A Night at the Opera

When I awoke on Monday morning, I anticipated it would be like any other day. Head to my internship and then a night of catching up on emails, homework, and other meaningless tasks that needed to be done. However, my night drastically changed when a kind man gave away a free ticket to the opera. Being a college student and on a budget, I jumped at the chance to experience something so extravagant. So after rushing home and preparing for the evening, I set out on my newest adventure in Chicago.



As I rounded the corner, a large beautiful building stared back at me. Great round columns stretched to the right of the ornate entryway. Nervous and unsure of what to expect I headed into the warmly lit Opera house. I was overwhelmed with the grand lobby that greeted me. A large regal staircase was to my left and an elaborate balcony wrapped around the three-story foyer.

Attendees were filtering in slowly for the 7:30 showing. Many were enjoying a glass of wine at high tables and admiring their surroundings. Slowly I ascended the staircase, taking in every detail. The railings. The breathtaking crystal chandeliers warming the lobby. The intricate signs. The marble foyer floor. The excited and buzzing Opera lovers.



The stairs first brought me to the Mezzanine floor. Slowly I wandered into the seating area. I was greeted by the incredible and breathtaking stage. Looking over the railing, I could see every detail of the grand room. With the 3,563 seats and the 580 yards of heavy-weight wool velour and silk fringe on the stage curtain, it was an incredible sight to behold. Above the Mezzanine floor there are two additional balconies.



Aside from the grand building itself, the show was yet another marvel. As the orchestra began playing Mozart, I was instantly drawn in. The three and a half hour opera was funny, touching, and capturing. The Marriage of Figaro constantly kept me guessing and entertained by the number of trials faced by Figaro, Susanna, the Count, and the Countess. Never before have I heard such incredible ballads!



By the end of the evening I found myself reluctant to leave. The building, the opera, and the audience members were all such a fascination to me. However, eventually I took one last look at the stage and theater, engraved it in my memory, and headed home. From now on, every time I hear a beautiful composition by Mozart, I will be reminded of my incredible night at the Opera!


-Erika Ter Louw, HI intern

Hosteller Highlight!

During free ice cream Tuesdays we met these two girls from Denmark! They were very excited about having some ice cream and talking with us!

HI: Hi what are your names?
Heidi and Signe



HI: Where are you from?
Denmark

HI: What are you doing here in Chicago?
We are here with our class. We stayed with our professors in West High School in New Berlin.

HI: How long were you here for?
We go home tonight. But we came to Chicago on Saturday. Before we were in New Berlin for 10 days. We went to high school and lots of museums, baseball games, basketball games, ice skating shows, and lots of stuff! (laughs)

HI: Wow you guys saw a lot!
Yeah so much! (laughing)

HI: So what did you learn in your classes?
We learned English. There are many friendly people. They are friendlier than I thought they would be!

HI: What do you like about the big city?
Well here I love the shopping! (laughing) I love love love the shopping here! But people are crazy here! The people who have no home coming and talking to you, kind of scary for me.
(she points out the window)
And that! I never see that before!! The Police on bikes! (laughing) So strange!

HI: Yeah that is kind of different isn’t it? (laughing) So did you like all of the basketball and baseball games at the high school?
Oh yes! I got a t-shirt! (laughing)

HI: Wow, that is great! Is this your first time in the US?
Yeah! Everything is so big! Wow! Everything is so cheap too! In Denmark it isn’t like this. Everything is so much more expensive there. So I love shopping here, and the Michigan Mile!!

HI: (laughing) Yeah the Magnificent Mile is pretty great! Are you going to have to buy another suitcase to bring everything back to Denmark?
Yes! I have four now! (laughing)

HI: So what was your favorite museum in Chicago?
Well in Chicago we didn’t see as many museums as in New Berlin, but I do really like all the towers!

HI: The skyscrapers?
Yeah! So beautiful! And oh my gosh they are so big!

HI: Well thanks for talking with me! Enjoy your free ice cream and you last few hours in Chicago!
Thank you! Have a nice day! Bye.

Storms!

On March 18th the Museum of Science and Industry welcomed a new exhibit into its facilities. The highly interactive new exhibit features seven different natural phenomena and invites attendees to learn and discover our world. Tornado, lightening, fire, atoms, sunlight, tsunami, and avalanche are all part of the exhibit.

