PHOTO: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns appeared on stage at the Chicago Theatre. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
While millions of Americans were watching Ken Burns' new film series on the Roosevelts on Wednesday night, Burns himself was hobknobbing at the Chicago Theatre with participants of the Tauck-Ken Burns Chicago Event.
The event, based at the InterContinental Hotel in the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue, began with an opening reception on Monday evening and will close with a farewell dinner on Thursday night, with three full days of exploring Chicago in between.
The newest installment in an ongoing series of Tauck events in collaboration with Ken Burns, the Chicago program is based on themes from some of Burns' films that have particularly strong Chicago presences. Three films in particular are referred to in the program: Prohibition, Jazz and Frank Lloyd Wright.
PHOTO: Ken Burns meets with attendees. (Photo by David Cogswell)
Roughly 120 people joined the event as customers. A small army of Tauck employees were constantly on hand to keep activities flowing smoothly from one to the next.
Activities were tied together with particular themes from the movies. Each day had its own overall theme. Tuesday was "The Most American of Cities." Wednesday was "Beer Wars" and Thursday's schedule centers around the theme of "Architecture that Shaped the City."
The group was divided into four sub-groups of about 20 people each. Each sub-group followed its own individual sightseeing and activity schedule. Each schedule included the same components but in different order, to keep the groups rotating so most activities took place with only around 20 people.
The groups were identified with the names of iconic figures from Chicago's history, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Al Capone and Pauline Sabin, a major figure in the movement to overthrow Prohibition.
The entire group gathers together for major events in the evenings, such as an onstage interview with Burns followed by a reception at which Burns mingled with the participants, an after-hours visit to the Chicago Museum hosted by the curator John Russick and celebratory welcome and farewell dinners.
On Thursday morning, Burns will again join the group for breakfast and photographs. On Friday after breakfast at the hotel, the members of the groups will disperse.
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