Laura Roberts's Blog, page 39

XXX Chicago #AtoZChallenge

As in years past, this month I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. 2016 marks my fifth anniversary, so to celebrate, I’m hosting Friday Blog-Ins here in San Diego; you can find out more info about where we’re meeting each week on my A to Z Challenge page.

My monthly theme is Chicago From A to Z, so stay tuned from Monday to Saturday for new posts on the Windy City. Or sign up for my mailing list (delivered weekly, on Fridays) so you don’t miss a thing!

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While XXX typically refers to the adult entertainment industry in most parts of the world (and on this blog!), today’s post is actually about something completely different.

It’s about a band from Chicago…

NAMED Chicago…

With an album entitled…

You guessed it:

XXX

Now, I’ll admit I’m not actually a fan of Chicago (the band, anyway). I couldn’t name a single one of their tunes, even if my life depended on it.

But it turns out, they were just inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. (Along with NWA, Cheap Trick [another Chicago band!], Steve Miller and Deep Purple, for those keeping score.)

And they wrote these songs:

I have no idea what “25 or 6 to 4” even means, but I’ve definitely heard this song on various classic rock stations throughout the years. Their horn section pretty much rocks.

Apparently Jimi Hendrix even told the band that their guitarist was better than he was. Whoa.

But I still have to wonder why they named their twentieth album “XXX,” since X is the Roman numeral for 10, and therefore 3 Xs = 30, not 20. Is the extra X for extra credit? Predicting another 10 years of rockin’?

I guess you’d have to ask them.

Chicago bands that aren’t Chicago

Here are a few bands and solo artists that I do like, who are originally from Chicago:

The Chi-Lites
Fall Out Boy
Liz Phair
Smashing Pumpkins
Veruca Salt
Wesley Willis

Not to mention the many talented jazz and blues artists Chicago has produced over the decades!

Additional Resources


NBC: NWA, Chicago Among Groups Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rapid City Journal: On the Record: Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4” about time, not drugs
Wikipedia: Chicago (band)

What about you?

What’s your favorite Chicago band?

Pre-order your copy today

Like what you just read? Thinking of visiting Chicago soon? Pre-order your copy of my forthcoming guidebook, Chicago From A to Z, for lots more about the Windy City – including local hotspots, tourist attractions, cultural oddities, and anecdotes you just won’t find anywhere else!

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Weird Chicago #AtoZChallenge

As in years past, this month I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. 2016 marks my fifth anniversary, so to celebrate, I’m hosting Friday Blog-Ins here in San Diego; you can find out more info about where we’re meeting each week on my A to Z Challenge page.

My monthly theme is Chicago From A to Z, so stay tuned from Monday to Saturday for new posts on the Windy City. Or sign up for my mailing list (delivered weekly, on Fridays) so you don’t miss a thing!

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Chicago has plenty of weirdness going on. But, unlike some cities (coughcough AUSTIN cough…), Chicago’s secure enough in its identity that it doesn’t have to flaunt an official “Keep It Weird” motto.

Chicago understands that everyone can be weird, but that only the truly bizarre will stick with it over the years.

And, let’s face it: no one who’s truly weird ever has to advertise the fact.

Your friend who apologizes for being weird? NOT WEIRD.

Cities with mottos like “Keep Austin weird”? NOT WEIRD.

Anyone who spells the word “wierd”? NOT WEIRD.

Here are a few weird things about Chicago that you may or may not already know about…

The Cubs are legitimately cursed

I’m not sure whether an actual witch or wizard was involved or not, but the stats speak for themselves: The Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908, nor played in one since 1945 – when the curse was supposedly placed on the team by Billy Sianis, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern.

The team has attempted several times to “reverse” the curse, but it looks like no one can break it.

This White Sox fan is perplexed and bemused by the curse, but still prefers a team with the motto “Good guys wear black.” Sorry, Cubbies.

The ongoing popularity of Frank Lloyd Wright

No offense to the world-renowned Wright, but frankly (harhar) I don’t understand why this architect remains so very popular.

