The Wizard of Oz was one of the first movies I ever remember as a kid. To this day it remains one of my favorites. It was based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and has roots in my hometown, Chicago.
© Jack Keenan
Chicago is honoring those roots by installing a yellow brick road in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Baum resided in the near-northwest neighborhood while writing his book in 1899. The yellow brick road will span 70 linear feet and eventually be accompanied by a 5-foot-tall, 11-foot-long Oz-themed mural created by Chicago artist Hector Duarte.
Born in New York, Baum moved to Chicago in 1891. He was inspired by children playing in nearby Oz Park.
Along with the yellow brick road, nonprofit developer Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation recently rehabbed nine units of affordable housing on the block, one of which sits exactly on the site of Baum’s former residence at 1667 N. Humboldt Blvd. Bickerdike CEO Joy Aruguete said Baum’s message of “there’s no place like home” is an important theme for the neighborhood.
© Jack Keenan
The Oz tribute is getting a huge and positive reaction from area residents and all over social media. It is quickly becoming an attraction for visiting travelers and Chicagoans, including me. I even followed the yellow brick road down the block to Humboldt Park, where I was happy to see children playing despite chilly temperatures.
To me, there really is no place like Chicago. “There is no place like home!”
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
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Insta FeedNovember 2024
Nov 16, 2024Discover The Cotswolds’ Quintessentially English Villages
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Remarkable Medellín
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Nov 16, 2024Brussels Airlines Expands Fleet, Invests in New Cabins
Brussels Airlines will grow its long-haul fleet with three new Airbus A330 aircraft, bringing its widebody fleet to 13 in the coming years. These additional aircraft comprise the airline’s greater initiative to strengthen its position in Africa following increased demand for air travel across the continent. The airline will mainly use the extra long-haul capacity to reinforce its Sub-Saharan African network, making Brussels Airlines a European hub for flights to and from Africa.
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Nov 15, 2024SLS Barcelona Opens This December
SLS Hotels & Residences makes its European debut this winter on Spain’s Mediterranean coastline in Barcelona, where the city’s excellent climate keeps winter temperatures pleasant. SLS Barcelona hits the waterside district of Port Fòrum, where a large marina is 15 minutes from city center.
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Discover the Pristine Beauty of the Sporades Islands
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Nov 15, 2024Treat the Travelers on Your List to the Perfect Holiday Present
Pluto Pod The relentless search for the perfect airplane neck pillow can seem like a lifelong quest, but the Pluto POD may finally prove the solution. Offering the 360-degree support of a neck brace combined with a pillowed hood for ultimate leaning anywhere and a built-in convertible eye mask, this powerhouse pillow was created with input from sleep researchers, flight attendants and frequent travelers. The result is a cool-touch plush collection of support and sleep-aiding features in one compact pillow, and you can use as many or as few as you need at a time, with the hood and eye mask easily tucking without detaching. The POD snaps down into compact travel mode and includes a small carabiner for easy hooking to your carry-on bag. $145.
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Royal Air Maroc Relaunches Direct Casablanca–Beijing Route, Debuts Toronto Flight
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Nov 13, 2024İstanbul Magically Integrates Past and Present, East and West
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