To kick off the opening, the museum hosted a reception the evening of March 18th. As partakers poured into the main hall they were invited to explore each part of the exhibit first by trying many of the appetizers themed with a corresponding natural phenomena. Once attendees were satisfied they moved on to further explore the exhibit itself. Museum staff members were present to discuss, explain, and answer any questions regarding each station.



The two-floor exhibit contains over 50 experiments where adults and children alike can expand their knowledge. As you enter the vast display a large rotating Avalanche Disk towers in front of you. Granules are placed in the center of the disk and participants are invited to adjust the speed of the wheel and learn more about how avalanches, or “flows of granular material” work. Another popular avalanche experiment is a tennis ball launch across the exhibit hall. Guided by the Chicago Bulls point guard, Derrick Rose, you learn how to find the correct angle and velocity necessary to reach the other side.

Next you are faced with a 40-foot vortex, which contains air and vapor. Here you have the opportunity to learn more about tornadoes. In addition you can experiment with your own miniature vortex! As you venture further into the museum, you find a Create a Chemical Reaction table. Here you have the opportunity to drag-and-drop different elements in a virtual chemical lab. You are given a perspective on how different elements react together and you can find how a single molecule can drastically change the outcome of the experiment!

Through out the exhibit you can also learn about sunlight. In the roof of the museum there is light streaming in so that you can create prisms, heat liquid, and power a model race car. At the back of the main level is a water tank that stretches 30-feet. Here you can create a tsunami and learn more about how they work. Learn more about waves as well in ripple tanks and watch them interact with other objects or other waves.



Moving up the escalator, even more natural phenomena can be explored. A “flame test” can be used to create fireworks that burn in different colors and learn how natural fires can even be beneficial to the environment! Lastly, observe the immense Tesla coil on the ceiling of the second floor. A museum staff member sets off the high-voltage lightening as you sit below. Learn more about electricity and how we use it today!

Overall, the new Storms exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry is an incredible and vast display of seven different natural phenomena. The exhibit is great for all ages! Reserve several hours in your day to wander through!

-Erika Ter Louw, HI intern

Neighborhood Spotlight: Pilsen

This is the first in a series of neighborhood highlights that will be posted on a weekly basis. Plan where you'll visit once you land in Chicago, or if you're a local, explore a new area that you've never been before!

P I L S E N
Though it was originally settled by German, Irish & Czechoslovakian immigrants, Pilsen now boasts the 2nd largest Mexican community in the USA. Throughout its history, it’s been a center for important social movements and workers strikes, as it has always been home to new immigrants. Come here to explore 18th Street, the busiest street in Pilsen, and explore Mexican-American culture through great restaurants, cafes, stores, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. On the east side of Pilsen (18th and Halsted), you’ll find a funky gallery corridor that has an open gallery night every 2nd Friday of the month from 6-10pm.

 KNOWN FOR: Latino Culture and food, colorful community murals, vibrant arts community

 DON’T MISS: Nuevo Leon (1515 W 18th St), the most famous Mexican restaurant in Pilsen; Simone’s (960 W 18th St), a unique bar/grill with a good night scene; National Museum of Mexican Art (1852 W 19th St) which is free and is the largest Mexican art museum in the nation; and Efebina’s Internet Café (1640 S Blue Island Ave) for coffee, local art, & free internet access.

 GET THERE: Take the Pink Line train to the 18th Street stop.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Green beer. Green river. A parade. And all the green you can possible wear. These are just a few things that characterize the St. Patrick's Day festivities in downtown Chicago. However Chicago is not the only city to put on quite a show for the holiday.

The first traditions originate from the Irish who would celebrate the anniversary of St. Patrick's death in the fifth century. It began as a Christian holiday and the anniversary fell during the season of Lent. Therefore, the Irish would attend church and services in the morning; however in the afternoon, the Lenten restrictions were put aside for the day. Families would feast, dance, and drink to celebrate.

Parades were never a part of the tradition until Irish soldiers marched through New York City while they were serving in the English army. Therefore, on March 17, 1762 the tradition was born. Since that time the Irish immigrants in the United States flourished and they began to form Irish Aid Societies. These were meant to promote their heritage and traditions as Irish Americans; each Aid Society held their own parade. They all began coming together in 1848 in New York City, and they put on the United States' largest parade. It is now the oldest civilian parade in the world!

