Chicagology 101: #34. Trivia Overtakes Chicago. Just in time for Alex Trebek’s Arrival. Have you ARTropolis’ed today?
LIVELY DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON:
-- Chicago takes a Turn towards ATT: All Things Trivial. The Top Ten Trivia(lities) about Chi-Town a/k/a: The Windy City. Chicago Trivia for $400, please. The Pursuit to know ‘The Most Trivia’ about Chicago is here and alive at Chicagology 101 Central.
-- FIRSTS occurring IN Chicago. Adding Pages to your Travel it-IN-erary & our History Books. Only IN Chicago…A lighthearted Glance at what separates Chicago from its Competition.
-- When Chicago IN-ventions mean re-designing The World.
-- Why some News is just not worth debunking.
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THROUGH THE CREATIVE EYES OF…
ASK: Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
‘America’s Premier Eventologist’
& A Prominent Chicago Resident since 1974…
PART 1: What do ‘They’ know…
Society has consistently told us that Puns and Trivia are worthless and a complete Waste of our Time. However, 240,000 Google ® Hits along with my own VO: Valued Opinion totally disagree with them. Additionally, Late Night Talk Show Hosts and Comedians whose Spiels often center on Puns and Trivialities only prove this Point by making their Audiences (in-house, at home and online) chuckle. Advertisers and Audiences can't get enough of Puns & Trivia, both placing ‘The Pop’ into Pop(ular) Culture Annals.
Besides the Top Ten Comedy Showcase Rooms in Chicago that were spotlighted in:
Chicagology 101: #29: Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This…
knowing some of the Quirkier Things about a City, by all Means and Standards, make one’s Stay or Residency memorable and dazzling. The Word ‘Boring’ is knocked out of your Vocabulary. Curiosity sets in.
Ho-hum Facts and Statistics can always be found in Sociology, Geology and History Books. However, the ‘Fun-Type’ Topics are usually under the Heading of ‘Trivia.’ The Humorist can then take a Piece of Trivia and twist it into a Pun. The Two Formulas work dynamically together; feeding off each other and presenting a new-fandangled Concept that just was not apparent before.
A HELPFUL SUGGESTION: Before you venture off on a Vacation (whether it’s just a Weekend Bout or a 30+ Day Adventure), study The Trivia of the Locale. This is quite easy to do: Merely google® and type in:
Trivia about ____(Name of Town)
and you’re there.
ADDED BENEFITS OF THE TRIVIAL: A Laugh over a peculiar or eccentric Triviality makes a Visit – your Vacation – better yet. Not only will you enlighten your Trolley Tour Guide of the City (you are visiting) with your Genius & Wit, but something may spark your Imagination to see another Part of ‘The City’ that you had not been aware about beforehand.
The cool Positioning about Trivia (that no other Literary Genre possesses), especially Historical Trivia is that once it ages, it becomes hysterical. Old and obsolete Trivia is amusing and similar to boarding a Time Capsule and zooming back into Time. This is not to downgrade the Strides and Frontiers forged by our Forefathers who sought to make a better Life (and subsequently improve their Progeny); along with the Towns where they chose to live, love and work. ‘Growing’ the Knowledge Pool (slanted towards a Historical Perspective) shows how far Mankind has advanced as a Society and as a Player in attempting to control and manage Time.
With High Technology, We are now able to multi-task. Fast + Quick has just become faster and quicker. Even 50 years ago, (for the most part), Mothers stayed at home, cared for the Offspring and maintained the Household. Fathers were the bread-winners. Today, both Parents are working hard and multi-tasking their Days away. Travel Plans can now be formulated online. From choosing the Location or Hot Spots to securing Reservations to scheduling Flight Plans and formalizing Activities to making Dinner Reservations, it’s all done automatically. The Bite is replaced by a Byte. The difficulty is removed from Jobs and Tasks. Results and Consequences due to Inventions – many of which were Firsts born in Chicago make Life better.
