Don’t forget, YOU also have a chance to win - just for voting! The winner from the voting pool will win a trip to Boulder, Colorado - with a few friends, to boot.

Good Luck Everyone!

Are you a last minute person? Do you like to spend the day cranking out a project or article?

Then do I have the project for you!:)

The Why Chicago Video Contest ends TOMORROW, November 25th at 11:59:59 am CT. You still have a chance to make a video, upload it to the Chicago 2016 YouTube channel and possibly win $5,000 in video equipment OR a trip to Vancouver to go behind the scenes at the 2010 Olympic Games!

In the meantime, take a look at one of the contest entries. Could this be the winner? Do you think you could do better? Let us know!

Fortunately, the weekend’s just getting started.

Every day Chicago is overflowing with things to do and this weekend is no exception. In fact, waiting until now could be a blessing in disguise. Just imagine if you capture Michigan Avenue dressed in all its holiday finery, complete with parade and fireworks, during the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. Then take a stroll down State Street to showcase the department store windows. Film Chicago’s Midwestern roots with a visit to the FamilyFarmed Expo. Since it’s located in Chicago’s most popular tourist attraction, Navy Pier, you can showcase both the cosmopolitan skyline and the city’s farming origins. How about showing the world two of America’s great music genres by checking out the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival? While there, you can also record a Second City comedy group, a marching band, a jam session and picking circle, and an art show. It’s an Olympic-sized music fest!

Hopefully these ideas will get you started. Now, get out there and shoot your “Why Chicago” video!

You can find more fideas and fun things to do in Chicago on The Local Tourist.

President Elect Barack Obama created his own ‘Why Chicago’ video that will be played at the meeting. 

What are YOU waiting for? You have FIVE more days to tell the world ‘Why Chicago’. The contest ends November 25!

I moved to Chicago from Indianapolis seven years ago to be closer to my son. I had no job, an unused degree in journalism, and a lease in a downtown highrise. Somehow, though, I wasn’t scared. This city was exciting and energetic and got under my skin so quickly I felt like I was home the minute I unlocked my new apartment door.

Over the years I’ve heard many many other transplants express the same passion for their adopted city. This passion is why I leapt at the chance to help bring the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Chicago in 2016 by writing for this channel. With the Why Chicago video contest, everyone has the opportunity to share their story and tell the world why this city engenders so much loyalty.

Create a video of your first apartment, your first job, how you felt when you first discovered the lakefront path or watched a band at the Elbo Room or saw a show at the Royal George. What was it like the first time you bought flowers at a farmers market or wandered through a street fest? How did you feel when you realized you could navigate the city without a car? Do you still feel a sense of wonder when you look at the Chicago skyline and think “I live there”?

Please, tell us: What’s your story?

During a recent Saturday morning jog along Lake Front Path with members of Team in Training, I was baffled by the number of dedicated athletes ignoring 20 degree weather and high possibility of snow flurries.   The Team in Training volunteer staff even maintained periodic rest stops stocked with bananas and Gatorade.  Not an ideal Saturday morning for most!

Aside from runners and cyclists, the jog also provided a glimpse into soccer leagues organized by collectives like the Players Sports Group.  Outdoor soccer continues until early December before moving indoor for several months, but impromptu games of ice hockey fill the void throughout the winter season.

Capture footage of dedicated “Winter Warriors” and submit the results to Why Chicago.  Winners receive a trip to Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games for more cold weather…just what every Chicagoan desires

Chicago-16 Dance Instructions from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

Are you a fan of Nadia Comaneci? Mary Lou Retton? Bart Conner? I can only imagine the amount of training and dedication to be a top gymnast. I get mesmerized by the skill and balance all of you use when it comes to the high beam or the rings. Watching invitationals on television is one thing, but seeing people up close and personal is another. 

Next February, I’ll get my chance!  Chicago will host the 2009 American Cup Gymnastics Invitational.  Chicago 2016 and World Sport Chicago are hosting this event on February 21, 2009. Tickets will be available soon. 

This is just one reason why Chicago should host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games!  Do you agree? Tell us by submitting your own Why Chicago video. You have one week to go - the contest ends November 25!

