Color Your Senses on the Blue Ridge Parkway

            The Blue Ridge Parkway, recognized as "America's Favorite Drive," was constructed by President Roosevelt’s New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps and Italian and Spanish stone masons in 1930. The Parkway runs along the rim of the Blue Ridge Mountains for 469-miles scenic miles with panoramic views. The drive was created to connect Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park with North Carolina’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park of North Carolina. Mileposts are used to mark distances on the trail. Beginning with zero in the Shenandoah Valley and increasing in number as you drive southward.

               The Parkway traverses 29 counties and features 26 tunnels, 176 bridges and six viaducts. Bluff Mountain Tunnel, located at milepost 53.1, is the only tunnel in the Virginia section of the Parkway. Winter weather may cause closings of portions of the road so drivers should check for alerts prior to any trip. The National Park Service operates the Blue Ridge Parkway and it is the most visited unit in the National Park System. www.nps.gov

                 The Blue Ridge Mountain and foothills were the homeland of the Cherokee, Monacan, Saponi and Tutelo indigenous tribes. It is the Cherokee of North Carolina who first named the mountains Shaconage, “land of the Blue Mist,” denoting the blue haze that cloaks parts of the mountain. Additional names along the Parkway reflect the Indian presence. The Peaks of Otter Visitor Center Museum, at milepost 85.9, interprets the archeological finds in the area including tools. The entrance to the Cherokee Indian Reservation is located at milepost 457.7 and at Lickstone Parking Overlook, milepost 458.9, there is an informational plaque.

               European settlers entered the area to establish homesteads bringing with them their unique arts and culture and the Parkway showcases a number of pioneer buildings in their original settings. The first of these clusters is found at MP 5.8 at the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center and Mountain Farm. An easy self-guided path takes visitors to a group of 19^th-century farm structures. The center offers seasonal history programs.

            MP 85.9, the Peaks of Otter, offers a loop trail to a farm owned by the Johnson Family for generations. Polly Woods Ordinary, believed to be the oldest edifice on the Parkway is also situated here. Constructed of logs in the early 1800s it functioned as an inn, run by the widow Polly, from the 1830s to the 1850s. She was licensed to run an ordinary, an inn that catered to the ordinary needs of travelers. Eventually it closed because Polly’s retired.

            The Claudill Cabin (MP 241) is considered one of the finest pioneer cabins along the Parkway. The cabin is isolated and is accessed by a 9.4-mile trail. The Jesse Brown Farmstead (MP 272.5) is a complex inclusive of a cabin, spring house and Cool Springs Baptist Church. Jesse Brown was a preacher who rode the circuit. Services were held outdoors and the church was only used during inclement weather. The structures, believed to have been built prior to the 1860s, have been relocated to land he owned.

            The region’s pioneers engaged in industries remnants of which remain. Yankee Horse Ridge parking area (MP 34.4) has a portion of reconstructed narrow-gauge railroad track, known as the Irish Creek Railway and a display on logging. MP 63.6, the James River visitor center has a restored lock dating from the mid-19th century. 

            Mabry Mill Trail (MP 176.2) is a series of structures including Matthew’s Cabin a blacksmith’s shop, whiskey still, wheelwright’s shop and the Mabry Mill. The Mill was constructed by Mr. Mabry circa 1903-1914 and functioned from 1905-1935. The water powered mill is the most photographed edifice on the Parkway, hosting more than 100,000 visitors annually. 

            There are several stories regarding the naming of the Peaks of Otter at MP 86. My favorite is that they were named after a form of the Cherokee name, ”Otari,” meaning high places. Native Americans visited this area for more than 8,000 years and considered it a place of power. Today it continues to be a place of stunning beauty. Surrounding Abbott Lake are the Peaks, three mountain peaks, Sharp Top, Flat Top and Harkening Hill. Thomas Jefferson wrote of the Peaks of Otter, believing they were taller than they were. Virginia was so in awe of the Peaks that they sent stones to be used in the construction of the Washington Monument. Visitors can contemplate the view from the Otter Lodge and restaurant.

            Nine miles from the Peaks of Otter, just off. the Parkway, is the town of Bedford, Virginia, home to the astonishing National D-Day Memorial. The quiet town of Bedford had the highest per capita losses in the nation on D-Day. The memorial’s invasion tableau is particularly powerful. A self-guided tour takes you through the planning stages, through the battle and ends at a victory arch.

