Tours and Special Events
—Persuasion, Chapter 20
Enticing offerings outside the conference hotel include a variety of bus and walking tours of Chicago attractions, and special opportunities to enjoy the visual and performing arts. These activities require separate tickets, purchasable during the AGM registration process.
JASNA has partnered with Chicago Urban Adventures/North American Tour Hub for tours. For all activities on this page except the Art Institute Open House, the following cancellation/refund policy applies: Reservations can be cancelled until August 14 with no penalty; no refunds will be given after that date. You are free to give or sell your paper ticket at the AGM to another registered attendee if desired. Tours are subject to change or cancellation by JASNA if minimum headcounts are not met.
Chicago City Highlights Bus Tour
Tour A: Thursday, October 14, 8:30 am-12:30 pm (attendees to meet in lobby between 8:00 am and 8:15 am)
$55
Spend the day taking in Chicago’s most iconic views and famous parks. First, Millennium Park by way of the US Lions sculptures, followed by the Crown Fountain and a short walk at the Pritzker pavilion on the Great Lawn. Cloud Gate (“The Bean”) comes next, where everyone needs a photo or two. We’ll ride DuSable Bridge, looking north to the iconic Chicago skyline and then Chicago Tribune Tower and the Wrigley Building on the Magnificent Mile. We’ll walk along the river and then drive the riverside to bear witness to Chicago’s inspiring architecture, the Marina Towers, Merchandise Mart, Brittanic Building, 150 N Riverside, and more. Explore Chicago’s downtown “Loop” district and see the Rookery, the Monadnock, and the Reliance Building. Learn how Chicago rose from the ashes of the Great Fire of 1871 and turned into a world class city filled with towering structures and an easy-to-navigate urban layout. Accessibility: This is primarily a bus tour with some opportunities to leave the bus for photos. Wheelchair-accessible buses may be arranged upon advance request.
Chicago Movies Bus Tour
Thursday, October 14, 9:00 am-12:00 pm (attendees to meet in lobby between 8:30 am and 8:45 am)
$75
This bus tour will provide stunning architecture and historic buildings made famous by Chicago’s most famous films, beginning at the Chicago Cultural Center, home to artworks, dazzling domes, and the finest revival architecture of Chicago. We will reminisce about the Untouchables and drive to Daley Plaza to chase down the Blues Brothers, and see the parade grounds of Ferris Bueller. We’ll see the bedazzled marquee of the Chicago Theater from the musical Chicago and drive by Essanay studios, the Columbia College Film Annex, and the location of the Great Fire of 1871 site used for the TV series Chicago Fire. We will have sightings of Batman from The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight Rises, and we will discuss Chicago’s film history and involvement with theater and the arts. There will be many chances to stop and capture memories of famous public art, historic buildings, and sculptures along the way. Accessibility: This is primarily a bus tour with some opportunities to leave the bus for photos. Wheelchair-accessible buses may be arranged upon advance request.
Frank Lloyd Wright: Robie & Rookery
Thursday, October 14, 1:00 pm-6:00 pm (attendees to meet in lobby between 12:00 pm and 12:15 pm to depart at 12:30 pm)
$125, includes bus transportation
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect and designer of more than 1,000 structures, best exemplified by Fallingwater (1935), called "the best all-time work of American architecture." Wright played a key role in the architectural movements of the twentieth century, influencing three generations of architects. Our first stop is the Frederick C. Robie House, which sparked a revolution in residential architecture. Built between 1908 and 1910, it is considered to be one of the most important buildings in architectural history. The house is a masterpiece of the Prairie style and a forerunner of modernism in architecture. We will also visit Daniel Burnham and John Root’s Rookery Building, a Chicago landmark containing a luminous and brilliantly articulated central light court. Balancing Burnham & Root’s ornamental ironwork and his own vision, Wright created a spectacular environment—one of his most dramatic interior compositions. Accessibility: Details can be found here. Wheelchair-accessible buses may be arranged upon advance request.
Art Institute Open House
Thursday, October 14, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
$27, does not include transportation
This is an opportunity for a special viewing at the world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago to view its magnificent collection. The museum has identified many of its works that will be of particular interest to Janeites and fans of the Regency period. Attendees can explore galleries dedicated to painting, sculpture, and the applied arts of Europe, as well as prints and drawings and the fascinating Thorne Miniature Rooms. Museum curators will be on hand to provide additional insight. As an added bonus, Ryerson Library Reading Room will be open just for our attendees, with items of interest from the library's holdings on view and library staff on hand to discuss them. Please note: The ticket cost does not include transportation to the museum; it is about a one-mile walk, or you can take a cab or Uber. Accessibility: The Art Institute’s accessibility information is here. Refunds: As JASNA has contracted directly with the Art Institute for this event, refunds are available in accordance with the AGM Refund Policy as stated on the FAQ page.