Lakeshore Drive is one of Chicago’s treasures that twists and turns next to Lake Michigan and hosts thousands of cyclists, runners, volleyball players and casual evening strollers. I discovered this video tribute to Chicago’s beloved Lakeshore Drive, nicely set to a song of the same name.

Here’s an example of how someone took their appreciate for Lakeshore Drive and turned it into a video. What’s your story? Which Chicago landmark do you enjoy? Put your thoughts in a video and submit it to the ‘Why Chicago’ video contest!

Chicago’s an incredibly photogenic city. A search on Flickr for “Chicago” produced 3,123,777 results. Many of those are of the iconic architecture and powerful skyline, but there are also images of storefronts and churches and parks and fountains. Some were taken by professional photographers and more were shot by people who just wanted to capture a moment and place in time.

If you’ve got your own collection of photos, you could create a a montage of your favorite Chicago spots, or a scrapbook of friends and the fun times you’ve had enjoying all this city has to offer. There’s a multitude of themes in all of those pictures you’ve got stored in your hard drive. Include some music and say a few words and wahlah, you’ve created a video.

But hurry! You’ve only got 13 days!

In 2002, Salt Lake City became the largest metropolitan area to ever host the winter Olympic Games. On the world’s biggest athletic stage, the region displayed its newly acquired status as a first-rate sports destination; in both economy and community. “It’s really hard to say anything negative about the Olympic experience. We had $91 million left over, so the nay-sayers who said we were going to be in a financial hole were way off. It was a lot about exposure and validation. People said hey, if they can host the Olympics then they can host our group and we can have a good time there,” stated Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty. In the last year more visitors found their way to the region that hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics. “As the snow piled on so did the skiers,” remarked Rafferty. “Utah’s incredible snow, unparalleled accessibility and world class resorts continue to attract new visitors making it a crucial source of revenue for the state.”

The sports sector of Utah’s economy was thriving after 2002, and it continues to generate more positive return since. With the addition of a first-class soccer stadium/concert venue, sports and entertainment consumers are expected to increase in numbers and therefore provide more future growth. The University of Utah’s football program also got a boost from the 2002 Winter Olympics. The stadium underwent a $52 million expansion and renovation starting in 1997.

The US Men’s basketball team won Gold in Beijing with two members of the Utah Jazz, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer, on their roster. Despite playing in the NBA’s smallest market, the Jazz are succeeding both on the court -currently in first place following back-to-back division title season- and in the board room. According to a Forbes.com study last year, the Jazz were ranked #16 in NBA team value at $342 million. Leading the way is Randy Rigby, President of the Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment group which owns the Jazz. Over the phone Rigby told me about the Olympic impact in the Salt Lake City metropolitan region. “One thing it did do was show people what a great place Utah is as a destination,” he said.

Do you have a similar tale? Then please submit a video for the contest and tell the world! Show the global community what the Olympics did for you and Why Chicago should host the Olympics.

It was a fun day at the Chicago 2016 Headquarters!

We opened up the doors to local writers, photographers and other members of the web community to take a tour, sit in on a new media meeting and get a bird’s eye view into the 2016 Bid process.

Special thanks to Andrew Huff, Liz Strauss, Kristen Nicole, John Morrison, Andrew Coffey and Jill Jaracz for taking the time to go behind the scenes at the Chicago 2016 offices!

 

This excerpt made my day!

There are TWO WEEKS left in the ‘Why Chicago’ video contest! Grab your video camera, FLIP or web cam and let us know why you think Chicago should host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

To give you even more inspiration and show you how exciting the Olympic Movement is, check out the video  of Mayor Daley’s rally, which took place this last summer.  I have to admit, Chicago has one of THE most passionate mayors in the country – this video shows it to a tee!

Good Luck!

When visiting Garfield Park Conservatory, be certain to spend time observing the lush ferns near the lagoon - some of which are nearly 300 years old.   Also of interest is the Sweet House - home to plants producing chocolate, sugar cane, chewing gum, vanilla and bananas.  The Lincoln Park Conservatory - completed slightly before Garfield Park in 1895 - was designed to create a “tropical paradise” escape from the effects of industrialization.   Entering a room filled with liberal shade from different Palm species definitely provides a paradise in the heart of Chicago.