            Back on the Parkway at MP 407.6 there is a trail to the top of Mt. Pisgah. The hike is strenuous up the 5,721-ft. peak but the views are rewarding. The Pisgah Inn is located at MP 408.7. The only inn and restaurant on the Parkway in Virginia. The inn is situated at 5,000-ft. and while dining you can bask in the view from the restaurant’s big windows.

            The 1,234-ft. Linn Cove Viaduct in North Carolina was completed in 1987. It clings to Grandfather Mountain and is considered an architectural marvel at MP 304. This concrete s-shaped bridge is comprised of 153, 50-ton, sections.

            There are entrances and exits to the interesting sites adjacent to the Parkway. Downtown Roanoke is a short drive from MP 120 and at the other end Asheville exits (MP 382, 393).

            North Carolina is a perfect place to purchase traditional, local, mountain handcrafts. Three places on the Parkway are Northwest Trading Post MP 258.6, Parkway Craft Center MP 294.1 and the Folk Art Center MP 382. #Visitnorthcarolina

            The Blue Ridge Parkway is considered one of the bucket list road trips in the United States with world class scenic panoramas of mountain vistas. If you are planning a trip all pertinent information is available at Blueridgeparkway.org

 

            

 

 

THE CROOKED ROAD: VIRGINIA’S HERITAGE MUSIC TRAIL

“Where words fail music speaks.”  Hans Christian Anderson

            Music critic Nat Hentoff told a story of Charlie “Yardbird” Parker on a break during a New York club gig. Bird was observed selecting songs on a jukebox and to his friend’s amazement they were country songs. When jokingly asked why those songs he responded, “Listen to the words.” The lyrics and emotions were a focal point of tunes, that the 17^th-century English, German, Irish and Scottish colonists and African brought to the new world. These basic songs would incorporate elements of Blues, spirituals and gospel as the people migrated inland to areas in the Appalachians recalling their homelands and this synthesis of musical tradition, emotion and lyrics. The music they created is considered the second oldest musical genre in the US, with Native American music recognized as the oldest.

                  Southwest Virginia inaugurated the Crooked Road Heritage Music Trail in 2004 with the goal of promoting and presenting Appalachian old time and bluegrass music. The trail is 333-miles long and features 10 major sites, 60 smaller locations and 50 towns. This is a spectacular year to travel the road at your own pace to celebrate and pay homage to this cultural trail and join celebrations of the 20^th-anniversay of both The Crooked Road and the Ralph Stanley Museum, the 10th Anniversary of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, the 40th Anniversary of the Floyd Country Store Friday Night Jamboree and the 50^th-Anniversary of the iconic Carter Family Fold. thecrookedroadva.com

                  An ideal place to begin your road trip is in Bristol, Virginia, a unique city that abuts Bristol, TN. Once  the site of a Cherokee village in 1771 a trading post and fort were constructed there to provide aid to westward travelers. In 1890 both Bristol, TN and VA were chartered as Bristol. In 1901 a line was drawn down the middle of State Street as a boundary between the two states. Bristol, VA has a congressional designation as the “Birthplace of Country Music.”

                  Brass markers etched with the state names denote the state line and visitors can straddle a marker for a photo op. In 1910 the iconic Bristol Sign was placed atop a hardware store. In 1915 the 25-ft sign was moved to State Street. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are more than 50 venues in the downtown district that offer shopping, dining and entertainment. #bristolva

                  On State Street in 12 days in August 1927 nineteen artists recorded 76 songs in a former hat factory. Victor Talking Machine Company representative Ralph Peer produced the first commercial country music recordings including songs by the Carter Family and the event is widely recognized as “the big bang” of country music. Bristol was selected as the site of the sessions because it was accessible to the railroad. #loveVA

                  Over two floors The Birthplace of Country Music Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate, relates stories of the Bristol Sessions, music, instruments, individuals and pivotal events through state-of-the-art displays, artifacts, memorabilia, 4 films, galleries, performances and live WBCM Radio Bristol @ListenRadioBristol.org. Highlights of the exhibitions are Jimmie Rogers’ stage guitar and galleries on the contributions of African Americans to the genre including the African genesis of the banjo and race recordings.

