You are currently viewing Kudos – May 2024

Kudos – May 2024

Former IBM employee???
River Cruise, May 2024
Amazing experience due to the best docent ever! I’ve taken different Chicago architectural cruises on different boats for years when I have guests in town but Chicago’s First Lady is the best one to me. I had a party of 7 who all loved this one. Our docent (I can’t recall her name but she had reddish brown short hair and was a retired IBM employee) had such knowledge about architecture and Chicago and was just a wonderful speaker. She made our experience perfect! Highly recommend this tour. shopgirl312 Chicago, IL

John Burns 2009, John Schneider 2017, or John Tielsch 2017
River Cruise, May 2024
John was very knowledgeable of Chicago architecture. Knew his facts and kept interesting for 90 minutes. You could tell he loved his job. Mark G

John Burns 2009, John Schneider 2017, or John Tielsch 2017
River Cruise, May 2024
Really great tour! John was excellent at explaining the architecture and making it interesting! The views were great! A fantastic way to explore the city from a different perspective. Tnixx

Mark Campbell 2023, Mark Lenhart 2023, or Mark Purdome 2019
River Cruise, April 2024
Great tour and Mark the tour guide was incredible. Very informative, interesting and breathtaking way to see all of Chicago. Bart E, Auckland Central, New Zealand

Mark Campbell 2023, Mark Lenhart 2023, or Mark Purdome 2019
River Cruise, April 2024
Great tour guide, Mark: Humorous and knowledgeable! We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and learned a lot about the many buildings, old and new. The city has changed so much in the decades we have lived here. Anne B

Mark Campbell 2023, Mark Lenhart 2023, or Mark Purdome 2019
River Cruise, April 2024
Loved hearing about the architecture. Our tour guide Mark knew his stuff! Donné D

Tom Carmichael 2007 or Tom Stelmack 2017
River Cruise, May 2024
Tom was fabulous. Full of knowledge of the building and the history of Chicago. A tour that should be top on your list! Fabulous weather! Shelly S

Wayne Galasek 2005 or Wayne Johnson 2016
River Cruise, May 2024
Best tour ever. Architecture, history, design, economics, people. life: what else to ask for? Thank you to the immense Wayne. This was amazing. Rich comments on history, on architecture, on city economics, and people and life. We loved it. Ask for Wayne. Nobody can beat him. Eric B

Wayne Galasek 2005 or Wayne Johnson 2016
River Cruise, May 2024
This review is with regard to River Architecture Boat Tour…… It was top notch and phenomenal!!! The real reason our tour was superb was our Docent (tour guide) WAYNE!!!! (The Real Superstar⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). He let us know everything you could possibly need to know including little factoids & info that made you feel like you were on a floating educational journey thru the cities rich and expansive history Architectural Wonders. My family and I really enjoyed our trip primarily because of Wayne’s great narration.  My family and I highly recommend this boat tour service it was fantastic!!! Adam S

Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise, April 2024
Amazing experience, Steve our guide was fantastic. So much to see and learn about Chicago’s architectural history. Sana H

Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise, May 2024
Steve was the best! This is one of the most efficient ways to see the Chicago downtown core and learn about the city’s history. Highly recommend doing this at the beginning of your trip. Well worth the price! Angela C

Steve Gersten 2003, Steve Haddad 2020, or Steve Redfield 2019
River Cruise, May 2024
This tour was the highlight of my stay in Chicago. I have a newfound appreciation for the architecture and history of Chicago. Steve was an amazing guide and I could feel his love for Chicago throughout the tour. I did want to let Steve know that I did go up to the Willis Tower and went on the viewing deck during my 1st visit to Chicago. As someone afraid of heights, it was not the best experience. But I’m sure plenty of people enjoy it! Jennifer F, San Francisco, CA

Bill Hayden 2020, Bill Lee 2005, or Bill Lipsman 2009
River Cruise, April 2024
We had a wonderful experienced! The Chicago River 90-minute history and architecture tour is definitely the best way to explore the city! Bill our experienced tour guide did an excellent job narrating the history of Chicago’s architecture! The best boat tour! Madeline, Renton, WA

