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Preparing for APSA 2013

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By Cathy J. Cohen, Karen Mossberger, and Cherie Hackelberg


The 2013 American Political Science Association Annual Meeting is taking place in Chicago this year from 29 August – 1 September 2013. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Power and Persuasion,” looking at the politics of persuasion and power and how they intersect in context and scale. You can follow the conference happenings on Twitter at #APSA2013 and follow APSA on Twitter at ‏@APSAtweets.

Of course, we hope to see you at Oxford University Press booths 411-417. We’ll be offering the chance to:

  • Browse and buy our new and bestselling titles on display at a 20% conference discount
  • Get free trial access to our suite of online products for a month
  • Pick up sample copies of our latest political science journals


Looking for things to do in the conference downtime? We’ve polled some of our Chicago-native authors to give us the insider scoop on their top ten favorite Chicago activities:

  1. Head over to the 35th annual Chicago Jazz Festival. The major concerts this year will be held in Millennium Park, near Randolph Drive and Michigan Avenue. The festival is free and brings nationally and internationally acclaimed jazz performers to the Chicago lakefront. The crowd is always warm, generous and fun! Pick up some food and drink to share with friends as you picnic during the concert, and watch the surrounding skyscrapers light up at nightfall, sparkling against the green open spaces of the park.
  2. While at the park, be sure to stroll around to see the video fountains, the “bean” and other treasures!
  3. Another great festival the weekend of the APSA meeting is the 24th annual Chicago African Festival of the Arts. This event features food, music, dance and family activities. Brandy, Oliver Mtukudzi, and Otis Clay are the entertainment headliners this year. The event takes place in Washington Park on Chicago’s South Side, located 5100 S. Cottage Grove, near the University of Chicago.

  4. Take an architectural boat tour and see Chicago’s iconic buildings from the river. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit that has particularly knowledgeable guides.
  5. Spend some quiet time at the Chicago Cultural Center at Washington and Michigan. This beautiful building has free concerts, art exhibits, films, a tourist office with a gift shop, a Tiffany glass dome, and striking views of Millennium Park. Check the August schedule of events.
  6. Located downtown and just one block from Lake Michigan, The Art Institute, founded in 1879, has approximately 300,000 works of art in its permanent collection, including one of the country’s most impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. They also host 30 special exhibitions each year and offer daily activities and events.
  7. The Lincoln Park Zoo is a great family-friendly option. It is located just minutes north of Chicago, free to the public, and open every day of the year.  New arrivals to the zoo include five trumpeter swan cygnets and a colorful baby Francois’ langur. The zoo’s gardens are among Chicago’s most visited and they offer daily programs and events.
  8. Get a birds-eye view of the city by taking a trip to the top of the Willis (Sears) Tower. Located in the downtown Loop, this 110-story tower is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Head up to the Skydeck on the 103rd floor for incredible views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. For a shorter wait, try the John Hancock Center and Observatory, the 3rd tallest building in the city and located along the Magnificent Mile.
  9. If you are looking for good food from restaurants relatively close to downtown—a short cab ride from the APSA meetings—try the following restaurants: Embeya, Sepia, MK’s, Blackbird and The Gage. Reserve early!
  10. Looking for a more casual food experience? Try one of Chicago’s famed hot dog joints. Hot Doug’s, a local’s favorite, is frequently featured in local and national media for both its classic Chicago-style dog as well as its eclectic variations. Be prepared for a long wait. For other local favorites, visit The Chicagoist.


Hope to see you at the conference!

Cathy J. Cohen, author of Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics, is the David and Mary Winton Green Professor of Political Science and the College at the University of Chicago. She is also the author of The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics. Karen Mossberger is co-author of Digital Cities: The Internet and the Geography of Opportunity  and co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Urban Politics. Formerly Professor of Public Administration at the University of Illinois-Chicago, she is now Professor and Director of the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. Cherie Hackelberg joined Oxford University Press in September 2011. She is the marketing manager for Oxford’s Politics and International Relations list.

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