                  Union 41, helmed by Torrece “Chef T” Gregoire, adapted the open kitchen style to present masterful menus with local, fresh, ingredients and a taste of her island roots. The infusion of flavors unique to the African diaspora make each dish a culinary masterpiece. She adds tastes to her cuisine as people contributed to the music. Her skills have been displayed on Hell’s Kitchen Season 14 and Food Network’s Big Restaurant Bet. @union41bristol 

                  Continue the Crooked Road experience with a stay at the Sessions Hotel. Rooms are curated to reflect the ethos of country music’s birthplace. Guest rooms and public spaces harken back to the session’s era and events through art and accoutrements. The hotel presents performances on an outdoor stage, offers comfort food in the Southern Craft restaurant and helps you feel like a star in the Vision Salon and Star Barber Shop.

The Carter Family recorded 300 songs from 1927-1942 and A. P. Carter, head of the family, often traveled throughout the area to obtain unrecorded songs. He hired Lesley Riddle, an African American, to accompany him and memorize the music as he memorized the lyrics. Riddle’s style was unique because he had lost two fingers and a leg in two different accidents. His 5-year contribution is acknowledged at the Birthplace of Country Music and the Carter Family Fold. He has been credited with teaching Maybelle guitar techniques.

The Family Fold was founded to memorialize the memory and legacy of the Carter Family. The original family lived on the land here in the foothills of Clinch Mountain in SW Virginia. The complex includes A.P. Carter's old general store museum, the reconstructed original A.P. Carter Homeplace and a concert venue. In August a concert will be held to commemorate the anniversary of Alvin Pleasant Carter, his wife Sara, brother Ezra and sister-in-law Maybelle formed the original Carter Family band. The museum showcases photographs, instruments, stage outfits and other family items donated by June Carter and Johnny Cash. A. P.’s birthplace is a furnished log cabin near the store.

Carter Family Memorial Center was established in 1979 to nurture and preserve traditional bluegrass and folk music. The 800-seat auditorium presents scheduled concerts. Johnny Cash returned to The Fold when his health began to fail. He called it his home and his final concert was played there.

Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts in Marion is named for Wayne C. Henderson, an international ambassador for the music of the Southern Appalachian region. Workshops are offered on the creation of guitars, fiddles, stained glass, quilts and letterpress. You can build your own guitar and then participate in an on-site jam session. @waynechendersonschool 

The Blue Ridge Music Center highlights evolving musical traditions and the influence of American Roots music. Galleries in the interpretive center include a museum, theater and gift shop. Live music is regularly scheduled on the breezeway of the center. @brmusiccenter

Floyd Country Store is an extraordinary site to end this portion of the road. It is in this authentic general store that the community would gather in the early 1900s for Friday night jamborees. On the weekends you can still participate in the ongoing Appalachian experience. This is still a functioning store and includes a café. You can learn to dance or show off your skills along the Crooked Heritage Road. @thefloydcountrystore 

 

 

Heritage Hunting in Houston, Texas

“Houston is a city of resilience and strength.” – Beyoncé

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                  Texas was the final region to receive word of emancipation, in June of 1865, after the Civil War. It was also the place where enslaved African descendants were brought by the Spanish into Spanish Texas. Their entry preceded Jamestown’s 19 blacks by nearly 100-years, arriving around 1528. Until 1836 Texas was Mexican territory and they outlawed slavery in 1824. Stephen Austin established a colony on a grant inherited from his father in 1821 and in order to lure settlers to his colony he contracted ownership of 80-acres for each bondsman they brought with them. Slavery was a tenuous Texas institution until after the Texas Revolution and the 1845 admission of Texas to statehood. By the 1850s thirty percent of the population was comprised of slaves and at the start of the Civil War they numbered 182,566. The Civil War did not stop the trade, in fact, Texas is the only state where the enslaved population actually grew. Southern owners moved their slaves to the interior of Texas because they were considered “safer.” #explorehouston

                  Houston was established on 6,600-acres at the juncture of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak bayous in 1836. Two brothers, John and Augustus paid $10,000 for land to build a trading post. The settlement was named after Sam Houston and was Texas’ capitol for 2-years. In 1839 Houston was divided into four wards numbered clockwise and were designated, geographical, political districts.