A Trifle (not Trivia in this case or to be confused with a Truffle) clearly shows how far We advanced as a Species. A Truffle (on the other hand) will be explained in Chicagology 101 - the Friday, May 11TH Edition saluting Mothers (on their Day) and the ACE: All Candy Expo (www.allcandyexpo.com), slated for its mouth-watering September 17-19,2007 Annual Convention.
TO CONTINUE: Historical Trivia also gives People a general sense of being grateful that they are born in this Era. Life is much easier than ever before. Granted a Typewriter 1 was the best Tool to communicate; for making Books and typing Letters when it was first invented in 1829 by William A. Burt, today, it’s obsolete. For that era, it worked. Today, that Keyboard (a Replica of that early Typewriter - QWERTY as it was) zaps your eMail out in a nano-second. The response you’re seeking can be obtained in less time than it takes to pour your second Cup of Coffee. Having this Ability at your disposal (around the clock) allows the Dissemination of News to be transported quicker than ‘The Speed of The Post Office’ and close to the Speed of Greased Lightning. This Creature Comfort is one many Individuals heavily rely upon.
HOWEVER: Andy Rooney of CBS’ 60 Minutes has heartily disagreed about Computerization for Decades. His award-winning Material for CBS is typed on his trustworthy 1920 Underwood Typewriter. For those marveling at that Statement alone (most likely the Generations born after the Mid-1980s), checkout Andy’s Article (on the Internet due to one of CBS’ Webmasters) at:
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/13/60minutes/rooney/main583494.shtml
As Andy had eschewed in the above Commentary: “My Typewriter never threatened me with a prison sentence by saying I have performed an illegal operation.”
TO THE DELIGHT OF ALL TRAVELERS: The Marvels of an American City ‘growing up’ since 1620 (when The Pilgrims first arrived in the USA) never fails to entice. A Fact or Blurb merely stated about a Town can definitely set your Wheels and Mind into motion about pursuing more Info than suggested in that single line.
AMAZE THE GIRLS: By memorizing these TOP TEN TIDBITS or writing them down neatly on an Index Card, you’ll be The Star and The Hit at the next Cocktail Party you attend. Better still, you may even be invited back.
Therefore, THE TOP TEN TRIVIALITIES regarding Chicago (which qualify it as a Cosmopolitan Center) follows in a chronological format. Punch Lines have been added for the Sake of Humor.
1. In 1796, Eulalia Pointe du Sable was the First Interracial Baby born on record in Chicago. Her Father was Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable and her Mother, Catherine was a Potawatomi Indian.
2. In 1893: The World's Columbian Exposition included these Famous Firsts: Aunt Jemima Syrup, Cracker Jacks, Cream of Wheat, Diet Carbonated Soda, Juicy Fruit Gum, Pabst Beer and Shredded Wheat. Other Chicago Firsts include:
- The Carnival Concept was born here in Chicago.
- The Hamburger was introduced to the United States in Chicago.
- The United States produced its First Commemorative Stamp Set in Chicago.
- The U.S. Postal Service produced its First Picture Postcards in Chicago.
- The U.S. Mint Office offered its First Commemorative Coins consisting of a Dollar, Half Dollar and a Quarter in Chicago.
3. Forget about selling your Car in order to keep the Planet Green. The only Postal Facility on the Planet you can drive a Vehicle through is the Chicago Post Office found at 433 West Van Buren. Rumor has it they will be adding a Carwash and Juice Bar there soon.
4. Let’s hear it for Longevity. In 1837, C. D. Peacock Jewelers (founded in Chicago) began. Today, this Establishment remains the oldest Chicago Business still in existence today with five Locations throughout Chicagoland, USA. Their Belief is that a ‘Customer – like a fine Diamond – should last forever.’ Via some incredible Magical Mystery, the Diamond Rings bought at C.D. Peacock’s possess the lowest Rate of Divorce in the Midwest! Chicago also houses the ‘Little Blue Box’ – Tiffany & Co.’s by name. Both Operations may be found online at:
www.cdpeacock.com
www.tiffany.com
5. The Classic Rock Radio Station, 105.9 has a Slogan that reads: 'Of all the Radio Stations in Chicago...We're one of them.' You just gotta love that 'Rock n Roll!'
