HI-CHICAGO

Traveler Spotlight: Johnny & Ed

2012-02-10T14:31:00.002-06:00

This morning during breakfast, I had the pleasure of meetingJohnny and Ed - two very interesting fellows from the UK.

Johnny and Ed are old friends from university and have beenexploring Chicago together for the past week. Johnny is currently on a five month sabbatical and has already visitedAustralia, New Zealand, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, New York City, and Chicagois his last and final stop on his trip before returning back to his job inWales at the end of this week. Ed, on the other hand, took a week off work fromhis job in London to visit Chicago and meet up with Johnny.

They were drawn to Chicago because many of their friendsfrom the UK who previously visited just raved about the city so they werecurious to see it for themselves. Since they’re at the very end of their trip(and budgets) they’ve been finding free and cheap things to do around Chicago.So far they’ve visited the Art Institute of Chicago, Improv Olympics comedy show, and BuddyGuy’s Legends Blues Club. Today they’re planning to check out the Museum ofContemporary Photography, attend another improv show, and eat moreChicago-style deep dish pizza. Have fun!

Interview by Kim Pitingolo

Traveler Spotlight: Gustavo

2012-02-07T10:29:00.000-06:00

As I was wandering around breakfast at the hostel this morning, trying to snag a cup of free coffee, I noticed Gustavo sitting quietly at a table by himself. He was one of the few hostelers enjoying breakfast without a laptop in front of him, and I took this as an invitation to interrupt his solace for a quick Traveler Spotlight interview.

Originally from Brazil, Gustavo is currently traveling for about a month and a half through the US to audition for a place in a music academy. I know -- he's Brazilian, he has great hair, and he's a musician? Almost too good to be true. He'll be here for another week or so, ladies.

So far he has wandered around Millennium Park, taken a look at his reflection in the Bean, and checked out some of the many theaters scattered throughout the downtown area. He seems unfazed by the cold weather and eager to keep exploring. He told me that he's hoping to sneak a peek inside the famous Chicago Theatre on State Street -- who knows, maybe he'll even get to perform there someday? He has an audition on Saturday for a place at Roosevelt University, and then he's off to the next city and the next audition. After that, it's back to Brazil to play the waiting game until May, which is when he should start hearing back from the universities. Good luck, Gustavo!

Interview by Jackie DesForges

2012-02-07T09:40:00.001-06:00

Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Exhibition at HI Chicago
The exhibition is open now though March.

“The threads that I drewwith icing are reminiscent of individuals in society and the colors of threadrepresent various races. One small thread cannot weave an entire cloth. And itis impossible to weave a cloth with tangled threads. We must learn toappreciate and incorporate all the different threads in order to weave abeautiful cloth.” Third prize winner Ellie Jung.

This piece is acollaborative production by the youth and mentors from the nonprofitorganization, Connect Force. Dr Martin Luther King. The piece depicts phraseschosen by the students such as, “Action for the community,” “Wethe People,” Push the movement” and “For a better world.”Connect Force Alternatives, Inc.

Caring for the Environment

2012-02-06T09:57:00.001-06:00

Greater knowledge, loveand care of the countryside have been a part of Hostelling International’s worldwidemission statement since 1932. And since its construction in 2000, HostellingInternational Chicago has worked to lessen its impact on the environment. Werehabilitated a mostly vacant building in Chicago’scentral business district and prevented it from being demolished and throwninto a landfill. Green technologies available in 2000 were used to lessenenergy consumption and encourage recycling by travelers. Now after 11 years ofoperation, we are taking a fresh look at what it means to be a sustainableorganization. Sustainability is broader than only caring for the environment. Wenow include caring for people, caring for the environment, and maintaining ourfinancial health as the three necessary parts to being sustainable.

Withrespect to environmental responsibility, HI-Chicago is taking a more criticallook at the impact that we make on our planet and sharpening our efforts tofurther green the hostel. An important part of this renewed focus is to listento you, the travelers. We know that care for the environment is important foryou as well, so we encourage you to come alongside us and join our efforts tobe kinder to the earth.

Right now HI-Chicago is conducting an internalaudit to assess its energy consumption and waste management relative to otherhostels and hotels. One immediate goal is to improve recycling in all areas: guestrooms, kitchen, common rooms and offices. In addition, current and emergingtechnologies and strategies will be reviewed for their applicability toreducing energy and water consumption.

HI-Chicago has many colleagues around the worldin Hostelling International that are also looking at sustainability in thisbroader view of environmental responsibility, plus social responsibility joinedwith financial performance. We are excited to be a part of an emerging, virtual,sustainability team alongside our friends at the Reykjavikhostels in Iceland,leading environmentally-friendly hostels. More than that, we are eager to makeHI-Chicago a place where guests and staff make eco-friendly choices every day!

2012-01-31T12:57:00.000-06:00

2012Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition Exhibition

HostellingInternational Chicago, in collaboration with The School of the Art Institute ofChicago, hosted the 6th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition,honoring the life and work of Dr. King and the continuing struggle for civilrights today.

Every week we willbe posting two of the12 murals that are exhibit on our 2nd floor windows. Ifyou pass by the Hostel you can take a closer look to the beautiful murals. Theexhibition is open now though March.

“Entering collegewas like a cultural shock to me, all I knew was Black and I sometimes find itdifficult to socialize because of the lack of integration. My mural isbasically a visual summary of that desire I have for more communities andschool districts to become integrated, so that people can have the opportunityto obtain a more well-rounded view of life.” First place winner ChannelC. Thomas.

“Idecided to use thin Japanese paper, letting the light go through it so theinstallation would change throughout the day, to create a human shape based onMartin Luther King, Jr.'s figure… My challenge with the "Paper Thin"installation was really to show how just one human being, been as fragile aspaper like anybody, can change the face of history with a vision.” Second placewinner Marc Socie.

2012-01-24T11:14:00.001-06:00

Friends of Hostelling International Chicago,

Show some love right now for hostelling, international understanding, and education that creates global citizens among our students. Groupon’s G-Team, their philanthropic service, has chosen HI-Chicago’s Cultural Kitchen educational program as the featured nonprofit cause this week for its Daily Deal subscribers. You can make a difference in a young student’s life by making a donation in any amount starting at only $10.

Please Donate

The G-Team donation page is open! Donations can be made now through Thursday, January 26^th at midnight Central. Follow this link for more information and to make a donation: http://www.groupon.com/deals/gt-hostelling-international-chicago Thank you for your support of our students and congratulations on bringing yourself a healthy dose of good karma.

HI-Chicago receives 100% of the donations which will give students the chance to learn to be global citizens. You can support the Cultural Kitchen educational program in increments of $10, with every $70 providing a student with the opportunity to gain understanding of world cultures, world citizenship, and respect for diversity. HI-Chicago is an Illinois nonprofit and 501(c)(3) qualified organization, therefore your donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

We need your help to take full advantage of this opportunity. Support the campaign with a pledge and spread the word to friends and family, encouraging them to do the same.

More Information

G-Team is a community outreach initiative within Groupon that brings communities together to do good, have fun, and make an impact. G-Team works in Chicago to help mission-driven organizations like ours raise money and raise awareness, channeling the collective buying power of Groupon followers and our local supporters.

Students connect to the world through Cultural Kitchen - experiential learning at its best. Through an interactive classroom curriculum, school teachers lead their students on a journey that increases cultural awareness and encourages open-mindedness towards the world as students study the culture of a country of their choice. Learning becomes real when students come to the hostel, cook an ethnic meal, dine with world travelers, and present their country to an international audience. Students experience the world of travel by sleeping at the hostel before spending the morning reflecting on their learning. Each year HI-Chicago teaches 800 students through Cultural Kitchen in over 30 local schools in partnership with their teachers. Every dollar ensures this outstanding experience reaches as many students as possible.

More information about Cultural Kitchen at the HI-Chicago website: http://www.hichicago.org/community_ck.shtml

Connect with HI-Chicago

a) Facebook: Hostelling International Chicago

b) Twitter: @HostelChicago

Spread the Word!

Please pass this email onto your friends, family and co-workers. The G-Team donation page is open now through Thursday, January 26^th at midnight Central. http://www.groupon.com/deals/gt-hostelling-international-chicago

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Thomas Applegate, Executive Director

Megan Johnson, Education Coordinator

Groupon's G-Team Selects HI-Chicago for Donation Deal

2012-01-20T09:56:00.000-06:00

Hello Friends ofHostelling International Chicago,

Great news!!! Groupon’sphilanthropic service, G-Team, has selected HI-Chicago’s Cultural Kitcheneducational program for next week’s cause to support. As their featurednonprofit on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week, January 24^th- 26^th, HI-Chicago will receive 100% of the donations which willgive local students a chance to learn to be global citizens.

Utilizing G-Team’scollective action model, Groupon subscribers can pledge support for the CulturalKitchen educational program in increments of $10, with each $70 providing alocal student with an opportunity to gain understanding of world cultures,world citizenship, and respect for diversity.

We need your help to takeadvantage of this opportunity.

1. If you haven’t already,then subscribe to Groupon (http://www.groupon.com/subscriptions/new) in Chicago this week. This way you will receive theGroupon deals emails next week when the offer to donate is active. Check the daily Groupone-mail to view our campaign, which will be featured along the right hand sideof the main deal and under the list of daily deals

2.Connect with HI-Chicago through our communication channels:

a)Facebook: HostellingInternational Chicago, and the event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/361296320551607/

b) Twitter: @HostelChicago

3. Support the campaign with a pledge and spread theword to friends and family, encouraging them to do the same.

G-Team is a communityoutreach initiative within Groupon that brings communities together to do good,have fun, and make an impact. G-Team works in Chicago to help mission-drivenorganizations like ours raise money and raise awareness, channeling thecollective buying power of Groupon followers and our local supporters.

Students connect to the world throughCultural Kitchen - experiential learning at its best. Through an interactiveclassroom curriculum, school teachers lead their students on a journey thatincreases cultural awareness and encourages open-mindedness towards the worldas students study the culture of a country of their choice. Learning becomesreal when students come to the hostel, cook an ethnic meal, dine with worldtravelers, and present their country to an international audience. Studentsexperience the world of travel by sleeping at the hostel before spending themorning reflecting on their learning.

“It is always good to keep an openmind to different things such as meeting new people, learning new things,eating new foods, etc. Cultural Kitchen gave me a great start to doing this. Iwant to travel around the world and learn more about every different culturethere is!” Student Diana R., Bogan High School

“I am a second year teacher and myexperience at the hostel was one of my proudest moments in teaching. For thefirst time I really felt I made a difference in my students’ lives by bringingthem this experience.” Olivia Bradley, Clark HS Spanish Teacher

Moreinformation about Cultural Kitchen at the HI-Chicago website: http://www.hichicago.org/community_ck.shtml

Please this email ontoyour friends, family and co-workers, and keep an eye out for the Groupon dailydeal on Tuesday.

Thank you for yoursupport!

Sincerely,

Thomas Applegate,Executive Director at HI-Chicago

Megan Johnson, EducationCoordinator at HI-Chicago

Travelers and students learn about each others' countries in Cultural Kitchen

Family Foto Friday: Abbey, Melody, Miles, Christina, and Bobby!

2011-10-07T13:11:00.000-05:00

This is a special edition! I was hard-pressed to find people in the hostel today, because it's such a gorgeous day (thanks, Chicago, I appreciate it). I ran into a family enjoying themselves in the 2nd floor lounge, playing pool, basking in the sun, and asking questions at the info desk. I asked if I could intrude on their quiet time, and they were happy to share their favorite parts of Chicago and tell me about how they got into hostelling (Christina's uncle loves it!); their hometown, Nashville; and the fact that the whole family loves art so much.

Meet Christina, Abbey, Miles, Melody, and Bobby (from left)! Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee. Welcome!

Christina particularly enjoyed the old Marshall Field's building and told me her suggestion to travelers would be to visit the old Deco building just to ride the escalators up the building and look up into the atrium (and never mind the snooty Macy's salespeople downstairs). She also loved all the old theaters in Chicago, especially Apollo Theater in Lincoln Park.

Abbey had lots of things she liked in Chicago, but was psyched by the John Hancock observatory (we all are, I think), the Art Institute, and the Money Museum.

Miles had lots of fun on the rides at the Navy Pier, especially the ferris wheel (Chicago skyline at night? Yes, please!)

Music-lover Melody really enjoyed a Million Dollar Quartet show as well as the Wicker Park area. She told me that she has two friends she met at rock camp that belong to a band, "Those Darlings", that was playing at the Empty Bottle (how awesome is that?). The whole family enjoyed the show! I'll have to check out "Those Darlings" now!

Bobby also enjoyed the neighborhoods of Wicker Park and Lincoln Park (they said they were planning to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo today!) and the "el" system in Chicago. We started talking about the gorgeous views of the city you get coming into the Loop on the Brown line, and I mentioned that you also get a wonderful view from the Pink line. Which brought me to recommend the National Museum of Mexican Art to this art-loving family, and they said they might check it out tomorrow!

Thanks for talking to me, friends! Hope to see you back in Chicago soon!

Exciting times at HI-Chicago!

2011-09-16T15:29:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday, everyone!


Jugo de Mango at HI-Chicago, September 12th.

There's lots of buzz around here lately! This week, HI-Chicago hosted HIUSA's annual National Operators Meeting. We had a blast with all of the attendees and enjoyed a productive week. We're sorry to see everyone trickling out of the hostel and back to their cities and hostels, but we're looking forward to seeing everyone at the next meeting!

We kicked off the week with a reception in the hostel on Monday night, with a concert by local Latin band Jugo de Mango! It was a fabulous time and a great chance to connect with our beloved hostellers, too :)

Frigg (Finland/Norway)

We have another exciting event coming up at the hostel next week! HI-Chicago is teaming up with the World Music Festival to host a concert by Frigg (Finland/Norway) and DJ Sound Culture (Chicago).

Frigg, a seven-piece Finnish-Norwegian band, produces fresh Scandinavian folk fiddling. They represent a mixture of Kaustinen (Finland) and Nord-Trondelag (Norway) traditions, combined with a taste of Americana and Irish Folk music. Named for the Norse goddess of love and fertility, the band has received numerous accolades for musicianship and performance.

DJ Sound Culture, aka David Chavez, is a native of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood whose music ranges from downtempo brazilian bossa, to NuJazz and AfroLatin House. He has lead a four-year Wednesday night residency at Wicker Park’s Subterranean Lounge, as well as playing most of the major nightclub venues in the city. Sound Culture is an organizer and presenter of cultural music in the city of Chicago.

The performance is here on the second floor of the hostel at 5:30 p.m., and it's FREE, so invite all your friends for a fun time. As an added bonus, we'll be hosting our weekly ice cream social at the same time, in the lounge this time, so you can get your yummies fix while enjoying great music! We're really excited about hosting the event, so we hope to see you all there!

And, a moment you've all been waiting for! TRAVELIXIR is coming! We're teaming up with STA Travel and Whole Foods for our next travel party on Wednesday, September 28th, from 7-10 p.m. This time, our theme is "Big City", and we're hosting it at Brando's Speakeasy. (Fits nicely with the theme, huh? You're welcome ;))

Remember, it's a fun travel party open to everyone 21 and up. Come share your travel stories, mix and mingle with other people from the hostel and community, and have FUN!

We're having door prizes, a special drink created just for us, nibbles provided by Whole Foods Market South Loop, and our photo contest! Submit your "big-city" photo for a chance to win up to $300 in travel prizes. We'll be voting at the party, and you MUST be present to claim your prize if you win! Send your photos to activities.chicago@hiusa.org. ONE original submission per person. Our grand prize is a $150 travel voucher from STA. Get creative with your submissions! Hmmm...can I enter my own pictures? No? Awww, all right...

Get excited! 'Til next time!

Foto Friday winner: Kersten

2011-09-16T14:53:00.005-05:00

It's Foto Friday! Today I met Kersten in the lounge, checking out our huge wall map. I asked if he was looking for his hometown (well, that's what I always look for when I see a map...) and he said he was just looking at all the cities he's ever been to. It was a long list!

I asked him to point out his hometown on the map for us :)

Name: Kersten

Hometown: Hamburg, Germany
Favorite thing about Chicago: relaxing in the parks.

Danke, Kersten!

Foto Friday Winners: Sarah and Michelle

2011-09-02T14:26:00.005-05:00

I was not actually stalking a Foto Friday victim yet when I ran into Sarah and Michelle at the info desk on the second floor. They were looking for Union Park on a map, and I helped them figure out how to get there (FYI, you take the Pink line to Ashland). I started chatting with them and decided I had found my winners! In exchange for their time, they'll get to enjoy a free show at ComedySportz tomorrow night!

Names: Sarah (left) and Michelle (right).

Hometowns: Hempstead, UK and Harare, Zimbabwe.
Favorite Chicago spots: Willis Tower Skydeck and the Shedd Aquarium!

Thanks, gals! Enjoy the rest of your time in Chicago!

Foto Friday Winner: Zhi Huang

2011-08-26T16:13:00.005-05:00

Today I was wandering around the almost empty hostel and bumped into Zhi in the common room, taking a break from the busy day. Ta-da...FOTO FRIDAY WINNER! Sadly, Zhi is leaving Chicago tomorrow, so he couldn't go to the ComedySportz show I offered him. But he still told me about his time in Chicago! It's actually his third time here!

Name: Zhi Huang
Home country: China
Favorite thing about Chicago: The weather, the skyline, and the friendly people

We like the friendly people, too, Zhi :)

Foto Friday Winner: Anne-Claire

2011-08-19T14:32:00.011-05:00

Each week, we pick one or two guests to be featured on the blog and win a free prize, and Anne-Claire is our pick for the week. She was chatting with another guest in the lounge when I spotted her, and she's just received two free tickets to ComedySportz!

