35 notable Chicagoans share their five favorite things about the city to celebrate Chicago’s 175th birthday
CHICAGO (www.twitter.com/techaccesstv) – In anticipation of the City of Chicago’s 175th birthday, the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is asking 35 notable Chicagoans to share their unique perspectives on what they love most about the city, then posting them on www.ExploreChicago.org, the City of Chicago’s Official Tourism Site, beginning January 16. For 35 days leading up to the City’s March 4 birthday, “175 Ways to Love Chicago” will provide an engaging forum for locals to honor their city by sharing five personal insights about what makes them proud to be a Chicagoan.
From musician Jon Langford’s intriguing recommendations on “How to Listen to Chicago” to a Lincoln Park Zoo biologist’s favorite ways to experience nature, a broad range of Chicagoans including media personalities, artists, chefs, a dancer, a window washer and many others are contributing a list of favorites related to their area of expertise. Even the Picasso sculpture weighs in on its favorite public artworks.
“175 Ways to Love Chicago is a great way to get people excited about Chicago’s 175th birthday and a wonderful resource for both visitors and residents,” said Dorothy Coyle, Executive Director, Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture. “It celebrates the city’s rich cultural diversity and its most important asset – its people – by providing a forum for them to share their own personal insights about what makes Chicago one of the greatest cities in the world.”
Each weekday for 35 days, one Chicagoan’s list of five favorites will be featured on the ExploreChicago blog, which can be found on ExploreChicago.org. Once all 35 lists are posted, “175 Ways to Love Chicago” will provide a unique body of content that will live on through www.ExploreChicago.org to inspire millions of visitors and residents.
“175 Ways to Love Chicago” promotes the upcoming 175th birthday of the City of Chicago. Then, beginning March 4, enjoy “175 Days to Love Chicago”. More details will be announced soon.
About www.ExploreChicago.org
With over 6 million visits in 2011, ExploreChicago.org is the No. 1 travel and tourism website for Chicago based on traffic volume. The site, managed by the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, offers visitors and residents a popular blog; games and social media; multimedia content; information on thousands of events, tours and attractions; visitor discounts, interactive maps and engaging profiles of Chicago’s 77 diverse neighborhoods.
About Chicago’s Visitor Industry
There were nearly 40 million visitors to Chicago in 2010, three-quarters of which were leisure travelers. The Chicago visitor industry generates more than $11 billion in direct spending, $616 million in tax revenue, and sustains more than 124, 000 jobs for the city’s economy.
Visitor Information Resources
Visitors and Chicagoans planning to entertain out-of-town guests can receive trip-planning assistance and information by visiting ExploreChicago.org. Brochures and information on Chicago’s exciting events and activities are also available at the Visitor Information Centers. Friendly Visitor Representatives can answer questions and assist in planning an unforgettable itinerary. The visitor centers are located in two of the city’s most popular areas: across from Millennium Park in the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street; and at the historic Water Works pumping station, 163 E. Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue.
For daily alerts about fun and FREE things to do in Chicago, follow Explore Chicago on Twitter at twitter.com/explorechicago and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/explorechicago. Discover fun itineraries on our blog at explorechicagotourism.com and on Foursquare at www.foursquare.com/explorechicago. Get answers to your Chicago questions on the go, restaurant recommendations, and travel tips via the FREE Twitter Concierge Service (@explorechicago) available daily.
The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is dedicated to promoting Chicago as a premier cultural destination to domestic and international leisure travelers, providing innovative visitor programs and services, and presenting free world-class public programs. For more information please visit www.ExploreChicago.org.
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