, where you can host parties, eat, drink and watch the game.

Wrigley is also famous for its “W” and “L” flags, signaling a win or loss to the city. You’ll see white flags with a blue “W” flying across Chicago front porches during baseball season, hung by fans hoping for more wins than losses! Fans are also known to wear W flags at home and away games throughout the season.

Wrigley Events
Wrigley hosts a number of other events throughout the year, especially during the Cubs’ off season. It has hosted a summer concert series in recent years, featuring feel-good performers like Jimmy Buffett, The Police, Rascal Flatts, Elton John and Billy Joel. In the summer of 2010, the Dave Matthews Band will perform in the famous sports stadium.

For the first time since the 1970s, Wrigley will also host a football game– but this time, it will be a college showdown. It was recently announced that the Northwestern University Wildcats will face off against the University of Illinois Fighting Illini during the college football season of 2010.

During the winter of 2010, Wrigley made way for a hockey game between arch rivals and “Original Six” teams the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic. On January 1, diehard fans of both teams bundled up for the outdoor hockey game which the Red Wings won 6 to 4, to the chagrin of Chicagoans across the city.

Finally, during the winter, the parking lot of Wrigley hosts an ice skating rink  for and other holiday-themed activities. “The Rink at Wrigley” draws families and fans to experience Wrigley in the offseason.

Whether you visit Chicago during the Cubs’ season or throughout the year, a trip to Wrigley and the surrounding neighborhood of Wrigleyville is important gaining the whole Chicago experience. Understanding the importance of the field and its fans helps you understand the people of Chicago! And plus, with our flagship store a few blocks away on Clark Street, you can buy Chicago-style popcorn while getting to know Chicago-style sports, too.