Name: Anne-Claire

Hometown: Paris, France

Most excited to see: Film Museum

A Fond Farewell

2011-08-18T14:48:00.012-05:00

Hello all my loyal readers! OK fine, let's be real...

Hi Mom.

This is my last week as an official HI-Chicago intern, and thus the last official HI-Chicago intern post of the summer of 2011! Have faith that another member of the HI team will be able to fill my (admittedly large) shoes with equally witty and informative contributions, and keep you in the know for all of Chicago’s top events! As we soak in the bittersweet moment, let us begin…

Chicago Air and Water Show: August 20-21, 11am-4pm

If you haven’t heard about the Chicago Air and Water show, you’ve probably heard it, at least if you’ve ever been within 500 miles of Chicago towards the end of August. This rocket-powered event features the US Air Force Thunderbirds, US Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, and US Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs, all demonstrating their loud but impressive skill. If you’re super pumped to see the show as close as possible, we recommend posting up at North Avenue Beach, the Airshow center, where you’ll be right in front of the action and be able to listen to MC Herb Hunter broadcasts (or you can tune in at WBBM 780) and be on the front line where the Golden Knights land, but be aware that crowds flock here, so you should try to arrive 1.5-2 hours early to get a good spot. Other hotspots include Belmont Harbor Point, Diversey and the lakefront, Oak Street Beach, Ohio Street Beach, and Navy Pier – these may not be as packed as North Avenue, but the crowds will still be pretty dense, so don’t plan on sunbathing! *Insiders note: you can see the show without the crowds on Friday, August 19, as they do a full practice show during the same time!*

If you’re not planning on watching the show, then get the heck out of dodge. It might be a good time to explore the lovely neighborhoods to the south or the west, or really anything away from the lake! Check out Chinatown, catch a White Sox game at US Cellular Field (vs. Rangers, 6:10pm on Saturday, 1:10pm on Sunday), mosey over to Little Italy/University Village, or even play around in the Wicker Park/Bucktown scene – just avoid Lincoln Park and the downtown lakefront! And when you get that panic attack thinking Chicago is under siege, remember: It’s just the Thunderbirds. Free.

North Side Summerfest: August 20, 12-10pm; August 21, 11am-9pm

You’re probably wondering, why on earth would I go to another event with Summerfest in the name and Sixteen Candles, “Chicago’s favorite 80s cover band,” headlining? Seriously, they’ve played almost every street festival this summer; it’s impressive they have time to do anything else. But summing up the reason to visit this North Side festival can be done in 4 words: Hot. Dog. Eating. Contest. This is everything a summer festival should be, and North Side Summerfest is finally delivering. Even if you don’t want to stuff 20+ hot dogs down your throat (although if you soak them in water, I believe the bun goes down easier), some of the area’s top specialty hot dog vendors will be selling their gourmet dogs so you can get your chance at a real Chicago dog: yellow mustard, white onions, sweet pickle relish, tomato, pickled sport peppers and a dill pickle spear. Absolutely no ketchup allowed. Enjoy! $5 donation.

Wrigleyville Block Party: August 19-21, 11am-8pm

Don’t miss your last chance to tailgate with 5,000 of your closest friends for the Cubs-Cardinals series this weekend! The big draw of a Wrigleyville Block Party mainly comes from wanting to experience the general messiness of the neighborhood on a game day, and have the opportunity to do it on the street without fear of authorities coming in and ruining the fun. Then again, if you live in Wrigleyville, expect a higher-than-average amount of beer cans, hot dog wrappers, and rowdiness on your front lawn. Sorry about that. Anyway, the game schedule is as follows: 8/19-1:20pm, 8/20-3:10pm, 8/21-7:05pm, and tickets run from $15 to $75 (or way less if you choose to buy one on the street after the 1^st inning is over). Entry to the block party is free.

And while I could go on about the various other festivals this weekend – you can also spend your weekend at the South Shore Summer Festival, Greekfest, or Ladyfest Midwest (not actually a street festival since it’s held in a bar, but it does have fest in the name – actually, this sounds pretty cool, anyone with a feminist kick should definitely check it out and soak in the post-punk, riot, girl power spirit), we’re going to end on a different note.

Summer is almost over, and the amount of programming the city has had to offer has been intense, to say the least. If you missed out on a few things, or have been so utterly overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of events at your disposal that you hid under the couch for most of July, don’t feel bad. It’s not too late to get in on the action, so behold a somewhat imperfect you-should-really-do-these-things-before-it-gets-too-cold-so-you-won’t-ever-leave-the-house-unless-it’s-necessary-for-survival list for the remaining weeks of summertime! Be sure not to consider this all-inclusive by any means;I’m sure there are some events out there that don’t revolve around free music or drinks. Maybe.

»Take in a free concert at Millennium Park…

There is still tons of music to be heard (for free) in Millennium Park (for free) with the phenomenal backdrop of a Chicago skyline (for free). Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz will continue to host its Thursday night shows until September 1^st, the Lunchbreak Music Series has its mid-afternoon performances until September 5^th, and the critically acclaimed (and popularly acclaimed, so you know it’s actually cool) Chicago Dancing Festival takes place on August 27^th, so there’s still time to experience this Chicago summertime staple! Labor Day Weekend wraps it all up with the Chicago Jazz Festival with live music in multiple locations, but the highlight rests at our beloved Pritzker Pavillion Friday night, September 2^nd, for the Saxophone Summit. Did I mention yet that it’s all free?

»Get your groove on at Chicago SummerDance…

Free dance lessons, incredible bands and dance styles from all over the world, and the chance to stumble around with 200 other Chicagoans who have no idea what they’re doing? Absolutely. If you have yet to check out a Chicago SummerDance, every Thursday through Saturday in Grant Park, then be sure to hit it before its final installation on September 18^th! Some highlights in the line-up include Cuban Salsa with Charanga Tropical (8/20), Honky-Tonk Country Two-Step with The Hoyle Brothers (8/27), Jump Blues and Swing with the Flat Cats (9/3), and African Expressions and Soukous with Occidental Brothers Dance Band International (9/15). It may not help you from looking like a fool at your friends’ weddings (shame that nobody does the Honky Tonk Two-Step at weddings anymore…), but it’s FUN!

»Enjoy the sunshine on a restaurant/bar patio or rooftop…

Many restaurants and bars have fantastic outdoor spaces that only make appearances in the warmer months, so be sure to hit a few beer gardens or rooftops before they go back into hibernation! Some of our recommendations: the newly debuted, spacious beer garden at Frontier in Noble Square; Bridge House Tavern in River North for a patio brunch overlooking the water; West Loop’s Market with a sports filled rooftop deck (and ping-pong in the beer garden!); killer views and a cocktail at Epic’s rooftop lounge; the sexy vibe at the aptly named ROOF atop the Wit Hotel in the Loop. Bring your sunscreen and enjoy!

»Check out a neighborhood art show and get in touch with your inner critic…

There are tons of free art shows all over the city, and even if you have no idea what that sculpture made of recycled condoms is supposed to be, it’s fun to guess. Head to River North and check out “What If: An International Art Show” this Saturday (8/20) – artists from all over the world have contributed to the out-there show claiming to represent an alternate universe. Not enough for you? They’re also serving free appetizers and free cocktails to those guests who cough up the $0 admission price. Yes, that’s supposed to say $0. It’s free.

»Snuggle up with some friends for a flick in the Movies in the Park series…

This series, sponsored by the Chicago Park District and Charter One, has offered movies nearly every day of the week in parks all across the city, and will continue until September 16^th. Check out the schedule for a full list of parks and films for the rest of the summer, then be sure to pop some popcorn, grab a blanket, and head out at dusk to your neighborhood park.

»Explore your favorite neighborhood with an always-popular pub crawl…

Pub crawls are this writer’s favorite way to explore a city – they give you a good feel for the music, the people, the atmosphere…and they’re generally messy and loud and a freaking good time! Really any neighborhood that has a bunch of bars or clubs clustered together will always provide a good setting for a pub crawl, and you may stumble (literally stumble, depending how many bars you’ve already hit) across your new favorite dive or dancing spot. You can also visit sites like SmallTabs or Drinktown to see what specials are at bars all over the city to keep your wallet from feeling the pain of your explorations. Not comfortable planning your own? Join HI-Chicago on one of our volunteer-led nights out – we have upcoming bar crawls in Wicker Park (8/20) and Lincoln Park (8/27), or check back on our outings calendar for more dates!

»Be awed by the magnificent 15-minute Navy Pier fireworks show…

OK, it’s not that magnificent, but I don’t care how old you are, fireworks are still cool. Navy Pier’s summer fireworks series (Wednesdays at 9:30pm or Saturdays at 10:15pm) will only be around until September 3^rd, but you can still catch them on Saturdays at 9pm throughout the fall until October 29^th. Our suggestion is to pack up a picnic and head over to the lakefront by the Museum Campuses to see the show from there – the view of the city is even better from the south end, and you can bring your own food and drinks to avoid the overpriced tourist traps on the pier! Be sure to head back through Millennium Park so you can see Buckingham Fountain’s 20-minute light and water show (with music that’ll make you think it’s 4^th of July every day…or that you’re at a Toby Keith show), which happens hourly after dusk.

»Run into the Tamale Guy at your favorite bar…

And call me immediately. That Claudio is elusive.

It’s been a lot of fun working here at HI-Chicago this summer (anybody looking for a fantastic internship and the chance to explore this magnificent city, check out the website for postings – White Sox fans need not apply), and I hope all two of you reading this took at least one of our suggestions for a great Chicago summer! Try to take advantage of these opportunities soon, mainly because the city is broke and really should stop spending all this money. Like maybe Taste of Chicago could be scaled down a bit; you can only eat so many Pickles on a Stick and Rainbow Cones in one week. And so, it’s been real, Chicago. I’ll be back soon. But for now…onwards to Iceland!

What? There was a cheap ticket. Maybe you’ll even get a blog about it.

Written by: Keren Mikva

Foto Friday Winners: Bernard and Richard

2011-08-12T16:54:00.004-05:00

After a brief hiatus (you can blame it on the craziness of Lolla weekend!), we're back with your weekly installation of Foto Friday! Each week, we pick one or two guests to be featured on the blog and win a free prize, and Bernard and Richard are our picks for the week. They were chatting with our lovely front desk volunteer when we spotted them, so they've just received two free tickets to ComedySportz!

Names: Bernard and Richard

Hometowns: Lyon, France (Bernard) and Waterford, Ireland (Richard)

Upcoming plans for Chicago: Checking out the Signature Room at the John Hancock

Get it Get it, Chicago

2011-08-10T15:45:00.019-05:00

Aaaaaand we’re back with the best of Chicago summer weekend festivals and events! Keep your snow boots in the closet because we’re far from over – milk every drop of sunshine from August that you can!

Northalsted Market Days: August 13-14, 11am-10pm

This crazy scene is not your grandmother’s street festival – the high quantity of scantily clad attendees (see picture at right), free condoms, and general hot-messiness of it all makes Market Days a great time for those with an adventurous spirit, or those who are looking for a Lollapalooza-meets-Pride type of atmosphere. It also has a fantastic music line-up, featuring Darren Criss (all Glee die-hards reading this just gasped), Frenchie Davis (same goes for all American Idol/The Voice fans), and Ms. Gloria Gaynor herself (you should all be gasping – she’s terrific). A huge variety of drink and food options, along with hundreds of art stands, make this one street festival you don’t want to miss. $7/before 5pm, $10/after 5pm.

Mad Decent Block Party: August 13, 12-10pm

Aptly named, the Mad Decent Block Party is incredibly decent (dare we even say awesome?) – over 30 artists will be performing, including Curren$y, Dillon Francis, Reptar, Bosco Delrey, and more! Never heard of any of these people? That’s OK, us neither, but they’re actually pretty legit, span all kinds of genres, and you can check out various artists on the event’s Facebook page. This traveling block party is going to hit Chicago’s Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood with a bang, and is open to all ages during the fest, though most of the after-parties are 21+. Did we mention it’s completely FREE entry? Like there won’t even be those $5 donations that are “suggested” but you know you’ll get the stink eye if you don’t cough up some cash.

We R Hip Hop Festival: August 13, 1-6pm

The sixth annual installation of this festival features break dancing competitions, rap and graffiti battles (we’re picturing people shooting spray paint at one another, but it’s more likely some kind of intense artwork contest given the pictures we found from previous years, bummer, right?), and performances by – you guessed it – tons of hip hop artists. Mass Hysteria, Phero, Struggle Academy, and, our personal favorite, Hood Huntaz, will all be tearing up the stages in Dvorak Park. Bonus points – this youth-run festival is dedicated to supporting peace and anti-violence in our community. So it seems Mass Hysteria will be wreaking peaceful hysteria, just to clear up any confusion. Free entry.

Wrigleyville SummerFest: August 13, 12pm-10pm; 8/14, 10am-9pm

Wrigleyville SummerFest is a fairly generic Chicago street festival, but with one noteworthy exception: old skool hip hop party band Too White Crew will be performing on Saturday at 8pm. The best way to describe them is to quote their own words, “Alright STOP. Collaborate an’ LIS-en. Remember when hip hop Talked About Sex? When you could Bust a Move, Shake the Rump, do the Humpty and no one was poppin’ caps? When Bell Biv Devoe called all y’all tricks “Poison” and warned all the fellas to “never trust a big butt & a smiiiiiile”? We do too.” Basically, it’s all original music with a Vanilla Ice/Pretty Ricky/Young MC inspiration. Who doesn’t love that? $5.

Ferrari Festival: August 14, 11am-2pm

The Italian Village’s 14^th Annual Ferrari Festival gives you the chance to drool over 60 vintage Ferraris, enjoy a traditional Italian buffet, complete with Italian wine and beer, and to make a donation to the Children’s Memorial Hospital and Inspiration Corporation (100% of proceeds will be donated). Car fanatics and Italian-food lovers alike should check out this festival - $30 gets you unlimited access to aforementioned buffet, including drinks. You could do a whole lot more damage than $30 at another festival where $7 gets you a single tallboy. Just saying.

Taylor Street Festa Italiana: August 11-12, 5-11pm; 8/13, 12-11pm; 8/14, 12-9pm

Ferraris aren’t your thing, but you’re still craving a taste of Italy? Head to the Taylor Street Festa Italiana in Little Italy. Food booths from the fabulous variety of restaurants in the neighborhood will be lining the streets, along with four stages of live music. The line-up consists mainly of tribute shows, including those to The Rat Pack, Bon Jovi (YES!) and The Bronx Wanderers, along with DJ sets. Cultural exhibits, Italian merchandise, culinary presentations, and the requisite wine garden makes this festival a Littler Italy in one of Chicago’s most historic and beloved neighborhoods (see how we did that? Yes, we’re clever here at HI).

Chicago Korean Festival: August 13, 12-10pm, 8/14, 12-9pm

Immerse yourself in a unique culture at Chicago’s Korean Festival in North Park this weekend – dance performances, Taekwondo demonstrations and singing contests (apparently there are karaoke artists – it’s not just something you’re convinced to do after one too many drinks?) all give you a taste, but the real draw will be Korean wrestling matches, also known as Ssireum. The national sport of Korea, this sport may not be as bloody as UFC, but it’s just as entertaining with the sole purpose of body throwing your opponent. Who doesn’t love a good body throw?

Porkfest: August 13, 1-4pm

Though this Kosher-vegetarian blogger probably won’t be attending, it remains my duty to inform you about the granddaddy of all cookouts in August: McGee’s Tavern & Grill’s 7^th Annual Porkfest: A General Celebration of Meat. Unlimited ribs, brisket, pulled pork, fried chicken, BBQ chicken, and basically any other kind of way you can cook meat will all be available for the entry fee of $20. Wear your pants with the elastic band and, in the words of McGee’s, “Get Porked!”

And while it’s tempting to leave off with “Get Porked,” it’s not necessarily the sentiment most suited to the rest of this post. So, we’ll end with something more generic. Like, “Until next time!” Or, “Happy heat wave!” Or maybe even, “Stay groovy!” Oh wait, we’ve used all of those already. Fine, you win.

Get Porked!

Written by: Keren Mikva

The Girl Scouts are in Chicago!

2011-08-09T16:43:00.008-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

Today, while walking in the hostel's kitchen I saw the Girl Scouts starting to get their food ready for their spaghetti dinner tonight at the hostel. I have never interviewed a group of Girl Scouts, and I thought it would be interesting to learn their story.

Girl Scout Troop 42745, a group of 8th grade girls from Oak Park IL, took the "L" train to get to HI-Chicago. They have been to Chicago with their families in the past, but never as a Girl Scout Troop.

This is their first time together as a Girl Scout Troop in Chicago, and staying at a hostel! The girls said that the hostel was "really posh" and that when they have been wandering around, they have heard a lot of British accents. They also enjoy eating with travelers at breakfast, and hope to meet more tonight at their spaghetti dinner.

So why did these ladies decide to visit Chicago?

They came to Chicago to earn their Discover Chicago Girl Scout Badge. To earn this badge these girls have to make their own Chicago tour. Each girl did research on a historic part of Chicago. They researched: The Great Chicago Fire, the Chicago Outfit (Chicago Mob), Buckingham Fountain, Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, and her connection to Chicago, the John Hancock Building, and the Chicago Flag. After doing all of their research prior to their Chicago trip, they were finally able to learn about history outside of the books! They saw the John Hancock Building, the Chicago Flag, and tonight they will be going to see Buckingham Fountain and it's fabulous light show.

So would these ladies be interested in traveling again?

Most definitely! They all said that they wanted to travel around the world, and go to places like Russia, Australia, Greece, Switzerland, and many more places.

