WHAT DID CHICAGOANS DO ON THEIR SUMMER VACATION? Most Stayed Close to Home!
MODERATING TEMPERATURES, HIGH GAS PRICES, AND TWO FIRST-PLACE BASEBALL TEAMS KEPT MANY FROM TRAVELING ON VACATION!
Sue and I made the decision early in the year. Gas prices were up, the Chicago Real Estate Market was sluggish, and air fares and hotel rates were escalating by the week.
Our solution - take time off, but stay close to home rather than take a distant vacation.
It appears thousands of other residents of Chicago had the same idea. Weather was temperate here, and virtually rain-free, especially later in the summer. Both the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox have played excellent baseball all year, and are both still in first place.
Neighborhood and City Festivals abound every year in Chicago and the suburbs. Taste of Chicago. The Chicago Blues Festival. Gospel Festival. Jazz Festival . . . and more!
Virtually every weekend, there is one local festival - often, several - across the city and throughout the suburbs.
Ron Onesti is a Professional Festival Organizer whose company organized suburban Carol Stream IL's "Summer in the Center" and several others. He attributes gas prices exceeding $4.30 per gallon, along with concerns about the economy and the security of their own jobs, for the surge in local fest attendance.
"It's forced them to take a step back and ask what experiences are available 5 miles from here," Oresti said.
Those taking long road trips, away from Chicago, dropped significantly for each major holiday this summer - Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. During the Labor Day weekend just past, the AAA estimates as many as 300,000 fewer drivers hit the road to head out of town nationally.
The Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park, Chicago saw its best attendance ever each Tuesday this summer. Music Festivals at Grant Park reported eight capacity crowds this season, according to the Chicago Office of Tourism.
In North Suburban Highland Park IL, home of the Ravinia Music Festival, attendance held steady, despite major construction on the Edens Expressway serving Ravina concert goers.
Although attendance at the Annual Taste of Chicago was down slightly this year - just over 3.16 Million - record-breaking crowds attended the expanded three-day 50th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show on the lakefront last month.
As for the Chicago version of our National Pastime, attendance for baseball at Wrigley Field averaged 40,728 per game - on pace to set an attendance record. The White Sox also had strong attendance at U.S. Cellular Field, especially, club officials say, among African-American and Latino baseball fans.
Said Cindy Gatzolis of the Mayor's Office of Special Events in Chicago, "You still need entertainment. Even if you're struggling a little bit Monday through Friday, you still need something to pick you up on the weekend."
One couple in the Chicago Suburb of Elk Grove Village IL typified the close-to-home attitude prevalent this summer. They considered flying to Texas with their two sons for a trip to visit family. But they were scared away by much higher airfares this year over 2007.
Instead, they enjoyed their summer close to home, taking in their first Schaumburg Flyers minor league baseball game, as well as a family trip to a close-by water park. And, often, they would simply "sit on the lawn and just let the kids run around."
For more, read Vikki Ortiz's article in today's Chicago Tribune.
DEAN MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
