Fireworks laws and safety in Chicago
Lots of people like to celebrate U.S. independence with fireworks. But for residents of Chicago and the rest of Illinois, that sort of explosive patriotism is against the law. According to state and city legislation, only smoke bombs, party poppers and other novelty items that contain very low levels of or no explosive material are available to the general public. The city also forbids sparklers in the name of public safety, according to Chicago Police Department Commander Eugene Roy.
Fireworks can go off unintentionally from heat, friction or a stray spark, Roy said. They can cause severe burns and other injuries, which is why the law leaves them up to the professionals. The Illinois Fireworks Use Act states that only licensed pyrotechnic operators who obtain permits can put on public fireworks displays.
If you’re not a professional and decide to put on a show anyway, the consequences could be costly. Anyone caught with illegal fireworks in Chicago faces a fine of $200 to $500. Additionally, possessing a firework with more than one-fourth of an ounce of an explosive mixture in it qualifies as a felony, Roy said. Getting caught with less explosive fireworks can count as a misdemeanor.
So, to make sure your Fourth of July festivities don’t land you in jail, here’s a chart to help you figure out whether it’s ok to use a firework or novelty item in Chicago:
For people who shirk fireworks laws, the consequences can include not only fines and felony charges but hospital visits. From June 23 to July 20, 2010, state hospitals treated 135 people for fireworks-related injuries, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal reports. Firecrackers were the most common culprit, and 45 percent of the injuries were burns.
To find out more about the potential dangers of fireworks, check out the 2010 Summary of Fireworks Injuries in Illinois and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 2010 Fireworks Annual Report.
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal recommends that the state’s residents stay safe by attending professional displays if they want to see fireworks, according to keepcool.illinois.gov.
Getting down outside of downtown
Looking for things to do on the Fourth? Find your suburb on this interactive map to help you plan your weekend.
Insider info: Get the scoop on your school
The information packet produced by a college’s admissions office provides newcomers with a narrow view of student life. Here’s where to go to find insider information that is not included in a college’s promo pack.
RateMyProfessors.com
Although most admitted students may not have an idea of whom their professors will be until fall, it’s never too early to start gleaning information about a school’s roster. At RateMyProfessors.com users can search, not only by a professor’s name, but by school to get the lowdown on who’s who in each department. Ratings are available for all the expected criteria, such as quality, ease, helpfulness and clarity, but the site also includes a “hotness” category, in case that piece of information is necessary for the decision-making process.
Unigo
With a motto like “college students and experts tell you what the colleges won’t,” Unigo is bound to give the goods. Users register via Facebook to comment and write reviews, so those who peruse the site can be sure they’re reading comments from real students. Visitors can compare schools, discuss with others, watch video dorm tours, and have access to all of the normal stats and rankings for a school. Unigo also churns out helpful 140-character-or-less information tidbits via Twitter every day.
What Will They Learn?
Visit this site for a meta-critique of what the college experience will teach you. The What Will They Learn? staff have summarized the general degree requirements of major colleges and universities and graded each on the quality of the general education offered. At the least, visitors can entertain themselves with the D and F awarded to Harvard and Yale respectively. At the most, they may gain some perspective on the value of a bachelor’s degree these days.
College/university newspaper
There’s a kid on every campus waiting to break the next expose on faculty and student misbehavior, campus crimes and loads of other things that will never appear in the college administration newsletter. On a more positive note, the paper can give the daily scoop on campus events, academic achievements by students and professors, and much more.
Facebook & Twitter
There used to be a time when Facebook was an exclusive club for college students, and it’s still a great resource to get insider information from students currently in attendance at a college or university. Joining one of the class groups (there’s bound to be more than one), and stalking group and event pages can lead to invaluable information on a school’s social scene. Admitted students are welcome to follow people and groups related to their chosen college on Twitter, but it’s also important to look outside a school’s circle on Twitter for other great resources such as @CampusGrotto, @TheCollegeGuide, @collegeprowler and @Unigo.
Check out the embedded document below for more tips on preparing for college from the U.S. Department of Education.