Bill Hayden 2020, Bill Lee 2005, or Bill Lipsman 2009
River Cruise, May 2024
INCREDIBLE! Lived in Chicago for years and finally decided to do it. 10/10 and totally worth it! Bill is incredible if you get him as a guide. Emily E

Bill Hayden 2020, Bill Lee 2005, or Bill Lipsman 2009
River Cruise, May 2024
Really amazing activity on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Chicago. Despite having visiting the city more than 10 times, this was our first river cruise. It is a very different perspective to get to know all these beautiful and historic buildings from the water. The tour was narrated in a superb fashion by a volunteer docent (our guide was Bill and he was wonderful). Highly recommend! Bruno G, San Francisco, CA

Bob Levy 2023, Bob Pratt 2019, or Bob Sutter 2019
River Cruise, May 2024
The architectural tour was great – our tour guide Bob was very engaging and knowledgeable! I would definitely recommend and even go again. Gillian W

Bob Levy 2023, Bob Pratt 2019, or Bob Sutter 2019
River Cruise, May 2024
This was one of the most wonderful experiences I had in Chicago. Bob, our guide from the Architecture Center, was amazing. Don’t miss this fabulous experience in Chicago. Vickie K Holdrege, Nebraska

Bob Levy 2023, Bob Pratt 2019, or Bob Sutter 2019
River Cruise, May 2024
Wow what a wonderful experience! Our guide Bob was so kind and knowledgeable. It was a beautiful sunny day and we learned so much and very much enjoyed. A must-do in Chicago! Isabel S

Paul Meyers 2009 or Paul Shoun 2023
Historic Treasures, May 2024
Paul gave us a fascinating and informative tour. It was the highlight of our visit to Chicago and thoroughly enjoyable. Vivien W Woodbridge, UK

Cindy Martin 2016
River Cruise, May 2024
We enjoyed our time with our Architecture docent, Cyndi. She was very knowledgeable and shared her historical perspective on this great city! We would highly recommend this tour on the First Lady of Chicago! Charol L Sebastopol, CA

Allison Arwady 2017
River Cruise, May 2024
Boat tour is great. Volunteer Allison made the difference. Explaining history of the buildings bridges and Chicago was simply wonderful! Best thing to do in Chicago. kikker8, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Geoffrey Baer 1987
River Cruise, May 2024
A river cruise with Geoffrey Baer?!!!!! A DREAM COME TRUE!!!!!! Thank you, CAC, for an amazing evening celebrating Ryan Chester’s Chicago Reflected book capped off with a beautiful evening on the river with the fabulous G. Baer! Truly an evening to remember!!!! Sann K, Mt. Prospect

Cynthia Bates 2016
River Cruise, April 2024
Very fun way to see Chicago! Cynthia was great and have a lot of fun tidbits! Highly recommend this tour for all ages and groups. Binney F, Boston, MA

Betsy Berman 2013
River Cruise, May 2024
Awesome tour with knowledgeable docent. Betsy was our docent for the tour and she was amazing. Super knowledgeable and clearly loves what she does. If you get her, you’re in luck! Kristen, South Pasadena, CA

Phil Bierman 2023
River Cruise, April 2024
Phil was amazing!!!!! Beautiful job in a beautiful city!! He really shared some amazing facts that I never heard of before. Truly an incredible experience! Trail

Sandy Brand 2023
Magnificent Architecture of the Magnificent Mile, May 2024
As always the CAC didn’t disappoint! This tour gave an in depth look at many of the buildings on the Magnificent Mile. I learned many new things about buildings I’ve walked by several times. I especially loved the walk through time with both the historical significance of this area of Chicago and more recent additions. Our tour guide Sandy was excellent! She was engaging and knowledgeable throughout the tour! She made an effort to briefly get to know the people in our group which made me feel more connected and comfortable asking questions! Well worth the money and a great tour from CAC! Mayah B Saint Louis, MO

Debra Campbell 2011
River Cruise, May 2024
Absolutely amazing!! Debra was so informational and inspiring. She provided so much knowledge about the Chicago River buildings. She was so sweet and kind. Would do it again. Great tour if you wanna learn about the history of Chicago. Hiya E, Scranton, PA

Monica Caparosa 2023
River Cruise, April 2024
Amazing experience. Try to get Monica if possible- super knowledgeable and captivating. She knew a lot of food history too! Rana S