6. Were you wondering where Nabisco baked those 16 billion Oreo Cookies in 1995 that could circle the Equator several times and feed the World’s Hungry? Chicago is the Answer, again. Deemed as ‘The World's Largest Cookie and Cracker Factory,' Nabisco is located in ‘Sweet Home, Chicago,’ yet verifying our ongoing ‘Sweet Streak.’
7. Chicago is #2 of 10 in the ‘Fattest Cities’ in the USA. Could our Restaurants, 5 Star Chefs, Bakeries, Candy and Cookie Factories be the Culinary Culprits and Reasons why? According to the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students at The University of Chicago, there are over 6,000 Restaurants in 'The Windy City.' This Figure evidently does not count School Cafeteria Grub. According to My Math, that Sum means that for the next 16.4 years you never need to dine at the same Restaurant twice. That Numeral closely competes with Starbuck’s Cafés.2-3
INSERT: Look for complete coverage by the Chicagology Central’s Staff regarding the National Restaurant Association’s Annual Convention held in Chicago next month from May 19-22 at McCormick Place (www.mccormickplace.com). In its 88TH Year, the NRA (with a web presence at: www.restaurant.org) is the largest single Gathering of Lodging Professionals, Foodservice and Restaurant Professionals in the Western Hemisphere. 73,000+ Attendees from 50 States and 110 Countries will converge on Chicago.
8. Illinois has the greatest number of Personalized License Plates (ie: PLPs) than any other State in the Union, even outnumbering those in Hollywood where swimming pools and movie stars conglomerate. Undoubtedly, most of these PLPs are seen in Chicago and could fill a Vanity License Plate Coffee Table Book from A-Z. Estimates clock that (at least) 25 PLPs pass through the Chicago Post Office at 433 West Van Buren per Hour, lauded as the only Facility on the Planet where you can drive your Auto through.
9. As a Nationality, Americans consume 18 Acres of Pizza daily. That equates to 6,570 acres per Year and 6,588 for each Leap Year. Calories notwithstanding and the fact that 2/3 Americans are overweight, with Chicago scoring high for its delicious, deep-dish Pizza, that's a lot of Pepperoni and Tomatoes.
10. In 1923, Chicago's Curtiss Candy Co. created The Butterfinger Candy Bar. As a promotional gimmick, Butterfingers (went airborne) and were dropped from Airplanes on Municipalities in 40 States. The Sky was indeed falling. Without having prior knowledge from TV broadcasts or Text Messaging, Citizens were highly puzzled by this playful prank. No fatalities were reported. Later, it was learned that in The States where no Droppings occurred, Sales have been significantly lower and its Residents slimmer.
GET YOUR WEIRD-ON IN CHICAGO:
For those Individuals savoring more ‘Weird’ and Off-Beat Chicago Experiences, book an Excursion from Weird Chicago Tours located online at:
http://www.weirdchicago.com/
An online Monthly Schedule is available above to fit into your Itinerary.
Their Team of Experts explore: Fabled People & Places, Local Heroes & Villains, Local Legends & Lore, Unexplained Phenomena and Roads Less Traveled.
Tonight’s (Friday, April 27) Tour begins promptly at 8 PM. Weird Chicago Tours are available year round. These Tours are especially ‘Fun’ on Friday, the 13TH for those who are superstitious. October is another Prime Time to get your ‘Weird-On’ as Halloween approaches. A severely ‘Haunted’ Side of Chicago emerges in October, spook-by-spook and ghoul- by-ghoul. Trivia-Galore (you should know) is also intertwined in these Autumn Tours.
Call: 888-446-7859, a Toll-Free Number, to make your Reservations. Adam Selzer, Ken Berg, Willie Williams & Troy Taylor will answer all your Questions. This is because it’s a Time to Celebrate! Weird Chicago’s ‘Excursions into The Unknown – Haunted Chicago Tours’ marks their 25 Year in 2007!