When I asked them about culture, they said that "Learning about culture is very important, because when you learn about foreign cultures you have a better understanding about their culture, and how it compares and contrasts from your own."

Lollapalooza is almost here!

2011-08-02T16:50:00.001-05:00

Chicago is gearing up for what promises to be a crazy weekend, so let HI-Chicago help you get ready. Kick off the weekend right on Thursday evening with a mixer at the hostel from 5-7pm: 2 free drinks per guest (beer/wine available for 21+), snacks and DJ Idris Oladipo spinning! Directly following the mixer, join us for a pub crawl in Wicker Park to warm up your dancing feet (and your livers) and to meet your fellow festival-goers!

For Lolla itself, be sure to grab your wristbands before the shows start - check in on Thursday at 3pm, run over to the box office, and come back to the hostel by 5pm for the mixer! 3-day ticket holders are required to exchange their ticket for a 3-day wristband, which is non-transferable, non-exchangeable and cannot be replaced. They cannot be removed and must be worn all three days to allow entry. If the wristband is tampered with or mangled, it cannot be replaced! Single day ticket holders do not get a wristband and are not allowed re-entry. Wristbands allow only 5 re-entries per day. The box office, located at the Southeast corner of Michigan Ave and Van Buren St, is only 2 blocks from the hostel and is open Wednesday through Sunday, and box office hours are as follows:

Wednesday/Thursday - 3-8pm

Friday/Saturday/Sunday - 10am-10pm

The main entrance for the shows is at Michigan Avenue and Congress Pkwy, with the North Entrance at Columbus and Monroe. How much more convenient can you get? Band schedules, day-of FAQs, and after-party information are all available on the 2nd floor of the hostel so be sure to take advantage!

Who are you most excited to see? Like us on Facebook and let us know - we've been rocking out to Flogging Molly, Cage the Elephant, Damian Marley and Eminem all week in the intern office (seriously, you should see the intern rendition of "Lose Yourself")! Get pumped for this weekend, and the inevitable festival bonding that takes place 85 degrees and 15 bands into the day - you know those friendships last a lifetime. It's like being war buddies. Kind of.

See you all Thursday!

Traveler Spotlight--Candice

2011-08-02T16:27:00.006-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

Candice Basset has been on an traveling adventure this summer.

Candice is 25years old, and from Lyon, France. She studied International Marketing in school, where she focused on international marketing in hotels.

Last year, Candice traveled around China and thought it was so much fun!

This summer is her second time in the United States. The first time she visited the United States was four years ago, and she was working in California for three months. While she was there on the West Coast, she had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and many other places.

As much as she wanted to go back to the West Coast, she wanted to see something new, so she decided to visit the East Coast! She started her trek in Canada, and went to Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, and Niagara Falls, and now she is in Chicago.

“Every year I try to travel—either internationally or nationally” Candice said. “I don’t really like routines, so I have to change it up. I love to discover something new.”

So what brought Candice to Chicago?

Candice was drawn to Chicago because of all the movies that have been filmed here. Movies like Public Enemies, Chicago, and the television show ER were all located here. I guess she wanted to see the city in real life instead of the big screen.

Candice is enjoying her time here, saying that “Chicago’s architecture, the traveler outings, and the beaches are great!”

Candice attended one of the Chicago Architecture Tours and said it was really interesting learning that there were a lot of French influences in the city’s architecture. I didn't even know that. Learning new things everyday is so much fun!

Before Candice leaves Chicago she plans on going on Bobby’s Bike Hike on Wednesday, and then seeing the fireworks by Navy Pier. It’s so great during the summer, because Chicago has fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday night!

Candice’s future plans are to go to Boston, New York, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Miami, and then back home to France. She says going home to France is like “going back to reality,” I totally agree with that. Whenever I’ve traveled it’s like living a dream, and then when you come home you wake up to the facts of everyday life.

Never stop dreaming, and never stop traveling!

Foto Friday Winner: Jaime

2011-07-29T16:50:00.005-05:00

Here it is again, your weekly Foto Friday winner! Each week, we pick one or two guests to be featured on the blog and win a free prize, and Jaime snagged this week's slot. We've been seeing his smiling face around the hostel for a while now, so he'll be enjoying two free tickets to ComedySportz!

Name: Jaime

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Favorite thing in Chicago so far: Concerts in Millennium Park

The Hottest Ways to Stay Cool

2011-07-28T17:27:00.009-05:00

I’m a bit tired of the festival scene, so I think we’ll take a weekend off from the Chicago fest round-up to gear up for Lolla. Instead, in honor of the heat wave that we just finished and will be starting again shortly (although high-80s and sunny this weekend doesn’t sound too shabby!), here is your guide to the hottest places in the city to cool down – apart from sticking your head in the freezer, which is always a decent and efficient idea. (*Big thanks to Huffington Post for some of the pool ideas!*)

Public Pools

Chicago Park District has put a ton of time and money into developing the city’s parks, and most of them boast awesome outdoor public pools that Chicagoans can frequent during the summer!

Hamlin Park Pool: Roscoe Village (3035 N Hoyne Ave)

Lots of lounge chairs, sunny space to lay out, and shower and restroom facilities free of charge make this spot in Roscoe Village a popular spot on weekends (so we recommend arriving ~15 minutes prior to opening if you want to snag a chair!). The young adult crowd dominates the facility, and kids with their parents tend to stay in the shallows. Vending machines are available, but no other food/drink vendors beyond ice cream carts—you should bring your own drinks (especially some water!), but no coolers allowed. Free entry and use of all facilities!

Schedule: Mon/Wed/Fri 1:15pm-7:15pm, Tues/Thurs 1:15pm-8:15pm, Sat/Sun 11-7:15

*Please check website for exact Open Swim hours throughout the day*

Portage Park Pool: Portage Park (4100 N Long Ave)

Boasting an Olympic-sized pool with diving boards, a large deck for sun-bathing, misting sprays and an interactive play area for kids, Portage Park Pool also draws a large crowd on hot summer days. Passes are needed for Adult Lap Swim times, but otherwise it is open to the public for free. Quick warning – the lockers don’t actually lock, so be careful with valuables you leave in there! You might be better off taking a bag out with you to the pool deck.

Schedule: Mon-Fri 7am-10am + 4:30pm-7:15pm, Sat/Sun 9:30am-6pm

*Please check website for exact Open Swim hours throughout the day*

Chase Park Pool: Ravenswood (4701 N Ashland Ave)

With a smaller sized pool (maybe the size of a basketball court), Chase Park is definitely less crowded than the others, and usually has lounge chairs open – so what more do you need? Bike-friendly areas are available, and this park is actually a wonderful place to work out as well. An outdoor track, basketball and tennis courts, and baseball diamonds are all available free of charge (as is the pool), and use of the workout room is offered for a nominal fee. Work up a good sweat and hop in the pool to cool off!

Schedule: Mon-Fri 3pm-7:15pm, Sat/Sun 12pm-7:15pm

*Please check website for exact Open Swim hours throughout the day*

Beaches

Lake Michigan, a.k.a the Heavens’ gift to Chicago, is quite possibly my favorite thing about this great city. As a New Yorker who grew up swimming in the Long Island Sound, trust me – you really don’t know how good you have it with the lake, so take advantage!

North Avenue Beach: Lincoln Park (1600 N Lake Shore Dr)

The young adult crowd that frequents North Avenue Beach makes it a bit of a singles scene, with sand, surf, and booze aplenty. Biking and running paths, volleyball tournaments, and equipment rentals also make this a work-out fiend’s dream. It’s easily the busiest beach in the city, so public transportation is recommended because parking is limited.

Oak Street Beach: Gold Coast (1000 N Lake Shore Dr)

Close to the Magnificent Mile and John Hancock Building, Oak Street Beach is steps away from the bustle of the city and thus a great place for people-watching (though there are definitely some eensy-weensy Speedos you may not want to look too closely at…). It’s also got a great running and biking path along Lake Shore Drive – but watch out for bicyclists with 2 headphones in and no cares as to whether or not they run you over.

Montrose Beach: Uptown (200 W Montrose Harbor Dr)

The home of Windy City Watersports, Montrose Beach is the best place to rent your WaveRunners, sailboats, and other equipment for some action sport fun on our Great Lake. This Saturday, you can even check out Beach Palooza, a crazy 5K obstacle course race on the beach starting at 9am. Either join in the festivities (race-day registration will be available for $65), or just come laugh at the fools crawling around drunk in the sand. All participants will also receive a pineapple hat, and you know how often that comes in handy. Every. Day.

*If you’re traveling with your pooch, check out Belmont Harbor (3200 N Lake Shore Dr) – the fenced in beach area makes this the city’s perfect unofficial doggie beach!*

A few more water-related ideas

-Splash around in Faces Fountain at Millennium Park – just because the average age of frolickers is somewhere around six shouldn’t stop you. Man up and channel your inner child!

-Rent a kayak to cruise down the Chicago River with Kayak Chicago. Be forewarned, this is not an activity for the faint of heart! Paddling back upstream is a work-out, and the river, while not toxic anymore, also has a bit of a garbage aroma at times. Nothing to worry about, just be sure to shower afterwards…really well.

-If you’re up for a bit of a drive, trek out to some of the best water parks in Illinois – Raging Waves in Yorkville is a great time, as is Hurricane Harbor at the Six Flags in Gurnee (and who doesn’t love a Six Flags?!).

-And finally, you can always head out to the suburbs and run through somebody else’s sprinklers. This is pretty self-explanatory. If it isn't, please see diagram below for directions.

And for those festival die-hards, here’s a brief list for this weekend:

Taste of Lincoln Avenue: N Lincoln Ave b/w Fullerton + Wrightwood Ave – Sheffield/De Paul

Saturday 12pm-10pm, Sunday 11am-10pm, $10 suggested donation

Randolph Street Market Festival: 1340 W Washington Blvd – West Loop

Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm, $10 entry ($5/students)

Fiesta del Sol: 1400 W Cermak Rd – Pilsen/Heart of Chicago/Little Village

Thursday 5-10pm, Friday/Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 11am-10pm, Free

Celebrate Hyde Park – July Summer Festival: 53^rd St b/w Harper + Kimbark Ave – Hyde Park/University of Chicago

Saturday/Sunday 11am-9pm, Free

Also, don’t forget that Critical Mass is this Friday (the last Friday of every month) – take back the streets of the city with your fellow bicyclists for a fun, free community building event! Just show up with your bike in Daley Plaza by 5:30pm on Friday and join in the two-wheeling fun, and be sure to wish pedestrians, drivers, and passers-by a Happy Friday!

Enjoy the weekend, the weather, the water, and wow – so many good words start with a w (waffles, walruses, wine, Wham!…). Anyways, until next time!

Written by: Keren Mikva

What's cookin' in Cultural Kitchen?

2011-07-28T16:00:00.028-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

Chicago, a city known for its beautiful architecture, Chicago style pizza and hot dogs, the Magnificent Mile, international neighborhoods, world-renown museums, jazz and blues…and a destination site for many travelers.

One of the advantages about living in Chicago is that it is so diverse.

At Hostelling International Chicago international travel, diversity, and becoming a global citizen are some of the key components that make us who we are.

HI-Chicago offers a multitude of educational programs and traveler outings, but one that seems to stand out among the rest is Cultural Kitchen.

Cultural Kitchen is an educational program that HI-Chicago offers throughout the entire year, and is run primarily by Megan Johnson, and her current Education intern. This summer 2011, Megan and her Education intern, Eleanor, ran four Cultural Kitchen’s.

Cultural Kitchen’s purpose is to enrich the lives of Chicago’s youth and give them a better understanding of cultural awareness and what it means to be a global citizen.

This summer, Megan and Eleanor have worked with four different summer youth programs in the Chicagoland area. They were: Christopher House, McGaw YMCA, Centro Romero, and Gads Hill Center. Each group participated in classroom sessions, chose a country to study, and came to HI-Chicago to cook a meal from that country and then do a presentation afterwards.

Christopher House chose to study Brazil, McGaw YMCA chose Romania, Centro Romero chose Italy, and Gads Hill Center chose France. Each of these youth groups were able to come to HI-Chicago to cook a meal from their country, participate in Human Bingo, fill out their Cultural Passport, and give a presentation about all that they learned about their chosen countries.

All of the meals and presentations were great! Some of the groups got really creative, and demonstrated cultural dances, sang songs, and had examples of common phrases in that country’s native language.

Then everyone got to spend a night in the hostel. They were able to play games, meet travelers, and explore the city at night! The next morning, everyone attends a reflection about what they learned from Cultural Kitchen and what they will take away from their stay in the hostel.

I definitely recommend staff members, interns, volunteers, and travelers at HI-Chicago to attend a Cultural Kitchen at least once! It’s an amazing experience where you can learn a lot about a foreign culture through the perspective of Chicago's youth.

Traveler Spotlight--Mike

2011-07-27T09:59:00.007-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

Mike has been to places all over the United States and the world! He was born in Fargo, North Dakota, lives in Dallas, Texas and is now doing service work in Chicago, IL. This guy has been all over the place!

This summer 2011, Mike has been to San Francisco, San Antonio, Fargo, and Belize! His occupation is one that many travelers, backpackers, or couch surfers would love…he travels for a living!

Mike works as a professional travel guide with Wonder Voyage, a non-profit company with headquarters in Dallas, Texas, that does national and international pilgrimages, mission trips, and service learning activities with different student groups, college groups, church groups, and more.

Currently, Mike is the travel guide and leader of a church group of eighteen high school and college aged students from New York. That’s a lot of people! But Mike is not alone, there are many adult chaperones helping out on the trip. An extra set of eyes are always a big help J

This group has been doing service work and exploration in Chicago! For service work, they have inventoried a warehouse for an organization called Vital Bridges, and yesterday they did maintenance on a transitional home for women and children. Their next service activity will be doing work with elderly veterans and having lunch with them.

Along with their service work, these volunteers have really enjoyed exploring the city of Chicago. They went to Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and are looking forward to seeing the Art Institute of Chicago!

So what brought this group to Chicago in the first place?

The kids from the group had to vote on a city to do service work in, and Chicago won the vote! Chicago was preferred because a lot of the kids thought that Chicago was interesting, and a lot of them wanted to go to college here. Good choice guys!

Foto Friday Winner: Dayoung

2011-07-22T15:00:00.004-05:00

Each Friday, we pick one or two lucky guests to be pictured on our blog and to receive a free gift from HI-Chicago. Dayoung was patiently waiting to check in when I wandered by, so she received a unique Hostelling International leather travel wallet!

Name: Dayoung

Hometown: Daegu, Korea

Where she's headed next: Millennium Park!

Happy Heat Wave!

2011-07-21T14:27:00.009-05:00

We’re trying something a bit new this week, and giving you not only the big festivals of the summer, but also a guide to some cool events that are further off the beaten track. Grab your sunscreen and about 6 gallons of ice water and head out into the heat this weekend!

Big Fests

(like the other 10 street festivals you’ve been to this summer, but keep going to because they’re fun and have free giveaways)

Wicker Park Fest: July 23 – 24, 12-10pm

This may actually be one of the best street festivals of the summer (or so says the Tribune), but it does sound quite cool. 3 stages with nonstop music from bands and DJs with some of the weirdest names I’ve heard in a while (An Aesthetic Anaesthetic? What does that even mean?) will be playing all weekend, along with much more. A petting zoo, arts and crafts stations, bounce houses, and a DUNK TANK—which we believe has been severely lacking in the festival scene thus far—make this one of the more exciting fests of the summer! Also, the Summer Sizzle Sidewalk Sale will be going on simultaneously from 11am-6pm both days along all major streets in Wicker Park, so you can snag some deals from your favorite neighborhood stores! But let me reiterate the most important thing once more, dunk tank. $5 suggested donation.

Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival: July 23 – 24, 12-10pm

Head to the Garden District of Chicago and help support efforts to keep this neighborhood beautiful at the Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival this weekend! Check out self-guided tours of over 80 gardens, free guided architectural tours, food and drink vendors and, of course, live music. Headliners include Archie Powell and the Exports, Soul Asylum, and School of Rock! $7, $10/after 3pm.

Chariot Festival: July 24, 12:30-6pm

Celebrate Indian culture at the Chariot Festival this Sunday, hosted by the Chicago Hare Krishna Temple in Loyola Park! A parade headed by a hand-pulled chariot (Chariot Festival…get it?) kicks off the festival, beginning at 11:30am and making its way to the park. There will be free lunch for everyone, yes, free, along with traditional Indian dancing and music, family activities, henna, traditional Indian stores and more! Free.

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Random but Very, Very Cool Events

(some alternatives that are pretty bizarre but awesome at the same time)

Chicago SummerDance—Soul Train Anniversary Party: July 23, 6-9:30pm

That’s right, it’s time to hop on the hippest train around to celebrate Soul Train’s 40^th Anniversary, hosted by Chicago SummerDance at Grant Park! Yes, I recognize that there is a Summerdance event every Thursday through Sunday throughout the summer, but how many of them feature The Bop and Soul Train Line dance lessons with live music by The Platinum Band playing Soul Train Dance Party tunes? One. And it’s this Saturday, with lessons from 6-7pm and live music and dancing until 9:30pm. Strap on your disco shoes and nostalgia and head out to celebrate this institution’s Chicago roots! Free.

Big Dig North Avenue Beach Party: July 23, 9am-5pm

Join Chicago’s hottest summer beach bash (seriously, it will be in the 90s again, but how better to cool off than at the beach?) at the Big Dig No rth Ave nue Beach Party this Saturday! While it’s too late to sign up for the beach games, spectators are encouraged (and welcomed for free with an RSVP!) to watch some volleyball, bags/cornhole, and dodgeball. There will be DJs and live performances featuring Kidd Russell and Na Palm, so come relax on the beach, listen to some awesome music, and watch others sweat profusely in way-too-intense beach games!

