Our upcoming Family Reunion in Chicago is the weekend of September 25-26 this fall. Dive in!
EVENT SCHEDULE
2:30 p.m. – Architecture River Cruise
112 East Wacker Drive. Located at the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, a blue awning marks the boat dock entrance stairs that lead down to the river.
Meet the rest of the family at our cruise departure location. Head down the steps to the Riverside Gardens Dock on Chicago’s Riverwalk. We’ll board Chicago’s First Lady shortly before our departure precisely at 3:00 p.m.
4:30-5:00 p.m. – Disembark and Travel to The Cliff Dwellers Club
22nd Floor, 200 South Michigan Avenue
Walk or ride the half-mile south on Michigan Avenue to The Cliff Dwellers Club. You’ll go past Millennium Park and know you’ve arrived when you find yourself, directly across from The Art Institute of Chicago at the southwest corner of Michigan and Adams Street.
5:oo-8:00 p.m. – Gala Family Reunion Dinner
The Cliff Dwellers Club, 22nd Floor, 200 South Michigan Avenue.
During the cocktail hour there will be musical accompaniment and you can enjoy the exceptional views from the Club’s penthouse terrace. On a clear day you’ll be able to see across Lake Michigan from Michigan City to the north to the steel mills on the Indiana shore to the south. Your view will also take in Navy Pier, Monroe Street Harbor, Millennium and Grant Parks, The Art Institute and Buckingham Fountain. In sight at the Museum Campus you can pick out the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum, and beyond them the home of the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field and the great convention center, McCormick Place. Here’s what the views looked like recently as the U.S. Navy Blue Angels practiced for their air show the next day.
The Navy Blue Angels Practice
On Friday, August 20, 2021, I went down to The Cliff Dwellers early for lunch. I wanted to catch the morning practice session of the Navy’s Blue Angels. They didn’t disappoint. Errol Garner playing Avalon couldn’t keep up with them.
Chat up a storm with family at your table during our bountiful buffet dinner feast, but, if you’ve left room for dessert, the Club has fresh fruit and is also famous for its Daniel Burnham Deep Dish Pies.
After dinner we’ll have a program guaranteed to have us learn things we never knew about how we’re all related. As time permits, we’ll even have time for a few family stories.
Chicago Botanic Garden
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 – Meet with the Rest of the Family and Explore the Chicago Botanic Garden
We’ll enjoy a continental breakfast (coffee, tea and rolls) and a family get-together in a truly magical environment. The parking is free if you tell the parking lot attendant as you enter that you’re with The Canavan Family Reunion. Follow the signs to the Visitor Center where we’ll be meeting before gathering for our continental breakfast (coffee, tea, rolls) event in the Buehler Enabling Garden. Directional signage to the Buehler Enabling Garden will be posted at the Visitor Center and along the route. It is roughly a seven minute walk from the Visitor Center. A golf cart will be available for those wishing a lift. If the weather is inclement, the gathering will be moved inside.
Travel to the Garden to and from downtown can be arranged for those needing it. Our venue has enchanting gardens, peaceful lakes, native woods and a tallgrass prairie. A tram ride later in the morning is an fun option. It travels along a 2.3 mile route and with its narrated tour you can learn about the history and science of the Garden. The highlights include the McDonald Woods, the Japanese Garden. For those interested, your visit can also include admission to the Model Railroad Garden.
9:00 a.m. – If there is sufficient interest we can arrange for transportation which will depart from the Reunion hotel for the Botanic Garden and then to the Open House. If you’re interested, contact your cousin Beth Hanley Dunn now (E-Mail Beth; +1.847.274-3372).
Open House & Lunch at Cathy and Bill Bowe’s Home
1:00 p.m. – Whenever
2422 Colony Ct, Northbrook, IL 60062
If time permits and you’re not headed for the airport or elsewhere from the Botanic Garden, plan to finish the Reunion at Cathy and Bill Bowe’s home near the Botanic Garden. It will be another chance to have lunch, relax and unwind with the family members whose travel plans permit.
PARKING
21c Chicago Museum Hotel
55 East Ontario Street
Guests are currently receiving half-off on the 24-hour self-parking for a total of $25 for 24 hours at the Row Self Park. The entries are on Rush, Ontario & Wabash streets by the hotel.
The Cliff Dwellers
200 South Michigan Avenue, cliff-chicago.org
Parking can be found at the nearby garage (entrances at 17 East Adams Street and 208 South Wabash Avenue) and the underground South Grant Park Garage (325 South Michigan Avenue). Other downtown parking options are shown on this map: chicagoparkingmap.
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois
The parking is free if you tell the parking lot attendant at the gatehouse off Lake Cook Road that you’re with The Canavan Family Reunion. The parking lots are adjacent to the Visitor Center where we’ll be meeting before gathering for our continental breakfast (coffee, tea, rolls) event in the Buehler Enabling Garden. Directional signage to the Buehler Enabling Garden will be posted at the Visitor Center and along the route. It is roughly a seven minute walk from the Visitor Center. A golf cart will be available for those wishing a lift. If the weather is inclement, the gathering will be moved inside.
2422 Colony Court, Northbrook, Illinois
With only a few parking spaces in the Colony Court cul-de-sac, Overflow Parking on adjacent Walters and Maple streets is available:
DRESS
Smart casual is in order, with an eye on the weather. Since we’re going directly from a boat cruise to dinner Saturday, you’ll want to dress once for both. There are no dress codes at any of the Reunion venues (Chicago’s First Lady boat, The Cliff Dwellers club, the Chicago Botanic Garden or my Open House). But remember, we’ll be taking plenty of pictures, so you’ll look better if you’re seen smiling in something other than your hoodie.
COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS
With the virus still afoot, we will be complying with all government requirements in effect in Illinois and Chicago. Masks are not required in outdoor public settings under the City’s rules, but the City does recommend unvaccinated people wear masks in crowded outdoor settings. The Cliff Dwellers building requires masks when in the building lobby and elevators. Several days ago, due to a surge in local COVID cases, the City again required masks be worn in restaurants and private clubs when you are not seated. The City stated that the new mask mandate may only last a few weeks until the current COVID numbers hopefully drop. Outdoors at the Botanic Garden and at the Open House, if you are vaccinated masks are optional. If you are not vaccinated, please wear a mask. Staff at both The Cliff Dwellers and the Chicago Botanic Garden wear masks as a matter of continuing policy.
Think about coming to Chicago for the Reunion early and leaving late. These websites will both give you a preview of the Reunion events and introduce you to other must see Chicago sights.
HOTEL
Discounted room rates remain available at the 21c Chicago Museum Hotel (+1.312.660.6100). Just ask for a Canavan Family Reunion room.
TRANSPORTATION
If you’re interested, contact your cousin Beth Hanley Dunn now (E-Mail Beth; +1.847.274-3372).
Beth needs to know exactly what you need transportation help with. Is it:
- from the boat to The Cliff Dwellers;
- from downtown at the 21c Chicago Museum Hotel to the Chicago Botanic Garden;
- from the Botanic Garden to the Open House;
- back downtown on Sunday from the Botanic Garden or the Open House; or
- from the Open House to O’Hare airport?
Beth is our transportation guru, but needs this detailed information to be able to make sure we can give you any needed help in getting you to or from any of the Reunion events.