Sure, his houses and minimalist Prairie architectural stylings are cool… but what about his totally crap take on interior design? Tell me you love open office design, and I’ll show you a phalanx of office workers who’d be keen to string you up. Wright basically inspired cubicles, and the drones that inhabit them, so please stop with the incessant fawning. Unless you’re working at a one-woman company, this style is simply not conducive to actual business.

This dining room is the stuff of nightmares:

Who’d want to eat a meal, sitting in such unforgiving chairs? And in such stark surroundings?

Not me, thanks.

And how about a little color, Frankie?!

Wind-speed is not the reason for Chicago’s nickname

Why is it called the Windy City?

You may be surprised to know that it’s not because of the wind (a legitimate concern, particularly during the frigid winters if you’re anywhere near the lake), but because of the hot-air-filled politicians that Chicago received its nickname.

That’s right: the Windy City is so named because of its blowhards!

Additional Resources


Atlas Obscura: Hidden Chicago
Furnicool: The Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright, Architecture Porn
Mental Floss: Why is it called the Windy City?
Thrillist: 15 Weirdest Things in Chicago
Weird Chicago Tours
Wikipedia: Curse of the Billy Goat and Frank Lloyd Wright

Pre-order your copy today

Like what you just read? Thinking of visiting Chicago soon? Pre-order your copy of my forthcoming guidebook, Chicago From A to Z, for lots more about the Windy City – including local hotspots, tourist attractions, cultural oddities, and anecdotes you just won’t find anywhere else!

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Violence in Chicago: Do #BlackLivesMatter? #AtoZChallenge

Visitors to Chicago may rightly ask: What’s the deal with all the gun violence?

When you’ve got Spike Lee making a movie about your city’s levels of shootings, and an international nickname like “Chi-raq,” I think it’s important to shine a light on this issue, and not just skim over it like it doesn’t exist.

They say Black Lives Matter. But in Chicago, it really doesn’t seem like anyone believes it.

Here’s a well-researched site for you to consult. It’s called HeyJackass, and its tag line is “illustrating Chicago values.”

If you look at the stats, you’ll see what’s going on, and where, and you can (in theory) make plans to avoid these areas and dangerous situations.

But what about the folks that LIVE in these neighborhoods? What about the people who CAN’T avoid it, because that’s the street they live on?

This week already (and it’s only Tuesday – Monday evening as I write this – mind you), you can see the updates for shootings at W. Granville, West Ridge; and two on S. Kimbark, Avalon Park. 6 killed, 41 wounded this weekend.

And if you really want to see something hopeless, read the comments.

As of this posting, a person is shot every 2 hours and 35 minutes in Chicago. A person is murdered every 15 hours and 10 minutes! Overwhelmingly, the victims are black (70.9%), with Hispanics running a distant second at 25.1%.

Here’s a damn map:

If that doesn’t look like an epidemic to you, you might be blind. And if you think it’s just about the “South Side,” you may need to take another look.

So, should the National Guard be called in to police Chicago’s streets? Should we just roll over and accept this violence as a matter of course, a fact of life?

Maybe Spike was onto something with that “No peace, no piece” motto he copped from Lysistrata…

Otherwise, it seems the alternative is… nothing.

As per the previously referenced New York Times piece:

‘Right now, there’s no strategy,’ said the Rev. Corey Brooks, a minister on the South Side. ‘Or if there is a strategy, whatever it is, it’s not working.’

In a city with an enormous problem involving gangs, guns and violent behavior, THAT is a problem.

Today’s reading list is long. I hope you take the time to give it some attention.

Additional Resources


The Atlantic: Chicago’s problem with gun violence
Chicago Sun-Times: Homicide Watch Chicago: Week in review, April 25th
CNN: Chicago teen Zarriel Trotter, advocate against violence, shot in the back (also covered in the Washington Post)
NBC 5 Chicago: Sen. Dick Durbin visits Chicago to address gun violence
New York Magazine: The 2016 gun-violence statistics out of Chicago are horrific
Wired: Public Enemies: Social media is fueling gang wars in Chicago

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Top 10 T-Shirts for Writers (April 2016 edition)

Since my last post on this subject was written 7 (SEVEN!) whole years ago – and, sadly, most of those shirts are no longer available – I thought it might be time for an update.

