Though I have to say the fuss over this is strange. I really don't understand why they care about a children's museum so much. I mean, isn't a museum a good thing?
i think the people in the neighborhood have a NIMBY attitude and would object to anything being built in that area...I personally think the proposed location is appropriate but it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was built somewhere else. anything would be better than its current location at navy pier. its place among the mcdonald's, souvenir shops, and billy goat tavern has always creeped me out.
I work on the pier, and yeah, it's a tourist trap. But I happen to like working with kids (my persona on here aside) and I want them to expand at Navy Pier, not move to Grant Park.
But honestly, if you're coming to the city with some kids in tow, where else could you possibly go? The Shedd is ok. The Field Museum is just full of dead stuff. American Girl is about three hours... for the girls and your closeted son.
But the city needs kid friendly attractions to stay competitive for tourist cash. And Navy Pier is a pretty decent one.
I think some of you are missing an important point: Some people object to the proposed site because of the precedent it could set for further use of the park. For many critics, this point seems to transcend mere NIMBY worries.
These cartoons are awful. Crappy drawing and no wit.
"The Field Museum: Exposing Your Children to Indecency And Pornography Since 1906"
@Matilda:
Word.
I think the proposal as it kind of flies in the face of the "Burnham Plan", which Daley invoked to take down Miegs Field, but is now pretending it doesn't exist for this. Convenient how it works when he wants it to.
And crappy art in cartoons can be forgiven ("Peanuts", "Toothpaste for Dinner", James Thurber, xkcd.com) when the writing is awesome, but not a lack of art and writing at the same time ("Ctrl+Alt+Delete", "Cathy", "Ziggy", too many political cartoonists to name).
The problem with building in Grant Park is there's a line in the original city charter that stands the lakefront is to be "forever open, free and clear" of buildings. There's been enough infringement of that already (yeah, I am talking to you, Museum Campus).
Build it in Garfield Park. There's parking, CTA access, and that neighborhood could use the boost.
Peace: Perhaps, but some the comments today seemed to be focusing what are likely the minor points of the debate, thus my comment. I did not realize we were required to study the history of every post before commenting on the fresh ones, or assume that everyone else had as well.
Don't you love Daley's hissy fits, though? He has some deep skills in that area.
I'll see if I can get that line into our marketing materials at The Field. I'm sure they'd love it.
@matilda
All posters are to know what has happened in Chicago and on Chicagoist since the beginning of time...Sorry, I just pulled one of my biggest pet peeves about this site on you.
And yes, add Daley's hissy fits to the many things I just love about the guy.
Im against the museum just becauseI hope Daley goes off on another tirade and has a stroke and then all the city committeman get together and appoint daleys son mayor just until he recovers from the stroke. There are plenty of places for the childrens museum besides grant park. the new alderman gave him like 23 spots, and the city could do something useful and put it somewhere to spur further development.
We need as much green space in Grant Park as we can get. The Children's Museum just does not belong there.
I hope the court fight is pursued. I will certainly make a contribution to the legal fund.
Have the CCM expand at Navy Pier, like plumbum said. And, to plumbum, should they move it to a different place on the pier? Like to the north side of the pier? Or further east on the pier?
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Though I have to say the fuss over this is strange. I really don't understand why they care about a children's museum so much. I mean, isn't a museum a good thing?
i think the people in the neighborhood have a NIMBY attitude and would object to anything being built in that area...I personally think the proposed location is appropriate but it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was built somewhere else. anything would be better than its current location at navy pier. its place among the mcdonald's, souvenir shops, and billy goat tavern has always creeped me out.
@Petey:
I work on the pier, and yeah, it's a tourist trap. But I happen to like working with kids (my persona on here aside) and I want them to expand at Navy Pier, not move to Grant Park.
But honestly, if you're coming to the city with some kids in tow, where else could you possibly go? The Shedd is ok. The Field Museum is just full of dead stuff. American Girl is about three hours... for the girls and your closeted son.