Deborah Carey 1990
River Cruise, April 2024
One of my favorite things to do in Chicago. Best way to see the city! The sights are beautiful, Deborah was a great and informative guide. Coleen P

David Cheng 2024
Must-See Chicago, May 2024
On a recent trip to Chicago with our teenage son, we signed up for several architecture tours. Those offered by the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) were top notch, particularly the walking tour titled Must-See Chicago led by David. The volunteer docents at CAC are both knowledgeable and passionate about Chicago’s architectural gems, providing an exciting and informative experience. David was also very mindful of the comfort, safety and enjoyment of participants, ensuring that we had clear views of the subject under discussion while avoiding standing in the sun for long periods or walking into traffic. Yvonne G

Dick Clark 2008
River Cruise, May 2024
Absolutely brilliant! Our favourite activity from our trip to Chicago. The guide was brilliant- gave a great account of the buildings, architects, how they all interact and weaved in some humorous stories too! Really recommend going with this company as the guide (Dick) is from the architecture centre so has a real passion for it. We had a little chat with him afterwards too- very friendly and happy to share. Ace! Emma T

Alice Daniele 2019
Historic Treasures, April 2024
Alice our guide was brilliant and amazing! She was so knowledgeable about architecture and Chicago and passionate about the topics. Can’t thank her enough. Looking forward to my next tour with CAC. Bassetsdrool, Kamas, UT

Beth Douglass 2024
Must-See Chicago, May 2024
We took the Must See Chicago tour today, and Beth did an awesome job as our tour guide. We love the CAC tours and have done several of them. Sven W

Sylvia Dunbeck 1987
River Cruise, May 2024
A truly excellent, informative and inspiring tour thanks to a highly engaging and educated tour guide, Sylvia, who had a wealth of great details on Chicago architecture. Great boars, great service. This is the one not to miss! cm4500, San Francisco

Anne Findlay 2023
River Cruise, April 2024
So worth the pennies. Despite the weather being shaky, the tour really lived up to the hype. It’s insane how much architecture the windy city packs and our group (including myself) was very fortunate to have the lovely Ann (sic) on board to give us the details about Chicago’s gems. She’s was truly lovely and very knowledgeable, and gave her all to entertain the crowd during the tour. Yordan I

Kent Foutty 2009
River Cruise, April 2024
Great trip! Spotless boat, friendly crew, and our tour guide Kent was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and engaging. Would highly recommend this trip! Philhynes61, Glendale, AZ

Virginia Gerst 2007
The Monadnock Building, May 2024
The Monadnock Building tour is great! What a beautiful building. The tour guide, Virginia, was so interesting and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed this tour. The history of the building was very interesting. Irener007, Wheaton, IL

Georgia Goldberg 2012
River Cruise, May 2024
This is hands down the best tour we’ve had, of any sort, anywhere! We learned so much and the 90 minutes just flew by. Made us truly appreciate the history of Chicago. Especially, our docent (Ms. Georgia) was so fabulous. Completely professional and knowledgeable and kind. Couldn’t recommend this tour enough! Yubin L

Tim Harris 2019
River Cruise, April 2024
Great way to see the city’s architectural heritage. Tim was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable, and a good entertainer. Great route, tons of historical buildings. Balazs Pinter, Zurich, Switzerland

Joni Hirsch Blackman 2013
River Cruise, April 2024
This was a relaxing way to enjoy the city. Our docent, Joni, had a great energy and full of fun facts. Kristy P

Mary Jo Hoag 2007
Chicago Women in Architecture, March 2024
We went on the Women in Architecture tour with Mary Jo Hoag and it was great! In a male dominated field, it was interesting to hear the long, less told, history of women’s contribution to architecture. Mary Jo included many interesting anecdotes about the women represented in the Chicago skyline that kept my attention the whole tour. I would definitely recommend! Lynn L Enfield, NH

John Ivory 2023
Historic Treasures, March 2024
John I was an amazing tour guide. He really made it the best experience possible. Normally walking tours can be boring for me because I have a short attention span. John was able to give out amazing info without taking forever, keeping us entertained and happy. We were able to see so many sites in a short time, thanks so much for the best possible experience John! Reese H

