Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold wants to remind you of some steps you can take to ensure a safe and healthy Fourth of July.

FOOD SAFETY

Picnics and cookouts top the list of summer activities. But remember, special precautions need to be taken when preparing and serving food during warm weather to avoid foodborne illnesses like salmonellosis.

To help prevent foodborne illness:

• Properly wash your hands before handling any food and after handling raw poultry, meat or eggs.
• Thoroughly rinse fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Cook foods thoroughly, especially ground beef, poultry and pork. Since color is not a reliable indicator of doneness, use a meat thermometer to ensure food is cooked to the proper temperature.
• Keep hot food hot (140°F or above) and cold foods cold (40°F or below)

Make sure to keep raw meat, fish or poultry cold until it is cooked and make sure it does not come in contact with ready-to-eat food (e.g., cheese, sliced onions, tomatoes or bread). Also, never place cooked meats on the same plate or pan that held raw meats.

Do not leave food un-refrigerated longer than one hour at a time. Some popular cold picnic foods are potentially hazardous and require special care.

• Any homemade food that contains eggs, meat or poultry such as: egg, chicken, tuna and potato salads as well as deviled eggs
• Luncheon meats, sandwich fillings and other ready-to-eat protein foods
• Milk and other dairy products

The symptoms of most types of food poisoning include severe cramps, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms can begin from 30 minutes to three or more days after eating contaminated food. If symptoms are severe or last longer than two days, contact a physician.

It is also important to stay hydrated during hot weather. Do not wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Make an extra effort to drink a minimum of six to eight 8 ounce glasses of cool fluids daily.

SWIMMING SAFETY

Whether swimming at a beach or at a pool, do not enter the water alone unless a lifeguard is on duty. Sadly, most deaths from drowning occur within a few feet of safety.

At a swimming pool, take the following precautions:

• If no lifeguard is on duty, do not let children swim unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult who knows lifesaving techniques and first aid.
• Look around the pool area to be certain lifesaving devices, such as a floating ring buoy and shepherd’s crook, are readily available for emergency use.
• To reduce the risk of eye, ear, nose or throat infection from contaminated water, swim only in pools in which water quality is properly maintained. The water should appear clear, be continuously circulated and be maintained at a level that allows free overflow into the gutter or skimmer. There should not be a strong odor of ammonia or chlorine.

At the beach, take the following precautions:

• Look for water that is reasonably clear and free of floating materials and odors. Avoid swimming at beaches where there are large populations of ducks, geese or gulls. The waste produced by these birds causes high bacteria levels in the water.
• Look for movement in the water; it helps keep the water clean. Do not swim in stagnant or still water.
• Do not swim at any beach right after a heavy rain. Runoff following a heavy rain may result in a high bacteria level.
• When diving at a beach, exercise extreme caution. Beach water is not as clear as water in a pool, so underwater obstructions may not be visible.
• Avoid having beach water in your mouth or nose.

WEST NILE VIRUS PREVENTION

The best way to prevent West Nile disease or any other mosquito-borne illness is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:

• Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn.
• When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that includes DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
• Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut, especially at night.
• Eliminate all sources of standing water that can support mosquito breeding, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other receptacles.

TICKBORNE ILLNESS

Infected ticks can transmit diseases including ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and Lyme disease through their bites. While the number of reported cases of tick-borne illness varies from year to year, many of these diseases have been increasing in recent years.

The best way to protect against tickborne illnesses is to avoid tick bites by taking the following precautions:

• In areas where ticks may be present, be sure and check yourself, children and other family members every two to three hours for ticks.
• Tuck long pants into your socks and boots. Wear a head covering or hat for added protection.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET (30 percent or less) to exposed skin (except the face). If you do cover up, use repellents for clothing containing DEET or permethrin to treat clothes (especially pants, socks and shoes) while in locations where ticks may be common.
• If you let your pets outdoors, check them often for ticks. Ticks can “hitch a ride” on your pets, but fall off in your home before they feed.
• Remove any tick promptly. Do not try to burn the tick with a match or cover it with petroleum jelly or nail polish. Do not use bare hands. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it with fine-point tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick. If tweezers are not available, grasp the tick with a piece of cloth or whatever can be used as a barrier between your fingers and the tick.
• Wash the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water; apply an antiseptic to the bite site.
• Keep your grass mowed and keep weeds cut around your home.

