Community Corner

A Wallenda Will Walk the Chicago Skyline on a Tightrope Nov. 2

The event will be broadcast live on the Discovery Channel.

Nik Wallenda, who last year walked across the Grand Canyon for the Discovery Channel, is bringing his highwire act to the Chicago skyline. Wallenda will attempt to walk a tightrope from one Chicago skyscraper to another on Nov. 2.

The walk from the Leo Burnett Building to Marina City’s west tower and then its east tower will be broadcast live worldwide on the Discovery Channel.

NBC News’ Willie Geist and Natalie Morales and The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore will host, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

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“This is going to be the most incredible tightrope walk of my career,” said Wallenda, a seventh-generation member of the “Flying Wallendas” acrobatic family, in a statement released by the Discovery Channel. “I can’t think of a better city to do it.”

Wallenda said he’s dedicating this walk to his family, including his late great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, who died March 22, 1978, on a highwire walk between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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The Discovery Channel is counting on the Chicago walk to be a “nailbiter.”

“With unpredictable weather conditions, the tightrope crossing will present countless obstacles,” the TV network said in its statement Tuesday.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is looking forward to the highwire act.

“This will be one for the history books,” the mayor told the Chicago Tribune. “We are thrilled Nik Wallenda has chosen our great city with its iconic skyline as the site of his next walk.”

Will you watch?


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