Oprah to Close Michigan Ave. for Season Premier

By BJ LUTZ

Updated 9:35 AM CST, Sat, Sep 5, 2009

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Well, if there's any one person who could close down Michigan Avenue for nearly three days, it would be Oprah Winfrey.

The talk-show diva announced Monday that the premiere episode of her 24th season will be taped downtown, smack-dab in the heart of the Magnificent Mile.

Thousands are expected to flock to the free event on Sept. 8, which will include an appearance by three-time Grammy Award-winning Black Eyed Peas.

So, here's what we know:

- Michigan Ave between Wacker and Ohio will close to vehicular traffic just after midnight on Monday, Sept. 7. Use Clark, Dearborn and Lake Shore Drive as alternatives. Lower Illinois, Ohio and Grand will also remain open.

- No overnight camping is allowed.

- Minors should be with an adult.

- Space is available on a first-come, first-served, standing-room only basis.

- There will be no seats or food. Bring your own snacks and water. Leave the lawnchair at home.

- Pedestrian access along Michigan Ave. will remain open at all times, including access to all buildings.

- CTA buses will be re-routed.

- Public parking will be an absolute nightmare.

- Michigan Ave. will completely reopen by 5 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Taxpayers won't be on the hook for the expense of the big party, the city says. They're billing Oprah and her studio. (We hope Oprah pays her bills faster than, say, President Obama.)

The show will air locally on Sept. 10 on WLS-TV, ABC 7

www.oprah.com/party

First Published: Aug 31, 2009 9:50 PM CST

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{"totSize":6,"payload_type":"json","status":"1","results":[{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_56446062","adminTags":null,"views":5182,"createdBy":9206405,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg?t=1248875781749","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Oprah to Close Michigan Ave. for Nearly 3 Days","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":1238033,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"1 Sep 2009 04:20:34 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":6,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"KDUBBLL","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"699312","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"ahhhh ... that picture is MAJORLY OFFENSIVE to me, That is like sayin Oprah Winfrey is equal to MOSES? and I am fully aware she denies CHRIST, that witch is into promoting newage religion(the secret B.S.). she is a Luciferian just like Madonna."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_56446062","adminTags":null,"views":5182,"createdBy":12068660,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Oprah to Close Michigan Ave. for Nearly 3 Days","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":1238033,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"1 Sep 2009 11:58:36 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":6,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"badolinsky","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"699837","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"I agree with KDUBBL, the picture that accompanies this article is offensive. The fact that Oprah will be permitted to close the Mag Mile for 3 days, including the evening of a national holiday, is also offensive. Chicagoans experience enough traffic congestion on a daily basis without adding this nonsense to the mix. STOP the insanity!"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_56446062","adminTags":null,"views":5182,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Oprah to Close Michigan Ave. for Nearly 3 Days","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":1238033,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"1 Sep 2009 12:14:39 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":6,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"699900","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"The picture of Moses is inappropriate to say the least. As a Jew I find it offensive. As to Oprah, when will the public stop looking to her for answers? She is just a woman who has made a boat load of money. To close city streets for her is absurd."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_56446062","adminTags":null,"views":5182,"createdBy":12098093,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Oprah to Close Michigan Ave. for Nearly 3 Days","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":1238033,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"2 Sep 2009 02:38:45 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":6,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"pourgirl","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"704232","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Just want to thank the person who put that photo up..I'm not sleeping AT ALL tonight..but really..not only is it a national holiday, traffic, tourism...all messed up and re-routed for something that obviously almost 1/2 could care less about. I'm a mom of three, working my butt off as a bartender downtown, in that nightmare area that she's going to be making a complete mess of...if I can GET to work now! I just hope there's a grat on her bill, but from what I hear, she'll just have it taken off anyway!"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_56446062","adminTags":null,"views":5182,"createdBy":10231039,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Oprah to Close Michigan Ave. for Nearly 3 Days","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":1238033,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"4 Sep 2009 17:02:27 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":6,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"dmlawyer","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"720975","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Pourgirl, sounds like you have a serious case of the green-eyed envy monster.<br><br>No one told you to have three kids you obviously cannot afford to raise without having to resort to shilling swill at a tavern.<br><br>In your next life, maybe you will make better choices and possibly be in a position where something like a street closure will not give you a conniption fit."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"388834_56446062","adminTags":null,"views":5182,"createdBy":12196022,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Oprah to Close Michigan Ave. for Nearly 3 Days","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":1238033,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"5 Sep 2009 09:14:01 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":6,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"gal1","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"725172","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"What is the big controversy? Movie companies do this all the time in the city."}],"error":"","totPages":1}

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