Following these precautions will help you stay safe and healthy this holiday and throughout the summer.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Illinois Department of Public Health, 217-782-4977

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Offers Tips for a Safe and Healthy 4th of July Weekend | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

This special holiday weekend, come to celebrate our nation’s birthday at the Midwest’s #1 tourist and leisure destination, Navy Pier. Navy Pier has everything needed for a great holiday weekend: fantastic fireworks, delicious food, wonderful entertainment, exciting lakefront fireworks cruises, and many more fun-filled activities for visitors of all ages. Come to discover why Navy Pier is the best place to view the fireworks and spend the Fourth of July weekend.

A special, extended FIREWORKS SHOW will light up Lake Michigan’s shores at 9:00 p.m. on July 4th. Bring your family and friends to revisit some of America’s history making moments as it resonates in song to a heartfelt patriotic soundtrack. This is a show you don’t want to miss!

Fireworks aren’t the only reason to visit Navy Pier for an unforgettable 4th of July – Independence Day Celebration.

Here are some other exciting events and attractions which will take place during the Fourth of July weekend:

Outdoor Fun:

• Spectacular fireworks, July 4th at 9pm set to heartfelt patriotic soundtrack!
• Lakeview Rooftop Fireworks Viewing with Grilled Food and Cool Beverages available for purchase from 7-10pm.
• Visit Pier Park: Ferris wheel, carousal, mini golf, and wave swinger
• Enjoy the city: Segway tours, Double Decker Bus Tours, and Bike Chicago
• Satisfy your taste buds with food and cool treats on Dock Street

ENTERTAINMENT:

Family Pavilion Stage:

• The Buccaneers: Battle for the Booty; Saturday, July 4 at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm
• Patch & Pickle Pup TV; Saturday, July 4 at 11am, 12noon, 1pm

Dock Street Stage:

• David Kovac (Magic); Saturday, July 4 at 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 9pm
• Be the Groove (Dancing); Saturday, July 4 at 4:30pm, 6:30pm

Beer Garden Live Performances:

• Nicholas Barron Band (Blues/Soul); Saturday, July 4 at 2pm
• Lynne Jordan & The Shivers (Soul/R&B); Saturday, July 4 at 5pm
• PowerPlay (Soul/R&B); Saturday, July 4 at 8pm

Chicago Shakespeare Theatre:

• Aladdin; Saturday, July 4 at 11am, 2pm
• The Second City’s Rod Blagojevich Superstar; Saturday, July 4 at 3pm, 7pm, 9:30pm

Pepsi Skyline Stage:

• Cirque Shanghai: Bright Spirit; Saturday, July 4 at 4pm, 6pm, 8pm

IMAX: Open Saturday, July 4

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen; Saturday, July 4 at 9am, 12pm, 3pm,6pm, 9pm

Midnight Affinia Chicago Sun and Fun Package:

With the Fun in the Sun Package, guest can “Go A Little Overboard” with adventure at Navy Pier, the Midwest’s #1 Tourist Destination. Events and attractions that this jam-packed experience offers include:

• Four tickets to the IMAX Theatre
• Four tickets to ride the famous Navy Pier Ferris wheel
• Four tickets for the Carousel
• Four tickets for the Wave Swinger
• A round of Miniature Golf for four
• An official Navy Pier Coupon Book
• A Guided Tour to and from Navy Pier on Navy Pier Trolley (Saturdays only)
• And, a comfortable Affinia Chicago customized guestroom or suite

Pricing for this fully-loaded package begins at just $229 per night. Guest can book online at affinia.com or call 1-866-246-2203. Mention promotional code PIER.

