Chicago (i/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ or /ʃɪˈkɔːɡoʊ/) is the largest city in the US state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States after New York City and Los Angeles. The city has around 2.7 million residents. Its metropolitan area, sometimes called "Chicagoland", is the third largest in the United States, with an estimated 9.8 million people. Chicago is the county seat of Cook County, though a small portion also extends into DuPage County.Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837, near a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed.[8] Today, Chicago is listed as an alpha+ global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, and ranks seventh in the world on the 2012 Global Cities Index. The city retains its status as an international hub for finance, industry, telecommunications and infrastructure, with O'Hare International Airport being the second busiest airport in the world in terms of traffic movements. In 2008[ city hosted 45.6 million domestic and overseas visitors. Among metropolitan areas, Chicago has the 4th largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world, ranking just behind Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles.[10] Chicago is one of the most important Worldwide Centers of Commerce and trade.Chicago's notoriety has found expression in numerous forms of popular culture, including novels, plays, movies, songs, various types of journals (for example, sports, entertainment, business, trade, and academic), and the news media. The city has many nicknames, which reflect the impressions and opinions about historical and contemporary Chicago. The best known include: "Chi-town", "Windy City," "Second City,“ and the "City of the Big Shoulders.“

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Selected dates: Thursday July 12th to Sunday July 15th

Proposed Activities:-Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (Saturday July 14th)- Check out Chicago’s treasure chest of bars, pubs and lounges. (more in the appendix)- Eat some deep dish pizza- Beach - Girls (the final slide aka the caboose will elaborate)

The Details.

Trip Info:HOTEL – Hyatt Regency Chicago (3PM check in/12PM checkout)

Leave Thursday Evening from YYZ to Chitown. Return Sunday evening

Some guys are coming in either Thursday or Friday.

TRIP FEATURE EVENT Chicago Cubs game(s) vs. Arizona DiamondbacksSat. July 14 – 4:05PM(First series following All-Star Break)Stub Hub bleacher tickets available for about $70 – (see appendix for details)

Chicago Summer 2012 (create your Facebook album now)

The second last slide is for your viewing pleasure.The last one is just the appendix.

This is the caboose

Chicago

Chicago

Chelsea Chelsea ChelseaYep...Chelsea

Another Chelsea

Chelsea

ChelShort forChelsea

And...Ivana

Ivana Humpalot

Appendix - Places to Go

Cubs Tickets (StubHub) – Budwesier Bleachers General Admission Seats – Tickets can be purchased in pairs by calling StubHub at 1.866.788.2482 or online. Since they are General Admission, we can sit together even if we purchase at different times.It’s also a short subway ride to the stadium. Here is the respective StubHub ticket page - http://www.stubhub.com/chicago-cubs-tickets/cubs-vs-diamondbacks-7-14-2012-2055168/

Taste of Chicago - http://gochicago.about.com/od/tasteofchicago/p/taste_chicago.htm

The Globe - The Globe is a little bit of England in the heart of Chicago. Eschewing the usual theme pub pitfalls, it is a warm, welcoming neighborhood bar. The dartboards on the wall feel atmospheric rather than kitsch and work well with the bar’s dark wood décor. Drinks-wise, they offer 20 beers on draft, including Boddingtons and Guinness. They serve full English brekkie and other hearty Brit classics. Fans of football (soccer not American) will find their habit well fed. http://www.worldsbestbars.com/united-states/chicago/the-globe

The Gage - The Gage is unpretentious and deeply appealing spot just across the way from Millennium Park. It’s casual in atmosphere yet excels in lots of little ways. First there’s the food which is considerably better than your usual bar grub offerings – this isn’t just alcohol fodder, but inventive, thoughtful, tasty contemporary American cooking (roasted elk with mash and juniper berries is just one example). The kitchen clearly knows what it’s doing and the food is a draw in itself. Then there are the drinks. The Gage’s bar tenders are a cut above the norm, producing creative cocktails using only premium ingredients; they also stock some vintage whiskies. The décor is low-key but attractive in a vaguely industrial way with subway tiles on the walls and reclaimed factory windows. All these elements come together to make a buzzing bar that’s deservedly popular.http://www.worldsbestbars.com/united-states/chicago/the-gage

Pizza – we can check one or two these out.http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2010/Photos-Best-Pizzas-in-Chicago/index.php?cparticle=1&siarticle=0#artanc

Boat Tour: http://www.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=574

DMK BURGER BAR2954 N Sheffield AveChicago, IL 606577736986482

Vito & Nick's Pizzeria8433 South Pulaski RoadChicago, IL 606521-773-735-2050

Orange3231 N Clark StChicago, IL 60657, United States(773) 549-4400?

Smoque3800 N Pulaski RdChicago, IL 60641, USA(773) 545-7427

Au Bon Pain122 S Michigan Ave # 2Chicago(312) 427-4925

Scooter's Frozen Custard1658 W. Belmont AveChicago, IL 60657, United States(773) 244-6415

Grand Lux Cafe - Breakfast600 N Michigan AveChicago, IL 60611

Lula - Breakfast2537 N Kedzie BlvdChicago, IL 60647

Mexican - Uncle Julio's Hacienda855 W North AveChicago, IL 60622

Joe Seafood, Steak and Prime Rib855 W North AveChicago, IL 60622

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba2024 N Halsted StChicago, IL 60614

Kingston MinesBlues and jazz barhttp://kingstonmines.com/