The Magnificent Mile® Association is a community organization which represents and informs the many and diverse interests within its geographical boundaries. The Association's mission is to provide strong leadership to all of our constituencies in planning for growth and development that will enhance the area’s quality of life. The Association seeks to preserve, promote and enhance a vibrant, growing and stable community by identifying, articulating and serving the needs of its membership.
External link for The Magnificent Mile® Association
625 N. Michigan Avenue
600
Chicago, IL 60611, US
A night of holiday cheer and unforgettable views! Our members enjoyed delicious bites, festive drinks, and great company at our 2024 Holiday Party, hosted by 360 CHICAGO. Special thank you to our sponsors and partners: 360 CHICAGO, Record-A-Hit Entertainment, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, and Blue Plate Catering
Once a humble hub on North American trade routes, Michigan Avenue began a dynamic transformation in the early 1900s with the help of renowned architects like Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, Edward H. Bennett, Raymond M. Hood, John Mead Howells, and others who all left their mark on the Avenue's architectural landscape. Today, The Magnificent Mile Association launched new virtual reality experience that celebrates this architectural heritage and shares the stories behind the Avenue's marvelous structures. AR-chitecture: Unlocking the Magnificent Mile's Hidden Gems is a virtual architectural experience offering participants a journey through time, showcasing historic photos and stories alongside current views. The experience is narrated by famed television journalist, television producer, narrator, and news anchor, Bill Kurtis. Two experiences launched today: 📰Tribune Tower: Step back in time to the bustling newsroom of the past with the thrill of breaking news. Hear how the building evolved to accommodate new media and see its transformation into luxury residences. 🌉DuSable Bridge: Witness the birth of Chicago through the vision of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable and learn how his legacy shaped the city. Discover the impact of DuSable's legacy, including the renaming of the landmark bridge, and explore the unique double-deck design. You can find the QR code to launch the experience in the gardens of Tribune Tower or along their south facing exterior wall (photo below), and be sure to bring your earphones. Three more locations will launch in the next two months: The Wrigley Building, Water Tower Place, and 875 North Michigan Avenue. Each experience includes an interactive game that invites participants to discover historic objects or test their knowledge with trivia related to each site. AR-chitecture: Unlocking the Magnificent Mile's Hidden Gems was made possible through a tourism grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Enjoy Illinois and funding from Special Service Area 76. The Magnificent Mile's iconic architecture is a major draw for visitors, and The Magnificent Mile Association is excited to be the first avenue worldwide to offer a virtual experience that brings historical architectural stories to life.
Welcome to The Mag Mile, Aritzia! 🎉 We're thrilled that your new flagship store will open at 555 North Michigan Avenue this Saturday. The addition of this stunning store further enhances The Magnificent Mile's reputation as a premier destination for exclusive retail, and we are excited for shoppers to see how Aritzia has reimagined the space. As John Vance, principal of Stone Real Estate notes, "In the past six to nine months, brokers have started to say that the avenue is on the upswing."
Beth Heller - Special thanks to you for the amazing work in getting the word out and sharing all the exciting details. Yesterday’s Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival was one of the best! We’d also like to thank the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department for making it a day for all to enjoy. The Magnificent Mile Association also sincerely appreciates all the people who stopped by Lights Festival Lane, watched the parade, and enjoyed the Wintrust Fireworks Spectacular. We were so happy to welcome you to The Mag Mile. It was a beautiful example of why Chicago captures so many hearts and why it is consistently rated a top global city.
