Freebie of the Week: John Hancock Center Observatory admission

When it comes to corporate sponsorships picking up the tab for a Freebie, there’s no reason to look too closely at the marketing logic behind it. Take, for example, this week’s gratis outing, all-day admission to the John Hancock Observatory for the first 6,000 visitors on August 13. The deal’s brought to you by Bausch + Lomb in support of its new Biotrue™ multi-purpose contact lens solution. The promotion’s logic seems to be: Hancock Observatory = “visually inspiring” = contact lenses. (We told you it’s not worth dissecting.) Either way, if you haven’t been up to the 94th floor lately, take B+L up on this deal: The observatory underwent a multimillion dollar renovation last year that’s yielded the new Skywalk outdoor viewing area, high-tech night-or-day telescopes (just click to choose), and arguably the world’s highest bar and café, Lavazza Espression, which serves beer, wine, cocktails, paninis and more. While you’re there, enter B+L’s “Inspiration in Your Eyes” (facebook.com/biotrue) contest for a chance at more free shit. Just share a story about the U.S. location you find most visually inspiring; the top winner will get an all-expense paid trip for two to one of the top picturesque spots identified in the survey. John Hancock Observatory, 875 N Michigan Ave (877-875-6940). Offer is good from 9am–5pm.