About Navy Pier

A Chicago Landmark since 1909, Navy Pier has evolved from a freight and passenger ship docking facility to the #1 tourist attraction in the Midwest, drawing more than eight million visitors annually. Navy Pier currently encompasses more than fifty acres of parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibit facilities, making it a tourists and visitors entertainment hub. For more information, visit our Web site at navypier.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Delores Robinson, 312-595-5031
DRobinson@mpea.com

Enjoy Chicago’s Only 4th of July Fireworks, Entertainment and Family Activities at Navy Pier | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Additional train and bus service for routes serving Grant Park and Navy Pier will operate on July 3 and 4 to meet rider demand.  To help minimize traffic congestion along Michigan Avenue, some of CTA’s bus boarding locations for customers in the Loop following the fireworks on July 3 are different from previous years.

In general, customers leaving the Loop can board northbound buses along LaSalle, southbound buses along Clark and westbound buses along Madison.  These boarding locations were used for the Grant Park rally on election night and found to be effective at getting crowds out of the Loop quickly and efficiently, and helped reduce traffic congestion in the area.

Hundreds of staff have volunteered to work at busy Loop and Navy Pier locations to supplement on-duty employees and help customers navigate the rail system and locate bus boarding areas following the fireworks.

A series of large directional signs will be posted in the Loop, South Loop and at Navy Pier to direct customers to boarding locations for buses and trains. The signs will be posted along main corridors between fireworks viewing areas, bus/rail boarding areas and at decision points such as street corners. In addition, large banners will be installed over the street on ‘L’ stations on Wabash Avenue, facing east, providing directions to customers looking for elevated and subway rail lines and bus boarding locations.

A map and directions with boarding information are also available on CTA’s Web site for customers to print out and take with them to use as a guide.

For specific route information and CTA Park & Ride locations, customers can visit CTA’s Web site at transitchicago.com, or call 1-888-YOUR-CTA or the RTA Travel Information Center at 836-7000 from any local area code.

MEDIA CONTACT:

CTA Media Relations
ctamedia@transitchicago.com

CTA Public Transportation Preparations Complete for July 3 and 4 Fireworks, Chicago Loop Festivities | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Boating can be a safe and enjoyable activity as long as it’s done cautiously and correctly,” said IDNR Director Marc Miller.  “We want everyone to enjoy Illinois waters safely and responsibly this holiday weekend.”

Twenty people have died in boating-related accidents on Illinois waters so far this Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) (October 2008 – September 2009).  Six of those have died since Memorial Day Weekend.

“Accidents and fatalities on Illinois waters usually come down to a couple of things- people not wearing their life jackets or people who operate carelessly or recklessly,” said IDNR Chief of Law Enforcement Rafael Gutierrez. “We cannot stress enough how important it is to wear your life jacket and to have a designated driver onboard.”

“We have already seen an increase in the number of boating fatalities this FFY compared to last FFY, said IDNR Illinois Boating Law Administrator Joe Morelock. “Our officers would like to see a holiday weekend without any fatalities; unfortunately statistics show that’s unlikely. We hope that each individual does his or her part to make wise decisions and keep themselves and others safe and alive this weekend.”

IDNR wants everyone to return from the water safely this weekend. By practicing a few simple precautions, you can minimize your chances of becoming an unfortunate statistic.

• Always wear a personal floatation device. Nearly 80 percent of the lives lost in Illinois boating accidents could have been prevented if the person had been wearing a personal floatation device.
• Let someone know your plans before you leave.

• Take an Illinois Boating Safety Education Course. Each of us—young and old, novice and experienced—has the responsibility to keep this lifetime leisure activity free from tragedy and personal loss. For information on upcoming courses, visit dnr.state.il.us/safety/boat.htm.
• Know your limitations and don’t boat in conditions you aren’t comfortable with.

• Do not operate any watercraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• Stay alert and mindful of potential dangerous situations. Do not boat or wade immediately above- or below-stream of low-head or run-of-the-river dams.

The following are statistics gathered from the IDNR Office of Law Enforcement:

• 20 people have died on Illinois waterways this Federal Fiscal Year (FFY)

• 10 of those deaths could have possibly been prevented with a life jacket

• In 5 of those deaths, alcohol was a contributing factor

• 13 people died in boating related accidents in FFY 2008

• 1 person died last 4th of July Weekend (July 4- 6 2008)

For more information about boating safety, please visit the IDNR website at dnr.state.il.us and click on “boating”.

