Dear Colleagues of the Midwest Conference,
On behalf of DePaul University and the city of Chicago, we wish to welcome you to the 60th Annual Meeting of the MWCBS. There will be 37 panels over the course of the three day conference, with 100 papers and presentations.
We wanted to provide you with some basic information regarding the conference site and its environment.
The conference site is at the DePaul Center of our Loop campus, at 1 East Jackson Blvd., in the heart of Chicago. Travel and parking information can be found below. The bus, elevated and subway systems are convenient for travel from the airport or train and bus stations to the DePaul Center, with stops at the corner of Jackson Blvd and State Street.
The conference itself is located on the 8th floor of the DePaul Center. Enter the building through the Barnes and Noble store, continue to the interior lobby area just past the store. There is a bank of elevators opposite an information and security desk. Take one of the elevators up to the 8th floor. The MWCBS reception and help desk are located across the hall from the elevators.
In addition to the conference, there are many amenities around the conference site. See the official Chicago events website (http://www.choosechicago.com/), and the Fall events guide (http://guides.milespartnership.com/ch/ovg2/2013/index.html) for more information.
We’ve also attached a restaurant and events guide (in a Word file) for your reference. The DePaul Center is walking distance from a number of excellent restaurants (both budget-friendly and expensive), Orchestra Hall, the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and Grant Park, as well as the Lakefront (east), and Chicago riverfront (both north and west…and south).
REMEMBER! The conference is scheduled the same weekend as the Chicago Marathon. The Marathon will take place on Sunday, October 13, beginning at 7:00 a.m. The route is north of the conference site, but will have an impact on a few things: 1) you might wish to make restaurant reservations for Saturday night, in anticipation of a busier-than-usual dinner crowd in the Loop area (you can also avail yourself of public transportation to explore some of Chicago’s neighborhood restaurants, a bit further from the Loop); and 2) you might want to attend our last Sunday sessions to avoid some of the anticipated traffic congestion. Chicago will also provide extra security (and security protocols) during the eve and day of the Marathon. We will provide information on current conditions at the conference.
Again, we welcome you to our university and city and hope you enjoy your visit!
Best regards, Lisa Sigel and Eugene Beiriger, Local Arrangements co-chairs
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Transportation guide
Driving to the Loop Campus
From the North and Northwest
The Loop Campus is accessible from the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/I-94) exit at Jackson Boulevard (300 south) and turn east. The Loop Campus is approximately 1 mile from the expressway on Jackson Boulevard.
From the West
The Loop Campus is accessible from the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290). As you begin to enter the downtown area the expressway becomes Congress Parkway. Turn left (north) on Dearborn Street (50 west), go two blocks to Jackson Boulevard (300 south) and turn right (east). DePaul University is one block east on Jackson Boulevard.
From the South
The Loop Campus is accessible from the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/I-94). Exit at Jackson Boulevard (300 south) and turn east. The Loop Campus is approximately 1 mile from the expressway on Jackson Boulevard.
From Lake Shore Drive (North or South)
Exit Lake Shore Drive at Jackson Boulevard and turn west. Proceed to Michigan Avenue (100 east). Turn right on Michigan Avenue, go one block to Adams Street (200 south) and turn left. Go one block to Wabash Avenue (50 east) and turn left. Go one block to Jackson Boulevard.
Automobile Parking at the Loop Campus
DePaul University has no parking facilities of its own in the Loop area, however, many private facilities offer discounts for DePaul students, staff and visitors. Tickets can be validated in the lobby of each DePaul Loop Campus building. Two Chicago Park District underground garages and several private parking facilities are conveniently located for use by DePaul students, staff and visitors.
*Indicates a special discount rate is available for DePaul University. Claim check tickets must be validated at either the DePaul Center, Lewis Center, or Computer Science Center security stations.
Bicycle Parking
Bicycle racks are available on the north plaza of DePaul Center and in front of the Computer Science Center. Bicycles are not permitted inside any building on the downtown campus.
