Architectural Photos of Chicago’s Mag Mile
A few weeks ago I signed up for an Instagram account for Chicago Detours. I had already had a personal one, which I decided I would keep to private and just use for sharing with friends pictures of things I thought are funny or curious. I didn’t want to bore my friends with my obsession […]
A Brief History of Living in the Loop
Most of us think of downtown as a place for big business and shopping, but a few people actually live downtown. Inspired by the construction of the new Waterview Tower climbing to the skies near the river, I decided to explore a history of residential architecture in the Loop.It’s a topic that comes up fairly […]
Chicago History and Architecture Answers from Tour Questions
To make good on our commitment to questions asked on our Chicago architectural and historical tours, here are some answers to questions from inquisitive people. What ever happened to the World’s Fair? This question struck me most of all the random requests that are made of my knowledge bank during our tours because I had […]
A Forgotten History: Chicago Cable Cars
Greg Borzo, author of Chicago Cable Cars (The History Press, 2012), joins the blog for a guest post today: When most people hear “cable car” they think “San Francisco.” Yet for 25 years the largest cable car system the world had ever seen operated in Chicago, transporting more than one billion riders. I discovered these facts and […]
Architecture of Private Club Buildings in Chicago
A while ago I dug into the architecture of private club buildings in Chicago for a class. I had previously been inside of the opulent University Club for a special lunchtime talk. To be honest, I also just loved having an excuse to see the rest of these buildings. So I chose to focus my studies […]
A History of Hugh Hefner in Chicago
Most locals remember that, like Hugh Hefner himself, the myth and image of Playboy was born here in Chicago. But standard trivia like that is never enough for us! So let’s take a moment to talk a little more about the story behind the man and his club. You can learn a bit more by […]
How Can Architecture Solve Urban Problems?
We all try to do what we can to help make the world a better place. Especially at the holidays, one gets bombarded by pleas for support. Don’t worry, this is not one of those moments. Instead we’d like to share with you our new Chicago Detours Giving Initiative. It’s a little something we hope will […]
Weird New Year’s Eve in Chicago
So many things to do on New Year’s Eve tonight: schmancy parties, prix-fixe menus, and special concerts. Ringing in the new year in Chicago has so many options, and of course many Chicagoans choose to avoid the craziness and just stay home. Archival New Year’s Eve The video below was shot live for Chicago’s WTTW […]
What To Do in Chicago at Christmas
Chicago at Christmas has a magical atmosphere with the holiday lights and people bustling by on the sidewalks. There is no lack of fun holiday events and activities that are great for family visiting from out of town. Here are a few ideas of things to do from Christmas through the end of December. The […]
New Chicago Pedway Map and Guide
With the help of some great designers, I decided to create a new Chicago Pedway map. Guests on our custom private tours often ask ‘Where do we get a map?’ I had come to know the Pedway system “inside and out” while designing our tours, which venture into building interiors and uses the Pedway to […]