Funding_Education_Beyond_HS_2010-11
Excerpt from the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Student Aid Awareness and Applicant Services Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid. 2010–11, Washington, D.C., 2010
Featured image by mkoukoullis licensed under Creative Commons
Eat & tour near Chicago’s universities
After half a dozen campus tours, you’ll be left with a heavy pile of information packets, an empty stomach and the desire to put your mind on something else. Lucky for you, just a short walk off campus you can find good eats and neat sites. Mark these spots down: You’ll be going there every time your friends and family visit you for the next four (or five…) years.
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
1032 W. Sheridan Road
Photo by flickr user Monster Pete
Tour: Madonna della Strada Chapel, 6525 N. Sheridan Road
What did you expect? You’re at a Catholic University, so you should see the pièce de résistance even if you aren’t a regular church-goer. Built in 1938, this concrete masterpiece rises from the ground in all its art deco glory. The architecture carries inside with bright and airy modernism. Recently renovated, it features a 70-rank pipe organ.
For more information: Loyola University Chapel
Photo by flickr user Zol87
Eat: Heartland Cafe, 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue
It was named one of Time Out Chicago’s “Essential Restaurants in Chicago,” but what exactly is “good wholesome food for the mind and body”? It’s a cafe that hosts political events, jazz concerts and even a radio show. In Rogers Park, the cafe is also connected to the Red Line Tap, which has an open mic night every Thursday and was named one of the Top 100 bars by Chicago magazine. Try a buffalo burger and don’t forget to stop in the general store on the way out.
For more information: http://www.heartlandcafe.com/
Photo by flickr user renee_mcgurk
Eat: Thai Grill,1040 W. Granville Avenue
For a cheap Thai fix, this is the place. Just a short walk to the south of campus (or a one-stop ride on the red line to Granville), Thai Grill is exactly what it says: Pad Thai and noodles. Nothing fancy, just the staples. They also have a full vegetarian menu to offer.
For more information: http://www.thaigrillchicago.com/
Photo courtesy of Thai Grill
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
633 Clark Street, Evanston
Photo by flickr user Marit & Toomas Hinnosaar
Tour: Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
The Block features fine art exhibitions, an outdoor sculpture gallery, even a cinema. Tours are available and there are frequently lectures and workshops to better make sense of the art world. Summer exhibitions include “I Myself Have Seen It: Photography and Kiki Smith,” with more than 200 photographs used by Smith as the foundation for her contemporary works, and “Social Mobility,” an interactive installation by Chicago artists’ collaborative Temporary Services.
For more information: Block Museum
Photo courtesy of the Block Museum
Eat: Rollin’ to Go, 910 Noyes Street, Evanston
Sometimes you’re not looking for something special – you just want a quick sandwich next to your L stop. Welcome to this sandwich joint under the tracks, where the food is cheap and delicious. Try the Verde, on fresh tomato focaccia bread. This is the place where actual Northwestern students go for lunch, so get in the habit now. It’s an especially good location if you’re majoring in engineering, whose classrooms are just down the street.
For more information: http://rollin2go.com/
Photo by Tricia L. on Yelp
Eat: Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop, 825 Church Street, Evanston
Cajun and creole … even at breakfast. If you like a little kick to jumpstart your day – morning, noon or night – this is the place. Crawdads, peel-and-eat BBQ shrimp and catfish might have you stuffed to the gills (cheesy pun intended), but leave room for warm peach cobbler. President Obama even gave his vote to Dixie Kitchen on WTTW’s “Check, Please!” (“The prices are right and the portions are good,” he said.) When the Dixie Kitchen in Obama’s home neighborhood, Hyde Park, marks its last day this weekend, the Evanston location becomes the last bastion for Chicagoans lookin’ for a fixin’.
For more information: http://www.dixiekitchenchicago.com/
Photo by flickr user Eric Guo
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY
1 E. Jackson, Chicago
Photo by flickr user Tony.L.Wong
Tour: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park
So you think you’re too old for zoos? What if we told you that this zoo was 1) walking distance from campus and 2) free? Lions, ZEBRAS and bears, oh my!