Dollar Beer Night at Beauty Bar: July 24, 10pm

I’ve always been a fan of this slightly gimmicky-but-in-a-good-way bar in West Town with its $10 Manicure and Martini special (come on, ladies, that’s brilliant!), but dudes should feel welcome at Beauty Bar this Sunday for $1 select brews and $3 well drinks. Phil Mixtape and DJ Red Ryder will be bringing you their favorite hits from the last three decades, so come liven up what would be an otherwise boring Sunday night—you know you can catch reruns of True Blood later in the week. Free entry, 21+.

Bags Benefit Tournament at Joe’s Bar: July 23, 2-5pm

Join in the 5^th Annual Bags Tournament to benefit Special Olympics Chicago at Joe’s Bar on Weed Street this Saturday! Entry includes an open bar Coors Light drafts, well drinks, wine and soda ($25/spectators, $35/bags players)—while admission prices are a bit high, just remember its open bar for 3 hours and you could do much more damage than $25 in a night out. Also, it’s a fundraiser, you cheap skates!

Whole Foods FREE Beer and Wine Tasting: July 23, 1-4pm

Pretty sure this one is self-explanatory, but let me just spell it out: Free. Beer. And. Wine. Head to the Whole Foods on Canal St in the South Loop to couple your grocery shopping with some wine and beer tastings! We even double checked – it’s completely free. No fine print, no buying minimum, no cover. Seriously, just free. How wonderful is that?

Red Bull BC One United States Qualifiers: July 23, 8pm

Come watch the nation’s best B-Boys (break dancers, for all you non-ABDC fans) as they compete in the qualifiers to advance to the finals in Moscow! 16 crews will compete in 1-on-1 battles, so come support your favorite crew or one from your city (Chicago pride, anyone?) for their chance to represent America in the finals! DJ Skeme Richards will be spinning all night as you watch the best of best dance it out! $10 tickets or $20/VIP, 18+.

Happy heat wave! Anybody want to head to Oregon?

Written by: Keren Mikva

Traveler Spotlight--Sam

2011-07-19T18:04:00.005-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

Earlier today, I talked with Sam…little did she know that today is the day that she would be featured for today’s Traveler Spotlight!

Sam is a 26 year old from London England. She has traveled extensively all over the world! She toured Africa during her gap year, visited family in Australia, has been to Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, all over Europe, the southern parts of India, and traveled to Brazil and California for work.

For Sam, work has really allowed her to travel! She currently works at the Natural History Museum in London, England as a research assistant. There she studies botany, researching new species of plants. At the Natural History Museum she has been proactive in community outreach and education programs to engage children in having a greater interest in science.

So what brought Sam to Chicago? Sam recently came from St. Louis, Missouri where she saw the Missouri Botanic Garden and is now in Chicago where she will start her two week long research assignment at the Field Museum. She will be comparing botany specimens there to the ones back home at the Natural History Museum. The scientists have to make sure that their data about a species is correlating to other scientists’ data in another country regarding the same species. When I asked if I would be able to see the botany specimens at the Field Museum, Sam said that those specimens were collections that were hidden from the viewers because they need certain conditions to survive. There are so many hidden gems at the Field Museum.

I then asked Sam about what she thought of HI-Chicago, and she thought that it had a friendly atmosphere and wants to see her room so she can unpack all of her things and rest a bit before exploring Chicago!

So what will she do in Chicago?

Tomorrow, Sam’s boyfriend from London is arriving in Chicago, and they will be able to do some exploring together after Sam has finished her work at the Field Museum. She hopes that they can attend a baseball game, see the Shedd Aquarium, visit the Art Institute, and just wander around the city.

Sam’s future travel plans are to go to Northern India, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

And…little known fact, I asked Sam if she watched Prince William and Kate’s wedding, and Sam said that she did watch it and that one of her co-workers from London was at the same university at the same time that Prince William was there, and that they played cricket together!

What a small world J

Foto Friday Winner: Tom

2011-07-15T15:07:00.004-05:00

Each Friday, we pick one or two lucky guests to be pictured on our blog and to receive a free gift from HI Chicago! Tom happened to be hanging out in the lounge at the right time, so he'll be enjoying 2 free tickets to ComedySportz!

Name: Tom

Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

What he's done in Chicago so far: Joined our pub crawl in Wicker Park last night, and it was a blast!

Weekend Update: Hosteller Style

2011-07-15T13:13:00.007-05:00

If you thought that Chicago had run out of neighborhoods to have festivals in, you were dead wrong. In fact, this weekend is jam-packed with fests everywhere you look, from big ones like Pitchfork Music Festival to the lesser known Tour de Fat (that's actually what it is called). Read on for your weekend update from your friends at HI-Chicago!

Pitchfork Music Festival: July 15 – 17 (Fri 3-10pm, Sat/Sun 12-10pm

This indie alternative to the bigger music festivals like Lollapalooza has an amazing line-up this year, including Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes, TV on the Radio, James Blake and more! Union Park promises to be packed this weekend, so if you’re not planning on going to the festival, find a different route home! That said, you should definitely go to the festival. It’s seriously awesome. Tickets are still available on-site for Friday and Saturday! $45/day.

Tour de Fat: July 16, 9am-4pm

Ok, so while I had a lot of fun imagining food eating contests, deep fried Oreos, and a liposuction tent, this is actually cooler, and a lot less gross. This annual bike and en vironmental fest is hosted by Colorado’s New Belgium Brewery, the makers of Fat Tire beer (a-hah, it all makes sense now). The event will have live music by Dovekins and Mucca Pazza, a bike parade, a car/bike swap—which is maybe the coolest crazy idea I’ve heard in a while (see below for more details), and of course, tons of Fat Tire brews for sale. The brewery is making stops in 13 cities across the country (biking, of course) to promote environmental awareness and bike use – how awesome is that?

What is the car/bike swap, you may ask? In their words…It's when one fortunate soul hands over their car, title and keys to the Tour de Fat altar in exchange for a bike. Not just any bike, a New Belgium, fully-loaded, hand-crafted, Fort Collins-built commuter bike. There's 13 Tour de Fat stops - surely one near you - and that's 13 car/bike trade opportunities. It's about weaning yourself off the petroleum teat. It's about becoming a better, sexier person. It's about rediscovering the cultural thrill of public transportation. One year's time is the minimum commitment – commuting is your sentence.

Taste of River North: July 15 – 17 (Fri 5-10pm, Sat 12-10pm, Sun 11am-6pm)

Food and drink tickets for $1 each get you meals from some of the best restaurants in the area, including Citizen Bar, Green Door Tavern, Moe’s Cantina, and more! Galleries and shops will all be set up in the park, along with live music from Sixteen Candles and others. Pet and kid friendly! $5 donation.

Lincoln Park Arts and Music Festival: July 16 – 17, 12-10pm

Great music, fantastic artists, and tons of food and drink vendors will be over at Racine Ave this weekend for the Lincoln Park Arts and Music Festival. Headliners the Freddy Jones Band and Trevor Hall will be performing, along with tons of other local talent. What sets this apart from all the other festivals, you ask? Not much really. But why mess with success? $5 donation.

Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party: July 15 – 16, 5:30-10:30pm

While the qualification of world’s largest block party hasn’t been proven, Old St. Pat’s is still HUGE. Over 18,000 are expected to attend this annual fest, and vendors will be offering all your regular fest foods, as well as noodles! But noodles aren’t the best part of this festival; the price of admission allows you into all of the shows and even includes 5 drink tickets for beer, wine, pop (see? I’ve been in Chicago for too long) and water! Also, the line-up has some awesome big name bands, including Barenaked Ladies (remember them??), Plain White T’s, and Cobra Starship! $40/day in advance, $45/day at door.

Chinatown Summer Fair: July 17, 10am-8pm

Head to Chinatown for this annual neighborhood festival with music, dance performances, and tons of food from restaurants and street vendors in the area. But most importantly, it features a colorful lion and dragon dance procession lead by none other than Ronald McDonald – and yes, it will make more sense once I tell you that McDonald’s is hosting the festival…but it’s still weirdly cool.

Get out and enjoy this beautiful weekend, and we here at the hostel will be doing the same!

Stay groovy!

Written by: Keren Mikva

Night at the Museum

2011-07-14T14:39:00.012-05:00

Chicago is famous for its many quality museums. Between the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Art Institute, you could spend days exploring! However, if you don't feel like fighting the crowds during the day, or just want to mix up your summer museum trips, check out some of these special nighttime events

at your favorite Chicago museums!

Jazzin' at the Shedd - Shedd Aquarium

Wednesdays, 5 to 10 p.m. through August 31, 2011 (Note:

No Jazzin' on July 20th)

What's not to like about live jazz, cocktails, and fireworks, especially when they're at the Shedd Aquarium! Almost every Wednesday night this summer, you can take an evening trip to the Shedd and explore the fish, new

Jellies exhibit, and Oceanarium with an $18 All-Access Jazzin' ticket. Relax and listen to live music by the 360 degree Caribbean Reef tank, or grab a drink and enjoy the skyline views with more music on the terrace. Make sure you stick around for a great view of the Navy Pier fireworks around 9:30pm. Check out the website for the

list of upcoming bands and to buy your tickets online!

Tuesdays on

the Terrace - Museum of Contemporary Art

Tuesdays, 5:30 to 8 p.m. through September 27, 2011

A perfect way to spend your summer evening is stopping by the MCA for great food and music on Tuesdays, as well as free admission to the museum! Each week, this live music series features one of the many Chicago jazz talents, hosted by local radio personalities. You can grab some

summer snacks and stop by the cash bar before relaxing in the sculpture garden, or for $23 a person enjoy a dinner buffet on the terrace by Puck's restaurant featuring fresh local produce. The museum has lawn chair rentals for $5 each so you can really kick back in the garden. Head to their website to see the featured bands or to make a reservation for the dinner buffet.

Adler After Dark - Adler Planetarium

July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, December 15

6:30-10:30 p.m (6-10 p.m. starting in September)

Get an early start to your weekend every 3rd Thursday of the month with Adler Planetarium's 21+ event, Adler After Dark. Come to stargaze with friends while enjoying appetizers and cocktails, or jump on this opportunity for a unique date! If you have ever wanted to look through the Doane Observatory telescope, Adler After Dark is the only time it's available, so don't miss out! On July 21st, the first 400 guests get a free glass of champagne, and DJ Marc Davis will be keeping everyone entertained. Advanced tickets can be purchased online for $12 (non-members) or $9 (members and students), or at the box office the night of the event for $17/$12. The Adler's website has the details each month for the upcoming event.

After Dark - The Art Institute of Chicago

Friday, July 22, 2011, 9 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Make sure you don't miss this chance to explore the Art Institute at night! On July 22nd, head over to the Modern Wing for After Dark. Check out the new galleries of African Art and Indian Art of the Americas and have some complimentary appetizers. Afterwards, stop by the cash bar and enjoy live DJs and performances by the theatrical ensemble Collaboraction. Space is limited, so make sure you get your tickets soon. Admission is $20 for members and students, or $25 for non-members. Keep an eye out for future evening events at the Art Institute with their website.

For all you night owls, don't miss out on these amazing summer events! Grab your friends, grab your tickets, and head out to these museums to grab some drinks and a good time!

Written by: Laura Cohen

Traveler Spotlight--Nate and JD

2011-07-12T17:35:00.007-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

While walking through the HI-Chicago second floor lounge, I saw two guys playing pool, and they were almost done with their game. They looked like cool guys and would have some very interesting stories to share…and they did! *This is why travelers should meet and mingle on the second floor lounge because there are so many great people to talk to :)

Nate is 23 years old, and from Fort Wayne, Indiana and J.D. is 19 years old and from Goshen, Indiana and they have traveled to many great places around the world!

Nate has been all over Central and South America, and has lived in Argentina for 13 months and recently got back from his 10 month stay in China. While living in China, he also traveled to nearby countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

JD has traveled around the United States, been to Canada for two weeks and just recently got back from his 10 month stay in Bolivia.

So how did Nate and JD meet?

Nate and JD met through the Radical Journey program, which is a program through a Mennonite Mission Network that is based out of Indiana. When they said Radical Journey, I had no idea what that program was, so I asked them to elaborate. They said that Radical Journey is a program for men and women between 19-30 years old, and they do a year of service in a foreign country. The service that these people are providing varies on need, but some examples are: construction work, teaching English or tutoring children.

During their travels both Nate and JD had some surprises…

Nate learned that his house sister in China went to the United States for a year and met his Argentinian fiancé’s best friend. Nate was pleasantly surprised to find out about this later, and really thought that this was a real life example of how small the world really is J

For JD, he had a less pleasant surprise when he encountered some passport problems in Bolivia. Due to this experience, JD recommends that all travelers get their passport work done as soon as possible!!

From surprises to shocks... What was the biggest culture shock for these guys while abroad?

Nate thought that the family life was a big culture shock for him. When in China, everyone in the family was really close, and friends were treated like siblings. He also learned that it was normal for a 33 yr. old and a 32 yr. old to live at home, versus in the United States when everyone starts leaving home at around 18 years old to go to college or work.

JD thought that language was the biggest culture shock while in Bolivia. Within the first couple days he wanted to continually greet people in English, however after 10 months there, he was conversing in Spanish every day, and now back in the United States he feels that he wants to greet people in Spanish. The switching between languages so fast can definitely result in some excellent Spanglish!

So what brought Nate and JD to Chicago?

For both these guys, Chicago was the reorientation city. After their recent experiences abroad, Nate living in China for 10 months and JD living in Bolivia for 10 months, their program chose Chicago as the place for all their participants to initially return to when coming back to the United States.

JD actually just arrived in Chicago this afternoon and said that he was in Bolivia this morning! How cool is that!?!

Their program thought that Chicago was a good fit because it is culturally diverse and it would be a nice transition from being in another country for so long. Both Nate and JD are enjoying their stay in Chicago and are readjusting to life back in the United States.

So where do they plan on going in the future?

Nate plans on going to Argentina, so that he can then bring his fiancé to the United States so they can get married. Then they will move back to Argentina for a while.

JD plans on going to Goshen College in Indiana so he can study Spanish and French, and he also says that he wants to study abroad in Spain for a year!

Foto Friday Winners: Caterina and Naomi

2011-07-07T15:48:00.006-05:00

Each Friday, we pick one or two lucky guests to be pictured on our blog and to receive a free gift from HI Chicago! Caterina and Naomi came up to the Front Desk at just the right moment (See? It pays to chat with the awesome staff at the front!), so they'll be enjoying 2 free tickets to ComedySportz!

Names: Caterina and Naomi

Hometown: Lucern, Switzerland

Where they're heading next: Willis Tower

Your Chicago Weekend Guide from HI-Chicago

2011-07-07T10:18:00.003-05:00

Here it is again—your never-failing weekend guide to Chicago summer events! Now that the Taste is over (phew!), there are TONS of other festivals and events that you really should check out! Be sure to hit some of these awesome spots this sunny July weekend!

West Fest: July 9 – 10, 12-10pm

Check out the best of the west (West Side, that is) at the West Fest in Ukrainian Village. What sets this festival apart, given its food and drink stands, live music and crafts vendors? An AWESOME line-up, including bands such as Hollows and Local H, as well as DJs Drop the Lime and Juan Maclean! $5 donation.

Dave Matthews Band Caravan: July 8 – 10, 1-11pm

While tickets are a bit pricey ($85/day, $195/3days) for Dave Matthew’s Band’s rolling caravan tour, the Chicago stop just might be worth it! A massive line-up, including OAR, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Kid Cudi, Michael Franti and Spearhead, the Flaming Lips, and, of course, DMB, is bound to make this an unforgettable festival! Tickets are still available, so check out the website for a full schedule and purchasing options.

Roscoe Village Burger Fest: July 9 – 10, 11am-10pm

The 2^nd Annual Roscoe Village Burger Fest is exactly what it sounds like—a burger festival. And how awesome is that? Live music and mouth-watering burgers from nine of Chicago’s prime restaurants—many for cheaper than you could buy them in store! Turkey, beef, steak, BBQ, and, of course, veggie burgers will all be available, so go get your grub on! $6 donation.

Gold Coast Art Fair: July 9 – 10, 9am-7pm

Art lovers should head over to Butler Field in Grant Park for the 54^th annual Gold Coast Art Fair. Over 450 artists from all over the world will have their work on display and available for purchase (insider hint: select artists will discount their work between 9 – 10am on both days for all you early birds…or deal-savvy travelers!). Food and drink vendors and live music will accompany the art, and work is priced anywhere between $25 and $25,000, so there’s something for everyone! Free.

Irish American Heritage Festival: July 8 – 10 (Fri 6pm -12am, Sat 12pm – 12am, Sun 12pm – 11pm)

Honor your Irish heritage (or somebody else’s) at the 26^th annual Irish American Heritage Festival. Live Irish and American music on 5 indoor and outdoor stages, along with dance performances (get jiggy with it!), a singing contest, and even a matchmaking event. Also, be sure to wear your elastic pants because there’s no better way to enjoy this cultural fest than through the mashed-potato eating contest! $14 ($8/presale)

The Flesh Hungry Dog Show: Homo Hop: July 8, 9pm

This monthly LGBTQ and queer-friendly rock ‘n’ roll variety show, hosted by local musician Gary Airedale, features a vintage theme for July. Bric-a-Brac, Suzy Brack and the New Jack Lords, and Pieptone! will be performing, with DJ Sky spinning between sets. Giveaways from the Pleasure Chest and a go-go dancing set by The Revelettes make this event one of the most diverse LGBTQ events in the city! All are welcome to this ultra-inclusive, mini-rock extravaganza! $10/door, $8/presale. 21+

So be sure to get out there this weekend and take advantage of what a Chicago summer has to offer! Remember--not only will it be too cold to dance outside come December, but you can't move nearly as well in a snow suit and moon boots.