Meanwhile, Ireland still used the day as a Christian holiday. Laws prohibited pubs from opening on March 17 up until the 1970s. During this time, the Irish government changed its mind and began to use the holiday as an opportunity to increase tourism. A national campaign began in 1995 to encourage visitors from all over the world. Today Dublin has parades, concerts, theatre productions, and fireworks for several days in honor of St. Patrick.

Much like other cities in the United States, Chicago provides large amounts of entertainment for visitors on March 17. Pub-crawls, parades, and lots of green beer are at every traveler's disposal. However, Chicago offers and very unique experience in comparison to other U.S. cities. The infamous dying the Chicago River green draws even more visitors. Pollution control workers in 1962 added green vegetable dye to the river to find sources of illegal sewage. They discovered that 100 pounds of green vegetable dye was enough to keep the river green for a whole week! Thus, they decided it would be a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Today only 40 pounds of dye are used in an effort to be environmentally friendly.

So, if you are Irish or not, there is plenty to celebrate! Grab all your green attire and hit the streets to celebrate March 17th! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

-Erika TerLouw, HI-Chicago Intern

Recipes for the Budget Traveler

Now that the sun is shinning, the weather is warmer, and Spring is here, its time to lighten up your recipes. Here is a great Spring pasta salad! It is easy, fast, and tastes great!

First head to the nearest Jewel-Osco store to gather your ingredients! Get on the Red line and head towards 95th/Dan Ryan. Get off at the Roosevelt stop and walk East to S Wabash Ave. Turn right and you will see Jewel. Pick up these key ingredients.

1 bottle (8 oz.) Lite Italian dressing
cherry tomatos
green pepper
ripe olive halves
pepperoni slices (or another meat)
low cholesterol mayonnaise
Grated Parmesan cheese
green onions
1 package of pasta

Once you are back at the hostel, cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Once that is done, add the following over top of the noodles.

1 bottle (8 oz.) Lite Italian dressing
2 c. cherry tomato halves
1 sm. green pepper, in strips
1/2 c. ripe olive halves
1/4 lb. pepperoni slices (or another meat)
2 tbsp. green onions, sliced

Just before serving, add
1/2 c. low cholesterol mayonnaise
2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated.

Serve cold. Enjoy your new spring recipe!!

-Erika Ter Louw, HI intern

Chuckles at Comedy Sportz

A group of ten hostellers left the building Thursday night with high hopes and hungry stomachs. We set off to Comedy Sportz for a night of free pizza and a free comedy show! As we walked into the theatre we were greeted very warmly and handed our tickets. Comedy Sportz Staff did not miss a beat and were instantly greeting us and making sure the group was comfortable.

Volunteers and travelers were treated to pizza catered by Marcello’s. A free drink was also included from the bar in the trendy lobby of Comedy Sportz. The group sat down at tables immediately next to the stage, and after an hour of socializing the doors opened and seating began for the show.



For 90 minutes, the crowd participated in a phenomenal show. Constantly engaging and moving forward, the improv performers amazed the crowd with their quick and consistent wit. There were two improv teams that were competing for the most laughs and a referee who helped officiate the show. We as audience participants took on the role of judges. The more we laughed, the more points the team got.



Contrary to many improv shows, Comedy Sportz was an incredibly clean and family friendly show. If performers crossed a line, the referee stepped in and called a “foul.” If this occurred, the performer would be forced to wear a brown bag over their head for the remainder of the scene. However, the show never got remotely close to this point.



The improv performers played several different “games” or types of improv. Replaying a scene in different roles and rhyme rapping are just two examples of these sidesplitting games. Watch out! They used a lot of crowd participation and volunteers, so be ready to put your good humor to use as well!



Overall, the show was stupendous and consistently comical. At the end of the night audience members left the theatre in a lighter mood and with the expectation of returning again soon!



We will definitely be frequenting the Comedy Sportz Theatre again! So join us on our next trip to the hilarious and engaging show! Thank you so much Comedy Sportz!


-Erika Ter Louw - HI intern