Experience the Thrills and Chills of The Chicago Air & Water Show!

The end of summer in Chicago is celebrated with a spectacle that draws hundreds of thousands of people to the lakefront for one last hoorah – The Chicago Air & Water Show! The private balcony of your Lincoln Park 2550 residence is sure to have the best views of the show, but you could also take a picnic to the lakefront to catch the action. Either way, you will be treated to an amazing spectacle of civilian and military aircraft that concludes with a performance by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The skill and precision of these pilots is quite impressive. For play-by-play commentary of the show, tune in to WBBM Newsradio 780 or 105.9.

The Chicago Air & Water Show
August 18th and 19th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Chicago’s Lakefront, North Avenue Beach and heading north and south

Say It Isn’t So…

On August 12^th, the games of the XXX Summer Olympiad in London will draw to a close. It’s important to keep in mind the spirit that brought all of these wonderful countries together. Every country is proud of their athletes and what they were able to accomplish in London, whether they made it to the medal stand or not. And for those who won a medal – WOW! Being an Olympic athlete is an incredible accomplishment. No matter what these athletes choose to do with their lives professionally, they have learned the value of hard work, camaraderie among teammates and the importance of the strong friendships they have formed and will likely retain throughout their lives! Congratulations to all of the athletes, their families and their countries!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat… on Lincoln Park Lagoon

The Lincoln Park Boat Club is yet another Lincoln Park treasure waiting for you to discover it – and it’s just a short walk from your Lincoln Park 2550 home! The Club’s Mission “is to make boating accessible, affordable, safe and fun for club members and members of the Chicago metropolitan community.” The boathouse is located just east of the Lincoln Park Zoo along the Lincoln Park Lagoon. They offer recreational and competitive rowing as well as a range of classes by level including: Row, Scull, Kayak and Outrigger Canoe (OC). Private and junior classes as well as “Adventures” are also available. So, if you rowed crew in high school or college or are simply interested in learning more about the Boat Club, please visit their website at  http://www.lpbc.net for more details.

Getting There – Enjoying the Show!

Are you a Lollapalooza fan? Is someone special in your life a fan? Well, if you live at Lincoln Park 2550, you’re fairly close to the action. Street closures are already in place though, so check the “Getting Here” section of the website for details about parking, planning a trip via public transportation and even taking a cab. While Lincoln Park 2550 has easy valet service, there will be times when it’s more convenient to take advantage of public transportation. You’re in luck! Chicago has a great public transportation system. Enjoy the show!

It’s Truly For the Birds – Migratory Birds, That is…

The Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary Marker

Lincoln Park holds many surprises. It’s a wonderful place to explore. You wouldn’t necessarily know, for example, that there’s an actual Farm in the Lincoln Park Zoo. Or, that the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool with Japanese-style shelter even exists. Or, that there are several migratory bird sanctuaries nestled along Chicago’s Lincoln Park lakefront.  In fact, the National Audubon Society designated Chicago’s lakefront an Important Birding Area (IBA) in 2007.

East of Lake Shore Drive, and about a mile north of your Lincoln Park 2550 home, you will find the Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Working your way north you’ll find the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary with the “Magic Hedge”.

Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Set on eight acres, the woodland and wetland habitat is home to more than 150 different species of birds as well as small mammals. Millions of birds take advantage of this resting place during their migrations each year. While the Sanctuary is fenced, a path allows you to walk completely around it and a viewing platform allows for elevated viewing. The Chicago Park District maintains the site with volunteer assistance. For volunteer day information, check the Chicago Park District website. 

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary

The Army leased land at Montrose Point from approximately the 1950s through the 1970s and planted what has been coined, “The Magic Hedge”  for the abundance of species it attracts during the migration seasons. Set on 10-acres, the 150-yard long hedge includes shrubs and trees.

Of course, if bird watching is of particular interest to you, the North Pond Nature Sanctuary opposite Lincoln Park 2550 is also home to many intriguing species.

Sources: The Chicago Park District and ExploreChicago.org

For Your Eyes Only!

When you visit Lincoln Park 2550.com, you’ll notice an “Owner Login” tab in the upper right corner. Residents of the building use this handy tool to gain access to a host of information available only to them. They can learn about upcoming building and community events, log a guest, reserve an amenity, receive package notifications, submit maintenance requests and so much more. What a great management tool, and it’s available only to Lincoln Park 2550’s residents!

Embrace Your Inner Olympic Athlete!

The time to celebrate the Olympic spirit is right now. The Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London are Friday, July 27. Think how excited the athletes must be to finally have an opportunity to represent their countries well and show the world how hard they’ve worked in their chosen sport. The training it takes to reach this point is truly impressive and wonderfully inspiring!

As a resident of Lincoln Park 2550, you have everything you need to embrace your inner athlete. While you may not earn a medal, you can certainly achieve your fitness goals with the state-of-the-art fitness center, pool, and access to Lincoln Park for running, biking, rollerblading and more. Periodically, along the Chicago Park District paths, you’ll find stationary equipment allowing you to challenge yourself even further. Do pull ups, sit ups, lunges – whatever comes to mind. You CAN go for the gold!

Olympic Trivia:

What do the five interlocking Olympic rings represent?

The five continents: Africa, North/South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania

What are the colors of the Olympic rings and do they have significance?

Left to right, the rings are blue, yellow, black, green and red. Yes, the flag of each country participating in the Olympics contains one of the colors in the rings.

How many sports are represented?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes 26 medal sports, though there are 39 disciplines. For example, “Aquatics” includes diving and swimming.

How many medals does swimmer Michael Phelps have? 16

8 gold from the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and 6 gold and 2 bronze from the Athens Olympics in 2004.