Written by: Keren Mikva

Travelixir: Festivus in July!

2011-07-07T10:09:00.008-05:00

Travel bug? Feeling grounded? TRAVELIXIR: Festivus in July to the rescue! Come join Chicagoans who love to travel, those that aspire to travel, and HI-Chicago guests and get your wings back.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 20th from 7-10pm

WHERE: Butterfly Social Club, 722 W Grand Ave - right off the Grand Blue Line stop

WHAT: A FREE party sponsored by HI-Chicago and STA Travel to help you beat your wanderlust blues

PHOTO CONTEST: A travel photo contest - party-goers vote on their favorite, and the winner gets a $150 travel voucher (good for airfare, accommodations, and other travel-related costs)

AND EVEN MORE: Free giveaways, food samples, world music DJ, dancing, networking with like-minded internationalists

DRINK SPECIALS: $5 Absolut cocktails & $1 off all beers (and free shot with the purchase of any beer!)

***ENTER THE CONTEST***
E-mail TRAVELIXIR@hiusa.org with 1 photo from your travels that depicts a holiday or festival (Holi in India, Carnivale in Brazil, Semana Santa in Spain, a hot dog eating festival in Texas - be creative!). Include a title for your photo. Submit your photos by Tuesday, July 19th at 5pm. You must be present at the party to win! Follow the photo submissions on HI-Chicago's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HostellingInternationalChicago.

Come join us & become part of Chicago's hostelling community!

Traveler Spotlight—Omer Aydin

2011-07-05T18:34:00.004-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

As I was wandering around the main lobby at HI-Chicago, I saw a young man on his computer, and he looked like an interesting person so I decided to introduce myself and ask if he would like to be interviewed for traveler spotlight. He humbly agreed, and we started talking and had a very enjoyable conversation J

Omer Aydin is from Turkey, and currently a PhD student studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. I later told him that I went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and that both the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were in the Big 10. Currently at Michigan, Omer is researching cancer treatments and developing ways to use medicine that will directly target cancer cells and not the whole body of the individual who has cancer. What a brilliant student!

After discussing Omer’s studies, I was very curious to learn about where he has traveled. Omer left Turkey in 2010, and went to Alabama, USA, where he enrolled at the University of Alabama to take an English class, so he could improve his English skills. After Alabama, he traveled north to Michigan where he could start at the University of Michigan. I asked Omer if he had a preference between Michigan or Alabama. He said that he noticed political and religious differences between Alabama and Michigan, and as far as the social scene, he feels that downtown Michigan offers a lot more J

So what brought Omer to Chicago?

Omer came to Chicago for the 4^th of July Weekend with an International group of students from the University of Michigan and was able to stay at HI-Chicago for a couple of days. It was Omer’s first time in Chicago, and besides seeing O’Hare airport, there was so much more to see and do! As a group they immersed themselves in Chicago, and were able to see the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Art Institute, the Skydeck and Millennium Park.

As far as cuisine goes, Omer says that he misses Turkish food, so during this trip here to Chicago, he was able to go to a Turkish restaurant called A La Turka and he said that it was really good place. I have never tried Turkish food before, so I think I will try that place sometime. What better way to learn more about a foreign culture than through their ethnic cuisine? J

Omer’s future plans are to go back to the University of Michigan to continue his education as a PhD student!

Foto Friday Winner: Bernardo

2011-07-01T16:09:00.004-05:00

Each Friday, we pick a lucky guest to be pictured on our blog and to receive a free gift from HI Chicago! Bernardo was checking at just the right time, so he'll be enjoying 2 free tickets to Kingston Mines!

Name: Bernardo

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

What he's most excited for in Chicago: The nightlife!

Happy 4th!

2011-06-30T10:56:00.007-05:00

Chicago might not have the patriotic landscapes of Washington, D.C., but it is going to be far from quiet this Independence Day weekend. Your dedicated HI-Chicago interns have sniffed out some of the best deals for you to celebrate your 4^th in style, not to mention a couple awesome events that you should be sure to hit!

July 4^th Festivities

Lottie’s Pub (1925 W Cortland): Beer and BBQ Party

-Lottie’s is hosting its own July 4^th BBQ on its open-air patio—$7 will get you a barbecued chicken plate with baked beans, potato salad and dessert. $3 cans and $4 drafts complete this American-style celebration!

Castaways Bar and Grill (1603 N Lake Shore Dr): Live Music Independence Day Weekend

-Castaways on North Avenue Beach, a popular beach hangout with casual walk-up service on the first level, also boasts a rooftop bar and restaurant that offers full food and drink service. Enjoy ice cold drinks and beachside burgers while listening to live music both Sunday and Monday: Chicago-grown DJ Jem will be spinning on Sunday, and the exciting new band Sunfallen will take over on Monday. Hit the beach on what promises to be a swelteringly hot weekend and enjoy these free performances! Music from 1 – 7 PM both days, no cover.

John Barleycorn (658 W Belden Ave): Independence Day at John Barleycorn

-A DJ dance party at John Barleycorn on Sunday (10 PM – 2 AM), including $1 sliders, $7 pizzas, and $18 Bud Light buckets, followed by a $12 all-you-can-eat buffet on Monday (what could be more patriotic?!) with all of your 4^th favorites: ribs, chicken, burgers, and more! And this traveler’s personal favorite--$4 Arnold Palmers and vodka! Mmmmm…

Frontier (1072 N Milwaukee Ave): Independence Day at Frontier

-Barbecue and drink specials, but we’re most excited about Frontier's $12 firecracker punch, available Sunday and Monday from 11 AM – 2 AM, made with blue raspberry lemonade, raspberry vodka and blue curacao float. Independence has never tasted so good!

The Pony (1638 W Belmont Ave): Independence Day at The Pony

-Specials include $3 cans, $5 designer shots, and $2 mini-Chicago dogs, brats and burgers. Complimented by a DJ spinning American classic tunes, The Pony promises to be a fun time!

Bangers and Lace (1670 W Division St): 4^th of July BBQ & Horseshoes

-Are you a horseshoes fanatic? Never heard of it but think it sounds fun? Check out Bangers and Lace anytime this weekend, Friday through Monday from 12 – 5 PM, for a backyard-style celebration. A horseshoes tournament will be accompanied by $1 hot dogs and craft beer, and winners may find themselves in the B&L beer of the month club!

And also…

Bushwood 4^th of July RibFest: July 1 – 4 (Fri 3 – 11 PM, Sat/Sun 12 – 11 PM, Mon 12 – 8 PM)

Bushwood Golf Center (30 Madison St, Maywood):

If you are a rib aficionado, consider taking a quick trek out to the near-west suburb of Forest Park for its first annual RibFest! Friday through Monday will host live music, including a Bon Jovi cover band (YES!) and, of course, finger-lickin’ good ribs.

African-Caribbean International Festival of Life: July 1 – 4 (12 – 10 PM)

Washington Park (5500 S. Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago)

Ok, this is not really 4^th-related, but SO COOL! Head to Washington Park and check out the 19^thannual cultural celebration that will host food, vendors, and live music on two stages, featuring headliner Loretta Lee! That’s 10 hours of non-stop music all 4 days, so don’t miss out! $10/single day ($15 if purchased at door after 5 PM), $30/4 day pass.

DON'T FORGET THE FIREWORKS!

While there will not be official city fireworks due to economic difficulties, fear not! Navy Pier will still hold its previously scheduled 15-minute fireworks show at 9 PM on July 2nd and 4th. If you've got your heart set on watching them from the pier, be sure to get there early. Last year's crowd reached over a quarter of million people before police had to shut down access to the pier entirely! Especially with the lack of fireworks elsewhere this weekend, expect enormous crowds to flock to Navy Pier. However, there are tons of places along the lakefront that you can see the show from, so be sure to check out fun restaurants and bars that have a view of the pier (and won't have those jacked-up tourist prices! $10 for a beer? Come on)!

Written by: Keren Mikva

Pitchfork Festival Kick-off Mixer!

2011-06-29T12:56:00.004-05:00

Are you coming into town for Pitchfork Festival? Looking for a good way to start the weekend? Be sure to come by HI-Chicago on Thursday, July 14th at 5 PM for drinks, snacks, and great music by DJ Limbs! All current hostel guests are invited and will receive 2 free drink tickets (21+ only) and the chance to mingle with your fellow festival-goers. A pub crawl will follow the mixer in Wicker Park, so don't miss out on exclusive drink specials and more! The night will end at the Between Lounge, where the tireless DJ Limbs will be performing AGAIN until 2 AM (and has managed to secure a round of Patron shots for hostel guests)! A fantastic way to kick off what promises to be an incredible weekend!

Traveler Spotlight--Verena Gelbe

2011-06-28T15:10:00.013-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

I met Verena at the Traveler Excursion Event when we all went to the Kingston Mines Blues Club and thought she was fun, smart, and a perfect candidate for traveler spotlight!

Verena Gelbe is 27 years old and from Goettingen, Germany. She has done extensive traveling all over Europe, has visited Northern Africa and has seen numerous cities in the United States, including: San Francisco, New York City, Washington D.C., Orlando, and now...Chicago!

So why did she stay at HI-Chicago?

Verena found HI-Chicago on hostelbookers. HI-Chicago had the smallest dorm (4 bed dorm room) available, a good location, nice accommodations, and it was inexpensive. Everything that Verena was looking for as a traveler. Verena said that HI-Chicago "just turned out to be the best!"

While Verena was in Chicago, she immersed herself in the city life! She saw almost every mall, and really enjoyed Water Tower Place and checking out the shops on State Street. She went on a boat tour, as well as told me that HI-Chicago travelers could find coupons for it at the hostel! She also went to the Hancock Observation Deck, the Sears Tower Skydeck and the Art Institute of Chicago. Along with all the tourist hotspots, Verena enjoyed attending the Chicago festivals, including: Pride Fest, Green Music Fest, and the Taste of Chicago. She also really enjoyed the traveler excursions and the free concerts in Millennium Park!

This was Verena's first trip to Chicago, and she initially thought that it would be bigger and busier. She does state that it's not a bad thing that Chicago's not busier. She thought that it actually made everything a little less stressful when exploring the city.

As a woman traveling alone, Verena had a really nice time! She said that it was nice traveling on her own and that she could explore Chicago at her own pace and her own schedule. She was more open to meeting new people and made a lot of new friends at HI-Chicago through different events, like the traveler excursions, and thought that they were all very welcoming. She definitely wanted to mention that HI-Chicago has a very nice staff :)

She does recommend to women traveling alone that they should inform themselves beforehand and do not look like they do not know where they are or where they are going.

She did say that it would be tough meeting people if you're shy, and that you really have to be outgoing and put yourself out there. Another disadvantage of traveling alone was that she could not share all of her experiences or special moments with someone. So, even though traveling along can be an amazing experience, sometimes you just wish you could have a travel buddy.

Even though Verena is traveling alone in Chicago, she has a special someone at home waiting for her in Germany. Verena and her boyfriend have been dating for 4-5 months and both live in Germany. This then brought me to the topic about long distance relationships, and how it was for Verena being in the USA while her boyfriend is in Germany. She said that they are doing well, and that they talk on the phone regularly to keep in touch. She definitely misses him, but since they both know that they will see each other again in 4 weeks, it does not seem like it is that long of a wait. One of the most important long distance relationship advice that Verena gave was saying that a long distance relationship "is all about trust and communication."

So where does she plan on going in the future? Verena will be attending a wedding in Michigan later next week. It was interesting though because she said that her initial plan this summer was to go to Asia! Even though her trip to Asia was postponed, she still plans on going there in the future!

Foto Friday Winners: Alex and Elizabeth

2011-06-24T15:19:00.005-05:00

Each Friday, we pick one (or two!) lucky guests to be pictured on our blog and to receive a free gift from HI Chicago! Alex and Elizabeth were checking at just the right time, so they'll be enjoying 2 free tickets to ComedySportz!

Names: Alex and Elizabeth

Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

What brought them to Chicago: Pride Parade!

End June with a BANG! (because Chicago certainly will)

2011-06-22T15:39:00.004-05:00

Are you in Chicago this weekend? While June might be drawing to a close, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing left to do this month! This weekend is packed with unique Chicago festivals, so if you’re visiting or you live in the area, be sure not to miss out on these summer-tastic events!

Chicago Pride: June 24 – 26

Join in the ninth annual LGBTQ community celebration in Boystown at Halsted and Waveland. Two stages will have live music, drag shows, and even pet parades from 5-10 PM on Friday and 12-9 PM on Saturday. Food vendors, arts and crafts, and more will all be available, showcasing artists and performers in Chicago’s gay community. And don’t forget the iconic Pride Parade on Sunday, which marches from Halsted and Belmont to Cannon Dr in Lincoln Park. This year’s theme is “Pride around the World” (how perfect!) so get out there and rep your country with PRIDE! $7 donation before 5 PM, $10 after.

Chicago Summerfest: June 25 – 26

Check out Lincoln Park on Saturday or Sunday for food and drink vendors, crafts and fine arts for sale, kid-friendly entertainment, and a non-stop line-up of live music at the Chicago Summerfest. Visitors can also take advantage of the historical or architectural tours of the mid-North area offered by the Mid-North Association. Oh yeah, and did we mention the pig roast?

Green Music Fest: June 25 – 26

Pig roast doesn’t grab your attention? This vegetarian understands completely. Head to WickerPark for the Green Music Fest on Damen Ave from North to Schiller. Live music, including Yo La Tengo and Les Savy Fav, will be performing from 1:30 until 10 PM on both days, along with environmentally-friendly vendors and services! Ride your bike there and park it in the bike valet (hello, green living!) and pick up a biodegradable plastic cup of brew—but to be clear, the cup is biodegradable, not the beer, so you should probably still drink responsibly! $5 donation.

Randolph Street Market Festival: June 25 – 26

If you’re vaguely recalling strolling along Randolph last weekend, you’re not suffering from festival amnesia—Randolph Street is hosting the season opener of its monthly Street Market Festival (visit the link above for future dates). Pick up some cool antiques and indie designs at great prices—vintage clothing, jewelry, furnishings (with free furniture delivery within downtown Chicago!), and TONS of food vendors will all be on display from over 200 vendors from the area. You can even get free entry to the last 2 hours of the market each month—check out the “See for Free” coupon on its website!

Taste of Chicago: June 24 – July 3

If you haven’t heard of Taste of Chicago already, you’re in for a treat (treat, get it? Like food…). Open each day in Grant Park from 11 AM – 9 PM (though it closes at 7 PM on the 3^rd), this 10 day festival features over 70 restaurants and food vendors. While entry is free (our favorite word), purchases can be made with tickets only (12 tickets/$8), and you can grab anything from just a taste to a full meal. Live music, cooking demos, and a stellar view of Lake Michigan make this one of Chicago's most famous summer events. While there won’t be nightly fireworks this year (bummer, yes), there will be fireworks on Navy Pier on July 2^nd and 4^th, and you can catch those from the Lakefront Trail!

Written by: Keren Mikva

Traveler Spotlight--Libby and Becky

2011-06-21T16:06:00.020-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

Happy 1st day of summer!! As part of my internship at HI-Chicago, I had the pleasure of doing my first traveler spotlight interview with two lovely ladies from England.

Libby and Becky have been friends for 6 years, are both 19yrs. old and live in Surrey, England. They decided that this summer was the right time to travel to the United States because Becky will be starting Uni in the fall and Libby is taking her gap year before Uni.

Their adventures started after flying out of London, England, and landing in Boston, Massachusetts. They have already traveled extensively on Amtrak to New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago.

But where did they stay?

After a poor experience at a private hostel in New York, they used Hostelworld.com to book beds at HI-Washington D.C. After a great experience at the D.C. hostel, they decided to stick with the HI brand in choosing HI-Chicago.

Currently they are at HI-Chicago! During their past four days they have seen a lot of things, including: the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry. Along with famous tourist destinations, every town has it's own cuisine, and in Chicago it's the Chicago style hot dog! So what is on a Chicago style hot dog? A Chicago style hot dog consists of: an all beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato slices, pickled peppers, and celery salt. Yum! These ladies were in awe by all of the toppings! It was cute when we interviewed because they said they wanted ketchup on their hotdogs, I told them that ketchup was not put on a Chicago style hot dog, and then they understood as to why the hot dog vender was so perplexed when they asked for ketchup.

Before they leave Chicago, they plan on going to the Skydeck at Willis Tower, formerly Sears Tower. As well as will try some Chicago style pizza and hit up the shopping scene!

What are their favorite things about staying at HI-Chicago?

Libby loves the view from the dining room and watching the trains pass by. Both Libby and Becky are healthy chefs and love the conveniance of cooking in the communal kitchen.
However, there are always challenges for travelers. Becky misses her phone, which she left in England, but because HI-Chicago has complimentary wifi she was able to keep in touch with her friends and family.

Libby would rather not have to live out of her suitcase. I can totally relate to Libby's comment because living out of a suitcase is tricky. I always had clothes tossed around in my suitcase, and sometimes I could not tell which ones were clean and which were dirty. That's when I would just close my eyes and hope for the best. Then there was all of the bath products that would be scattered about, and commonly found at the very bottom of my suitcase.

After Chicago, they plan on taking the Amtrak to Tennesse, New Orleans, L.A., and San Francisco. Hopefully booking with HI hostels in each of their destinations.

In the future they hope to travel to Australia! It's neat because Becky has family there, so maybe they will be her tour guides.

