Photo from the Chicago Tribune.Swing batta batta batta batta!
One of the great things about going to Chicago last year was that it was fresh on the heels of Barack Obama becoming the first African American president of the U.S.
The guy's picture was everywhere, like he was famous or something. Go figure!
As a result, I gave our students a blogging assignment to visit at least three of the following Chicago destinations related to Barack Obama, which I compiled from a wide variety of sources - though I think most of the heavy lifting was from the Chicago Tribune and New York Times.
In fact, the Chicago Tribune has an awesome Obama map companion piece right here.
A shout out to these sources - and the forgotten ones!
I'm not going to give the same assignment this year, but it might make a fun afternoon out for someone looking for something presidential to do on their travels:
Obama family home
5046 S. Greenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60615
The Obamas bought the house for $1.7 million in 2005. (Warning - Secret Service is blocking access to the area.)
Former condo
5450 SE View Park
Chicago, IL 60615
A condo where the family lived for 12 years.
Trinity United Church of Christ
400 W. 95th St.
The church the Obamas left because of controversial remarks by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Barber shop
1464 E 53rd St
Chicago, IL 60615
The now-defunct barbershop where, for 20 years, Obama got his hair cut.
Hyde Park Hair Salon
5234 S. Blackstone Ave.
773-493-6028
Where Obama gets his hair cut now.
Old Baskin Robbins
1400 E 53rd St
Chicago, IL 60615
A red brick building with green awnings housed the now-closed Baskin-Robbins where he and Michelle had their first kiss.
57th Street Books
1301 E 57th St
Chicago, IL 60637
Obama held launch parties here for his books, "Dreams" and "The Audacity of Hope," and has reportedly called it his favorite bookstore.
Valois
1518 E 53rd St
Chicago, IL 60615
Where Obama ate before heading to D.C. for his Senate job. The cafeteria-style restaurant does breakfasts and, on Thursdays and Sundays, chicken pot pie.
University of Chicago Law School
1111 E 60th St
Chicago, IL 60637
Obama taught here from 1993 to 2003. Designed by Eero Saarinen, the man who gave us the St. Louis Gateway Arch, it was another favorite of students who visited last year.
Basketball Courts
S Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL
Where Obama and his brother-in-law, Craig Robinson (now a coach at Oregon State University), shot hoops.
South Shore Cultural Center -- Wedding reception
7059 S South Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60649
Michelle and Barack were married on Oct. 3, 1992, and held their reception here.
Holy Rosary Catholic Church rectory
351 E 113th St
Chicago, IL 60628
Where Obama worked as a community organizer in the '80s, a job slammed by Republican vice-presidential candidate and future TV queen Sarah Palin at the GOP convention.
Grant Park's Hutchinson Field
E Congress Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60605
Grant Park's Hutchinson Field (just south of Congress Parkway, east of Michigan Avenue), is where Obama gave his victory speech on Election Night in front of 250,000 people.
Pre-election campaign headquarters
233 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60601
Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 E Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60601
Obama watched the election returns with his family and close campaign aides here.
Sidley & Austin
Chase Tower
10 S Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60603
Where Barack and Michelle met in 1989 while he was a summer associate. She was an associate mentor.
Federal Plaza
50 W Adams St
Chicago, IL 60603
Where Obama, as a state senator, gave a speech denouncing the Iraq war during a small 2002 anti-war rally.
Maria Pinto
135 N Jefferson St
Chicago, IL 60661
Maria Pinto, in the city's Market District, is the shop featuring silk scarves, cashmere scarves, ties and clothing designed by the person who dressed Michelle Obama for the Democratic National Convention.
Topolobampo
445 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60610
A favorite dinner spot. Barack and Michelle are regulars, at one of the booths lining the restaurant's south side. They apparently order the guacamole and sopa Azteca.
MacArthur's Restaurant
5412 W Madison St
Chicago, IL 60644
If it's on the menu that day, order Obama's turkey legs and dressing.
Spiaggia
980 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
Barack and Michelle dined here on the Saturday after Election Day. Obama apparently loves the wood-roasted scallops."
Roy's
720 N State St
Chicago, IL 60610
Obama's Hawaiian cuisine connection.
East Bank Club
500 N. Kingsbury St.
The gym where Obama works out.
More of Barack’s favorite food:
Z+H Market Café
1126 E 47th St. 773-538-7372
Woodlawn Tap, aka "Jimmy's"
1172 E 55th St.
773-643-5516
Where Obama – and author Saul Bellow before him – hung out.
Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop
5225 S Harper Ave
Chicago, IL 60615
Italian Fiesta Pizzeria
1400 E. 47th St., Chicago
Tel: (773) 924-5339
Barack's favorite pizza: cheese and sausage is the most popular.
Other Obama favorites:
Pizza Capri, 1501 E. 53rd St.
Calypso Cafe, 5211 S. Harper Ave.
Last year Dave Shorr got his face sliced & diced at the barbershop where Obama goes now - get him to tell that story if he hasn't already. We also went to valois and had some tasty Margaritas at just after noon, which was a great experience.
ReplyDeleteArrgh!!! I want to go back!