Party central: Grant Park in Chicago and Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix

Now, it’s all about the party — not the political parties, but the election night celebrations.

Sen. John McCain, who voted at the Albright United Methodist Church in Phoenix earlier today, is planning to celebrate at the Arizona Biltmore. Sen. Barack Obama, who voted at Shoesmith Elementary School in Chicago, will be partying at Grant Park in Chicago.

So what are these places about?

Grant Park, according to the Chicago Park District’s website, is a Chicago landmark, the city’s “front yard.” It sits at 337 E. Randolph St.; the party and events are planned from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Click here to see photos of Grant Park.)

Culture: Three museums call the park home: the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History and the Shedd Aquarium.

Claim to fame: The park’s centerpiece is the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, which was built in 1927.

What’s going on lately: In 1847, it was officially called Lake Park. Then in 1901, it was named for President Grant. Its most recent face-lift added Millennium Park, a major festival site.

The Arizona Biltmore, at 2400 E. Missouri Ave. in Phoenix, bills itself as one of the city’s first resorts. It was built in 1929. (Click here to see photos of the resort.)

Culture: Designer Albert Chase McArthur studied under and was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, hence the concrete blocks used in construction and the Wright-like touches inside.

Claim to fame: Irving Berlin wrote “White Christmas” here, and Marilyn Monroe called this her favorite pool, according to the resort’s website.

What’s going on lately: The resort has taken steps to “go green” and reduce its effect on the environment, including using hotel key cards made from recycled corn products and water coolers instead of bottled water.

– Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times staff writer

[Photos: Top, Grant Park by Timothy A. Clary AFP/Getty Images; bottom, Arizona Biltmore by Matthew Cavanaugh / EPA]

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 4:04 pm by Mary Forgione and is filed under Arizona, Chicago, Hotels, Midwestern States. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.