Foto Friday Winner: Eloise

2011-06-17T15:33:00.007-05:00

Each Friday, we pick one lucky guest to be pictured on our blog and to receive a free gift from HI Chicago! We happened upon Eloise in our lobby, so she'll be enjoying 2 free tickets to ComedySportz!

Name: Eloise

Hometown: Liverpool, England

What she's most excited to do in Chicago: Museum of Science and Industry

Intern Spotlight--Laura Cohen

2011-06-16T16:09:00.005-05:00

Written by: Krista Baum

Intern Background

Name: Laura Cohen

Where you’re from: Mount Prospect, IL

Major/School: Double Major in International Studies and French at Illinois Wesleyan University

Intern Position: Non-Profit Development

KB: What international experience have you had?

LC: I studied abroad in Nantes, France for a semester where I immersed myself in the French culture by staying with a French family and all of my courses were taught in French. I also took a 2 ½ week class touring in Italy, and in the past I participated in a high school weeklong exchange in Paris. I have also traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Mexico.

KB: Why did you decide to intern with Hostelling International Chicago this summer?

LC: I was interested in exploring non-profit development as a career path but I also wanted to do something that had international aspects to it. Also I’m very pro Chicago and I like the idea of such a well rounded hostel in this great city.

KB: What do you hope to learn from this internship?

LC: I want to learn about the fundamentals of non-profit development, how to create grant-proposals, and learn the logistics of how to execute a successful fundraiser.

KB: Where would you like to travel in the future?

LC: Spain and Greece!

Volunteer Spotlight - Jodi & Chuck Cerny

2011-06-16T10:19:00.004-05:00

By Margaret Sheridan

Jodi and Chuck Cerny agree on many things: a love of Chicago, a curiosity about other cultures and people, the adventure of travel and the joy in giving back.

What divides the couple is giving directions. That is part of their volunteer job at HI-Chicago's Information Desk.

They handle the desk, morning shift, twice a week. Chuck works on Monday and Jodi is there on Thursday.

"We tried early on in our volunteer work to do the desk together, but it didn't work out," says Jodi. We got the guests to their destination but Chuck and I couldn't agree on which was the best way."

"We each have our own opinions," he added.

Amen!

The Cernys are veteran hostel enthusiasts. They met as teens in 1956 on a camping trip organized by a hostel in Chicago. Friendship blossomed through many outdoor activities, but their lives diverged. Decades later they met by chance at a square dance reunion in 1980. They married eight years later. Due to their busy schedule, they made separate interviews for this article.

MS: How does volunteer work fit into your retirement?

CHUCK: I used to work in building and grounds management for the Park Ridge School District. Jodi taught geography in Junior College. Recently, we downsized from a home in Lincoln Park to a condo in the Lakeview neighborhood near Belmont and Lake Shore Drive. We both love travel and meeting people of all ages. That is the great part of working at the hostel. Retirement has given us the opportunity to be able to volunteer.

JODI: I like getting to know younger people and listening to their thought and opinions. We also like to explore the city, such as taking buses to different locations in the city.

CHUCK: I like helping people out and I am really proud of the city, so the information desk is fun.

MS: Do you travel well together?

CHUCK: Jodi has travelled more than I have. As a teacher she had summers off and took advantage of it. When started dating in 1980, we did a group tour to China, Korea and Hawaii for a month. It worked!

JODI: He likes his creature comforts...we used to camp a lot but not now. Your health changes as you age and one wants more comforts such as hot and cold running water and clean sheets on the bed. I did a lot of treks and overland travel in many continents. I’ve been to all 50 states, over 100 countries, and 7 continents.

MS: Talk about your other volunteer work.

CHUCK: I help at Hull House on a lecture series called "Rethinking Soup." I also do things for Gilda's Club and work as a Chicago Greeter (for the City of Chicago Department of Tourism).

JODI: I am also a Chicago Greeter and volunteer at the Art Institute. Besides this I am the President of the DePaul (University) Geographical Society.

MS: What's a cool memory from working at the hostel?

CHUCK: I had a little old lady, someone’s grandmother in her 70s, ask me directions to the Leather Museum. What? I didn't know we had one until I researched it (on Devon Avenue). It was exactly what she wanted. You know all the crazy stuff like whips. She was delighted and thanked me profusely.

JODI: There are many memories, but just one does not come to mind.

MS: What do you love about Chicago, what do you miss about when you're away?

CHUCK: The lakefront. It's always changing. The cityscape.

JODI: The people. Most people are outgoing and willing to help. The minute they see someone on the street with a map, they ask if they can help. Many travelers have mentioned this to me at the desk. I also like looking at Belmont Harbor and the lake.

MS: What are some of your personal favorite secrets about Chicago?

CHUCK: The Fine Arts Building (410 S. Michigan Ave.) It’s floors of galleries and studios. There is even a repair shop for stringed musical instruments. Plus, on the second Friday of every month there is an open house from 5-9pm. often with live music and theatre.

JODI: I like the Red Apple, a Polish restaurant on Milwaukee Avenue. Nearby is St. Hyacinth, a large Polish Catholic church, which Chuck discovered. The Asian pastry shops on Argyle Street, especially the sweet bean paste sesame balls, are another find. We also like to take bus rides, such as along Archer (#62 bus) or the Belmont bus (#77) to learn about new neighborhoods. Oh, there is the Mega Mall in Logan Square. There are stalls, just like in Mexico. To have a quiet time out in the downtown, go to Gallery 109 at the Art Institute. It is a dark room with some Oriental art, very quiet, calm and Zen-like.

MS: What is your next travel destination?

CHUCK: Australia and New Zealand.

HI-Chicago Staff Spotlight: Kimberly Turner

2011-05-19T13:17:00.002-05:00

Kimberly, the Assistant General Manager at HI-Chicago, has lived abroad for a total of six years and has traveled to countless countries. She shares with us her favorite travel spots, lessons learned while living internationally, and where to find eternal spring.

How long have you been with the hostel?
About 5 years and 4 months. I was initially drawn to HI because I was a big traveler and have always stayed at hostels whenever I had the opportunity. So I love hostels, but in particular I really connected to HI’s mission. The opportunity to work here presented itself and I was intrigued and lucky enough to get the position that I now work in.

What do you do as the AGM?
I extinguish fires (laughs)…no, I’m the complaint department (laughs again)…okay, I coordinate between different departments – front desk, maintenance, housekeeping. I organize scheduling, I balance the books. I assist where needed.

What’s the best part of your job?
It’s the people that I work with. I like the excitement that the staff shares in promoting the mission and the enthusiasm for travel. Everyone on our staff constantly wants to be on vacation! I also love the interaction with the travelers, as well as witnessing the exchanges between travelers, seeing people from different backgrounds interact and make connections.

Can you tell me about your international background?After studying Linguistics in college, I went to Ecuador and spent a year teaching in Guayaquil and traveling. After that, I lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for 5 years and taught over there as well. Whenever I had time off, I traveled throughout the region.

What did you like about living in Dubai?
I really liked the experience of learning about the cultures. Before that I wasn’t familiar at all with Arab culture, let alone the Emirati, and it was a good opportunity to learn and understand. I also made some lifelong friends, and I traveled extensively with them to see their countries. I visited Jordan, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Oman, Thailand, Kenya. I think I really loved seeing completely opposite cultures from where I grew up, in Middle America.

You mention a lot about learning…what lessons did you bring back from your time abroad that you still use today?
People often pick up this learning piece of “we’re all the same.” I learned that we essentially are all the same...we want to take care of our families, enjoy life, be able to live it to the fullest, be able to support and sustain ourselves and the ones we care about. Whether we live in a mud hut or a palace, it’s all relative. It’s easier to have acceptance of all people once you realize that we all want the same things out of life.

I also really came to understand the huge sphere of influence that the US has on the whole world. That’s something that I thought I understood before then, but didn’t really understand until I had some perspective from the outside.

Do you feel that you were treated a certain way because you were an American citizen?
Yes…in Ecuador I stood out because I look so different than your typical Ecuadorian, so there was more a sense of curiosity than anything else. In the Emirates, I didn’t necessarily feel like I was treated differently because of the way that I looked, because the ex-pat community is very large there. But I did feel like sometimes I received good treatment for my American passport, especially in the workplace.

You’ve done a lot of travel - where are you favorite places?
I’d say my favorites are Morocco, Jordan, and Guatemala. In Jordan, I was staying with a friend’s family, and the level of hospitality was just above and beyond. It was a first-time experience for me, being treated like that. In Morocco I loved the constant sights of the market and watching the everyday life there…it was so basic and in a lot of ways ancient, but flickered with this sense of modernity. There would be these old houses, mud streets, a donkey in the alley, and paralleled with that would be a big cable satellite. Oh, and the colors there are amazing! And Guatemala, it’s just a really easy and peaceful place to travel. The weather is wonderful. I think they refer to it as the eternal springtime.

What’s your favorite neighborhood in Chicago to spend time in?
Probably Bucktown/Wicker Park. I’m can walk there from where I live in Ukrainian Village, and I love the convenience of what it has to offer. There’s so much to do and always so many people out and about. I’m a huge fan of Coast, a BYOB sushi restaurant on Damen.

What piece of advice do you have for those wanting to pursue an international career, either locally or abroad?
I’d say just always remember to keep an open mind. Even when you think you know where someone is coming from, you cannot assume, just like they can’t assume to understand your background. Don’t judge or make assumptions about others until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.

Travelixir Goes Tropical - May 26th

2011-05-09T17:17:00.003-05:00

TROPICAL TRAVELIXIR
The only party that will take you far, far away!
Brought to you by HI-Chicago and STA Travel

Chicago's most exciting travel party is back and here to treat all of your wanderlustin' blues. We’re getting excited about the summertime heat of the city, and so this event will celebrate all that is tropical, including your travel photos! Mix and mingle with Chicagoans & world travelers and enter the photo contest to win $ to fund your next travel adventure.

WHEN: Thursday, May 26 from 7-10pm
WHERE: The Volcano Room on the 2nd floor of the Bottom Lounge at 1375 West Lake Street
WHAT: A free party sponsored by HI-Chicago and STA Travel to cure that pesky travel bug of yours.
PHOTO CONTEST: Theme is “TROPICAL.” Submit ONE photo that goes along with the theme. Never been to a tropical destination? Then get creative and make it look like you have! (Thank goodness for blow-up palm trees, synthetic grass skirts, and tiki restaurants)
PRIZES: 1st place winner gets a $200 travel voucher from STA Travel and 3 overnights at any HI-USA hostels. 2nd place gets $100 travel voucher. Best tropical-inspired outfit wins a surprise prize.
AND EVEN MORE: Free giveaways from Flirty Girl Fitness, Uncle Dan’s, Chicago Detours, Iris Reading, and CorePower Yoga.

And of course, great music, dancing, and travel tales!

E-mail jsmith@hichicago.org with your photo submission (include your name and a title for your photo) to enter the contest. Photos must be submitted by May 25th @ 5pm to be considered. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN! RSVP not necessary for those not entering the photo contest.

Get more information and see who else will be at the party on Facebook.

Pay Chicago a Visit This Summer

2011-04-22T10:10:00.010-05:00

Sunny and Humid (With a 100% Chance of Fun)
By Jessica Smith

Ask Chicagoans how they deal with the frigid and lengthy winters, and they'll likely give you a response somewhere along the lines of "Oh, but the summers make it sooo worth it." This week, as we near the end of April and we feel some sort of entitlement to springtime bliss, there's no doubt that Chicagoans are feeling a little bitter about the snow that's accumulating on our budding gardens (real or metaphorical gardens, either way we're not happy about fickle temperatures freezing them over). But let's not forget how soon warm weather and summer programming will be a reality. It's time for locals to get excited about summer, and travelers to begin plotting their trips - here are just a few reminders why:

> FREE MUSIC
On any given Thursday night in summer, you can listen to Mongolian folk music, Gypsy electronic dance, and Brazilian samba in Pritzker Pavillion as part of the Music Without Borders series. On any given Monday night, you can hear indie favorites like Iron and Wine, Blonde Redhead, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists thanks to the Downtown Sound: New Music Monday series. And just about every other night of the week features more music, as part of the Grant Park Music Festival and World Class Jazz series. All for FREE, picnics and BYOB welcome, with our glowing city as a backdrop. So. Good.

> BIG-NAME MUSIC FESTS

Dave Matthew Band's Caravan Music Festival - Lakeside
When: July 8-10
Cost: $195 for a 3-day pass (no word of 1-day passes being available at this time)
In the inaugural year of this concept, Dave Matthews Band is bringing their multi-city music festival to the south side of Chicago for a big weekend of folky, jammy, and soulful music. The line-up is almost fully announced and includes David Gray, the Flaming Lips, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Kid Cudi, and more. Of course, the namesake DMB will be playing a full-length set on each night. http://www.dmbcaravan.com/

Pitchfork Music Festival - Union Park
When: July 15-17
Cost:$45 for a 1-day pass (3-day passes are sold out)
Pitchfork is the lower-key, yet slightly edgier little sister of Lollapalooza, now in its 6th year at Union Park. Animal Collective, Neko Case, Fleet Foxes, Toro y Moi, and many more - they're still announcing bands. http://www.pitchforkmusicfestival.com/

Lollapalooza Music Festival - Grant Park
When: August 5-7
Cost: $215 for a 3-day pass, $90 for a single-day pass (not yet available)
Lolla, with it's steamy early August temperatures, at-times rowdy crowds, and sprawling fest grounds in Grant Park, is not for the faint of heart. Being part of the chaos at least once is a great thing to cross off your bucket list, though! It's the 20th Anniversary this summer, so hopes are high for an extra great lineup (which will be announced on April 26th) http://lineup.lollapalooza.com/

North Coast Music Festival - Union Park
When: September 2-4
Cost: $40 for a day pass, $95 for a 3-day pass
In its second year, the North Coast Music Festival will continue to deliver a progressive serving of electronica, MCs, jambands and everything in between. Featuring Wiz Khalifa, Thievery Corporation, Common, Lotus, Neon Indian, with many more to be announced soon. http://lineup.northcoastfestival.com/

> NEW NOTABLE FESTS

Wine Riot - Union Station, Downtown
When: May 21
Cost: $45-50
Tour wines of the world with 250 different samples and wine seminars, as well as a photo booth, DJs and food pairings. Not cheap, but a great deal for the wine fanatics among us.

SausageFest - Wrigleville
When: June 4 & 5
Cost: $5-7
Formerly the Lake View Music Festival, Wrigleyville's new (giggle-inducing yet aptly named) SausageFest will feature slight re-branding but still retain music, arts and craft vendors and food from area restaurants, specifically encased meats. Smoking Popes, Sixteen Candles, and more artists TBA.

Street Food Artistry - River West
When: August 14
Cost: TBA
Considering how popular food trucks have become in just the few months since they were approved by the city, it's not surprising that there will now be a whole day to celebrate them! This festival of Chicago's food trucks and street-inspired dishes will include food samples, cooking demonstrations, a mixology class and a performance by Soul People.

Ravenswood Remix - Ravenswood
When: September 3 & 4
Cost: $5 donation
The inaugural fest features art made from recycled, found and reused materials by more than 125 artists. Food and drinks from forward-thinking vendors also available, along with live music and a variety of workshops.

For the complete listings of summer festivals, check out Metromix's 2011 Festival Guide.

> OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Find Some Grass
The simplest way to enjoy the outdoors in Chicago is just to find a big, open grassy area in one of our many parks or boulevards. Grant Park and Lincoln Park are the favorites, but don't forget about smaller green spaces such as Oz Park in Lincoln Park, Hamlin Park in Roscoe Village, and the boulevards in Logan Square. Picnic, play Frisbee, start a pick-up game of soccer - surely you don't have to be told how to have fun in a beautiful park!

Beachy Times
Oak Street Beach epitomizes a city beach, due to its central location right off of Michigan Avenue below the majestic skyline of downtown Chicago. It also happens to be very clean, quaint, and relatively quiet compared to other beaches. And then there's North Avenue Beach, which is the epicenter of the fun-loving summer social scene. You can play beach volleyball, soak up rays, people-watch, and party at one of the beachfront bars - just don't come here for a day of quiet reflection. If you're goal isn't to see and be seen, then you might be better off at Foster Avenue Beach, a huge oasis of sand on the far north side that caters to the more family-friendly and serenity-seeking bunch. On the completely opposite side of the city, the 57th Street Beach in Hyde Park is another beach that is less of a scene and more of a place to unwind and enjoy the summer heat. A long day at the Museum of Science and Industry is wonderfully capped off by a visit to this beach.

Two-Wheelin'
While there are plenty of Chicagoans who bravely cycle through the city all year round, most of us hold off until summertime to use this as our primary mode of transportation. For those who are starting from scratch without a bike, you can always test out your biking abilities by renting one from Bobby's Bike Hike, a great company that offers a $20 a day ($25 on the weekends) bike rental deal to HI-Chicago. And although it has yet to gain the sweeping popularity that it has in cities such as Paris or Montreal, Chicago does have a bike sharing program called BCycle. For those that are already set with their own bikes, the 18-mile paved lakefront trail offers uninterrupted cycling bliss. If you're interested in becoming a better urban cyclist, the Active Transportation Alliance offers great bike workshops and organizes big-scale events like Bike the Drive and Boulevard Lakefront Tour.

Book your hostel beds at HI-Chicago and get ready for a great summer adventure!

Kathy Schubert – HI-Chicago volunteer and Green activist

2011-04-06T10:00:00.003-05:00

By Margaret Sheridan

On Saturday evening, March 26, Kathy Schubert left the hostel guests at HI-Chicago in the dark. By design.