IDNR Reminds Public About Importance of Boating Safety During Fourth of July Weekend | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Celebrate the summer’s biggest holiday by visiting lakefront beaches, enjoying magnificent fireworks, experiencing the Taste of Chicago or attending a Major League baseball game. Learn about Chicago’s exquisite cuisine, incredible sights, and affordable options for a fun-filled weekend getaway on a budget. Plus, don’t miss this chance to explore Chicago’s many unique and charming neighborhoods. From Albany Park to Beverly Hills, discover the many ways you can embrace the history, culture, and people of the Chicago’s 75-plus neighborhoods as you uncover the world in our backyard.

Begin your adventure at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Visitor Information Center, 77 E. Randolph Street, or, for more information, visit explorechicago.org or call 1-877-CHICAGO.

FREE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Fourth of July Celebration in Millennium Park

Start your holiday with a picnic on Millennium Park’s Great Lawn on Saturday, July 4th, from 11am to 1pm. The Grant Park Music Festival’s first-ever Independence Day concert in Millennium Park follows at 1:30pm at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

The free concert features a program of traditional and patriotic favorites performed by the Grant Park Orchestra, along with a very special guest–Chicago tap dance master Lane Alexander. Other events on the Fourth of July in Millennium Park include workouts in Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates and Capoeira on the Great Lawn from 7am through 11am. The Family Fun Festival opens at 10am, full of interactive activities and musical games for kids of all ages.

Downtown Fireworks

Nothing says Independence Day like fireworks! Enjoy free world-class fireworks displays all weekend long in downtown Chicago! The festivities begin Friday, July 3rd with the 29th Annual Independence Eve Concert (part of the annual Taste of Chicago celebration). The concert takes place at 7:30pm in the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park with a performance by the renowned 85th Army Band. The award-winning fireworks display begins at 9pm and last for 20 minutes. On Saturday, July 4th, Navy Pier hosts a dazzling patriotic fireworks display at 9pm.

Neighborhood Festivals

Visit diverse neighborhoods of Chicago this Independence Day weekend. On July 3rd through 5th visit Washington Park for the 17th annual African-Caribbean International Festival of Life. The festival includes live music, including reggae, calypso, and gospel, plus food vendors, arts and crafts, games, kids’ activities and exhibits. For information on additional neighborhood festivals taking place in Chicago this summer, please visit explorechicago.org.

Taste of Chicago

Savor Chicago delicacies in Grant Park at the 29th annual Taste of Chicago from June 26th through July 5th. The Taste of Chicago is the world’s largest outdoor food and entertainment festival, attracting more than 3 million people per year. The 10-day food festival serves more than 250 menu items (108 of these items are priced at $2 or less) from over 70 restaurants and food vendors, offering delicious cuisine from around the globe as well as local Chicago fare.

Taking place in Grant Park on Chicago’s lakefront, the Taste of Chicago also features a free concert series including performances by Counting Crows, The Wallflowers, Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, Buddy Guy, Guster and more.

Chicago SummerDance Festival

Feel the beat at the 13th Annual Chicago SummerDance festival. The celebration features one-hour dance lessons by professional instructors, followed by two hours of live music and dancing on a 4,600 square foot open-air dance floor in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park. Events occur Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, weather-permitting.

On Friday, July 3rd join Tommye Giacchino and Gregory Day of Chicago Dance for free East Coast Swing dance lessons along with music by Lesley Byers & The Jazz Cats from 6pm to 9:30pm. Live music by Steve Cooper Orchestra compliments free Rumba dance lessons by Bob & Penny Urbon of Chicago Ballroom Dance Co. on Sunday, July 5th, from 4pm to 7pm. For a complete schedule of all SummerDance events, please visit ChicagoSummerDance.org.

Hyde Park Instagreeter

Pay a visit to Hyde Park, President Obama’s long-time home, this July 4th! Explore a presidential neighborhood with the new Hyde Park InstaGreeter program offered by the Chicago Office of Tourism. Drop by Hyde Park Art Center anytime between 10am and 3pm for a free one-hour guided walking visit of Hyde Park with a friendly, knowledgeable volunteer Chicago Greeter. Visits are given on a firstcome, first-served basis and no reservations are needed.

