Directions to AnimeCentral '99

by Mike Potter

The Chicago area's only anime convention, AnimeCentral, occurs in a mere two weeks (April 23-April 25). They will have lots of live programming, four 24-hour video rooms, a absolutely huge dealers' room, and more otaku than you can shake a stick at! Here are detailed directions from Hyde Park to the convention hotel, the Ramada Plaza Hotel O'Hare in Rosemont:

1. Take the CTA #6 (Jeffery Express) bus, U of C Express bus, or Metra downtown, getting off around Michigan and Randolph. If using the #6 bus, pay the driver $1.80 and ask for a transfer card. You will need to repeat this when returning from the convention hotel.
2. Walk from Michigan to State street (two blocks west), and enter the Red Line subway station on the State Street side of Marshall Fields.
3. Purchase a farecard, unless you already have one, with a value of $3.60 (good for one round trip to and from the hotel).
4. Follow the signs to the Blue Line subway (you will walk through a long hallway), and take a train bound for O'Hare.

Option 1
5. Get off the train at the Rosemont Station. If you get to O'Hare Airport you've gone too far; get on a downtown train,and get off at the first stop away from the airport.
6. Upon leaving the Rosemont station, you will encounter a large Pace bus waiting area. Look for bus #223 which leaves from the station about every ten minutes during rush hour and every half hour in the evenings and on Saturday and Sunday. Your CTA transit card from the train/bus should serve as a free transfer.
7. The hotel address is 6600 Mannheim Road, at Higgins Road. It is a block away and across the street from a McDonald's, but before the Rosemont Horizon.

Option 2
5. Take the Blue line all the way to O'Hare airport.
6. Follow signs into the airport, looking for ground transportation. Call the Ramada Plaza Hotel O'Hare shuttle or wait in the designated area.

Please note I have not tried Option 2. It may involve lots of time looking for the hotel shuttle and even convincing the driver to take you. Since the Pace bus should accept your CTA farecard or transfer card, started with $1.80, using the hotel shuttle shouldn't save any money over Option 1.

To return, simply follow the steps in reverse. You will need to find the Pace bus stop nearest the hotel, but it should be on the same side of the street as the hotel. There may be a stop near the Rosemont Horizon next to the hotel. The return trip may give Option 2 an edge since you know where you're going (the airport) and where you're leaving from (the hotel).

I hope these directions help anyone thinking of jetting out to Rosemont, even for a day, to check out the action. If last year was any indication, AnimeCentral '99 promises to be a lot of fun for the Midwest anime fan. For further information, check out the following web pages:
CTA
Pace
AnimeCentral

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