For more information: www.lpzoo.org
Photo by flickr user cortneymartin82
Eat: Bacino’s of Lincoln Park, 2204 N. Lincoln Avenue
This place may look like your straightforward pizza shop, but the food is far from usual. Aside from the pizza (Chicago-style stuffed and thin crust), they have Italian food you’d find at a restaurant with white table cloths. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, try the poached pear and gorgonzola salad or the homemade lasagna.
For more information: Bacino’s Website
Photo courtesy of Bacino’s
Eat: Bourgeois Pig Cafe, 738 W. Fullerton Ave.
This place’s mission is to “overwhelm your senses” and it succeeds. It looks like a mix between a coffee shop, book store and your grandmother’s kitchen. Known for its literary themed sandwiches – The Hobbit (a triple-decker BLT) and The Old Man and the Sea (tuna dill), for example – they also have second-to-none salads like A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese. Rachel Ray once visited. ‘Nuff said.
For more information: http://www.bpigcafe.com/
Photo by flickr user _nickd
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago
Photo by flickr user Androfire
Tour: Museum of Science and Industry, South Lake Shore Drive
You’re going to college, so we know you love learning. This museum has something for everyone – anatomy (the “Body Worlds” exhibit displaying cadavers-turned-art), aviation (full size airplanes) and meteorology (the tornado alley may be particularly relevant to provide some insight into what happened in Joplin, Mo. this spring). With a student ID you can become a member for $55 and visit as many times as you want.
For more information: Museum of Science and Industry
Photo by flickr user hibino
Eat: Medici on 57th, 1327 E. 57th St.
Voted one of Chicago’s best burgers, this place has the look of a classy restaurant but with reasonable prices. With one-of-a-kind pizzas (apples on top!) and hearty weekend brunches, you won’t leave hungry. They’re also known for their bakery and unusual assortment of breads and rolls, so get some to go, too. According to Fodor’s “Chicago Travel Guide,” though, the allure is to become part of history as one of the “generations of University of Chicago students who’ve carved their names into the tables.”
For more information: http://www.medici57.com/
Photo courtesy of Medici on 57th
Eat: Edwardo’s Natural Pizza of Hyde Park, 1321 E. 57th St.
Any restaurant review would be remiss to avoid getting into the fray: Who has the best pizza in Chicago? If you ask the students, Edwardo’s, which has several locations, will make the list. That’s partly because the price is a little lower than its counterparts, and we can all agree college students are stingy by necessity. Known for their deep dish spinach pizza, you won’t go wrong with any of their pies.
For more information: http://www.edwardos.com/
Photo by Greg D. of Yelp
COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
600 S. Michigan Ave.
Photo by flickr user John Picken
Tour: Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park
At Grant Park, this is the iconic symbol of Chicago, seen in TV and movies and a definite must-visit for anyone new to the city. According to Chicago Traveler, it uses 1.5 million gallons, with 14,000 gallons circulating through each minute, pushed by 134 jets. It’s no wonder that Rahm Emanuel chose this to be the backdrop of his inauguration.
For more information: Chicago Traveler
Photo by flickr user David Paul Ohmer
Eat: The Berghoff, 17 West Adams
One of the many firsts to come out of the World’s Columbian Exposition, this restaurant is a keeper, and a staple among the downtown professional crowd (in other words: the people you hope to be someday). While it offers a lunch buffet of fresh carved meats, the dinner menu filled with German staples and inventive takes on classics (try mascarpone mac and cheese) is the true treat. Dinner can get a little steep, so save this trip for when you have Mom and Dad to foot the bill.
For more information: http://www.theberghoff.com/
Photo by flickr user Señor Codo
What’s a U-Pass? The freshman guide to the CTA
Students, there’s really only one thing you need to know about public transportation, and it’s the U-Pass. Treat it like your baby. Don’t lose it.
U-Pass is a cooperative program between local colleges and universities and the CTA. If you attend a participating school, the cost of your U-Pass is embedded in your tuition, but you’re saving a ton of money.
U-Pass basically gives you unlimited use of CTA rail and buses. Unfortunately U-Pass is not accepted on Metra trains or Pace buses, but these routes are generally suburban.
A few things to be careful of: don’t share the card, don’t put it in the cash slot on buses, and don’t try to use it at the same station in succession. The CTA is strict about U-Passes that need to be replaced if lost or stolen. It’s a long process and it costs an extra $50. For a full list of participating schools as well as the rules and conditions of the U-Pass program, visit the CTA website.
