You can situate yourself in many, many places to get a good view of the fireworks - all along the lakefront, by Navy Pier, by the Planetarium, in boats, in every inch of the park, etc.

Which is totally different from seeing a stage in an enclosed park. My office and my residence are both about 1 mile from where the stage will be. I'll be there early, that is for sure.

Here is a pic from Lollapalooza:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=60603&ie=UTF8&ll=41.870759,-87.617201&spn=0.005872,0.013947&t=h&z=17

I assume this is where the stage would be.