Farmers Markets

Over 70 vendors offer fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers throughout Chicago at local Farmers Markets that sell to over 20 neighborhoods throughout the city. On Saturday, July 4th the Division Street Farmers Market at 50 W. Division Street will be open as well as the Lincoln Park Farmers Market in the Lincoln Park High School parking lot from 7am to 2pm on July 5th visit the Erie Street Farmers Market at 500 W. Erie Street.

Chicago’s Lakefront Beaches

The Chicago Park District manages the city’s 29 lakefront beaches for the enjoyment of Chicago families and visitors. Chicago’s lakefront is also home to the lakefront trail, volleyball, soccer, concessions, golf courses, harbors, bird sanctuaries, and natural areas. Admission to Chicago’s beaches is free and open to the public. Lifeguards are on duty all weekend long.

CHICAGO FAVORITES (these Chicago favorites charge a fee for admission.)

Museum Exhibits

Escape into a whole new world at Chicago’s renowned museums. Step into the magical universe of Harry Potter at the Museum of Science and Industry this summer. This world-premiere exhibit, “Harry Potter: The Exhibition,” holds more than 200 authentic artifacts from the Harry Potter films, displayed in settings inspired by the film sets.

Determine why “x” marks the spot at The Field Museum. Their “Real Pirates” exhibit centers on the story of the Whydah, a pirate ship that sank off the coast of Cape Cod almost 300 years ago. It allows visitors to view more than 200 artifacts including a treasure chest filled with looted gold coins, and real weaponry such as cannons and swords.

Modernize your world at the newly opened Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago. Summer exhibits include Cy Twombly: The Natural World, Selected Works 2000–2007, Judith Turner: Framing the Modern, and Beyond Golden Clouds: Japanese Screens from the Art Institute of Chicago and the St. Louis Art Museum.

Chicago Neighborhood Tours

Venture out of the loop and into some of Chicago’s most fascinating neighborhoods. Take a summertime sampler tour on July 2nd and visit Chinatown, Little Italy, and Greektown. The tour leaves at 10am from the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph Street) and lasts approximately three hours. Admission is $20 per person. For more information, including a complete schedule of Chicago Neighborhood Tours, please visit ChicagoNeighborhoodTours.com.

The Ledge at the Sears Tower Skydeck

Experience never-before-seen views of Chicago at “The Ledge” at Sears Tower. The newly opened Ledge features all glass boxes set 1,353 feet up, and extending out 4.3 feet from the 103rd floor Skydeck. The famed Sears Tower Skydeck also offers additional attractions including new interactive and educational museum-quality exhibits that celebrate the City of Chicago.

Chicago Cubs Baseball

Perfect your all-American a weekend with a trip to Wrigley Field on Chicago’s North Side. The Chicago Cubs kick off a four day series hosting the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, July 2nd. Wrigley Field is easily accessible by car or on Chicago’s rapid transit system. For tickets, please visit chicago.cubs.mlb.com.

Visitors and Chicagoans planning to entertain out-of-town guests can receive Chicago brochures, reserve hotel accommodations and receive trip-planning assistance by calling toll-free 1-877-CHICAGO (1-877-244-2246), or visiting cityofchicago.org/tourism. Brochures and information on Chicago’s exciting events and activities are also available at the Visitor Information Centers. The centers are located at Chicago Water Works, 163 East Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue and the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 East Randolph Street. For those calling from outside the United States, Mexico and Canada, please call 1-312-201-8847. The TTY toll-free number for the hearing impaired is 1-866-710-0294.