Betsy Jenkins 2016
Art Deco: Riverfront Favorites, May 2024
We have taken several CAC walking tours and the boat tour (multiple times). It’s always a highlight of a visit to Chicago. This Art Deco tour with Betsy Jenkins was terrific! She was smart, educated, funny, and made all the stories of the buildings so much fun. We found ourselves talking about the buildings we visited all weekend. Will take more CAC tours on future visits. Lisa H, Saint Louis, MO

Joan Johns 2008
The Rookery, May 2024
My wife and I toured The Rookery with a charming guide named Joan. She’s knowledgeable, kind and has some excellent stories! The experience makes want to take more CAC tours! Aaron F

Dan Johnson 2016
River Cruise, May 2024
We took a cruise, the Guide was Dan J. It was wonderful! He was a great guide, clear, understandable, and extremely knowledgeable. Would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone looking for an architectural cruise on the Chicago River! WD_SM, San Mateo, CA

Sann Knipple 2023
River Cruise, May 2024
Most amazing tour I’ve ever been on. Our docent Sam (sic) was incredibly knowledgeable and so committed to sharing the city of Chicago’s rich architectural history. Thank you, Sam! irish5oh, Dayton, OH

Quentin Kossnar 2019
Historic Treasures, May 2024
Our docent, Quentin, made the tour extremely interesting. We learned so much about the architecture of Chicago as it’s developed over the decades. The pace was perfect and variety of buildings that we saw was just right. Quentin was happy to answer all our questions and the time passed all too quickly. Annette C

Ed Krois 2024
Must-See Chicago, May 2024
Our tour guide Ed, a retired architect himself, gave us a great tour. He was quite knowledgeable, and his enthusiasm was infectious. Michaelmknox, Frenchtown, NJ

Amanda Lewis 2019
River Cruise, April 2024
This is an excellent tour. Our group had a great time on the approximately 90 minute ride. Amanda, our guide, was incredible. CoyoteFrau

Terry Light 2023
Historic Treasures, April 2024
We had a great tour with our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Terry. He took us around inside and out to see the highlights of downtown Chicago’s architectural gems. Lots of great stories and gorgeous architecture! Ivana D

Kelly Manteck 2020
River Cruise, April 2024
Excellent few hours on board the Chicago Architecture cruise this morning, smooth sailing with very in-depth, insightful and often funny commentary from Kelly our tour guide. Would definitely recommend on a trip to Chicago. D K, Eastbourne, UK

Burt Michaels 2019
A Walk thru Time, March 2024
Fascinating journey through Chicago’s architectural history in chronological order. Saw many buildings I’ve never seen before. The Auto Club building was my favorite! Our docent Burt was engaging and knowledgeable. Kristin M

Richard Norwood 2024
Must-See Chicago, May 2024
Rich was our tour guide and did a fabulous review of the history and architecture of Chicago. Then, onto the Chicago food which was amazing. Highly recommend this thorough tour of Chicago and especially with Rich. Thank you Rich! Bflolivelife, Buffalo, NY

Patricia O’Connor 2020
River Cruise, May 2024
This was a great experience for the family! Enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day’s visit downtown and along the river learning about Chicago’s amazing architecture. Patricia led our trip – she is the best. Don’t miss this trip! Ryan W

Chris Pausch 2019
Historic Treasures, April 2024
Chicago’s architecture is abundantly interesting and varied. Our guide, Chris P, offered historical perspectives at each stop. Lahdeedahleigh, Charleston, SC

Bobbi Pinkert 1999
River Cruise, May 2024
Our docent Bobbi was extraordinary! It was such a joy to learn about the city, the history, the architecture. Our guide, surpassed our expectations and we hungered for more!!! Thanks for the great experience. Jen & Dr. Paul, Platteville WI

Bob Pratt 2019
River Cruise, April 2024
I’m so glad we could share this with our out of town friends. And our docent, Bob Pratt was an encyclopedia of architectural facts. Very impressive and entertaining!