Memorial Day Weekend: Fun for everyone
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Posted under: Beer, Entertainment, Fitness, Memorial Day, Music, Sports & Entertainment, Summer
What will you do with your three-day weekend?
Chicago has so many events, it may be hard to decide!
Friday, May 27
- Prost! German Beers of Chicago
- What? A trolley pub crawl hosted by the Chicago History Museum
- When? May 27, 6 – 9 p.m.
- Where? The tour will visit several of the best bierstubes in Chicago
- Highlights include:
- History lessons while drinking beer
- Drink specials
- More information: http://www.westmontbbq.com
- Nerds at Heart’s Holidate
- What? A singles bash
- When? May 27, 7 p.m.
- Where? Hidden Shamrock
- Highlights include:
- Board games and trivia
- Ice cream tasting
- Beach-reading giveaways
- More information: http://www.yelp.com
- Red, White & Bar-B-Q
- What? A BBQ competition
- When? May 27, 28 and 29
- Where? Ty Warner Park in Westmont, Ill.
- Highlights include:
- Three days of free live music
- Chili-tasting contest
- Cooking demonstrations
- More information: http://www.chicagohistory.org
- Cubs games
- What? A baseball game against the Pirates (May 27, 28, 29) or the Astros (May 30)
- When? May 27, 28, 29 and 30
- Where? Wrigley Field
- Highlights include:
- Free T-shirts for the first 10,000 fans on Memorial Day
- More information: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com
Saturday, May 28
- Soldier Field 10 mile
- What? A 10-mile race
- When May 28, 7:30 a.m.
- Soldier Field
- Highlights include:
- A race shirt and goody bag
- Finish on the 50-yard line
- The Hut-Hut Hike, a non-competitive walk
- More information: http://www.soldierfield10.com
- Yoga at the Lincoln Park Zoo
- What? Outdoor yoga at the zoo
- When? May 28, 9 – 10 a.m.
- Where? Lincoln Park Zoo
- Highlights include:
- A view of the city skyline
- An opportunity to learn the basics of yoga
- Connection with nature
- More information: http://www.lpzoo.org
- Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival
- What? A music festival with entertainment, arts, crafts and food
- When? May 28 and 29
- Where? N. Sheffield between Belmont and School
- Highlights include:
- Ten bands in two days
- More information: http://www.chicagoevents.com
- Memorial Day Parade
- What? A parade to honor those serving and those who have served
- When? May 28, noon
- Where? State St. from Lake St. to Van Buren
- Highlights include:
- A free celebration
- One of the largest Memorial Day parades in the nation
- More information: http://www.cityofchicago.org
- Green City Market
- What? An outdoor food market
- When? May 28
- Where? Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive
- Highlights include:
- Products from local farmers
- A cooking demonstration by Tim Cottini of Cafe Ba Ba Reeba
- More information: http://www.greencitymarket.org
- Navy Pier Fireworks
- What? Fireworks fun
- When? May 28, 10:15 p.m.
- Where? Navy Pier
- Highlights include:
- Music by B96
- Proximity to restaurants, shopping and Lake Michigan
- More information: http://www.navypier.com
Sunday, May 29
- Bike the Drive
- What? A 30-mile bike ride
- When? May 29, 5:30 – 9:30 a.m.
- Where? Lake Shore Drive
- Highlights include:
- A car-free bike ride
- A festival from 8 a.m. – noon
- Fruit, water and snacks at rest stops
- More information: http://www.bikethedrive.org
- Boozehounds
- What? A chance to enjoy a drink while your dog plays and enjoys treats
- When? May 29, 1 – 4 p.m.
- Where? Uptown Lounge
- Highlights include:
- Drink specials
- Socializing with friends and pooches
- More information: http://www.yelp.com
Monday, May 30
- New Music Monday
- What? A concert in the park
- When? May 30
- Where? Millennium Park
- Highlights include:
- Justin Townes Earle
- Andre Williams and the Goldstars
- A chance to discover new music
- More information: http://explorechicago.org
