IPA Bulletin
Editor's Note 

IPA Set to Converge on Chicago — the Windy City
Many Good Reasons to Attend IPA’s Eleventh International Congress

David Folks

The Eleventh International Congress is set to convene in Chicago, Illinois, USA on the 17th through the 22nd of August 2003. Chicago, known as “The Windy City,” will serve as a terrific venue for our members and participants of the meeting.

Chicago is a grand old city in the Midwestern United States with superb transportation connections and a central location for those international registrants who plan to travel in North America before or after the meeting.

The Congress promises to provide a “comprehensive program rich in depth and outstanding science.” Program listings may be found at the IPA website, www.ipa-online.net. The Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers will serve as Congress Headquarters. This hotel is located right in the heart of the city with easy access to many of Chicago’s sites as well as The Congress. A full listing of Congress hotels with special rates ranging from $28.75 to $189 for a single can be found at www.ipa-online.net. Overall, the theme of the Eleventh Congress, Enhancing the Human Connection in the Age of New Technologies: Implications and Opportunities for the Aging will not disappoint—this is a meeting that you must attend.

The first glimpse of Chicago for most attendees will be one of the Chicagoland airports, Midway or O’Hare. Midway Airport has recently been renovated and expanded, while O’Hare remains one of the busiest and best airports in the United States. As meeting participants head downtown, Chicago’s unmatched beauty will become apparent, with the city’s renowned modern skyscrapers, landscapes, parks, waterways, urban design and much more. I cannot imagine a more exciting city than Chicago with its culture, architecture, shopping, dining and nightlife. August is a wonderful time of the year to visit with the warm summer breeze coming off the lake and lots of sunshine to lift your spirits brightly. The meeting facilities are second to none, and given the range of topics to be covered as posters, oral presentations, workshops and symposia, serious attendees will find themselves absorbed in a sea of science and clinical dialogue. Additionally, award presentations, keynote speakers, industry sponsored symposia and a variety of exhibitors will add to the depth and excitement of IPA’s Eleventh Congress. I personally favor the poster sessions because of the opportunity to interact directly with the presenter. 

I sincerely hope that those attending the Eleventh IPA Congress will plan to see some of Chicago. The locals are quite proud of their city, and rightly so. Nothing is more prevalent in the annals of Chicago history than architectural achievement.

Among those at the top of the city’s design hierarchy are Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Wright spent his formative years designing private residences in the city’s on-the-rise suburbs, Oak Park and River Forest. Drawing from his philosophy that buildings should reveal a bridge between nature and architecture, Wright designed free-flowing spaces that hearken the openness of the midwestern prairies. The
quintessential example of the Prairie School style is the Robie House at 5757 S. Woodlawn Avenue on Chicago’s south side. German-born architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe immigrated to the United States in 1936 as an already acknowledged leader of the International Style. Several professional and residential buildings in Chicago were planned by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Unlike Wright, Mies took a rather disciplined approach to design, focusing on box-like structures and formal planning. One of Mies’ strongest suits was designing glass skyscrapers anchored by stark metal frames. An example of this both simple and imposing style is evidenced in the apartments found at 860-880 North Lake Shore Drive, designed in 1952. Also, the Chicago Federal Center complex on Dearborn Street is a testament to designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s love of minimalism.

For those wanting cultural enrichment, Chicago has something for everyone. The “essential” attractions can be seen for only $49 with a city pass. These include The Art Institute of Chicago, The Field Museum, The Museum of Science and Industry, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, and the Hancock Observatory. The Art Institute boasts one of the nation’s largest permanent collections of impressionist paintings, and always has fantastic rotating exhibits. The Field Museum of Natural History is home to Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex. The Planetarium and Aquarium on Chicago’s lakefront in the downtown area features tons of otherworldly exhibits and fascinating aquatic exhibits. For further information on these latter two attractions check out www.adlerplanetarium.org and www.sheddaquarium.org. 

A great view of Chicagoland and the lakefront can be observed from the 94th floor Hancock Observatory on Michigan Avenue, or the Skydeck of the Sears Tower,103 stories high. The Sears Tower on Wacker Drive is the tallest building in the world according to some sources. On a clear day you view four states from the Skydeck! For those who wish to stay at ground level, I recommend the Navy Pier encompassing more than 50 acres along the lakefront. Here you will find the Children’s Museum, IMAX Theater, Crystal Gardens, an indoor botanical park, and 80 retail shops.

Many of IPA’s participants will want to maximize their touring of local sites by taking an organized excursion. The Chicago Architecture Foundation on South Michigan Avenue can assist you in this regard with tours of modern skyscrapers, walking tours, or city highlights by bus. Another option is the Chicago Trolley Company that operates a double decker bus, which are humorously narrated by expert tour guides. The buses make
stops every 15-20 minutes at top attractions, and can be boarded at any of the 12 stops. Shoreline sightseeing can be attained with a number of options such as Shoreline Sightseeing, Mercury Skyline Cruiseline, the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise, or Wendella Sightseeing Boats.

Shopping and dining in Chicago is truly outstanding, and the IPA Congress is ideally located to support these extracurricular activities. Obtain a copy of WHERE Chicago for listings and locations of shops and eateries. Be sure to explore the connection between the world renowned Magnificent Mile on North Michigan Avenue and the growth of the vertical shopping center. You may also want to try the shops at North Bridge on 520 North Michigan Avenue. My wife and I have seven children, and we rarely travel to an IPA meeting without at least two or more in tow. We have found that Chicago is a kid-friendly town including many of the sites and attractions already mentioned. Other kids stuff includes the Chicago Children’s Museum, Lincoln Park Zoo, Diversey Miniature Golf Course in the heart of Lincoln Park, a Six Flags Great America, one of the Midwest’s premier theme parks offering more than 40 rides, including two extreme roller coasters called Vertical Velocity and Déjà vu. This year’s rollicking new feature is Superman: Ultimate Flight, a roller coaster that puts riders in the face-first flying positions.

Entertainment and nightlife in Chicago is vibrant and varied. Theater, comedy clubs, music, dance, and sports are among the best choices. WHERE Chicago has a directory of nightclubs and establishments throughout Chicago. My personal favorite are the blues clubs such as Buddy Guy’s Legends on South Wabash Avenue and Kingston Mines on North Halsted Street. If you are in the mood for sports, games and television ESPN Zone is a shoe-in. If jazz is more your style, the Back Room on North Rush Street offers live jazz seven nights a week all night long!

Finally, I want to emphasize that IPA’s Eleventh Congress is not to be missed. This is the premier event of the Premier Organization serving those who live and breathe psychogeriatrics. Last minute deals are available for travel to Chicago. And, this meeting looks to have all the makings of a benchmark event. I hope to see you there in August, and, on behalf of the IPA Board of Directors, staff and scientific program committees welcome you to “my kind of town,” Chicago, for IPA’s Eleventh International Congress.

 

Contact David Folks at the Department of Psychiatry, UNMC, 985575 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE 68198-5575 USA, +1.402.354.6360, dgfolks@unmc.edu.

David Folks

Reprinted from IPA Bulletin, Volume 20, Number 2