Advertisement:

Posts in category "Did You Know, Chicago?"

Escape from Lincoln Park Zoo!

Escape from Lincoln Park Zoo!
I went by Lincoln Park Zoo this weekend, and something reminded me of the story of the sea lions that escaped and ended up waddling down Clark Street.  I figured that was a pretty uncommon phenomenon for the zoo, right? Not so. This week’s ‘Did You Know, Chicago?’ is about the dozens of animals that... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
Tuesday at 6:42 am
• Leave a comment

Did you know the Wizard of Oz was written in Chicago?

Did you know the Wizard of Oz was written in Chicago?
I’ve always loved Oz Park, but it seems kind of random. Where did it get its name? Where did those Wizard of Oz character statues come from? Being the Chicago nerd that I am, I did some research and found out some very interesting facts for this week’s “Did You Know, Chicago?”. L. Frank Baum... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
May 14, 2012 at 8:34 am
• 2 comments

It could be worse...remember the Great Chicago Flood?

It could be worse...remember the Great Chicago Flood?
All of these thunderstorms and tales of sump pumps failing have got me thinking of the Great Chicago Flood! Have you heard of it? It’s a pretty unusual situation and the topic of this week’s ‘Did You Know, Chicago?’. In 1992, construction crews working near the Kinzie Street Bridge punctured the ceiling of one of... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
May 8, 2012 at 6:50 am
• Leave a comment
Advertisement:

The real story behind the Vagina Building

The real story behind the Vagina Building
You may know it by its slightly tamer name, the Diamond Building. But no matter what you call it, the building with the flat top and prominent vertical slit is one of the most famous designs in the Chicago skyline. Today, the building is known as the Crain Communications Building, a change that just happened... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
May 1, 2012 at 6:36 am
• 4 comments

Yes, that's bacon you smell near Wrigley Field

Yes, that's bacon you smell near Wrigley Field
Okay, this might actually bring me out to Wrigleyville. The Kraft Foods “Big Noodle” statue just outside Wrigley Field has a new addition: bacon. Designed to look like it’s now topped with pieces of bacon, the noodle will release a bacon scent into the air every  10 to 15 minutes during game days. Bystanders within... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
April 9, 2012 at 7:04 am
• Leave a comment

Happy Book of Mormon Day!

Happy Book of Mormon Day!
Happy Book of Mormon Day! I’m crossing my fingers for someone to get me tickets to this amazing musical for my birthday. (Hint to the husband who is hopefully reading this.) I always thought the Chicago theater scene was underrated and after some research I’m even more convinced. I wanted to share the information for... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
March 19, 2012 at 7:01 am
• 1 comment
Advertisement:

I'm a Chicagoan, and I like ketchup on my hot dog. Deal with it.

I'm a Chicagoan, and I like ketchup on my hot dog. Deal with it.
I love love love hot dogs, but I’m a traitor to my Chicago roots; I have to pile on the ketchup and onions. I hate Chicago-style hot dogs, and I get sooooo tired of people making a big deal about how I prefer my dog. (My picture is even on the Wall of Shame at... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
February 20, 2012 at 6:53 am
• 45 comments

What's the deal with the Old Post Office?

What's the deal with the Old Post Office?
I’ll bet the new owners of the Old Chicago Main Post Office are regretting their decision to buy it. The recent news of horrible air pollution hurting Amtrak commuters in Union Station is falling on International Property Developers (IPD), the British company that bought the old post office in 2009. Amtrak is suing IPD for... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
February 13, 2012 at 7:27 am
• Leave a comment

How the neighborhoods got their names, part deux

How the neighborhoods got their names, part deux
Last week, my “Did You Know, Chicago?” post feature the history of how some of the city’s neighborhoods got their names. I received such great feedback and responses from readers wanting more that I thought I’d do another one! Feast your eyes on even more Chicago neighborhood history: Streeterville Streeterville has one of my favorite... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
February 6, 2012 at 7:30 am
• Leave a comment
Advertisement:

How the neighborhoods got their names

How the neighborhoods got their names
Did you ever wonder why some of the city’s neighborhoods got their names? Some of them are self-explanatory – Lakeview, South Loop, River North – but others are kind of strange. Since I’m a giant nerd, I decided to research popular neighborhoods’ names and include it in this weeks ‘Did You Know, Chicago?’. Pilsen This... Read more »
By Chicago Quirk,
January 30, 2012 at 7:24 am
• 13 comments