AFTER ALL: Where else can you discover the Ghosts, Ghouls and Gangsters of Chicago in a way that no one else can show you except Adam, Ken, Willie & Troy?
- Find out if the Virgin Mary really visited Chicago.
- Find out what drove a Man to create one of the weirdest Houses in Illinois. It could not have been for the Love of a Sweet Young Thing.
For those seeking other Illinois Locations outside Chicago proper, Alton, Decatur, Jacksonville, Lebanon are Springfield Tours are also available. After touring with them, you’ll then be able to create your own Weird Trivia List that even beats out these Pages! When reserving, don’t forget:
First Come – First Served.
But then, again, Chicago has always been a City of Firsts.
IN CONCLUSION: What would they say (about Trivia & Puns) if it hadn’t already been said? In Traveling (as it is in Life): Explore your Options. Chicago isn’t to be taken ‘lightly’ no matter what beat you dance to.
PART 2: YOUR DAILY CHICAGO FIX…®
This Special Event is designed for those Families and/or Individuals who live in Suburbia and are driving, hopping on board a train or bus and headed into the City for the Day. Completely random, this Singular Listing can cover a job opportunity; a theatre performance; a celebrity appearance. After all, if you’re going to see IT ALL, you’re going to be in Chicago!
The Lead Story focusing on Chicago and its continual Push for the Advancement of ART in all its intuitive Forms and innovative Formats can be clearly seen at:
ARTropolis
With Galleries visiting from 132 major Cities across the World, ARTropolis ™ (www.artchicago.com) is a breath-taking ‘Celebration of The Arts, Antiques and Culture’ being held at The Mart from April 26-30. Full Chicagology 101 Coverage begins on Tuesday, May 1ST spotlighting the Top 100 Pieces of Global Art and Trends now being created.
ART SMART IN THE HEARTLAND: Drum Rolls will be clearly heard throughout Chicago as April comes to a close. Two leading Firsts in Chicago (not located at the Site of ARTropolis at 350 North Orleans in the Merchandise and Apparel Marts) will spotlight Talent and ART by:
Tony Fitzpatrick (who made his Premiere Appearance in Chicagology 101 on Tuesday, April 24, 2007) will be appearing at Architrouve – 1433 West Chicago Avenue from 7-10 PM on Friday, April 27, 2007. The City Etchings 1993-2003 is a Compilation of 30 black-and-white Characters & Drawings honoring the City Tony so loves: Chicago. Hot Doug’s Hot Dogs & Beer will provide the Refreshments at the Opening Reception tonight. TF’s Show continues through Saturday, June 30TH. Further Web Info is found at:
www.tonyfitzpatrick.com
www.thearchitrouve.com
Dale Washington & Mr. Imagination Together @ Dale’s Upstairs Gallery
7247 South Langley in Chicago
Friday, April 27, 2007 – 5-8 PM
773-846-9791
For those who are ready for the unCategorizable, these Two Artists are Members of the Afrimerican ORIGINAALS ™ Group created and curated by former award-winning, Ad-Man Lowell Thompson of the famed ‘Fer Real’ Painting Series. Dale & Mr. Imagination, undoubtedly, make Art in most Galleries and Museums ‘pale’ by Comparison. Stop by and see why…Contact Mr. Thompson at: lowellt@hotmail.com for his Summer, 2007 Series of Art Across America.
PART 3: Compatistrology ®.
“Where Compatibility + Astrology meet The Internet for your Benefit.”
Motivation brings People into Relationships. Joint Effort combines the Two Personalities who are ‘working’ the Relationship. Since every Person is ruled by Social Influences as well as Physiological Differences topped off by Self-Esteem Issues and set Values, Conflicts are prone to arise from these Factors as well as the major Differences that (plainly) exist between Men and Women.