                  The city boasts seven sites on the international UNESCO Slave Route. The route was initiated in 1994 to combat the general lack of knowledge surrounding the international slave trade and its ramifications. The Houston sites include Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Emancipation Park, Gregory School African American Library, Olivewood Cemetery and three historic homes, the Kellum House, Fourth Ward Cottage, and the Yates House, 

                  Many emancipated slaves migrated to Houston after freedom was official. They founded a settlement that became known as Freedmen’s Town in the Third Ward. It became a center of culture and business and in the 1930s housed 33% of Houston’s black residents. The 10-acre Emancipation Park dates from 1872 and was purchased by former slaves for $1,000. Some of the streets feature handmade and paved bricks that date from 1865. Freedmen’s Town was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1984. @visit_houston

                  Texas Southern University (TSU), once named the Houston College for Negroes, is one of the largest HBCUs in the US. It was founded as an outgrowth of H. Sweatt’s quest to go to Univ. of Texas’ School of Law. The school refused to integrate and instead created TSU to get around the law.

                  Third Ward was the place where Beyoncé grew up. Her home is privately owned but can be viewed from the exterior.

                  In the Fourth Ward the 1866 Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, the first African American Baptist Church in Houston, stands. On their third site 9 former slaves erected the first brick structure in Houston to be built and owned by African-Americans in 1879. 

                   The Kinsey African American Art & History Collection is on view at the Houston Holocaust Museum and it is not to be missed. The Kinsey Collection features paintings, sculptures, photographs, documents and artifacts highlighting African American life from 1595 to present day. The exhibit juxtaposes the Holocaust experience with that of African American slavery. A life-sized rail car is particularly poignant. hmh.org

                  The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum is dedicated to collecting and preserving the stories of the African American military. The museum is divided both thematically and chronologically with artifacts, photographs, dioramas, artwork and videos. A special exhibit, “The Blue Helmets in Action,” focuses on the 93rd Infantry Division, the first WWII activated African American combat division. Buffalosoldiersmuseum.org

                  NASA/Space Center Houston offers an opportunity to get closer to space through tram tours, videos and exhibits. Highlights of a visit include a facilities tour, Historic Mission Operation Control Room, Artemis Exhibit, Astronaut Training Facility and a tactile experience with a moon rock!

                  La Maison in Midtown, an urban bed and breakfast, provides perfect accommodations for a Houston visit. Each room is creatively furnished and offers all the amenities including WIFI. A full breakfast is chef prepared and served daily.

                  Barbara Jordan, a graduate of TSU, was the first African American female Congresswoman and the first African American state senator since 1883. A life-sized sculpture of a seated Jordan is on the exterior of what was a historic post office building. The building is now a multi-use structure with shops, a food court and the country’s largest rooftop urban farm. The roof has public spaces and breath-taking, panoramic, city views. 

                  Toast your trip at Pur Noire Urban Wineries, the first Black-owned urban winery in the downtown area. Pur Noire is owned by Carissa and Kenneth Stephens and a visit is an adventure in culture, camaraderie, soul food and exceptional wine. #houstontx

 

AMAZING ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

“For our elders and ancestors, whose voices were silenced but whose courage created us.”

The earliest recorded documentation on the area that is now Arlington, Virginia was recorded by Captain John Smith in June 1608. Smith painstakingly described the geography and indigenous villages, approximately 200, he encountered while in command of a 30-foot-long shallop manned by 14 men. The land was traditionally the ancestral home and hunting ground of the Doeg, Pamunkey, Piscataway and Tauxenent tribes. To date, greater than twelve prehistoric Native American sites have been located within the county. #allinarlington

Gulf Branch Nature Center, located in the Gulf Branch Stream Valley, was a Native American fish camp. The 19th-century log cabin’s main exhibit showcases park artifacts, Woodland Indian information, pottery and a replicated version of Smith’s 1608 map. 

By the end of the 17th-century there were a few colonists and remaining natives in Arlington. In 1841 it was ceded to the government to become part of the Federal District of Columbia, the nation’s new capital. In 1847 it was retroceded to Virginia and became Arlington County. At 26-square-miles It is the smallest self-governing county in the US. Petite though it may be, Arlington County has so much to offer that it is a destination in itself as well as a convenient hub for daytrips to the surrounding area. 

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has 11 stations in Arlington, one of which, Rosslyn Metro Station, houses one of the world’s longest continuous escalators. The ride is 194-feet, 8-inches and takes more than 2-minutes. For those preferring to see Arlington in several different ways there are 10 walkable, eclectic neighborhoods to investigate, 1,100-acres of parks to explore and 75-miles of multi-use trails. Arlington earned the title of Fittest City in America 2018 to 2023 from The American College of Sports Medicine. No matter what your transportation options the menu of sites and attractions will leave you in awe. 

Arlington, because of its location, has always played a significant role in US history. There are 34 sites on the Black Heritage Trail, showcasing their history from the colonial to the modern era. 