Therefore, in no particular order, here are my current Top 10 T-Shirts for Writers. Ready your credit & debit cards, or break out the wishlist!

“Art Harder, Motherfucker” shirt by Chuck Wendig:

Because sometimes you just have to kick your own ass with an inspirational tee. Also available sans cuss words… but where’s the fun in that?!

NaNoWriMo 2015 “Book & Quill” T-Shirt:

Most of the NaNoWriMo shirts, actually, are quite fun and inspirational, and I always look forward to seeing the new designs each November. Collect ’em all!

“Don’t Look at Me in That Tone of Voice” Dorothy Parker t-shirt by Hellwood Outfitters:

Watch your tone, writer! And if you’re into crime fiction or dark stories, generally speaking, these guys have likely got a shirt prowling your alley.

“The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde” T-shirt by Litographs:

With so many great designs to choose from – all of which are created from the full text of the book they reference! – these clever shirts make great gifts for all the writers in your life.

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy “Don’t Panic” T-shirt by 6 Dollar Shirts:

A classic, as well as a good reminder for writers not to freak out. It’s just a rough draft, guys! Plus it’s only $6, for the truly cash-strapped thrifty author. (And check out their “42” design, if you dig life, the universe and everything.)

“This is the Pen to Calm the Crazy, Master of Your Heart” V-Neck by Leonard Cohen:

Okay, so technically this is from one of his songs, but writing is wring, right? And if you’re in the UK (and/or prefer his novels), there’s also the Beautiful Losers shirt.

“We Can’t Stop Here, This is Bat Country!” Hunter S. Thompson T-shirt by Epicdelusion:

Don’t slow down, don’t pump the brakes, just keep writing, by god! Put on your pith helmet, if necessary.

“Wee Edgar Allan Poe” Shirt by Hark! A Vagrant:

Because even upon a midnight dreary… you should be writing!!!

Extra Credit: “Bros” Shirt, depicting Poe and Jules Verne together on a balloon, as per my favorite cartoon ever, by Kate Beaton. Still cracks me up every time! Also, I totally want to get fan mail like this one day.

“Write Your Story” Pullover by Francesca Battistelli:

Frankly, I have no idea who Francesca Battistelli is, but this pullover is awesome. And, yes, since this is supposed to be about t-shirts, there’s one of those too.

“I Just Want to Drink Coffee, Create Stuff and Sleep” T-Shirt by Shirtoopia:

This shirt actually needs at least one comma, possibly two, depending on your love/hate relationship with the Oxford Comma.

Honorable Mention: DIY Lined Paper T-Shirt by Maybe Matilda:

Because, dude, who doesn’t want to wear notebook paper as their shirt? Just think about all the fun things you can scribble on your own chest when inspiration strikes!

Got one I missed?

Share your favorite writer’s t-shirts in the comments below!

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Uncovering Chicago’s underground #AtoZChallenge

Click to Buy Now

As in years past, this month I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. 2016 marks my fifth anniversary, so to celebrate, I’m hosting Friday Blog-Ins here in San Diego; you can find out more info about where we’re meeting each week on my A to Z Challenge page.

My monthly theme is Chicago From A to Z, so stay tuned from Monday to Saturday for new posts on the Windy City. Or sign up for my mailing list (delivered weekly, on Fridays) so you don’t miss a thing!

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What’s underground in Chicago?

Some of these are physically underground, while other are more a state of mind…

Chicago Underground Collective – a series of musical duos that consists of rotating personnel; this link goes to the fifth album, Boca Negra, by Chad Taylor and Rob Mazurek
Chicago Underground Film Festival (June 1-5, 2016) – the longest running underground film festival in the world (founded in 1993), showcasing independent, experimental and documentary films
Chicago Underground Comedy – from their website: “this alt-comedy haven revels in its reputation as a comic’s playground, and has no regrets for any of the silly goofs, wacky antics, or plain-old tomfoolery it may have gotten into after a few drinks over the years”
Choose Chicago – Underground Chicago: The Layers of Our City
Underground – a bar on the Near North Side, open from 10 PM to 4 AM, Wednesdays through Sundays (open ’til 5 AM on Saturdays)

Like its neighbor to the north, Montreal, Chicago also has an Underground City of sorts. They call it the Pedway, and it’s actually more of an underground walkway than a full-fledged city, but it’s a good start, especially during those frosty Midwestern winters!

