Chicago Architecture Boat Cruise with author Adam Selzer (5:30pm)

An urban boat cruise, Mysterious Chicago Tours style! Author Adam Selzer hosts a 90 minute cruise aboard the Festivus along the Chicago River, featuring not only facts about the fantasic architecture that will surround your during the the cruise, but Halloween-ready stories about the fascinating history of the buildings, the eccentric architects who designed them, and the fabulous city they helped shape.

Selzer has been a historian and tour guide in the city for nearly twenty years, including years as a boat tour guide. He is the author of Mysterious Chicago, H.H. Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil, (now in a n) Graceland Cemetery, and several more critically acclaimed books. He has appeared speaking about Chicago history on several episodes of shows like American Ripper, Mysteries at the Museum, Monumental Mysteries, and more. His research has recently been featured in the Tribune, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Washington Post, and more. His tours are utterly hilarious, ridiculously informative, and endlessly fascinating - the perfect architecture cruise for autumn! Relax and enjoy unbeatable views while you hear some incredible tales. And it's priced lower than the next leading boat tour brand!

The Festivus is a yacht that departs from River City marina (900 S Wells; Bertrand Goldberg, architect). It features seating with spectacular views on the top deck, and a fully-functioning bar on the lower deck. (Operated by the same company as the Summer of George, which we've used in previous years).

Details

The event will run rain, shine, or fog.

Arrive no less than 15 minutes before the 5:30 start time. Boarding begins at 5, and the boat leaves promptly at 5:30. We cannot wait for latecomers. (Note: There is also a 7:30 tour. Make sure you're coming at the right time!)

Accessibility is slightly limited; the boat can accept strollers/wheelchairs but there are a few steps to board/disembark the boat and upstairs seating/below deck restrooms are only accessible via stairs. The parking lot and dock can be rough terrain.

Both upstairs outdoor seating and indoor temperature controlled lower level seating are available.

The boat has a cash bar featuring drinks and snacks available for purchase. Not only that, it has restrooms with genuine marine toilets! Wow!

Parking is available for about in the lot next to the River City Marina with the ParkMobile app (zone 5811). With credit cards, you can park in the River City garage. Street parking is relatively easy to find nearby, as well. Check SpotHero for other nearby lots, too!

The Harrison Red Line stop is about a 10 minute walk away from the marina; you can also find the 22 Clark Street Bus Stop at Clark and Polk not far away. It's not a very bad walk from the Congress Hotel, if you're here for Mystericon!

Host or Publisher Mysterious Chicago / Astonishing Chicago