Benjamin Banneker was a free man who surveyed Washington, DC. He was an astronomer, mathematician, clockmaker, writer of his own almanac and abolitionist. An original 1-foot-square Benjamin Banneker Boundary Stone marked on the north side with 1791 is situated in a fenced in area in Benjamin Banneker Park. 

Dr. Charles Drew ‘s childhood home is a National Historic Site viewable from outside only. His research in blood transfusions led to the ability to develop blood banks, saving thousands of lives, in WWII. In 1941 he was named Director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank.

The Ball-Sellers House is the oldest extant house in Arlington. John Ball, the original owner, built the house on 166-acres in 1742. The Carlin family moved into the house after Ball’s death and owned at least 3 slaves, who worked inside the home, Nancy and two unnamed men. Bronze markers, inscribed in remembrance, have been placed on the lawn. These “stumbling stones” are the first dedicated in the state.

The most visited sites in the 640-acre Arlington National Cemetery, the second largest in the country, are those of the heroes who are interred there, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, John and Robert Kennedy, Joe Louis, Medgar Evers, Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Changing of the Guard. The best way to tour the cemetery is by tram with narration and 6 tour stops. 

Arlington Cemetery sits on land that was once the plantation of Robert E. Lee. The estate was confiscated by the Union in May 1861 to build forts and establish headquarters because of its proximity to southern lines. Fleeing African Americans settled there to be safe and eventually Freedman’s Village, more a campsite, was established there in 1863. In 1865 the Freedman’s Bureau took over and founded a real village with homes, shops and schools.

On May 13, 1864 Brig, Gen Montgomery C. Meigs began burials on the grounds to ensure that the Lee’s never lived there again. Mrs. Lee left the grounds in 1861, leaving the house and Washington relics in the care of her enslaved housekeeper, Selena Gray. Selena protected the property to such an extent that the George Washington items were cataloged and taken to the Smithsonian and 33% of the furniture on the

tour is original to the mansion, saved by Selena.

James Parks was born on Arlington Plantation in 1843. When they took control he joined the Union and became the first gravedigger. Prior to his death in 1929 he requested to be buried there. According to the law he was not military and could not be interred there. The government passed a special act to permit his burial with full military honors and he rests in Sec. 15, Grave 2. President Truman desegregated Arlington in 1948.

The 1802 Greek Revival mansion sat on 1,100-acres overlooking DC. The Lees wed in the parlor. Tours are available. The plantation had as many as 200 enslaved and 2 restored slave quarters are on view in the rear of the house. The quarters were those of the house workers and are original.

The free Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum ‘s mission is to relate the history of drug use, explore the i

mpact of drugs on the individual and society and interpret the role of DEA agents. Featured exhibits are a Pablo Escobar death mask and a prison suit and two gold and diamond-encrusted guns owned by El Chapo. @stayarlington

Residence Inn Arlington Rosslyn is perfectly located to access all the activities in Arlington and Washington. It offers all of the bedroom amenities and a full kitchen, fitness center and full breakfast. 

Be amazed in Arlington!

Experience Flyover Chicago

“Now I’m flying through the stars, hope this ride will last forever!” Chaka Khan

                  Visitors can opt to view the “real” Chicago through a series of walking tours, by water aboard a boat cruising the Chicago River, the world’s sole backwards streaming river, created by a public project in 1900 to protect the freshwater supply into Lake Michigan, or by flying over it using state-of-the-art technology created just for the Flyover Experience. Chicago’s newest attraction is an exhilarating aerial-type experience that soars across the city at an adrenaline pulsing pace. Chicago’s nearly 3-million residents occupy 77 unique communities on 234-square-miles of land, all best introduced by Flyover Chicago. #Choosechicago

                  Prior to first European contact Shikaakwa, as it was known by Native Americans, was a trading site and migratory hunting ground at the juncture of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Robert de LaSalle produced the first written mention of an area he pronounced as Checagou in his 1679 memoir. Father Jacques Marquette, a French missionary, and Louis Jolliet, a French-Canadian trader are recognized as “discoverers” of the region in 1673. Regional tribes then established a transitory trade system with the French for the next hundred years.