“2013 Chicago Architecture Tour” image by Flickr user
Hsin-Cheng Lin

“The Ominous Pedway” image by Flickr user
Justin Escamilla

“Victorian Stained Glass” image by Flickr user Ann Fisher

Prince songs that start with U

In continued tribute to Prince, your video of the day is Uptown.

Uptown: it’s where I wanna be

Uptown: set your mind free

Uptown: get my body hot

Get down – I don’t wanna stop

What about U?

Have you ever explored any underground cities or sights?

Pre-order your copy today

Like what you just read? Thinking of visiting Chicago soon? Pre-order your copy of my forthcoming guidebook, Chicago From A to Z, for lots more about the Windy City – including local hotspots, tourist attractions, cultural oddities, and anecdotes you just won’t find anywhere else!

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Goodnight, sweet Prince: 365K Club, week 16

“starfish, no coffee” image by Flickr user kecil

It’s that time of the week again: time for another 365K Club word count check-in! Numbers, please…

April 16, Day 107: 670 words

April 17, Day 108: 382 words

April 18, Day 109: 1,439 words

April 19, Day 110: 496 words

April 20, Day 111: 285 words

April 21, Day 112: 0 words – Prince died, and much like the day that David Bowie died, I spent most of my time listening to his music and crying (and also wondering where the fucking hell my copy of Under the Cherry Moon I’d ordered on Amazon earlier in the week was, since there was yet another snafu with UPS trying to deliver my stuff to Chula Vista)

April 22, Day 113: 320 words – I wrote a short tribute post for Prince, sneaking it into the A to Z Challenge under “T”

That’s a grand total of 3,592 words for the week, 12,056 for the month, and 64,136 for the year!

Did I beat last week’s total?

Last week I wrote 4,921 words, so unfortunately I did not smash my weekly record.

Badges!

No badges for me this week. I was going to try for the 5K Marathon badge, which involves writing 5,000 words and then walking the equivalent of a 5K, but I hadn’t realized it was last weekend, so I wasn’t at all prepared. Maybe next year?

Goals for next week?

Onward with the last week of the A to Z Challenge! We’ll be holding our final Blog-In at Starbucks this Friday, so stop by and say hi. I’m working on putting together another writing challenge for the Nonfiction Authors Association, as we’ve recently formed a little accountability group, so hopefully I will have the details all figured out by then.

In the meantime…

Want to track YOUR words?

In an effort to spread the helpful message of 365K Club’s daily word tracking, I’ve created my own Buttontapper Word Tracker. Want a free copy? Just sign up for my newsletter and you’ll receive a link to download it ASAP.

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Time-out: A tribute to Prince #AtoZChallenge

Sorry, folks, but today I must interrupt our regularly scheduled A to Z Challenge posts in order to call attention to a tremendous and terrible recent event:

The death of Prince Rogers Nelson.

Prince was clearly an icon that meant a lot to many people, including my husband, who considers himself a huge Prince fan. He’s told me many times about how Prince got him through his youth, with his funky beats and unorthodox sexuality. Like David Bowie, Prince showed the world that it’s okay to be different – indeed, that we should embrace our differences, and celebrate them – and that men can have legit alternatives to being “manly” (read: Neanderthal) when it comes to life, ladies and interacting with the universe at large.

Who doesn’t remember Prince’s days as “The Artist Formerly Known As…”? Prince was one of the first corporate musicians to rebel against that form of slavery.

And let’s not forget his unforgettably lusty lyrics.