Kathy, a 12-year HI-Chicago volunteer, brought her special passion to everything - from bike safety in the city to her promotion of all-green living and energy conservation – to HI-Chicago.

For sixty minutes she turned off all unessential lights and other electrical appliances to celebrate Earth Hour, a global event started in 2007 in Australia, to raise awareness and take action on climate change. (see website www.earthhour.org).
It was a first-time event for the hostel, but the third year Kathy hosted such a happening. Usually, she does it at her home.

MS. Why did you introduce it in the hostel?
KS: I wanted to share with the guests, and then learn from their input how people conserve energy in their countries. One guy who worked on a submarine was forced to conserve water by showering only for a minute or two.

MS: What else?
KS: We had two young ladies from Japan who told us they have seven different kinds of recycling and try to separate items properly – batteries, glass, and paper. We had Geri Naynick from Madison, WI who does recycling and gave away her old lawnmower by putting it out on the front lawn with a sign FREE. This is how they do it in Madison. We agreed that people would probably recycle more if they were fined for not doing it right. Where people pay for garbage pickup and recycling pickup, they're more likely to participate. Most of the people who participated bicycle at least in the warmer months. The Japanese student from Columbus, OH lamented her college roommate's preference to turn the furnace up and the air conditioning down instead of adjusting clothing. We advised her to keep the temperature steady to keep the bills down and prevent damage to the system. I said that I hang my laundry indoors and have stopped using my electric dryer. I use my plastic bags for dog poop twice (I have a small dog). I use handkerchiefs instead of tissues for my nose and avoid using paper towels whenever possible.

MS: You’re well-known around Chicago for cycling with your dog.
KS: I’ve rode for 15 years with my dog Joey, a Miniature Schnauzer. She rode in a basket and wore a helmet. It was my way of educating other cyclists to wear a helmet. Joey died at age 15. My new dog is Suzy, 4 ½ years old. I got her from a shelter. I travel around the country, and world, with my dogs.

MS: Long bike rides with your dogs?
KS. Yes. I’ve done 12 RAGBRAIs (a five-day organized ride across IOWA), and I’ve cycled 12 days in Capitol to Capitol, a 669-mile ride from Ottawa, Canada to Washington DC with Joey. I’ve been cycling since I was a kid. I grew up in Albany Park.

MS: Any advice for would-be urban cyclists who are nervous to ride in Chicago?
KS: Open your eyes, unplug your ears and watch for pedestrians.

MS: What’s your professional background?
KS:. I graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in psychology. Worked in advertising and film editing for years, even had my own company for 20 years. I’ve lived in New York City and London. I volunteer at the hostel at the information desk. I enjoy leading tours to places like Maxwell Street or the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie. It’s fun to show guests how easy it is to use transit system. I also volunteer for the Red Cross in recruitment and on projects such as blood drives.

MS: How do you travel?
KS: I enjoy doing homestays in Europe and Australia. I like meeting people and understanding their culture and how they live. I belong to Servas. It connects travelers with home stay opportunities. (www.servas.org).

MS: How do you live “green”?
KS: I do composting. I bike instead of drive. Use paper on both sides. Keep a garden. I try to teach my tenants to recycle, but it’s hard. They need to be reminded, and especially to keep the thermostat down in their apartments. Mine is kept at 58 degrees in the evening and 66 degrees during the day. I try to recycle stuff. My favorite site is www.freecycle.org. You can give away what you don’t need and get free things that other people don’t need.

From Alexandria to Chicago

2011-03-14T16:46:00.002-05:00

Ahmed Mahmoud, Kitchen Manager, HI-Chicago
By Margaret Sheridan

Breakfast at HI-Chicago is served with more than delicious calories. The morning host and kitchen manager Ahmed Mahmoud prides himself in greeting guests in seven languages. The Egyptian-born 26-year old actor/singer/dancer/musician works from 5:30 am to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. But lately, he expects to be especially tired.

The native of Alexandria and his American-born wife Shawna just welcomed their first child, a son named Bilal, on March 9. “My heart flew out of my body when he arrived,’’ enthused the new father. Mother, father and the six-pound bundle of smiles are doing well.

How long have you been in Chicago and what's your impression of it?
I came here in 2008 and worked in a beauty salon. The owner was Egyptian. My wife’s family is from here, so we had instant family. We met in Cairo. She was a tourist; I was working as a singer in a nightclub. Moving here was great. Chicago is such a beautiful city. There’s so much to do. I love the lakefront and singing on the beach. Before I moved here, I imagined it would be a city with the Mafia. You know, gangs fighting on the street. That was a myth. Americans are friendly and curious. There’s respect for people on the street.

What are some favorite things about Chicago?
It’s an international city. It’s a destination place. I like working at HI-Chicago because I meet people from all over the world. Chicago is so easy to get around. You have so many choices in transportation. You take the bus or the subway. The Metra is fast. I can bike the lakefront. In Cairo, we have traffic jams, constantly. It’s always rush hour there. Too many cars, too many people, such narrow streets.

But you miss it?
Yes, my family is there. And it is such a beautiful country. The people are so hospitable. You are always invited into their homes, and they feed you so well. My wife and I went back in December. My family says I am so lucky to be in America. Egypt is ready for change. Thirty years of (President Hosni) Mubarak is too much. Everyone, especially people my age, are willing to fight for change. Life is so expensive there. For example, a pound of tomatoes costs $2 (American). My brother runs our family business, a factory that manufactures clothing accessories. I want my parents to come and see my baby. But my mother is afraid of airplanes.

What about your favorite foods in Chicago?
I love the Nile Restaurant in Hyde Park (1611 E. 55th St.) their kofta, kebabs, lamb, falafel. I like Greek food, especially the Greek Isles in Greektown. When I worked in Cairo as a singer, I also worked as a waiter in a Greek nightclub. So, I speak a little Greek and really enjoy their cooking, especially the grilled sea bass with lemon and olive oil, and moussaka (baked eggplant casserole with spiced meat and cream sauce). Another place is El Salam (4636 N. Kedzie Ave.) The cuisine is Middle Eastern. I’ve tried Chicago-style deep dish pizza, but it is too rich. It hurts my stomach. What I enjoy is having so many choices of ethnic foods such as Chinese and Thai, even Subway and just mac n’cheese.

What about the entertainment scene?
I love Second City. I used to do improv in Cairo. I hope someday to be a part of that group. There is also so much music in Chicago. My academic background is music. I had formal training in the “aod”, a Middle Eastern version of the guitar.

Do you enjoy travel?
Yes. I’ve been all over Egypt and Libya. I went to Turkey and stayed in Istanbul. It was an amazing place. I want to go to Greece and my wife wants to go to Spain. I was in New York City but it was so expensive. I stayed around Times Square but only for one week.

Are there are any myths about Egypt you wish to debunk?
Yes. About camels. People think Egyptians ride them all the time. We don’t. They’re for tourists around areas such as the pyramids. Riding a camel isn’t comfortable. They rock back and forth. If he runs, you shake.

Volunteer Spotlight: Fred Locher

2011-02-22T14:56:00.003-06:00

What's your involvement with the hostel?
I volunteer giving travel presentations as part of the Travel & Taste series with REI-Whole Foods. They only occur once a month, so I decided to get more involved and be a volunteer guide as well leading travelers to events around the city. It´s been a lot of fun so far! I enjoy trying to put together unique events that are not only interesting to me, but also to someone who is only in Chicago for a few days. I´ve been trying to keep the events more cultural with a small outing afterwards for those that want to continue the night on a more social level.

What initially motivated you to get involved at the hostel? And what do you enjoy about it now that you're doing it?
I initially attended a Taste & Travel event on Brazil at REI & Whole Foods. After the event I inquired about being a travel presenter volunteer for some of the countries I have visited. Also, I enjoy traveling and thought it would be a great way to continue to stay in touch with other travelers while meeting people from around the world. I am always curious as to what brings people to Chicago and I want them to have a good impression of our city. From my personal travel experience, I know that sometimes it can be tough meeting other travelers and I thought that by leading events I can help to make it easier for hostellers to meet each other. The events I have led so far have been a lot of fun and I think the travelers enjoy the uniqueness of them as they typically aren´t what you´d see in the guidebook. It has given them a different, more local perspective on the city. The visitors seem appreciative that someone would go out of their way to show them around, so that has been rewarding enough for me.

What is your own personal history with traveling and hostelling?
I took my first around the world trip in 2000 and fell in love with traveling and learning about other cultures. I haven´t looked back since. It´s mostly been in Europe and Central/South America that I´ve stayed at hostels or guest houses. I enjoy taking long trips and staying in hostels helps to keep the price down. In addition, it´s a great way to meet other travelers and learn about the places they´ve been or recommend. It´s an amazing network of global citizens.

Describe your ideal trip in just a couple of sentences.
My ideal trip is a bit off the main tourist path trying to get to a place before the mainstream travelers do. Culture is important for me as well as a bit of adventure. I am in a hostel now in Nicaragua as I write this and it has it all so far!

Introducing Travelixir!

2011-02-22T14:53:00.003-06:00

Are you afflicted with the travel bug? Need a fix, but no big adventures on the horizon? In comes Travelixir, a party for travelers by travelers, where you can flaunt that surreal picture you took of the salt pans in Bolivia or retell that story about the time you hung out with monks in Nepal without a set of glazed over eyes in the house.

Come join Chicagoans who love to travel, those that aspire to travel, and HI-Chicago guests currently in transit for the first of many Travelixir parties!

WHEN: Thursday, March 10 from 7-10pm

WHERE: Delilah's, Chicago's favorite whiskey bar

WHAT: A party sponsored by HI-Chicago and STA Travel to treat your wanderlust blues. NO COVER!

WHAT ELSE: A travel photo contest - party-goers vote on their favorite, and the winner gets a $150 travel voucher (good for airfare, accommodations, and other travel-related costs)

AND EVEN MORE: Free giveaways from Corepower Yoga, Flirty Girl Fitness, Kingston Mines, and Shoreline Sightseeing

DRINK SPECIALS: $3 Bushmills Whiskey and $3 Regional Drafts

E-mail jsmith@hichicago.org with 1 photo from your travels (include a name for the photo) to enter the contest and RSVP. You must be present at the party to win.

(You don't have to RSVP to attend, but you MUST submit your photo by March 9 to be part of the contest).

See you there!

Summer Internship Opportunities at HI-Chicago

2011-02-03T15:01:00.006-06:00

Hostelling International-Chicago is looking for outstanding college students or recent grads for our summer internship program. Interns work for a minimum of 24 hours per week for 8 weeks to receive free housing in an apartment-style suite in the hostel.

AVAILABLE POSITIONS FOR SUMMER 2011:

Education and Youth Outreach Internship
Help bring Hostelling International Chicago's powerful cultural education programs to over 700 youth throughout the city of Chicago and the nation during the year. Our mission-based programs use strong educational objectives to achieve meaningful outcomes with participants. Learn more about the hostel’s programs on our Community Outreach page.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
■Report to Education Coordinator and Educational Programs Coordinator
■Assist in curriculum development and delivery of all hostel educational programs
■Some administrative duties including research, fundraising and communications with youth groups
■Prepare for programs at the hostel, including grocery shopping and set-up
■Position requires some evenings and weekends with student groups

QUALIFICATIONS:
■Current enrollment in institute of higher learning or graduate of same, preferable education major
■Ability to work with economically disadvantaged youth ages 8-18
■Experience with program development and delivery
■At least one strong reference

Nonprofit Management: Activities and Volunteer Coordinator
Help enhance the stays of HI-Chicago guests and bolster the traveler community in Chicago.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
■ Reports to Activities and Volunteer Coordinator (AVC)
■ Recruit, train and manage volunteers in conjunction with the AVC
■ Create and facilitate new traveler programs, outings, walking tours
■ Facilitate community partnerships with local businesses and non-profit organizations
■ Develop social media outreach strategy

QUALIFICATIONS:
■ Current enrollment in institute of higher learning
■ Excellent interpersonal skills
■ Excellent organization skills
■ Outstanding ability to think creatively
■ Ability to work on projects independently
■ Good computer skills with MSWord, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

Media and Public Relations
Gain diverse PR and media experience in a non-profit, multi-faceted work environment

RESPONSIBILITIES:
■ Develop the story of the hostel, tailored to specific audiences and media contacts
■ Assist staff and volunteers with events including quarterly fundraisers
■ Secure media coverage of the hostel through local, national and international media
■ Assist in enhancement of hostel’s image trough public relations efforts
■ Develop PR strategies for the hostel

QUALIFICATIONS:
■ Current enrollment in institute of higher learning
■ Public relations experience and aptitude
■ Excellent verbal and written communication skills
■ Good computer skills with MSWord, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

Customer Service and Hospitality Internship
Work at the front desk of the hostel and learn the ropes of customer service and hospitality. Learn about the travel industry in a fast-paced and hands-on environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
■ Report to the Assistant General Manager and Front Desk Manager
■ Work at the hostel’s busy front desk, checking guests in and out and taking reservations
■ Become proficient on Roommaster, the reservation database that the hostel utilizes
■ Help with housekeeping management as needed
■ Take travelers out on an outing at least once per month

QUALIFICATIONS:
■ Current enrollment in institute of higher learning or graduate of same
■ Exceptional communication skills
■ Experience with multi-cultural work or study environments
■ Excellent customer service skills
■ At least one strong reference

Ready to Apply?
Deadline for summer internships is March 15th, 2011. Please send your resume, cover letter, transcripts, and one letter of recommendation to Jessica Smith at jsmith@hichicago.org.

Learn more about Hostelling International Chicago and what we're all about at : hichicago.org.

S'more Amour Fundraiser : It's coming up!

2011-01-26T09:54:00.003-06:00

S'More Amour
February's Peace Love and Hostelling Happy Hour benefiting education at the hostel

Friday, February 11, 2011, 8.00p - 11.00p
at the Mad River Bar & Grille
2909 N Sheffield, just north of Diversey, in Chicago

Join us for Peace, Love, and Hostelling: S'More Amour soiree. Come out on Friday to enjoy a fun north side bar filled with fun-loving, internationally-minded friends. Remember, it's all for a good cause, because you will be supporting the peace-building education work of the hostel and its partner teachers in schools throughout the Chicago area. Have fun, meet new friends and support education.

Bring your friends to Mad River Bar and Grille on Friday, February 11th and enjoy an open bar and buffet from 8-11pm. Mad River is located at 2909 N Sheffield, just north of Diversey. The closest L stops are Diversey and Wellington.

Entry is $30 at the door and will benefit youth from Chicago Public Schools who participate in the hostel's award winning cultural awareness building programs.

Things to do on Christmas Day

2010-12-22T16:38:00.004-06:00

Traveling in Chicago over Christmas? Don't get stuck with nothing to do on the holiday!

Here's a selection of places that are open on X-mas Day!

RESTAURANTS
• Dragon Court: This is one of the best restaurants in Chinatown (almost all the restaurants in Chinatown will be open on Christmas Day!). The menu is Cantonese and specializes in seafood. Hours: 8am-2am Directions: Take a right out of the hostel and walk west to Clark St. Pick up bus #24 Wentworth Southbound and get off at 24th and Wentworth. The restaurant is at 2414 S Wentworth Avenue.
• Sushi Samba Rio: Try something different for Christmas dinner at Sushisamba Rio, which will offer its full menu on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Selections on its eclectic Japanese/Brazilian/Peruvian menu include items from the raw bar, Japanese style Kobe beef, various ceviches and sashimi tiraditos as well as Brazilian style churrasco. Price: Entrees cost between $20-$40 Hours: Noon-2am Directions: Take a right out of the hostel and a right onto State Street. Pick up the brown line at State/Van Buren and get off at Merchandise Mart. Walk two blocks north to 504 N. Wells Street/
• Ann Sathers: Classic holiday fare at the Lakeview location of Chicago’s favorite Swedish restaurant. Hours: 7am-7pm Price: $18.95 for a 3-course meal Directions: Take the Red Line (towards Howard) to Belmont. Take a right out of the station and walk a block to 909 W. Belmont Avenue.
• Buca di Beppo: Family-style Italian food. Great for groups or leftovers! Get a coupon at the hostel’s info desk! Hours: 10am-11pm Directions: Take the red line (towards Howard) to Grand. Walk one block east to Rush. 521 North Rush Street.

MOVIE THEATERS
• All movie theaters are open on Christmas. Try the Kerasotes Roosevelt at 150 W Roosevelt Rd, AMC Loews at 600 North Michigan Avenue or the AMC theaters River East at 322 East Illinois Street.

MUSEUMS/ACTIVITIES
• Millennium Park Ice-Skating
Skating in Millennium Park is free and open to the public. Enjoy this favorite winter activity in the heart of Chicago. Hours: 10am-4pm Price: Skate rental is available for $10. Directions: Walk left out the hostel, then two blocks to Michigan Ave. Walk up Michigan six blocks. The ice rink is located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets.
• Garfield Park Conservatory
One of the largest and most impressive conservatories in the United States. Often referred to as "landscape art under glass," the Garfield Park Conservatory occupies approximately 4.5 acres (18,000 m²) inside and out and contains a number of permanent plant exhibits incorporating specimens from around the world (including some ferns that are over 300 years old). Additionally, thousands of plants are grown there each year for displays in Chicago parks and public spaces. Hours: 9am-5pm Price: Free and open to the public. Directions: Take the Green line towards Harlem. Get off at the Conservatory-Central Park stop.
• Also Open: Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo & Conservatory, Willis Tower, and Hancock Observatory (buy tickets to Willis and Hancock at the front desk).

