Auto show | Mid-Michigan Dining

McCormick Place – Chicago

16 02 2009

2301 S. Lakeshore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 791-7000
Website

The entrance to McCormick Place in Chicago.

This is funny. Last month, when I was writing the review for Cobo Hall after we went to the North American International Auto Show, I mentioned I had never been to the Chicago Auto Show or McCormick Place. I happened to be home this year during the auto show and I asked my dad if he wanted to go. You see, he was supposed to drive up for the Detroit show, but snow kept them home. I figured the Chicago Auto Show was a good replacement…and boy, was it.

McCormick Place is on Chicago’s South Side right where I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) turns into the famous Lake Shore Drive. When you’re on the highway, it’s really tough to see anything other than a massive building. I had no idea what the front of the building looked like or even how to get to a door from Lake Shore drive, but I have driven by it hundreds of times. Read the rest of this entry »

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Tags: Auto show, Chicago, Detroit, Illinois, McCormick Place, Reviews
Categories : Chicago, Entertainment Venues, Illinois, Live Entertainment, Reviews

Cobo Center

24 01 2009

1 Washington Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 877-8111
Website

The Cobo Center in downtown Detroit

I really didn’t want to miss the auto show. My family has always talked about making the drive to Detroit, but this year, I live an hour and a half away. I really didn’t have an excuse not to go, so J and I got up early and made the trip to Detroit. We were going to the auto show.

The Cobo Center is in downtown Detroit near the river. We made it downtown with no problem. Being veterans of Chicago traffic made navigating Detroit that much easier. The problem was, we didn’t know where to park. There was some confusion on Jefferson street which put us down by Joe Louis Arena. We didn’t want to park there because we didn’t know where we were, so we took a “Michigan Left” and headed back the way we came. After another “Michigan Left” we were back in front of Cobo. Still not sure where to go, I took a right where we finally saw some parking garages. Surprisingly, it was only ten bucks and a really short walk to the entrance of the conference center.

Inside, the Cobo Center is huge. It’s probably comparable to McCormack Place in Chicago…but I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been there. Sad, huh. Anyway, we walked the lobby area until we found a ticket kiosk. There were options to either buy from a ticket window or use a computer. Buying tickets from a person meant cash only. Using the computer wsa the only way to use a credit card. Read the rest of this entry »