What a (20-hour+) day to remember! The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival was an incredible success. Yesterday, we welcomed possibly a million people to Michigan Avenue to kick off the holiday season. The event featured stunning floats and helium balloons, marching bands from across the country (including Hawaii!), and performances by Cameo, the Former Ladies of Chic, Quad City DJ’s, and Chicago’s very own architect of house music, DJ Chip E. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, who, alongside Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Disney princesses, lit up 200 trees with over 1 million lights. The celebration ended with a fab fireworks show over the Chicago River. A heartfelt thank-you to Ellen Farrar, the incredible EP of the event, who is like no other!, for inviting me to be part of this project, and to the team at the The Magnificent Mile® Association—Kimberly Bares, Denise Chudy, and so many others—who made it all happen. Special shoutouts to Wintrust Financial Corporation , Dunkin', Kia Dealerships Chicago, Enjoy Illinois, Choose Chicago, Jim Vozzella, Bradley Borowiec, MSRE, Grant DePorter, Marc Schulman, Eli's Cheesecake Company, Maureen, Nicole, The Walt Disney Company, Justine Fedak, Kelly Wisecarver, John Idler, Nneka Nwosu Faison, Alderman Brian Hopkins, Alderman Brendan Reilly, Christine Reller, Richard Gamble, Lisa Nucci, Michelle Abram Gonzalez, Chicago Police Department, as well as the incredible members of the media and influencers who shared this magical night with the world. Last night was a beautiful reminder of why Chicago is the best city in the world!
Many thanks to Choose Chicago and Richard Gamble for including us in their weekly Fox 32 Chicago segment! We look forward to welcoming festivity goers starting at 11am in Lights Festival Lane tomorrow!
Time to get in the holiday spirit, Chicago! 🎅❄🕎 Our Interim President and CEO Richard Gamble joined Kimberly Bares of The Magnificent Mile® Association for an interview with Natalie Bomke on Fox 32 Chicago to talk about everything that's new at Saturday's Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and Parade. Lights Festival Lane is open 11am - 4pm at Pioneer Court with music, family-friendly activities, and sweet treats, and the parade steps off at 5:30pm at Oak St and Michigan Ave. Watch the interview here: https://lnkd.in/gtxFFS4T Learn more about everything Lights Fest-related here: https://lnkd.in/gaxB2MtA And check out our ultimate Chicago holidays guide here: https://lnkd.in/eMJptrdZ
It was a magical day! Thank you Beth Heller!
✨This morning was pure magic! ✨ We kicked off the day at 3:30am with an incredible media morning at Lights Festival Float Headquarters, where ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Telemundo, and Univision joined us for a behind-the-scenes look at the float-building magic ahead of Saturday’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. We then headed to ABC 7 Chicago with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, bringing a little extra sparkle to the day! We are gearing up for Saturday where Mickey and Minnie will light one million lights on 200 trees along Michigan Avenue, officially kicking off the holiday season. This is the largest evening parade in the U.S., drawing over one million people to the avenue each year. A huge thanks to our amazing The Magnificent Mile® Association team—Ellen Farrar, Kimberly Bares, Denise Chudy, Kelly Wisecarver, Jim Vozzella, Bradley Borowiec, MSRE, Marc Schulman, Grant DePorter, Maureen and everyone who helped make this morning so special.
We lifted the curtain on our secret float workshop today! Media got an exclusive look at the creativity and hard work that goes into bringing The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival to life. Join us on Saturday for the full experience.
The Magnificent Mile® Association reposted this
The Magnificent Mile® Association showed up in force for the #TrueBlue gala at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Congratulations to Mary Ann Rose, Executive Director, and Chair of the Board, Richard Simon, along with Chicago Police Foundation Board members John Robak and Louis D. D’Angelo, among others, for a phenomenal event! Funds were raised to help the Chicago Police Department obtain crucial resources to support police and communities.
On Tuesday, we officially opened the Chicago Fair Trade Holiday Pop Up store at 663 North Michigan Avenue with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is yet another example of the unique offerings available exclusively on The Magnificent Mile. This store opening was facilitated by a Storefront Activation Grant from the City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP). This grant supports Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Road to Recovery Plan, revitalizing Chicago’s economy. Lotika Pai, Chief Small Business Officer at BACP, and Katherine Bissell Cordova, Executive Director of Chicago Fair Trade, joined Kimberly Bares, President and CEO of The Association, in cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Thank you Board Members Gail Spreen, Christine Reller, and Lisa Key for joining in the celebration. This is the second store to open under the Association's Storefront Activation Grant program, following the successful launch of Semicolon Bookstore at The Wrigley Building. We're excited to welcome Chicago Fair Trade to The Mag Mile and look forward to the holiday joy it will bring to our community.