Like all students, U-PASSPORT is taking a break for the holidays.  Look for all new content in the Spring.

Information on U-PASS pickup for the spring can be found here.

Welcome to UIC and Fall 2009.  U-PASSPORT started over the summer as a trial to give students a resource for exploring Chicago.  We talked with all the orientation groups this summer about the UIC Experience and how it’s important to supplement your classroom education with the culture and activities that our city offers.

Read our initial welcome post here.

U-PASSPORT will be updated regularly over the semester.  We have a bunch of content from over the summer listed by date and categories.  Look through the old posts, too.  You made find something perfect for you.

Please comment and visit regularly.  For those inclined, click the links to our Facebook and Twitter pages on the left side or stick us in your RSS Reader.

We, here in the U-PASSPORT offices, can’t be the only ones who know the very best places in Chicago to experience our world-class city.  Let us know where you like to go using your U-PASS in the comments.  The very best commenters will win  U-PASSPORT t-shirts.  Make sure to include your actual e-mail address so we can find you to get you a t-shirt.

If you feel like there’s a lack of posts on the site, you’re definitely right.  We, here, in the U-PASSPORT offices have been working to redesign the site, gear up for Fall, and prepare for a lot of interactivity…we hope.

For those visiting the site now, thanks for visiting, and while we’ll still post, make sure to check in on August 18th when things will really kick into motion.

So, maybe this weekend you were itching to see Bruno or Public Enemies or the new Transformers but realized you had no idea where a theater was.  Well, you wouldn’t be the first.  While there’s a litany of restaurants, taverns, shops, and more around the UIC campus, there’s no movie theaters at all.

Don’t worry, that’s where the CTA and your U-PASS come in.  Some of the very best theaters in the city are just a few minutes away from campus.

The very best: AMC River East 21 | Directions

The closest: AMC Loews 600 N Michigan | Directions

The IMAX: Navy Pier | Directions

The not-Downtown: Piper’s Alley | Directions

The quirky: Brew n’ View | Directions

The old school: F&F Management Davis | Directions

As part of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs’ UIC Experience program, we have launched U-PASSPORT, a guide to using your U-PASS to explore Chicago.  The UIC Experience promotes Urban Exploration, as such:

UIC is unique; it is a major research university in a world-class city. Like major urban areas around the globe, Chicago offers much to do and endless possibilities for learning. UIC has many programs that provide opportunities to experience all that a great city can offer. Aside from its many cultural, artistic, and sporting venues, Chicago is a living laboratory for learning about the challenges of urban life and for the discovery of new solutions to make life better in Chicago and in cities around the world. Try new foods, make new friends, attend campus athletic events…in short, take advantage of this world-class university and this world-class city.

U-PASSPORT is a blog.  As such, while there’s some content today, the majority of content will come on a daily and weekly basis in the form of constant updates.  Check back often or add us to your favorite RSS Reader, like Google Reader.  You can also get your updates via Twitter.  Follow U-PASSPORT for tweets on all of our posts.  You can also become a fan of us on facebook.  Just type ‘u-passport’ (without the quotes) into your search box to find us.

We hope you’ll find the posts on U-PASSPORT helpful towards your exploration of this world-class city.  We also hope you’ll interact with us and help us provide useful information to all UIC students.

Thanks for visiting.

To explore the city, your U-PASS is vital.  The Summer 2009 U-PASS becomes valid on May 13th for all full-time summer students.  Visit the ID Center’s website to get all the information you need or keep an eye out for a campus MASSMAIL.