Spectacular architecture and stunningly maintained.... Very little known about it by the locals …read more I have lived in Chicago for 26 years and always wondered what this beautiful building was but finally went on not so busy Friday afternoon literally 30 mid before closing . Would love to bring the family back.

Stunning! A bit of history I didn't even realize we had here in Chicago. Free to visit (there's a…read moredonation box at the front) and the staff was very sweet. Someone was giving brief tours with more information, but you're able to walk around and explore on your own.

A big thank you to the illinois national guard who ran a very smooth operation to get me and the…read morerest of the people in Illinois a covid vaccine today. Thank you for your service

How do we not give five stars to our Army National Guard??…read more This National Guard supports a fleet of Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. The Company B 935th Aviation unit and the Company B 1-106th Aviation unit call this home. Both pilots and repair units stay busy here. Each weekend the Blackhawk helicopters make numerous flights across the SW side of Chicago and the southern suburbs. The flight path to enter and exit the airport airspace is east of the building closer to the fire department by Latrobe ave.

My first real makeout spot! Oh, I don't normally miss high school, but right now all I want to do…read moreis spend three hours sitting on top of the waterfall waiting for the best time to make a grab for a boob. Pretty nice waterfall that served as the backdrop to a lot of great kissing in my younger days. In the fall, when they shut the water off, I used to love rollerblading in here. That was before they built the police station across the street. More recently, my time at the waterfall has been spent perched on top with a book, or a friend having some very "serious" discussion. Ok, so we were high again and reading Kierkegaard. There are worse ways to spend an evening.

More surprisingly than not people have weddings here because of the backdrop. It's not just the…read morefountain but beyond that on the other side of the land of the street is a land of the lost! Or...just a pretty forresty area that is really cute for pictures and relaxing. The only thing honestly that kills the waterfall is that there's a bench with Honest Abe chillin right in front of the waterfall facing the street now, and that there is a STREET right there. Though it's great while passing by and during the winter they dress it up really nicely with lights, if you're passing by you may think to yourself "why the hell would anyone have their wedding photos here? Or why would they hang out here in the first place?!" But give it a go. If someone creepy walks by there's a monster police station across the street. And a bus stop next to a big empty lot.

Recently visited the cemetery since I was in the air. Originally, this was the only area nearby…read morewith public restrooms since Downers Grove doesn't really have public restrooms but I took the chance to walk around the cemetery to see and experience all the history this place had to offer. Even though many of the Tombstones are old. They do try to rehab a lot of the ones on the property. You can find many well-known families to the area that lived here and get a glimpse into the past. Overall, this place is great for historians and history Buffs alike

A great park to memorialize and remember those who served from Arlington Heights. Featuring a giant…read moreeternal flame statue in the center, it gives tribute to all of the branches of the military. It is also the host to a service after the Memorial Day parade. Thank you to those who keep this park looking beautiful.

Beautiful park dedicated to veterans from Arlington Heights. Starting from the civil war, there are…read morebricks and plaques honoring service through the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are also the seals of the different military branches and the American flag flying around a large eternal flame bronze sculpture which stands at the center of the plaza. This park is an easy walk from the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, North Park, and other places in downtown.

This is the headquarters of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. We are so lucky to have…read morethis institution here as well as sister agencies in the suburbs and other areas of Illinois. I'm from Oregon which has lots hiking, state parks, and so on, but the forest preserves are special. They provide a lot of great programming and the agency maintains over 70,000 acres of woodlands, wetlands, trails, and other outdoor spaces in Cook County. My experience with the FPDCC has been to attend various programs they're hosting. Usually those are some sort of hike or trail walk with a naturalist providing context and education along the way. Whilst there's several nature centers (kind of akin to the field houses at parks in the Chicago Park District) in the FPDCC system with different amenities, there are picnic groves, walking/hiking trails, camp sites, aquatic centers, and places for folks to have events, etc. I've been to the more "typical" events you'd expect of a forestry agency, such as a night hike at Sand Ridge Nature Center; hike learning about and looking for beaver activity at Trailside; owl education at River Trail Nature Center; and so on. An event about nature journaling held by a FPDCC volunteer piqued my interest in learning more about and doing some nature journaling, and led me to join the Chicago Nature Journaling Club. But they also have tried to expand to include some cultural programming and that's totally my bag. One of the signature programs supported by the department of Conservation & Experiential Programming is the American Indian Center's annual pow wow at Schiller Woods. I haven't been to that yet but it's on my list! Today I went to one of the Black History Month programs they're hosting, which was a lecture-style program with an indoor poetry trail and a discussion and introduction to Black naturalists and environmentalists from the Chicago area and beyond. It was a really interesting presentation and I'm only sad that I was the only person besides the employees who showed up! But we did have some good conversation about trying to reconnect Black folks to nature, environmental racism, how the issues early Black activists were concerned about are still germane today, and what folks are doing in the present to ensure these concerns remain part of the conversation. I really appreciate the discussion I had with Art, Bill, and Will. I'll be attending the BHM program at Sand Ridge that is a self-guided tour through trails that connected to the Underground Railroad. The forest preserves are fascinating, y'all!

Due to the weather that's been impacting Illinois I am not able to continue family reunion for…read moreAugust 15. I'll call today August 14 at 10:30 and was told I was not able to be refund, but if I call I yesterday the 13th, maybe they would have considered it. It's sad because those who work at the preserve know that it has been storming and I have been without power for the last four days.

This is a great place to volunteer as a docent, someone who guides visitors through the Museum…read morelocated in Chicago's oldest house, the Noble/Seymour-Crippen House (1833). Wine and beer tastings with appetizers, live music, raffles and a silent auction are $60 on September 23rd on the grounds at 5624 N. Newark Avenue, Chicago.

You can learn alot about Norwood Park and it's history from a visit here. Learn about the role it…read morehas played in Chicago's history. The Society is only open on Saturdays from noon-4PM.

My organization has rented out their main space for a holiday party for families/kids for the past…read moretwo years and have had really good experiences with both. Parking is easy with their own lot. The space is beautiful and spacious. We were able to use several 6-foot long tables and chairs. You practically feel like you get the whole place to yourself, too. They also have cool birthday themes that you can check out if you're looking to host a birthday party. Such as an Animal Party whcih includes rubber stamps to make a take home project or "Space Out" to make your own model comet. There is so much here that I don't know if I can cover from summer camps to community gardening to Critter Care that you can volunteer for. Best of all, the Evanston Farmers Market goes indoors from December to April and is hosted here in the Ecology Center.

A great place for any large event. I was here for a wedding ceremony and they did an amazing job…read more You have to have your own coordinator but for the price it is totally unbeatable. Nice grounds with trees for wedding photos and plenty of space for up to 150 people. A friend had their kid's 16th bday here and said it is a great option even for dancing. Bring everything yourself or cater but save lots that way. A parking lot across the street as well, plus plenty of street parking around.