The Chicago Office of Tourism, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, is the official City agency dedicated to promoting Chicago to domestic and international visitors and to providing innovative visitor programs and services.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Karen Vaughan, 312-744-2390
kvaughan@cityofchicago.org

Celebrate 4th of July Weekend in Chicago With Free Family Fun and Activities | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Start your Independence Day holiday with a picnic on Millennium Park’s Great Lawn on Saturday, July 4, from 11am to 1pm. The day continues with the Grant Park Music Festival’s first-ever Independence Day concert in Millennium Park at 1:30pm at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Inspired by the cartoons of John T. McCutcheon that were created in 1904, the picnic will feature members of the theater company, Collaboraction, who will roam the western side of the Great Lawn depicting McCutcheon’s “Bird Center” citizens. A reading of the Declaration of Independence by Cultural Historian Tim Samuelson dressed as “Bird Center” character, Judge Warden, will add to the festivities. Also, on hand will be the Northside Southpaws, a Chicago mandolin/guitar duo performing ragtime, country music and turn-of-the-century waltzes played on left-handed instruments. A “Bird Center” picnic lunch, provided by Marcello’s, will be available for $6.95.

Expected to be an annual fourth of July tradition, the Grant Park Music Festival’s free concert, “Independence Day in Millennium Park”, will feature a program of traditional and patriotic favorites performed by the Grant Park Orchestra, under the baton of Christopher Bell, along with special guest, Chicago tap dance master Lane Alexander. This concert is part of the Grant Park Music Festival’s 2009 75th anniversary season.

“This is a perfect addition to the City of Chicago’s Fourth of July festivities,” said Lois Weisberg, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. “Millennium Park is a wonderful gathering spot, and this new tradition will bring people together on the 4th to celebrate our country’s history as well as a look to its future.”

This joyous concert for the whole family begins with Francis Scott Key’s Star Spangled Banner and works its way through an all-star American canon, including Tchaikovsky’s Overture 1812 and John Philip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever. Special guest, Chicago tap dance master Lane Alexander will perform with the Grant Park Orchestra to three selections from Morton Gould’s Concerto for Tap Dancer and Orchestra, a work on which Alexander is considered one of the foremost experts. Other events on the Fourth of July in Millennium Park include workouts in Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates and Capoeira on the Great Lawn from 7 to 11am. The Family Fun Festival opens at 10am, full of interactive activities and musical games for kids of all ages.

The Grant Park Music Festival, comprised of the Grammy®-nominated Grant Park Orchestra and award-winning Grant Park Chorus led by Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar and Chorus Director Christopher Bell, will commemorate its historic 75th season with a wide ranging series of classical music concerts and special event programming at the state-of-the-art Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, June 10 – August 15, 2009. Grant Park Music Festival Memberships apply to this program, although more than half of the seating, plus the entire Great Lawn are free to the general public.

About Millenium Park

Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is bordered by Michigan Ave. to the west, Columbus Dr. to the east, Randolph St. to the north and Monroe St. to the south. Convenient parking is located in the Millennium Park Garage (entrance on Columbus at Monroe or Randolph) and at the Grant Park North and East Monroe Garages, all located within a short walking distance of Millennium Park.

Millennium Park, managed and programmed by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. The result of a unique partnership between the City of Chicago and the philanthropic community, the 24.5-acre park features the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists and designers. Among Millennium Park’s prominent features are the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States; the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa; the contemporary Lurie Garden designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel; and Anish Kapoor’s hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture.

Since its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has welcomed more than 16 million people, making it one of the most popular destinations in Chicago.

A companion exhibition, “The Cartoons of John T. McCutcheon: Chronicles of a Changing World” will be on view at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Chicago Rooms, located at 78 E. Washington Street across the street from Millennium Park through Sept. 27, 2009. On July 9 at 12:15pm, Tim Samuelson, the exhibition curator and Cultural Historian for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, will lead a gallery talk about the work. Organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, this exhibition is supported by the Chicago Tribune Foundation and Chicago Tribune.

Admission to the exhibition is free.

For more information about Millennium Park, please visit millenniumpark.org or call 312-742-1168.

For more information about the Grant Park Music Festival, visit grantparkmusicfestival.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jill Hurwitz, 312-742-1149
jhurwitz@cityofchicago.org

Amy O’Connor, 312-744-2121
amy.oconnor@cityofchicago.org

Celebrate the Fourth of July with a Picnic and Concert at Millenium Park in Chicago | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.