NIGHTLIFE
• Kingston Mines Blues (21+)
Go to Kingston Mines for a full night of blues. Joanna Connor Blues Band plus Eric "Guitar" Davis and The Troublemakers and 8PM Acoustic Set with Joanna Connor. Hours: Acoustic set starts at 7:30pm Price: $12 with hostel coupon (at the info desk or front desk). Directions: Take the Red line towards Howard. Get off at Fullerton and walk east to Halsted. Take a left. The address is 2548 North Halsted Street.
• Smart Bar (21+)
A Smart Bar Christmas! Enjoy dancing to the sounds of RON TRENT, TEVO HOWARD (LIVE), SPECTER, LUIS BARO, and TIM BIARS. Hours: Starts at 10pm Price: FREE with hostel coupon (before midnight). $12 after Directions: Take the Red line towards Howard. Get off at Addison and walk west to Clark. Take a right and walk about 3 blocks. The address is 3730 North Clark Street.
• Crocodile Lounge (21+)
Dance the night away in Wicker Park at Crocodile Lounge at the “A Very Dirty Christmas” celebration. Free gourmet individual-sized pizza with the purchase of any beer! Hours: Starts at 9pm Price: Free with RSVP: http://chicago.going.com/event-865494;A_Very_Dirty_Christmas# Directions: Take the Blue Line (towards O’Hare). Get off at Damen. Take a left out of the station and a right onto Milwaukee Avenue. Walk less than 5 minutes to 1540 N. Milwaukee Ave.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Roger Pomerance

2010-12-07T15:23:00.004-06:00

By Margaret Sheridan

In describing his many interests, Roger Pomerance uses the verb “dabbles”.

Hardly. Whether racing sailboats, researching a location or baking cookies, Roger’s concentration and attention to detail challenge that choice of word.

The financial consultant staffs the Information Desk on Monday evenings at HI-Chicago. He handles any interruption during this interview with graciousness. One teacher, leading a group of 20 students, asks for inexpensive dining suggestions before the group grabs a bus to the United Center for a Bulls game. He rolls off names such as Epic Burger, pizza, Thai food, Panera and Exchequer Pub.
Another mother and daughter from Kansas City tosses Roger questions about pizza (thin crust at Lou Malnati’s) and shoe shopping. “State Street will take care of that,’’ he assures the teen.

He keeps a stash of freshly made oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies in a plastic container and offers them to staff between bidding hellos and answering questions from new arrivals. He eases their anxiety about the city with street maps, a sharp pencil and a smile. “I’ve been volunteering here for four or five years. I like being an ambassador to Chicago, and introducing guests to the city’s highlights."

The native of Chicago was raised and lived in the suburbs of Elmhurst and Wheaton, but he returned to the city 15 years ago when he bought a condo near Addison and Lakeshore Drive. Now, he can ride a bicycle or take the 151 Bus to HI-Chicago.

These cookies are great. Are you a cook?
I like to bake. I’m a better baker than a cook because baking is so specific. You have recipes, and if you follow them, you’ll have success. With baking, there is less uncertainty. With cooking, there’s so much guesswork. A little of this, a pinch of that. I’m not good like that. But I do make one-pot meals such as chili and goulash. I enjoy chopping ingredients.

What are some of your favorite Chicago eats?
Cinnamon rolls at Ann Sather’s. Polish rye bread, my heritage, from most any bakery on Milwaukee Ave.

You say you dabble in sailing?
Yes. I’m a part-owner in a Tartan Ten (a popular 10-meter sailboat). We sail off of Chicago and keep the boat in Michigan City. I’ve raced the Chicago-to-Mackinac Race (the annual 333-mile sailboat race in July from Chicago along Lake Michigan to Mackinac Island, Michigan) 19 times. I got into sailing years ago through the American Youth Hostels. I took lessons and used their boats in Monroe Harbor. That organization held meetings in the same building where HI-Chicago stands today. So, I feel like home here.

What are some of your recommended spots for entertainment?
I enjoy the group-led outings to the Green Mill and Kingston Mines.

What makes being at the hostel rewarding?
I traveled around Europe when I was younger. I remember meeting strangers on the street or in the trains and they gave me advice about where to go or what to do or where to eat. Those people made my day. So, that’s what I can do here. I can make their day a little nicer. I like answering so many questions. I’ve been in Chicago all my life and when I first manned the information desk, I was stunned by what I do not know. I like the energy of being around travelers.

Any secret aid to help with curveball questions?
I rely on the RTA Trip Planner Website for some tough addresses in the suburbs.

How do you travel?
I enjoy the planning and the research of a trip as much as doing it. I like to stay in little pensions for the privacy. I backpack and use trains.

What do you miss about Chicago when you're away?
Lakeshore Drive, it’s the city’s jewel, and Lake Michigan. If the guests ask for best vantage points, I suggest viewing it from the Adler Planetarium and from Montrose Harbor. I also miss cycling along the lake, and along the Chicago North River Branch Bike path.

Volunteer Spotlight: Linda Fuller

2010-11-16T11:23:00.000-06:00

By Margaret Sheridan

Linda Fuller is in the middle of an interview when a guest in goose down parka approached her table in the dining room.

The guest using gestures similar to a symphony conductor raved about one of Linda’s recommendations. The SOFA Intuit, an art fair at Navy Pier , rated five-star accolades from the beaming hostel guest. Linda graciously nods acceptance, and smiles.

“Such feedback, I love it. And I’ve only been here since July.’’

The hostel is within walking distance of Linda’s neighborhood in the Loop. The native of California has lived and worked downtown since she and her late husband arrived in 1980. They couple have lived many places including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut.

Recently retired from the CTA after nearly 12 years of working in planning and operations management, Linda says her knowledge of the city’s transportation system is a bonus in manning the information desk on Friday mornings.

What are some perks of being a volunteer?
The enthusiasm from guests, when I see them discover what Chicago has to offer, and how easy it is to get around the city. You don’t need a car. I try to make the city accessible. Some guests, unfamiliar with the city, are overwhelmed, at first. Other travelers, especially Europeans, seem more familiar with using public transportation. Many come from places that have great transit systems.

Want to share some Chicago secrets?
I urge people, especially if the weather is bad, to visit lobbies. They are architecturally significant, and warm in winter. Favorites include the Marquette Building (140 S. Dearborn St.), The Rookery (209 S. LaSalle St.), and the Art Deco elegance of 135 S. LaSalle St. (formerly known as the Field Building).

Another place to see is the Grand Ballroom on the second floor of the Blackstone Hotel. The detailed ceiling plasterwork is amazing. I encourage visitors to go to the Chicago Cultural Center. They offer free building tours. There’s always something going on…a concert, an exhibit, a movie. There’s also the Museum of Contemporary Photography (600 S. Michigan Ave.) right in the neighborhood.

Got a secret dining spot?
Yes. It’s a little Mexican place on the Pink Line at the Damen stop on the “L”. It’s called Abuelo’s Mexican Grill (2007 S. Damen Ave.).

How do you travel?
I love to travel. In Europe when I was younger, I’d just go to train stations and ask for referrals on pensions and little cheap hotels. About five years ago, for fun, I took the train from Chicago to Los Angeles and proved to friends you don’t need a car in L.A. The train ride took two-and-half days. Then I got around LA very easily. I stayed in Little Tokyo. All you need to understand is the network of bus lines, airport shuttles and the subway system. Yes, LA does have a subway system.

Any future trips coming up?
I’ve got relatives spread out across the States. I’m busy discovering this country for now.

An Outing to Buddy Guy's Legends

2010-11-11T10:38:00.001-06:00

At 8:30 last Wednesday, November 3rd, about 20 travelers set out for Buddy Guy’s Legends to hear Scott Holt and his band play some blues. Although I had signed up to be the local guide, I had never actually been to the venue myself. Although none of us knew what we were in for, everyone was ready to have a good time.

My role as the local guide was literally a little misleading since, upon exiting the hostel, I turned north towards State Street rather than south to Wabash. Lucky for the twenty of us, one of the guests immediately called this to my attention. Upon arrival, our efforts to enter the club were once again thwarted, this time by a crowd of inebriated businessmen and a large, gruff doorman, who notified me that the bar would be closed until 10:00pm for a private party. With an extra hour to spare, I looked at our eclectic bunch of world travelers, and I felt a brief moment of panic. Luckily, a friendly bystander directed us to the South Loop Club just down the street, and most of our good-natured guests obligingly followed.

As the extremely friendly staff pushed the tables together into one very long row, it felt a little like my own private birthday party-- only it wasn’t my birthday. Still, a few of the hostellers affably bid me a happy one just for good measure.

Despite my initial panic, our small detour provided us with a perfect opportunity to get acquainted with each other. At my end of the table, I sat among a group of people from Minnesota, San Francisco, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Scotland, and Ireland where the discussion led to a friendly debate on American social etiquette (the arguable verdict being that Americans are typically more polite than other cultures at the expense of sometimes being less genuine). As a Chicagoan, it is sometimes difficult for me to gauge what guests truly think of the city. Nonetheless, my companions seemed particularly impressed by the local music scene and by Chicago’s role in many classic films. In fact, one guest had recently been to the Art Institute and admitted to appreciating Seurat’s "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" as much for its significance to art history as for its cameo in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

At about 10:00, we all paid our bill, tipped our waitresses, and trekked back to Buddy Guy’s. The private party which had just let out must have had an open bar, because the place was teeming with randy, middle-aged men in neckties and blazers. A few of them offered to buy drinks for the travelers, but as far as I know, most people politely refused. Ultimately, I think we were as amused by them as they were by us.

Although most of us had come to the club expecting traditional Chicago blues, Scott Holt’s style had a bit of a country twang. Still, he was a talented musician, and I was pleasantly surprised. The club was standing-room only, and many of the hostel guests began to disperse among the crowd shortly after we arrived. Nonetheless, it seemed that most stayed well-after midnight. As they made the last call, Scott Holt and his band finally succumbed to their apparently irrepressible urge to close out with “Sweet Home Alabama.” Meanwhile, a few of the remaining hostellers had made new friends and were even making plans to find another bar.

In the end, all of the missteps and unexpected surprises of the evening seemed to work in our favor. Although things did not necessarily go to plan that night, as Ferris Bueller would say, “Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Traveler Spotlight: NIGEL

2010-11-10T16:36:00.005-06:00

Nigel's back.

Who?

One of HI-Chicago's most devoted guests, Nigel Jenkins from Cardiff, Wales, beams on the topic of Chicago. "I feel at home here,'' says the 44-year old intrepid traveler. "The people are friendly. The city is easy to get around on foot, bus and "el". And for a cinema buff like me, there are so many theaters.''

A tourist hitting the movies? Nigel isn't typical. This is his 16th visit to the city in 18 years of travel in Europe and North America. He's enjoyed all the tourist attractions of the city, and prefers to live it as a resident. We caught up with him a day before he headed off to Los Angeles on what he calls his annual Fall visit to the US. This one stretched for 17 days. His work as a therapist for adults with special needs allows him to schedule vacations twice a year.

What's your travel lifestyle?

I've been doing hostels for years by myself. The people you meet are of all ages but have a similar mindset. I love the downtown location of HI-Chicago. I've know Chicago well before Millennium Park. The city has really changed, and it's beautiful. The hostel in Santa Monica, Calif. is a favorite. It is so close to the beaches. And in Los Angeles, you can get cinema passes like they have in Britain and France.

I stay in all sorts of hostels. But the network hostels have high standard of operations. The service and facilities are first-rate. I like such consistency and familiarity. I've had all sorts of experiences. I remember one in St. Louis, Mo., where I was the only one there. At another hostel in Santa Fe., NM. you were expected to do chores. Sleeping in a room with 10 bunks in Chicago is fine. I'm not sure if I snore or not. No one ever complained. A favorite hostel is one in France, in a little town of Saint-Malo (a walled port city in Brittany).

What's your take on Chicago food?

I'm a vegetarian, so in Chicago it is easy. There are so many grocery stores. I love to go to Kramer's Health Food Shop (230 S. Wabash Ave.). I love their veggie bean burrito and beetroot juice. When Cultural Kitchen students here in the hostel were cooking a meal recently, they invited me to dinner. It was Chilean food and really good.

What's special for you about Chicago?

Running the lakefront. When I'm fit, I do marathons. I've done five marathons. Three Londons and two Chicagos (1999, 2000). But I'm out-of-shape at the moment.

What are your travel must-haves?

I never go anywhere without packing a couple of my Spillers Records tee-shirts into my backpack. I have 23 in different colors. Spiller's is the oldest record store in the world, since 1894. It's in Cardiff. I take Welsh cakes (a type of fruitcake biscuit) to have with tea. I don't go anywhere without my cell phone. It's loaded with photos of my nieces and nephews. I have five sisters and one brother, lots of relatives. I always buy extra Air Waves, my favorite chewing gum (anise-flavored). You can't buy it here. I give some to the staff (at the hostels). We know each other, they're like family.

What's on your dream travel agenda?

Easter Island. Australia. China.

What's on your near-future agenda?

Coming back here next March or April. I'd better make reservations now. You get really busy here.

-Margaret Sheridan, Volunteer

Volunteer Spotlight: Ervin Lopez

2010-10-25T15:35:00.003-05:00

What volunteer positions do you hold at the hostel and how long have you been doing them?

I volunteer in the traveler programs as a Chicago guide and as a Chicago Specialist at the Information Desk. I have been a Chicago Guide since early August and a Chicago Specialist since mid-September.

What motivates you to volunteer?

My main motivation is learning about and understanding the culture of other countries. This is by far the best way to understand culture, by meeting travelers and taking them to outing in different neighborhoods in Chicago.

What has been your most fun or interesting outing so far, and why?

I'm not going to lie! The most fun outing so far has been taking travelers to pub crawls, and it was my first outing with HI-Chicago. We took travelers to Wicker Park during the Lollapalooza weekend. Over 70 travelers pub crawled with us to seven pubs.

What is your top travel destination (a place you've already been or your dream place?

My top destination is visiting Brazil and it may be my dream place to live. Also, Brazil is hosting both the Olympic Games and the World Cup therefore it seems to be the place to live before, during, and after those two events. Brazil will be the next economic powerhouse.

What other ways do you keep busy outside of the hostel?

Since I'm currently a new graduate student, I definitely keep busy with reading and writing. I work full time as a job recruiter. I work out at the fitness center, do some running and weightlifting. I also burn calories by doing some dancing--salsa, merengue and bachata. I enjoy watching independent films, hanging out with my friends, eating at different ethnic restaurants, and of course, travelling.

Waking up in Chicago and Sharing the Blues

2010-10-08T10:49:00.001-05:00

The other day as I watched a horse-drawn buggy roll down Rush Street, I realized that I felt less like the sightseer on top and more with like the workhorse below, burdened with a bridle and blinders. Chicago is a classy town, but in my daily routine, I often feel that I take it for granted. At 5:30 p.m. most Mondays, I follow the same worn path home as I sit alone among the mass of strangers on the CTA, bow my head into a book, and listen to the clickety clack of the track below. Last Monday, however, I took off my blinders and took a detour to HI-Chicago for their weekly excursion to the Kingston Mines.

As a first-time volunteer, and a lifelong wallflower, I was nervous about attending the outing; but lucky for me, it is hard to be an oddball among a hodgepodge of multinational backpackers. Everyone had their motives for coming, and like the rest of them, I wanted to experience a bit of culture. At the Kingston Mines, I watched as the doorman checked passports from Argentina, Australia, Britain, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, New Zealand, South Korea and Spain, in addition to a few licenses from California and North Carolina.

Chicago may be famous for joints like the Kingston Mines, but the blues belong to everyone. Around 9:00 P.M., J.W. Williams and the Chi-Town Hustlers took the north stage with Japanese blues musician, Shun Kikuta, on guitar. Chicago’s Daily Herald once referred to Kikuta as the “Ambassador of the Blues.” As such, about mid-way through the set he stepped off the stage and into the crowd on a goodwill mission to impress us with his finger-picking expertise. Meanwhile, as I stood at the bar, Fernando, an Argentinean hosteller, allowed me to practice my Spanish skills as he explained to me that he was on a rock n’ roll odyssey across the United States to gather material for his blog, “La Cueva del Rock and Blues.” The previous night he had been to Blue Chicago on Clark Street and he would soon be headed to New York City to see Roger Waters. We were also joined by Diego, Fabricio, and Xabi from Colombia, Brazil, and Spain, respectively. As Carl Weathersby and his band took the main stage, I took the opportunity to introduce my new friends to a taste of Kentucky bourbon, and we all enjoyed the music with a round of Knob Creek.

Shortly after midnight, many of the hostel guests seemed to blend in with the rest of the crowd, and Fernando and company suggested that we head across the street to B.L.U.E.S. to see Linsey “Hoochie Man” Alexander and his band. Like Shun Kikuta, the Hoochie Man lived up to his title. He likes to interact with his audience, and my skills as translator failed me, partly for a lack of vocabulary, and partly out of modesty. All in all, it was an excellent evening of Chicago blues, brought to us by yet another international musician-- the band featured an Italian bass player, incidentally named Fabrizio. Just after 2:00 am, as the lights came up and the bar shut down, I finally bid adieu to Fernando, Xabi, Diego, and the Fabricios. Before that night, we had all been strangers, but we all got the blues and we all had a wonderful time.

HI-Chicago’s motto is "to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling," As a volunteer, I was there not out of a sense of giving, but one of sharing. At the end of the evening, I had acquired new friends, practiced my Spanish, and benefited from a rich cultural exchange. After only four hours of sleep, I awoke the next morning feeling oddly invigorated. On my commute to work, instead of plugging my ears and putting my blinders back on, I sat up and watched the city go by as if I were some kind of sightseer. I was proud to share my city with the people I met that night, and I am thankful to them for opening my eyes and helping me reawaken to a new Chicago.

-- K. Williamson