Mark Purdome 2019
Historic Treasures, May 2024
A really great experience with Mark as our tour guide seeing the historic buildings. Fascinating. We highly recommend it. Sven W

Steven Redfield 2019
Elevated Architecture: Downtown ‘L’ Train, May 2024
Steve was very informative and fun and the tour covered the history of the El and its design, plus tons of Chicago building architecture and history. All of my questions were answered! The train ticket was an additional $5.50 per person, if you didn’t already have a pass. M K, Acton, MA

Ron Roman 2023
Historic Treasures, May 2024
Ron Roman was really fantastic. Knew his stuff and was very enthusiastic about it. His natural personality really shown through. Dan H

Mitch Rosenfeld 2016
A Walk thru Time, April 2024
Great experience. Our guide, Mitch, was very knowledgeable, nice, and kind. The tour combined history and technology. Ana A

Jean Schlinkmann 2013
Historic Treasures, May 2024
Jean’s tour of Historic Treasures was super & very informative. Shirley C, New York City, NY

Russ Seward 2005
River Cruise, April 2024
Fascinating to learn the history, science, civic planning behind this great city’s great architecture! Passionately explained by Russ, a staff from Chicago Architecture Center. Waikar, Singapore

Wayne Shapiro 2020
A Walk thru Time, April 2024
Our guide, Wayne, led us in a short loop of the area around the Architecture Centre. He described the origin of Chicago from Fort Dearborn (brass plaques in the ground at Columbus / Walker Drive), how the river flow was reversed, how the city was raised to avoid flooding, and how the Great Fire of 1871 was the impetus for architects to experiment with architectural innovation as the city was rebuilt. We viewed buildings in chronological order, from early skyscrapers to new supertall high rises. Wayne gave us an insightful, interesting, and informative tour. BertholdGreen, Perth, UK

David Shaw 2023
River Cruise, May 2024
A great informative tour with a great guide (David). I know more about Chicago and had a nice 90 minutes on the river. Highly recommended. yefim n, New York City, NY

Peter Shearn 2023
River Cruise, April 2024
Peter was spectacular! So informative. We learned all about this magical city. I can now tell you more about Chicago than my own city. Such rich architectural history. Kimberly M

Ellen Shubart 2006
Devil in the White City, May 2024
I am in my second membership year with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC). Not one of the tours has disappointed me! My most recent bus tour (my 41st CAC tour) was DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY. This was an extraordinary learning experience, highlighting the history and landmarks of Chicago’s Columbia Exhibition—the 1893 World’s Fair. Ellen, our volunteer docent, was incredibly informative, punctual, witty and willing to entertain all of our questions. This was a fabulous learning experience that would appeal to local, out-of-state and international visitors with a sense of curiosity.  Debora, River Forest, IL

Ronnie Jo Sokol 2006
River Cruise, April 2024
RONNIE JO WAS THEE BEST GUIDE! What an incredible experience!!! I would book again if I am in Chicago! So much history and diverse architecture on the river. Brittany K, Delano, CA

Lydia Spettel 2023
River Cruise, May 2024
My husband and I took this tour to get a better sense of the city, its history, and the sights to see. It was excellent! We took the sunset tour with Lydia as our docent guide. She was so informative and upbeat! She provided details about the architecture, the designers, and how the structures fit into the city’s culture and history. It was almost too much to take in, so we look forward to bringing the kids along and doing it again on our next visit! Carla Z

Maureen Waller 2023
What’s New, March 2024
Our guide Maureen was personable and full of information. When she didn’t know something, which was rare, she admitted as such. She was full of other excellent suggestions for our remaining time in Chicago. Renee

Peter Weil 2015
Chicago Icons, May 2024
Peter, our guide, was fantastic! Knowledgeable, pleasant, answered all our questions, proud of his Chicago. We ended up being only two people on the tour and felt privileged to have Peter as our guide. Thank you! Nevenka F

Lorie Westerman 2006
Old Post Office, April 2024
Old post office with Lorie. Very comprehensive, knowledgeable. Learned a lot in 90 min. Saw how the old building has been reworked and repurposed. valeriek1212, Skokie, IL

Jessica Williams 2017
UIC, May 2024
Our tour guide, Jessica, was wonderful. I am an alumni of UIC and learned so much about the campus in this tour. I would like to take another tour with her as my guide. Thank you.  Bernadine R

 


Contributed by Betsy Jenkins, Class of 2016

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