Whether it is grilled up in the backyard at a family barbeque or consumed at the local greasy spoon, burgers have made a lasting impression on the American conscious.

Illinois is by no means a stranger to the burger. No matter what kind of burger you like, and no matter what part of Illinois you are in, you can always find a good burger. To celebrate burgers, let’s look at a few different kinds of this famous sandwich and where you could go for a good one in Illinois:

The classic cheeseburger

You cannot get simpler or more classic than the ever-popular cheeseburger. Meat, cheese, lettuce, onion, pickles and tomato is all you need. It is both simple and delicious.

For this classic burger, try Burger Barge in East Peoria.

The egg-topped burger

The egg-topped burger is a new take on an old tradition. In the past couple of years, this new trend has taken off. How do you make a burger better? Put a fried egg on top, of course.

One great place to get this special type of burger is at Butcher and the Burger in Chicago.

Bacon burger

Bacon makes everything better, right? Well of course it does. There is nothing like biting into a delicious burger topped with crispy bacon.

Try Vie in Western Springs for this delectable treat.

Mushroom-Swiss burger

Mushroom-Swiss burgers are the perfect savory burger. Topped with rich Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms, this is a favorite of many.

You might want to try Crosstown Pub in Naperville for this one.

On May 15, 1903, Illinois established an 8-hour work day and a 48-hour work week for children.

The pressure to change the law was pushed by women reformers who realized there was a huge problem. Before then, business leaders, organized labor and other groups expressed their concerns but never found a way to act on them.  A group called the Woman of Hull House was then formed.

These women would meet to plan social reform and regulate child labor. They promoted education for children instead of working and voiced their opinions to anyone who would hear them. The group and other reformers came together to focus on the family structure and claimed if a child was neglected or abused it would not only be an injustice but endanger the future of the country.

Reformers also proposed other laws to get children out of factories and into schools and set up recreational areas and education programs.

It all worked out in 1903 when legislation was proposed requiring children to bring a statement of classroom attendance from school authorities. Working hours were also reduced to eight a day, 48 a week.

Learn more:
Chronology of Illinois History
Women and the Anti-Child Labor Movement in Illinois

The famous toy construction kit for children was created in Evanston in 1914 by Charles H. Pajeau, Robert Pettit, and its name sake, Gordon Tinker. Although it was not an immediate success, the toy would soon take off, selling over a million sets after just a few years.

Tinker Toys consist of a wooden spool about 2 inches in diameter with holes drilled in the side at every 45 degrees. Combined with varying lengths of sticks to connect and build, the toy was designed on the Pythagorean progressive right triangle. While the original toy had had natural wooden sticks, designers began coloring them in 1950 with each color being a different length.

Tinker toys have been used to make complex displays and machines. From Ferris wheels to tic-tac-toe-playing computers, the toy has proved itself versatile and innovative.

Learn more:
From Tinkertoy to Computer Programming: Great Moments in Chicago Toys – Chicago Mag
Classic Toy Museum – Tinker Toys

The Walnut Room, located in the Macy’s on State Street (formerly Marshall Field’s) in Chicago’s Loop, was the first restaurant in a department store when it opened in 1907. Originally known as the South Tea Room, patrons began calling it The Walnut Room due to the extensive walnut paneling covering the walls.

The restaurant, known for its delicious chicken pot pies and french onion soup, attracts thousands of families during the holiday season with a 45-foot tall Christmas tree that nearly reaches the ceiling of the two-story restaurant.

During the non-holiday season, a large fountain sits in the middle of the room. Macy’s executives recently announced the rehab of the fountain, which has never operated for fear of damaging a Tiffany-designed ceiling underneath. The entire fountain was disassembled and restored with new wiring and plumbing.

Executives plan to turn on the fountain for the first time this Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

Learn more:
Walnut Room fountain to flow for first time in 125 years - Crain's Chicago Business
Macy’s on State Street

May is National Bike Month in the United States, and in many Illinois communities, this week is designated as Bike to Work Week. Organized nationally by the League of American Bicyclists, Bike to Work Week encourages people to leave the car at home and explore riding a bike to the office instead.

More Illinois communities are recognizing the value of building more bike paths and dedicating new bike lanes as a quality-of-life amenity. The state has hundreds of miles of dedicated bike paths, most of which are converted former railroad lines. Cities are also getting in on the act by adding bike lanes to existing streets, increasing the numbers of bike racks and adding bike-sharing services such as Chicago’s Divvy program.

Learn more:
The list of bike trails in Illinois is a great place to get started
If you are interested in bike advocacy, visit the League of Illinois Bicyclists