On Sunday evening join us and your colleagues at the Opening Reception for M&M 2006, which will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Just 1 block off Michigan Avenue (on North Water Street), we will be afforded spectacular views of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and the city skyline. The Sheraton is within walking distance of Navy Pier, museums, shopping, and will provide an enjoyable evening after your day of exploring the city. Spend time getting reacquainted with colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere with food and beverages and make plans for your week in Chicago. Additional tickets may be purchased for $60. Tickets for children 3-11 years old are $15, children under 3 are free.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs The exhibition consists of more than 130 priceless artifacts, including treasures from the tomb of the celebrated "boy king" Tutankhamun (King Tut) and riches from other tombs discovered in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. (Admission ~ $31) Grant Park Music Festival 2006 The critically-acclaimed Grant Park Music Festival is the nation's only remaining free, municipally funded, outdoor classical music concert series with the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus. Featuring a variety of celebrated ensembles and musicians. Free Tall Ships Chicago Tall Ships Chicago will return to showcase more than 20 wind-powered vessels . They will highlight Chicago's rich maritime history, and emphasize the role of the river and lake in the city's birth and development. Located on more than 500,000 square feet of festival grounds, including the Chicago River, from Wabash Avenue to Lake Shore Drive, NavyPier(R) and DuSable Harbor, this year's festival promises to be a display of vessels reminiscent of the majestic lakefront of the 1800s. Access to the festival grounds along the Chicago River, DuSable Harbor and Navy Pier is free. Individual wristbands, which serve as boarding passes must be purchased to board vessels. A separate wristband must be purchased for each day that boarding is available. Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius Discover the inventions and ingenuity of a man before his time. Explore the myths and legends surrounding his life. Here is a list of a few other special events happening during the days surrounding MM2006 Week. Why not come early or stay a few days extra and enjoy the sights and sounds of Our Kind of Town.....

There are several boat tours of the Lake Michigan waterfront and the Chicago River, which offer panoramic views of the city's skyline, and feature architectural and historical points of interest. (Chicago from the Lake 312-527-1977; Mercury Cruiseline 312-332-1353; Wendella (312-332-1353)

Or, take a walking tour of the loop with the Chicago Architectural Foundation from the Santa Fe building at 224 S Michigan (312 922 TOUR). Sightseeing bus tours are also available, operated by Chicago Double Decker Co. (312 251 3100) or Chicago Trolley Company (773 648 5000). http://www.chgocitytours.com/

See Chicago from the top of the Hancock Tower or the Sears Tower (the tallest structure in the USA.) Visit the city's front yard! Grant Park provides a 319 acre lakeside public space. Visit in the evening and enjoy the show of lights at Grant Park's centerpiece - Buckingham Fountain.

Don't miss Millennium Park, Chicago's latest lake-front attraction, which opened in 2004. It is adjacent to Grant Park a 24.5 acre wonderland, which includes the Gehry Music Pavillion, the new home of the Grant Park Music Festival, with free outdoor classical music performances Wed-Sun during the summer.

Enjoy the view of the city from the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, one of many attractions at one of the largest entertainment piers in the USA. Don't miss the fireworks displays Wednesday and Saturday evenings, visible all along the lake front!

For the more active attendee, there is an 18.5 mile lakefront bike way extending along Chicago's shoreline, used for biking, jogging, in-line skating and hiking. Bike and in-line skates can be rented from Bike Chicago at Navy Pier. Museums

The Art Institute of Chicago, located in Grant Park, is one of the great museums of the world. Its collection spans 5000 years of visual expression, and contains one of the largest collection of Impressionist and Post Iimpressionist paintings outside France.

At the south end of Grant Park is the Museum Campus, including the Field Museum of Natural History (home of "Sue," the world's largest complete Tyranosaurus Rex skeleton.) Over 20 million artifacts inhabit the nine acres of exhibit halls. The John G. Shedd Aquarium is the world's largest indoor aquarium, housing some 8000 aquatic animals of 650 species.

The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum is the oldest planetarium in the western hemisphere, and is renowned for its collection of historical astronomical instruments and its splendid sky shows. Its location commands outstanding views up and down the lakefront. Further south is the Museum of Science and Industry, located in the only structure remaining from the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and containing more than 2,200 exhibits that cover 14 acres. Highlights include a Boeing 727 cantilevered from a second floor balcony and the U-505 submarine (CTA bus 10 from Michigan Ave.)

The Chicago Historical Society, located just south of Lincoln Park (Clark at North Ave.), is the city's first cultural institution, organized in 1856. A visit provides a complete history of Chicago from the earliest days.

Access to Lincoln Park Zoo is free. Founded with the gift of a pair of swans from New York's Central Park in 1868, the zoo now encompasses 35 acres housing 1000 animals. (Take the Lincoln Park Trolley from Navy Pier or CTA bus 151 on Michigan)

Chicago takes its food very seriously. Although well known as a steak town, Chicago's diverse ethnic influences provide opportunities to sample a host of other cuisines. Near Navy Pier, the River north area (west of State St, North of the river) is home to many world class restaurants. Further away in Greektown (Westside - Halsted between Madison and Van Buren) are many fine Greek restaurants. Little Italy (Westside - Taylor from Ashland to Halsted) is the original home of Chicago's Italian community, and several excellent Italian Restaurants still remain. Chinatown, on the south side at Wentworth and 22nd, is home to many authentic Chinese restaurants, and of course Chicago Deep Dish Pizza abounds at a number of prime locations not far from Navy Pier. http://chicago.citysearch.com/section/restaurants

Chicago is the home of Goose Island Brewery, which has a brewpub at 1800 N. Clybourn (CTA Red Line), and another near Wrigley Field. Closer to Navy Pier, Rock Bottom Brewery has a brewpub at Grand and State St. Night Life

The City of Chicago provides free tourist trolleys from Navy Pier to Michigan and State Streets and Lincoln Park, although these are often crowded.

The Chicago Transit Authority provides train ("the L") and bus service throughout the city. Single rides cost $1.75 ($2 with a transfer). Day tickets ($5) are available from currency exchanges and visitor passes ($5 1 day, $9 2 days, $12 3 days or $18 5 days) are available from Navy Pier, Visitor Centers, and Airports. See http://www.transitchicago. com)

For more information and ideas, or visit the City of Chicago Official Visitors Guide at http://www.choosechicago.com.