But the city needs kid friendly attractions to stay competitive for tourist cash. And Navy Pier is a pretty decent one.
@plumbum
The Field is full of dead dinosaurs. I'm not 100% sure on this, but I'm pretty sure nearly every kid has a dinosaur obsession.
Other than that I agree. Tourists (and really, anyone in the city with kids) need one stop shopping. That's why the Museum campus and Navy Pier work.
Don't forget the Maori hut (Wow... two maori references in one day. I must have New Zealand on the brain)
Watch as eight year olds marvel at taking off their shoes to stand in an empty room!
I think some of you are missing an important point: Some people object to the proposed site because of the precedent it could set for further use of the park. For many critics, this point seems to transcend mere NIMBY worries.
These cartoons are awful. Crappy drawing and no wit.
Eight year olds love looking at the Maori house because there's a little naked guy with tattoos on his butt. What child doesn't love tattooed nudity?
"The Field Museum: Exposing Your Children to Indecency And Pornography Since 1906"
@Matilda:
Word.
I think the proposal as it kind of flies in the face of the "Burnham Plan", which Daley invoked to take down Miegs Field, but is now pretending it doesn't exist for this. Convenient how it works when he wants it to.
And crappy art in cartoons can be forgiven ("Peanuts", "Toothpaste for Dinner", James Thurber, xkcd.com) when the writing is awesome, but not a lack of art and writing at the same time ("Ctrl+Alt+Delete", "Cathy", "Ziggy", too many political cartoonists to name).
@matilda
I don't think anyone is missing the point. It's been belabored on here multiple times.
Daley had his hissy fit and told all of us who were against it that we were racists. Awesome.
The problem with building in Grant Park is there's a line in the original city charter that stands the lakefront is to be "forever open, free and clear" of buildings. There's been enough infringement of that already (yeah, I am talking to you, Museum Campus).
Build it in Garfield Park. There's parking, CTA access, and that neighborhood could use the boost.
Peace: Perhaps, but some the comments today seemed to be focusing what are likely the minor points of the debate, thus my comment. I did not realize we were required to study the history of every post before commenting on the fresh ones, or assume that everyone else had as well.
Don't you love Daley's hissy fits, though? He has some deep skills in that area.
@Plumbum
I'll see if I can get that line into our marketing materials at The Field. I'm sure they'd love it.
@matilda
All posters are to know what has happened in Chicago and on Chicagoist since the beginning of time...Sorry, I just pulled one of my biggest pet peeves about this site on you.
And yes, add Daley's hissy fits to the many things I just love about the guy.
maybe he'll just build the children's museum in the dead of night.
i like the cartoons, though.
Im against the museum just becauseI hope Daley goes off on another tirade and has a stroke and then all the city committeman get together and appoint daleys son mayor just until he recovers from the stroke. There are plenty of places for the childrens museum besides grant park. the new alderman gave him like 23 spots, and the city could do something useful and put it somewhere to spur further development.
We need as much green space in Grant Park as we can get. The Children's Museum just does not belong there.
I hope the court fight is pursued. I will certainly make a contribution to the legal fund.
Have the CCM expand at Navy Pier, like plumbum said. And, to plumbum, should they move it to a different place on the pier? Like to the north side of the pier? Or further east on the pier?
@smussy: that'd be HILARIOUS.
@plumbum: you take that back about xkcd! stick figures rule your face.
xkcd is awesome!
But the art is lacking... it's CLEARLY written by someone with a dominant left brain. Good for math, bad for art.
But I stand by my criticism of Ctrl+Alt+Delete... it blows. Like every other gaming cartoon ever. (Except Penny Arcade, of course)
I wish there was a blog that did nothing but review underground web comics. If anyone knows of one, please tell me.
It's true... there's absolutely nothing about the *park* that children could enjoy with their families downtown without a museum built there.
Please.