Of utmost importance to note is that when a Person travels from the North to the South; to the East from the West (and all Points between), Cultural Values between Societies consisting of Men & Women greatly change. All of this has to be taken ‘with a Grain of Salt’ as well as Patience and an Open Mind. For those so wondering, that’s why there are Wars. Territorial Rights, Freedom and differing Values have consistently motivated Mankind to stage Wars since he learned to walk erect. If the Compatibility Factor worked better, a more harmonious World would be established in all areas of Life, indeed making Human Nature more understandable. Yet We still actively seek and yearn for Mr. Right or Ms. Right – and our Prince Charming in Shining Armor. Therefore, for those Individuals looking for a Compatible Partner born on April 27, those Personalities born on:
January 16, February 12, April 3, September 9, November 27 and December 13
will be best suited for a long, lasting and Compatible Relationship.
After all, the Love you find may be your own. Traveling with a Partner is as great Experience as Traveling with a Group. It means Somebody stops and takes your Picture and helps carry those Souvenirs and T-Shirts back home! Compatibility doesn’t get any better than that on the beaten Road to Travelling du Monde.
PART 4: SEIZE THE DAY…
Chicagology 101: #35 for Tuesday, May 1 probes:
The Color of ART. ARTropolis graced Chicago from April 26-30. The Show closed but opened and fanned an entirely new Light, Accessibility and Realm for Galleries and Attendees who traveled tens of thousands of Miles to appear in ‘My Kind of Town,’ Chicago. Read the ART pARTiculars today. Find out Who attended. What was learned? What the Future holds for ARTropolis ™ - all via Chicagology 101 ®.
PART 5: CLOCKING A GREAT HUMANITARIAN CAMPAIGN
ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE PLAN: ‘Click To Share’
We all get by with a Little Help from our Friends – sometimes Strangers. Sometimes, just a Meal will help out in order to keep one’s strength up. It’s now time to jump in and aid your Hungry Fellow Americans. By sharing your Story online at:
www.SpreadTheSharing.com,
Country Crock will donate a Meal to America’s Second Harvest. The Time could not be better than The Present for you to contribute your Story.
There are now 11,983 Stories online at: http://spreadthesharing.com/StoriesofSharing/
as of Friday, April 27 – 6:16 AM CST.
11,027 Stories as of Tuesday, April 24 – 9:16 AM CST
5,408 Stories as of Tuesday, April 17 – 8:38 AM CST
5,317 Stories as of Monday, April 16, 2007 – 3:48 PM CST; and
4,747 Stories as of Friday, April 13, 2007 – 10:05 AM CST.
PART 6: Earth Year Tips
Making Healthy Earth Habits a 24/7 Constant
The 3 brief Tips for Friday, April 27, 2007 are:
1. Teachers: Show your Classes how they can creatively recycle their candy and grocery wrappers into lively purses, collages and artworks.
2. For Eco-Tourism Travelers, plan your Vacation at:
Green Hotels Association – www.greenhotels.com
or
Environmentally Friendly Hotels – www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com
3. ‘Paper is The Everyday Wonder’ but at times it seems too over-whelming. Enter: Clutter. The Paper Industry Association Council (PIAC) founded in 2001 is the leading Source to help all industries in their Paper Recycling Efforts. For more Details, check out: www.paperrecycles.org.
UPON CLOSING: Until Tuesday…May all your Adventures & Trips be healthy, happy and trivial ones!
Sincerely,
Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith
CVO: Chicago’s Very Own…
askoopersmith@hotmail.com
CLOSING CREDITS & WEB SOURCES FOR CHICAGOLOGY 101 – THE FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2007 EDITION #34:
1 Typewriter Info derived from: http://www.pubquizhelp.34sp.com/hist/invent.html
2-3 http://chicago.about.com/od/aboutchicago/a/010605_fat.htm
http://chicagolife.uchicago.edu/city/chi_restaurants.shtml
NOTE: All Chicago Trivia derived from: http://chicago.about.com/od/historyresearch/a/091505_trivia.htm
http://www.50states.com/facts/illinois.htm
http://www.corsinet.com/chicago/chicagot.html
http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/q-triv.html
http://www.zilvan.com/funnyfacts/facts_about_usa.htm
http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/il_geography.htm