To tantalize you further, here are some terrific Prince songs that start with T…

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World:

Thieves in the Temple
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Take Me With U
The Arms of Orion
The Morning Papers
The Greatest Romance Ever Sold:

And, proving he was never anything but the consummate professional, as well as a true artist, Prince performing the halftime show at the Super Bowl in the fucking rain:

Additional Resources for the Grieving Prince Fan


Buzzfeed: 23 of Prince’s Most Important Looks Ever
Kevin Smith on Prince
New York Times: Prince Knew What He Wanted: Sex, Soul and You
Prince on The Muppet Show
Rolling Stone: 15 Great Prince Songs That Were Hits for Other Artists
Under the Cherry Moon
Us Weekly: Prince Once Fired Questlove From a DJ Gig and Replaced Him With a “Finding Nemo” DVD
Vulture: 24 Outrageous Prince Stories

Tell me, Darling Nikki…

What’s your favorite Prince song?

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Singing the praises of the Sears Tower #AtoZChallenge

As in years past, this month I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. 2016 marks my fifth anniversary, so to celebrate, I’m hosting Friday Blog-Ins here in San Diego; you can find out more info about where we’re meeting each week on my A to Z Challenge page.

My monthly theme is Chicago From A to Z, so stay tuned from Monday to Saturday for new posts on the Windy City. Or sign up for my mailing list (delivered weekly, on Fridays) so you don’t miss a thing!

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I must begin today’s post with a bit of blasphemy:

Fuck Willis!

To me, the skyscraper with the two spires will always be known as the Sears Tower. It was built and paid for by Sears, therefore it’s the Sears Tower. You can’t just slap your name on it, no matter how much money you paid for the privilege – no matter what Donald Drumpf says.

Sears Tower image by I, Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikipedia.

Yes, yes: Sears actually sold the building back in 1994, but they still held naming rights through 2003.

Willis claims the naming rights, as part of their lease of a chunk of the building. But Willis only leases 3% of the building’s total square footage (140,000 square feet out of 3,800,000).  So how, exactly, does that translate to “ownership”?

It doesn’t! Indeed, the Willis Group – for whom the building is currently named – doesn’t actually own the tower. An investment firm named Blackstone does. By that measure, shouldn’t it be called the “Blackstone Tower”?

Possession is 9/10 of the law

Regardless of who actually owns the deed to the property, who wants to slap their name on it, or who leases the most space in it, I think the building should always be referred to as the Sears Tower. Sears & Roebuck built it, they put up the money needed to finance it, and the tower was their HQ for decades. If that doesn’t entitle them to a damn name, I don’t know what does.

Besides, everyone in Chicago can point you towards the Sears Tower if you ask them. Who can keep track of stuff like Willis vs. Blackstone vs. whomever’s next in a long line of buyers and sellers?

Some things are tradition for a reason. Like the Sears Tower.

Visit the Tower

Regardless of what the building is called, it’s a great place to visit if you want to get a 360-degree view of the city. Even before Willis built The Ledge – reinforced glass decks that offer visitors a chance to look straight down to view the busy city bustling below their feet – the Skydeck allowed visitors unobstructed views from the 103rd floor, where you can see four states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin) and up to 50 miles on a clear day.

And, of course, Ferris Bueller and friends visited the Tower back when it was still the World’s Tallest, making the film a nice slice of American history. (The current tallest building is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, at 2,717 feet tall. By comparison, the Sears Tower is a mere 1,450 feet tall. But whose tower’s in the program selection of “Famous Buildings” on my cardio machine at the gym, huh? HUH?!)

Additional Resources


Crain’s Chicago Business: Adding on to the Willis Tower?
Forbes: Former Sears Tower in Chicago has a new owner
Skydeck Chicago: Pricing
Wikipedia: Sears, Willis Group and Willis Tower

Let’s talk about towers!

What’s the tallest building you’ve ever visited?

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Reminiscing about restaurants #AtoZChallenge

As in years past, this month I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. 2016 marks my fifth anniversary, so to celebrate, I’m hosting Friday Blog-Ins here in San Diego; you can find out more info about where we’re meeting each week on my A to Z Challenge page.

