About Millennium Park

The park was commissioned by Mayor Daley and was completed in 2004. It has rapidly become one of Chicago’s leading tourist attractions and is a great asset for downtown residents and Loop professionals as well. It occupies a space that used to be the home of railyards and parking lots and is adjoined to the north side of Chicago’s famous Grant Park. The Park exhibits a wide array of public art, architectural features and masterfully landscaped gardens.

In the middle of downtown Chicago, the park is covers 24.5 acres and abuts the grounds of the Art Institute of Chicago. Some of its main attractions include The Cloud Gate (or Bean), the Crown Fountain, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Lurie Garden. On a pretty day, just a stroll around the park is a delight, even without all of the events planned throughout the year.

Millennium Park Condos and Their Surroundings

In all seasons, simply being close to the park gives Millennium Park condo owners a wide variety of activities to take part in. The famous ice skating rink opens in November and stays open until March for winter weather fun. The summer months bring festivals of all sorts to Millennium and Grant Parks including Chicago Blues Fest, Chicago Jazz Fest, the Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza. The Park Grill, a restaurant and bar within the park, hosts smaller music and culinary events outdoor on its plaza as well.

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Perillo Music Shell also bring musical acts to the park all summer long– from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to popular modern artists, the weekly concerts are free and open to the public. Accompanying these larger music events are smaller theater and dance performances at the many venues throughout the park. No matter what your interests are, the summer event calendar at Millennium Park will offer something you can enjoy in the biggest green space in downtown Chicago.

For urban dwellers who love nature, the proximity of Millennium Park condos to the city’s biggest park is of course a benefit. Not only does the park have intriguing art and engaging events but above all else, it has beautifully maintained green spaces, lawns and gardens that are fun to learn about through the many tours offered, or just to enjoy by lounging on a blanket in good weather.

The Lurie Garden at the southern end of the park was designed by renowned landscape architects Kathryn Gustafson, Piet Oudolf, and Robert Israel. It features a “dark” area of shade loving plants and trees and a “light” area of perennials and lawns with no trees. The Art Institute Gardens border the park to the south as well, creating more green space to explore.

Finally, for condo owners in the area, the parks near their residences provide softball fields, tennis courts and running paths for active individuals. The facilities provided by Grant Park and Millennium Park can be relaxing, entertaining, and athletic in equal parts. Even without starting to consider all of the nightlife, dining and entertainment options of Michigan Avenue and the downtown Loop that are also immediately adjacent to the location of Millennium Park condos, the park provides tons of entertainment and comfort that make a life in condos nearby all the better!

Events

Show your support this weekend to the Chicago Marathon runners and come down the Grant Park and throughout Chicago’s 29 neighborhoods to watch 45,000 runners conquer 26.2 miles.

Clark/Belmont Music Festival – well come celebrate again this year with great music and nosh on food from local vendors – its probably one of the the last times you’ll be able to be outside before Chicago’s infamous winter gets started.

Kathy Griffin will be in Chicago  this Thursday and Friday at the Chicago Theater for more information and how to get tickets click here.

Restaurants

Looking for somewhere different to eat this weekend and want to help a good cause while you do it? Help The Lynn Sage Scholars Program at Northwestern University and the fight against breast cancer by eating and these restaurants and donating to the cause.

French bakery La Farine just opened in West Town, check it out this weekend and spoil yourself with mini cakes and pastries.

This Lincoln Park bistro Sprout is opening up for a special seasonal menu this weekend. Menu includes flavors of French and Italian influences, plates start at around $30. Be one of the first to review this restaurant.

Movies

The Invention of Lying is now playing, starring the very funny Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, and Jonah Hill. It looks hilarious!

Couples Retreat with Vince Vaughn. See how these four couples handle paradise, will they make it or end up breaking up?

Would you want to live in a world where you can be anyone you like? See Surrogates starring Bruce Willis.

Imagine looking out your window and seeing the majestic architecture of the Jay Pritzker Pavillion or the famous “Bean”. Millennium Park condos can be perfect home bases for experiencing some of Chicago’s most famous attractions. The Art Institute of Chicago, the city’s largest and most prestigious gallery, is a few steps down the street. Some of the best shopping in the city is a few blocks away on Michigan Avenue, and the famous Chicago Water Tower is just north. And if you work in the Loop, a Millennium Park condo will cut your commute down to practically nothing. You can go home for lunch and take the dog for a walk.

Aside from the great man-made attractions the area has to offer, Millennium Park condos are situated within walking distance to Lake Michigan. Get your daily exercise on the pedestrian path or take the kids to the beach. Your out-of-town visitors will love your proximity to all the things they want to do in Chicago. Once they get a taste of your prime location, they may never want to leave.

If you’re looking for real downtown living in Chicago, there’s no better place to be than Lakeshore East, the condominium complex that gives you that view of Millennium Park and the lake. It puts you right in the midst of all the Chicago amenities you could ever want, while still affording you a quiet place of your own. Contact a Magellan realtor today to find out more about your room with a view.