                  A French trader of African descent burst onto the scene in 1779. Jean Baptiste Point du Sable established the first permanent trading post where the river met the lake. He was born in Haiti of an enslaved mother and French sea captain father. His mother died when he was ten and his father had him educated abroad. He spoke several languages, collected fine art and had highly developed business acumen. He was the first nonindigenous settler in Chicago where he owned 800-acres, a 5-room home, a trading post, and a complex of buildings including housing for his workers. His life embodies the qualities of the city itself, resilience, strength, creativity and the ability to embrace different cultures. On October 25, 1968 he was officially recognized as the Founder of Chicago. A bust of du Sable is at 401 N. Michigan Avenue. themagnificentmile.com

                  Chicago is considered the Birthplace of Modern Architecture largely due to The Great Fire of 1871 that resulted in the loss of 18,000 buildings and a building boom that drew the country’s best architects. In 1885 the first skyscraper, a 10-floor, Home Insurance Building, was completed. Frank Lloyd Wright also came and designed structures. Two, the Robie House and Unity Temple, are now UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

Chicago was a hub for newcomers from 1850 through 1910, some from other cities and many European immigrants. From 1916-70 much of the movement was Black Migration from the South for economic opportunity and more than 500,000 African Americans moved to the city. WWII increased European migration because of wartime conditions. The influence of new cultures and Chicago’s unique ability to absorb new cultures and be enhanced by the inclusion is woven into the fabric of the city.

 “The Bean” is an iconic artwork designed to capture the skyline and reflect it to onlookers in Millennium Park. “Cloud Gate,” its formal name, was designed of 168 reflective stainless-steel panels to be 33-feet tall, 42-feet wide and 66-feet long for a total weight of 110-tons. It is one of the largest permanent public outdoor artworks in the world and the first of its type in the US. 

The Chicago Board of Trade Building was constructed in 1930. The 45-story, Art Deco, building was the tallest in the city until 1965. Atop the building’s tower stands a 31-foot, aluminum, 6-ton sculpture of Ceres, Roman goddess of agriculture, holding a sheaf of wheat and a pouch of grain. She wears a crown of wheat to represent the structure that housed the world’s largest grain exchange. Sculptor John H. Storrs left Ceres faceless. Apparently, he believed the building was so tall that no one would ever see it!

Flyover Chicago provides numerous thrills, not the least of which is soaring to sites that are otherwise not accessible. You move through The Bean and get up close and personal with Ceres. The total experience has three sections. Part One includes an introduction to the people and places you will see. In the second section you are given explicit safety instructions. Then you are seated during the flyover as you experience an original soundtrack, smells, smoke, mist and a drone generated ride on the streets of Chicago, skimming the water and lingering around and through the most famous sites. #Experienceflyover

The production was 3-years in the making and it is the first production of an urban environment. The ride is 9.5-minutes long and research has proven that is the optimum amount of time. Guests can learn about the people we meet during the flyover. All of the people and institutions are “real” Chicagoans. Don’t miss the singular items in the gift shop. It should be noted that Flyover Chicago is fully accessible for those with physical and sensory limitations.

Believe it or not, the thrill is not gone. Guests can visit a number of places that were highlighted. 

Manny’s Deli is a definite must. The 80-year-old deli is so iconic that it is a go to location for the Obamas and other presidents and celebrities, Clinton, Steve Harvey, etc. The menu is huge and the food is either made on site or locally sourced. They have won numerous awards and been showcased on several food shows including “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” I guarantee you will find your bliss.

Swift & Sons Tavern is located across the street from Wrigley Field and the view of the activity around the field is almost as great as the food.

Miru at the St. Regis creates a special dining atmosphere. The chef’s specialties are shareable dishes and elegant breakfast options. Miru is Japanese for view and the view from the restaurant over the city is breathtaking. Also, note the architecture and artwork in the public spaces.

Duck Duck Goat offers Chinese-American inspired cuisine. Chef Stephanie Izard goes beyond your standard options and combines flavors in a special way. Private dining rooms are available and each room pays homage to an aspect of Chinese culture. 

Flyover Chicago is in a remodeled movie theater on the 3,300-foot Navy Pier. The pier was constructed on a base of 20,000 logs in 1916. It is lined with shops and restaurants where Chicago’s famous fare, Chicago-style pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs, can be purchased while listening to a jazz soundtrack. 

The Sable at Navy Pier, a Curio by Hilton property, is convenient to everything. Guests are treated to extraordinary cleaning measures and the room amenities include river views and designer bath products. The hotel provides a Fitness Center, Lirica Restaurant, a Concierge, free WIFI, and 24-hour front desk services.

Flyover Chicago and experience the best of the best.