Oprah Party- Closing Michigan Ave for 3 Blocks
 

She's paying for security. Black-Eyed Peas will be singing. No general attendance fees.

Some people are spouting mad about it (tv), some people are happy about it (tv).

All bus routes will be changed to detour, all cars and vehicles blocked- exactly like a block party. Sidewalk passage should be doable- 3 blocks in length.

This is Sunday night midnight to 5 am in the morning on Wednesday Sept. 9.

They are expecting 40,000 to 50,000 extra for those days visible that will attend (beyond worker and regular tourist populations)- which isn't a big number compared to past "events"- but entire street etc. has not been closed like this before within this pivotal area.

Occasion: Opening season of her 24th year tv show.

Ironically the very prior week, sales tax on certain items (candy is one- anything without flour) has been raised again. And the sales tax additional %- the revoking of that surtax- that was a "sure" thing- was also NOT revoked. So now it is highest in the nation as reported by NBC in not only the total Sales tax category by in levels of tax.

Bread and Circuses

Daley is hoping that this will help the diners, cafes, and all retail. I bet it will help somewhat.

Traditionally (I did not know this) Labor Day weekend is a real low spot in Chicago retail sales. Oprah to the rescue.

Thank god I don't have to check into my hotel until the 10th!!!!

I am wondering if this will affect our departure on Monday, Sept 7? We are staying at the Swissotel. Our flight leaves O'Hare at 11:10 am.

gracie, you'll be having a harder time getting out of there than normal- leave yourself extra time. But you should be long gone by the time of the most massed crowds. Your own car, taxi or shuttle? Just make sure they know about it and the detour.

*15* bus routes will be rerouted, not all.

And Oprah is paying for all of this.

That's not to say there won't be a lot of traffic, though. I'm hoping that most suburbanites (and others) won't be so inclined to drive into the city during those days.

BTW, fans will have to go through metal detectors for security and perhaps searches.

Gracie, you will be fine - just leave earlier. Wacker Drive is not closed, although it will be much busier because of the traffic from surrounding streets.

You can pick up the Blue Line at the James R. Thompson Center at Clark/Lake. If you want to walk this (and I think you will because of the traffic), it's about 7.5 blocks (a little less than a mile) or say 1/2 hour. You just need to head straight west on Wacker until you get to Clark, then turn left (south for a block).

If you wanted to get breakfast ahead of taking the flight, there is a Corner Bakery just to the west of the Michigan Ave./Wacker intersection - about 1/2 the distance.

I'd also keep my eye on the CTA website to see if there are going to be any delays on the Blue Line. They post the information a day or two before.

Our plans have been to use public transportation as much as possible. We are doing this more as a time saver than a money saver. We especially are thinking that we will save time on the trip from O'Hare to the Swissotel if we take the Blue Line rather than a taxi. Is my thinking correct -- that Blue Line will be faster than a taxi or a shuttle? (We are not renting a car.)

I also wanted to add that while I am not thrilled to have to put up with extra traffic due to the Oprah event, I won't begrudge the economic benefit this will bring to your city. I live near, but not right in, a very popular beach in northwest Florida. Some of the locals gripe about all the noise and traffic generated by events such as Spring Break, July 4th Fireworks or Thunder Beach (motorcycle event). While it is certainly an inconvenience for some, it also brings in lots of money, and in our economy, we can't afford to turn folks away.

gracie, thank you for being so gracious about this.

What you say is very true. I don't think some people realize the possible benefit from this.

Personally, I'm not either pro- or anti- this issue. And I'm directly affected by this because I live AND work in Chicago - specifically in this area.

Depends if there are any delays on the Blue Line and what the traffic is like for the cab.

I've never had a flight out of O'Hare at that time of day (you'd have to be going during the end of the morning rush hour), so I don't know what the reverse rush is like. I'll leave that to others on their recommendations.

But usually it takes about an hour to get from Clark/Lake to O'Hare via Blue Line.

Gracie,
Yes the blue line to the city is probably your quickest option... not by taxi or shuttle.