Taking Public Transportation
Rapid Transit Lines
- Red or Blue Line to the Jackson stop.
- Brown, Orange or Purple Line to the Adams/Wabash stop or the Library/Van Buren stop.
CTA Buses
Bus routes interconnect throughout the city. These buses stop very near the Loop Campus. All routes are subject to change by the CTA.
- #1 – Indiana/Hyde Park
- #3 – King Drive
- #6 – Jeffrey Express
- #7 – Harrison
- #14 – South Lake Shore Express
- #20 – Madison
- #29 – State Street
- #36 – Broadway
- #37 – Sedgwick/Ogden
- #60 – Blue Island
- #62 – Archer Avenue
- #126 – Jackson
- #129 – South Loop/West Loop
- #146 – Marine-Michigan Express
- #147 – Outer Drive Express
- #151 – Sheridan Road
Metra Train Stations
All suburban Metra Train Stations are located within walking distance of the Loop Campus:
- Union Station: Canal Street (500 west) and Adams Street (200 south).
- Chicago & Northwestern Station: Canal Street (500 west) and Madison Street (0 north/south).
- LaSalle Street Station: LaSalle Street (150 west) and Congress Parkway (500 south).
- Illinois Central Station: Michigan Avenue (100 east) and Van Buren Street (400 south).
From the Airports
Driving from O’Hare (approx. 20 miles)
Exit airport on I-190 east. This highway merges with I-90 east about 2 miles east of the airport. I-90 then merges with I-94 about 5 miles east of the I-190/1-90 merge. Continue on I-90/94 (Kennedy Expressway) into downtown Chicago. Exit at Jackson Boulevard east, and continue approx. one mile to corner of Jackson Boulevard (300 south). and State Street (0 E/W). DePaul Center is on the southeast corner of State Street and Jackson Boulevard.
Driving from Midway (approx. 10 miles)
Exit airport. Turn left at Cicero Avenue (Ill 50), approx. 2 miles north to Stevenson Expressway (I-55). Right turn (north) onto Stevenson. Continue on Stevenson to northbound Lake Shore Drive (US 41). Turn left at Congress Parkway (600 south). Continue about 1/2 mile to State Street (0 E/W). Turn right (north) on State Street. Go three blocks north. DePaul Center is on the southeast corner of State Street and Jackson Boulevard (300 south).
Taking Public Transportation
The CTA provides elevated train service from downtown Chicago to both of Chicago’s airports. From O’Hare, take the Blue Line to the Jackson stop. From Midway, take the Orange Line to the Library stop at Van Buren and State.
Traveling Between the Lincoln Park and Loop Campuses
The fastest and most direct method of traveling between DePaul’s Lincoln Park and Loop campuses is to take one of either of the two major CTA Rapid Transit lines that stop at the Fullerton elevated train station. The Brown Line and the Purple line travel the elevated tracks downtown to the Wabash/Adams stop (near the Computer Science Center) or the Library stop (near DePaul Center). The Red Line travels the subway downtown to the Jackson stop at State and Jackson (near DePaul Center). To get to the Lincoln Park campus from the Loop, begin from any of these downtown stops and travel north to the Fullerton station.
The NACBS and its Midwest affiliate, the Midwest Conference on British Studies, seek participation by scholars in all areas of British Studies for the 2014 meeting. We will meet in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from November 7-9, 2014. We solicit proposals for panels on Britain, the British Empire and the British world. Our interests range from the medieval to the modern. We welcome participation by scholars across the humanities and social sciences. We invite panel proposals addressing selected themes, methodology, and pedagogy, as well as roundtable discussions of topical and thematic interest, including conversations among authors of recent books and reflections on landmark scholarship. We are particularly interested in submissions that have a broad chronological focus and/or interdisciplinary breadth. North American scholars, international scholars and Ph.D. students are all encouraged to submit proposals for consideration.