Fun Run on the Magnificent Mile
Free, with optional $25 t-shirt
Sunday, October 17, 7:00 am-8:00 am
“Run mad as often as you chuse; but do not faint,” Austen said in Love and Freindship. AGM attendees can pack their running
shoes and go for an early morning run down Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile. We will meet at the hotel’s front entrance for a
led 1-mile and 5K run. Runners (and any AGM attendee) can pre-order an Austen-themed athletic shirt in a choice of colors and
sizes before September 1 by clicking here. The shirt will
also be available in various colors and sizes at the Emporium at Jane Austen Books.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park
Sunday, October 17, 1:00 pm-6:00 pm (attendees to meet in lobby between 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm)
$115, includes transportation
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect and designer of more than 1,000 structures, best exemplified by Fallingwater (1935), called "the best all-time work of American architecture." Wright played a key role in the architectural movements of the twentieth century, influencing three generations of architects. We will visit his own Home and Studio, restored by the Preservation Trust to its appearance in 1909. Wright used his home to explore design concepts, the seeds of his architectural philosophy. In his adjacent studio, Wright developed the Prairie style. The historic district surrounding the Home and Studio has the greatest number of Wright-designed residences anywhere and we will take a walk in the neighborhood to see the exteriors of the Nathan Moore (1895), Arthur Heurtley (1902), and Laura Gale (1909) houses. Then we will take a walking tour of the area to see more of his homes, the Unity Temple, and other wonderful structures in the area. Accessibility: This is a combined house tour/walking tour. Accessibility information can be found here. Wheelchair-accessible buses may be arranged upon advance request.
Chamber Opera Chicago’s Persuasion at the Athenaeum Theatre
Sunday, October 17, 6:15 pm-10:00 pm (attendees to assemble in departure area beginning at 5:45 pm; buses leave at 6:15 pm sharp)
$85, includes round-trip transportation
Chamber Opera Chicago will present their musical adaptation of Persuasion, which combines music, theatre, and dance. The performance, to be held at the Athenaeum Theatre, is staged with an 11-piece chamber orchestra and beautiful Regency costumes. It incorporates world-champion Irish dancers, as well as authentic Scottish and Irish tunes from the period. The company researched the music from Jane Austen's personal manuscripts with the help of the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton, England, and the production has received rave reviews from all over the UK commenting on the authenticity of the adaptation. Please note: attendees will meet in lobby between 5:30 pm and 5:45 pm to board the bus. Accessibility: Please let us know if you require special seating due to a disability or medical condition. Wheelchair-accessible buses may be arranged upon advance request.
Michigan Avenue & Magnificent Mile Walking Tour
Monday, October 18, 9:00 am-11:00 am (attendees to meet in lobby between 8:30 am and 8:45 am)
$40
The Magnificent Mile—a name that conjures up images of dazzling skyscrapers, colorful window displays, and shopping of all kinds! Come along with us as we tour the heart of Chicago, from the Chicago River up through the famed Michigan Avenue. We will take in breathtaking views of Chicago’s famed architecture and skyscrapers and stroll down Michigan Avenue, where retail reigns supreme. We will visit Chicago’s Historic Water Tower, renowned for its beauty and functionality at the heart of the Windy City, and pop into a historic hotel to see some gorgeous architectural gems inside one of the city’s towering facades. We will discover what lies underneath the streets, and witness the scene bustling with activity throughout the year! This is a private tour for JASNA AGM participants that departs from the AGM hotel. Accessibility: This is a walking tour along sidewalks and inside urban buildings. Please let us know if you require wheelchair accessibility and accommodations can be arranged.
Chicago City & Riverwalk Tour Walking Tour
Monday, October 18, 1:00 pm-3:30 pm (attendees to meet in lobby between 12:30 pm and 12:45 pm)
$25, includes Chicago famous chocolates and popcorn
Chicago has it all—amazing architecture, great food, and iconic sights both old and new. On this tour, a local guide takes you to some of the city’s best spots, where you get the inside scoop on what makes Chicago so special. As we explore on foot, we will marvel at the stunning Chicago skyline and discover why Chicago’s architecture is among the best in the world. We will enjoy a couple of classic made-in-Chicago snacks, like Chicago-style popcorn and homemade chocolate. We will discover why Chicago’s art, food scene, and architecture is one of a kind. We will experience the energy and buzz in one of Chicago’s beautiful lakefront parks, and get that photo-op at the world-famous Bean. This is a private tour for JASNA AGM participants that departs from the AGM hotel. Accessibility: This is a walking tour along sidewalks and inside urban buildings; participants will also take ramps to the river level. Wheelchairs can be accommodated on this tour.