Learn more about submitting videos on the “Why Chicago” Competition page.

On my daily stroll up Michigan Avenue today, I saw four little tots racing up and down the hill and 9th and Michigan.  I heard one of their mothers say, ‘I love fall in Chicago’.

Then it got me thinking…

Many of my friends that live in or around Chicagoland go on and on about our weather - especially the summers. From the free neighborhood festivals to the architecture rides down the Chicago River - Chicago is terrific in the summer.

What about you? What is YOUR favorite seasonal thing to do in Chicago? Tell us about it! Submit YOUR video to the Why Chicago video contest! 

Last night, we saw the perfect example when millions of people paraded through the streets of Chicago celebrating one of our own, Barack Obama being elected President of the United States. A moment similar to this was when the Chicago White Sox won the 2005 World Series. On that magical fall evening three years ago, we all walked freely in the midst of the downtown streets while throngs of people screamed and cheered wildly. Motorists honked their horns while totals strangers hugged each other and sang together. All this warmth and fuzziness was also present on the nights that the Chicago Bulls won their six NBA Championships when the city, much like it did yesterday, spelled out festively thematic words and pictures in the lights of the city skyscrapers.

How powerful can Chicago’s sense of community become? Last night, I celebrated Barack’s historical victory with close friend Paul Sajovec, Chief of Staff to Alderman Waguespack, 32nd Ward of the City of Chicago. He told me the story of what he did when the Bulls won their first title. Paul spent the earlier part of his youth in Chicago before his family moved to Detroit. On the night the Bulls won the title, he drove to Chicago from Detroit by himself, to celebrate the title and then drove back the same night by himself. That’s how strong the pull of Chicago’s civic pride is.

I know you have similar stories of your own, so please submit a video for the contest and tell the world! Show the global community our collective passion and unity and Why Chicago should host the Olympics.

Chicago residents are familiar with visitors. Don’t believe me? Navy Pier alone attracts nearly 8 million visitors. The Obama Celebration at Grant Park drew over 100,000 people from across the U.S. for one night. Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile provides ethnicities from around the world with shopping, dining, and entertainment on a daily basis.

With millions of annual tourists, Chicagoans have emerged as an immense group of volunteer tour guides ready to assist confused visitors upon first sighting of a fanny pack. Don’t believe me? I challenge anyone (skeptics, adventure seekers, etc) to tour the city with a camera asking for directions. A day of work should probably yield 50-60 helpful responses and also some local insight from Chicago’s hospitable residents.

Transform Chicago’s desire to share directional knowledge with the world into a WHY CHICAGO video. Read more on the Competition Guidelines page about requirements and the Grand Prize to Vancouver. This is your chance to ask another city for directions!

Paul and I headed to downtown Chicago around 8pm. We didn’t have tickets but just wanted to feel the energy as the election results came in. At first the streets were quieter than we expected, but as we neared Millennium Park the crowds grew. A police officer on Michigan Avenue quipped to another “they just keep coming, and coming, and coming.”

And they did. Thousands and thousands poured into Grant Park to watch the Jumbotron screens. It was like Taste of Chicago on steroids. If someone had told me ahead of time that every person in that throng would be smiling and happy and would spontaneously hug total strangers, I probably would have been a little skeptical. People broke out in song and impromptu dance circles sprang up and high-fives were frequent.

There were three things that were particularly amazing: one was that this seemingly amorphous mass would part ways for a t-shirt vendor parked in the middle of the street. Another was that everyone was so well behaved and orderly that even the police were smiling. The third was that the crowd dispersed so quickly that by 12:30 the streets were empty again.

As we headed to the train station, my friends and I remarked that this was proof that Chicago can handle the Olympic & Paralympic Games. We can more than “handle” them; that event will be met with even more excitement and organization than a Presidential rally.

If you were there and had the good fortune to record the experience, please submit a video for the contest! Last night the eyes of the world were on Chicago, and we shone with grace. Show the world our spirit and our passion and our diversity and that THIS is Why Chicago should host the Olympic & Paralympic Games!