Down Time at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: What to See & Do in Chicago

FRANCISCO BLANCO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

With the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting nearly upon us, the time has come to plan your trip to Chicago. The Annual Meeting is Oct. 19–24 at McCormick Center, which means attendees will see beautiful views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, highlighting the city’s unique architecture.

The weather in October, although unpredictable, is generally brisk and beautiful. We asked a couple of local ACR/ARHP members to share their choices of things to do, places to see and favorite bites: Carrie Richardson, MD, a rheumatologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and Anisha Dua, MD, MPH, assistant professor, Fellowship Program director and director of the Vasculitis Center at the University of Chicago.

“If you forgot to make your reservations at Alinea [a Michelin three-star restaurant] and the Publican [with a menu that’s an homage to oysters, pork and beer] last April, don’t despair,” says Dr. Richardson. “There are still plenty of things to do while you’re at the Annual Meeting in Chicago.”

Dr. Dua says, “There are a ton of great places to eat and explore in Chicago. The convention center is not quite in the city center, so things do require short cab rides.”

“Although walking anywhere from the convention center is a challenge,” adds Dr. Richardson, “there is an L stop that connects the convention center to the rest of the city, making getting around easy.” You can learn more about getting around on the L by visiting the Chicago Transit Authority website.

If you’re looking to do something in between sessions at the Annual Meeting or in the evenings, here are a few classic, affordable ways to enjoy your spare time in Chicago:

What to Do
“Run along Lake Michigan [on the Lake-front Trail] or down by the Riverwalk,” a pedestrian walkway on the south side of the Chicago River, says Dr. Dua. Dr. Richardson’s choice would be to “walk, jog or roll along the Lakefront Trail, which stretches for 18 miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline. It runs near many major tourist attractions and fantastic neighborhoods, and the view of the lake is always stunning. If you don’t have time to see the whole trail, the part of the trail between the Field Museum of Natural History and the Chicago River is particularly scenic.”

A visit to the Field Museum is free on Oct. 21, points out Dr. Dua. It has a collection of more than 24 million objects—including dinosaurs—allowing you to explore the past, present and future of the physical earth, its plants, animals, people and cultures. She also notes the museum and the Shedd Aquarium (with 32,500 creatures from aquatic habitats around the world) are about a mile walk from the convention center.