My monthly theme is Chicago From A to Z, so stay tuned from Monday to Saturday for new posts on the Windy City. Or sign up for my mailing list (delivered weekly, on Fridays) so you don’t miss a thing!

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Growing up in a suburb of Chicago, I can assure you that my memories of consuming food from restaurants actually located within city limits are sketchy, at best. (Indeed, the only place I can think of off the top of my head was Trader Vic’s, which changed locations and finally closed in 2011.)

So I’m not going to pretend that I have any idea what the hip, happening or delicious places to dine in Chicago, circa 2016, are. That would be redonkulous.

Instead, this post is all about the restaurants from the Chicago suburbs whose menus I still pine for, 20 years later. Several of them have gone out of business (the restaurant biz being both fickle and insanely fast-paced), but I hope you enjoy this elegaic ode to Restaurants Past. And, by all means, if you’re familiar with any of them, please jump in with your own cheers or jeers!

Tong’s Tiki Hut

Tong’s Tiki Hut always enchanted me as a wee young’un for its awesome combination of American-style Chinese food, awesome Tiki decor, and funky cocktail-ware that they’d let you take home with you – because who doesn’t need a skull-shaped grog mug?

This photo of Tong’s Tiki Hut is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Bakers Square

Yes, this place is a chain. Yes, it’s been years since I’ve set foot inside one. But OMFG, you guys, their pies are to die for. I still have delicious dreams of their French Silk pie. And I have no idea what kind of crack they put in that Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup pie, but it was UH-MAZE-ING.

Fannie May

More a chocolatier than a restaurant, per se, Fannie May is still a childhood icon for its delicious truffles, Trinidads, Pixies (turtles), and ridiculously oversized cream eggs at Easter. Although many of the brick-and-mortar shops have been shut down, since a corporate takeover, the Elmhurst location at 116 N. York Street is still going strong.

Portillo’s

If you’ve never been to Portillo’s, then you’ve never lived. This fast-food restaurant embraces the 50s-throwback diner style, as well as all of Chicago’s most famous foods: Chicago-style hotdogs, Italian beef, cheeseburgers (double-decker and bacon cheeseburgers also available!), tamales (my mom’s favorite), chili cheese dogs and chili fries, classic cheese fries, and the all-American milkshake. Way better than the crap they serve at Mickey-D’s, this was our family’s go-to fast food place.

“Portillo’s Elmhurst Illinois” image by Flickr user David Wilson

Brown’s Chicken

Nuts to KFC. Brown’s Chicken was my family’s favorite place for fried chicken. There used to be a franchise within walking distance of our house, which made the fatty, greasy food that much sweeter, since you’d have to get your exercise in before you consumed it. Their buttermilk biscuits, mashed potatoes with gravy, mini corn-cobs, and coleslaw were all part of the deal. Where’s THAT kind of value menu, I ask you?

Konis

A restaurant I remember from my childhood, Konis was a Lombard diner with a Greek name and Italian flair. They regularly served a soup of the day that was cream-of-something, with pimento bits floating in it. As a weird young’un, I was certain pimentos were actually tomatoes (they’re actually peppers, and therefore delicious), and picked them out with aplomb. I still remember my typical order at Konis: mostaccioli! Bring this back to your menus, Italian snob spots, and you’ll have some truly devoted fans.



There’s currently a restaurant called Omega located in the space I remember as Konis… could they be run by the same family? They’ve got mostaccioli on their menu…

Additional Resources


The Tiki Chick: Tong’s Tiki Hut
TripAdvisor: The 10 Best Elmhurst Restaurants

Your turn!

What are some of your favorite restaurants – currently or from your childhood memories?

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Quartz, questions and quibbles #AtoZChallenge

As in years past, this month I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. 2016 marks my fifth anniversary, so to celebrate, I’m hosting Friday Blog-Ins here in San Diego; you can find out more info about where we’re meeting each week on my A to Z Challenge page.

My monthly theme is Chicago From A to Z, so stay tuned from Monday to Saturday for new posts on the Windy City. Or sign up for my mailing list (delivered weekly, on Fridays) so you don’t miss a thing!

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Here is a place you’ve probably never heard about, even if you’ve explored Chicago from top to bottom:

The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art.

Question: Why haven’t you heard of this museum?

Answer: Because, technically, it’s not in Chicago.

Not to quibble, but it’s actually in the greater Chicagoland area, which encompasses many Chicago suburbs.

To pinpoint it precisely: it’s in Elmhurst, the town where I grew up. Which is why I know about it, and have visited this rather odd little museum repeatedly, and you are probably still scratching your head right about now.

Quick! To the observatory, where all your queries will be answered!

What’s “lapidary art”?

First of all, you may be wondering what the heck is “lapidary art”?

Excellent question, curious reader! The word “lapidary” refers to rocks, and more specifically the cutting and polishing of stone. Therefore, a museum dedicated to “lapidary art” is all about art created by cutting and polishing various stones, including precious and semi-precious gems.

So, if you were ever a nerdy kid who asked for a rock tumbler every Christmas (guilty!), then you probably understand why this museum still holds such a soft spot in my heart.

The museum

Here’s what the museum looks like from the outside:

It’s described as resembling a “jewel box” on their website, which is apt, given the fact that their focus is on showing off pretty polished rocks and sculptures.

The collection

The museum’s biggest claim to fame is its jade collection, which is surprisingly vast with more than 200 pieces. You’ll find pieces that were originally part of the imperial palaces of China, like an altar set from the Ming Dynasty, as well as a decorative screen that was a birthday gift for Emperor Qianlong in 1791. Apparently the museum’s founder simply “wrote away” for pieces of jade, which he originally intended to make into jewelry, but was so impressed with the items he received that he decided not to break them up for his lapidary hobby, and instead housed them in the museum.

Most fascinating to me as a child were the 20 stone dioramas, with figures that were carved in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, as well as “Castle Lizzadro” – a combination of gemstones and 18K gold, created by English sculptor William Toliday:

“Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art – Castle Lizzadro” image by Flickr user Kankakee Carl

In addition to the jade collection, you can also find items made from amber, ivory, coral, agate, and a variety of gemstones – including quartz – throughout the museum’s displays.

This photo of Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art is courtesy of TripAdvisor

You can even see some petrified wood there! (Cue dirty jokes in 5, 4, 3…)

The gift shop

Of course, any kid’s favorite part of a museum is the gift shop. And the Lizzadro Museum has a great gift shop, full of geological finds, polished stones, agates, geodes, quartz crystals, fossils, and all kinds of stuff that rockhounds love. My best friend and I were constantly heading for the gift shop to stock up on new rocks to add to our collections, competing to see who had the most different kinds of rocks, as well as the prettiest individual stones. (Mine eventually became so large that I stored my “specimens” in a display case that I got at the hardware store, with labels for each drawer.)

Oddly enough, we never paid much mind to the jewelry made out of these stones… we were there for the stones themselves!

I even remember once being invited to dig through several boxes of “rejected” quartz, which a family member of the founder had stashed in his basement. Although these rocks were uncut, many of them were quite unique and fascinating even without professional polish. My friend and I must have stuffed our pockets with dozens of these rocks, which were essentially worthless (at least without stonecutting tools… and we certainly didn’t have any of those), but we found them beautiful. Even to this day, I still find non-precious rocks far more interesting and desirable than those that others claim are a “girl’s best friend.” Perhaps I’m still just a nerd at heart?

Visit the museum and see it all for yourself! Find the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art at 220 Cottage Hill in Elmhurst – where admission is free on Fridays.

Additional Resources


ABC 7 Chicago: Elmhurst museum exhibits Chicago sports championship rings
Atlas Obscura: Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
Chicago Tribune: Visiting Chicago’s small and oddball museums
mySuburbanLife: Downers Grove stone cutter brings Lapidary art to Elmhurst’s Lizzadro Museum
Trip Advisor: Rated #1 of 14 things to do in Elmhurst – Lizzadro Musem of Lapidary Art
WTTW: Chicago Tonight – Arts Across Illinois: Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 30 reviews – Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art

Collectors unite!

What kinds of things do you collect, and when did you first get started?

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