With this list, you need a week extra! I've tried to include many "free" events or things unique to Chicago. Of course we have the chains too such as Cheesecake Factory et al... and a few of those are also included below..Enjoy! We are known for our skyscrapers (Sears, John Hancock, Aon Building, Wrigley Building et al) If you have a favorite place in Chicago, send it this way and I'll modify the list.
Neighborhoods:
Hyde Park (President Obama's neighborhood)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_ChicagoGold Coast
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Coast,_ChicagoMagnificent Mile
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_MileArchitectural Boat Tours (You will get a great feel for Chicago by taking this tour)
Wendella Boats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX7zxQuU_9Yhttp://www.wendellaboats.com/chicago.htm ($22.00 adults, $20.00 children) (You will see the famous landmarks on this cruise including the Merchandise Mart (formerly owned by the Kennedy family), The Trump Tower, The Sears Tower, The Opera House and many more)
Chicago's First Lady
http://www.cruisechicago.com/ Walking Tours:
http://www.architecture.org/Twice Weekly Fireworks at Navy Pier (free) Memorial Day through Labor Day
Saturday, August 15 show is at 10:15 p.m.
http://www.navypier.com/things2do/fireworks.htmlGrant Park Music Festival (free) and ends on August 15
http://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/Chicago's Buckingham Fountain (free) in Grant Park
http://www.cpdit01.com/resources/buckingham_fountain.cfmThe Air & Water Show free---but you also won't be able to avoid this one:-)
http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/chicago_air___water.htmlhttp://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/events___special_events/events/mose/history_of_the_chicago1.html Shopping
Mag Mile
http://www.themagnificentmile.com/Heshey Store
http://www.hersheys.com/discover/chicago.aspAmerican Girl Store
http://www.americangirl.com/stores/WaterTower
http://www.shopwatertower.com/html/index7.aspWoodfield Mall (Schaumburg, IL--need a car) Chicago area's largest shopping mall with over 300 shops, stores and restaurants. Jan and Kate spent many weekends and many dollars there in their youth
http://www.shopwoodfield.com/Lisa Lill Studios (only in a few cities) make a custom handbag
http://www.1154lill.com/home/Museums: (You also almost need a day for each museum)
Art Institute (New Modern Wing opens this May--just in time) which also has a delightful outside garden cafe
Also visit the 68 miniature Thorne Rooms (dollhouse like interiors from late 13th century to the 1930s and American furnishings from the 17th century to the 1930s.)
http://www.artic.edu/aic/Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
http://www.mcachicago.org/Adler Planetarium
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/Field Museum
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/ Museum of Science and Industry
http://www.msichicago.org/The Garfield Park Conservatory
http://www.garfieldconservatory.org/shows.htmhttp://www.garfieldconservatory.org/index.htmlLincoln Park Zoo (free every day)
http://www.lpzoo.org/Millenium Park (many free events)
http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/Default.aspxhttp://www.millenniumpark.org/generalinformation/Chicago is also known for food:
Deep Dish Pizza
Gino's East
http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/a-store/c-GinoAns_East.shtml?E+scstore+ginosLou Malnati's Pizza
http://cityvoter.com/lou-malnati-s-pizzaria-958-w-wrightwood-ave-lincoln-park-chicago-il-60614/loc/18207Uno's Pizzeria
http://www.unos.com/Pizzeria Due
http://cityvoter.com/pizzeria-due-619-n-wabash-ave-chicago-il-60611/loc/81590Giordanos
http://www.giordanos.com/locations.phpHotdogs and Beef
The Chicago Hotdog (it will never have ketchup)
http://www.portillos.com/portillos/Italian Beef with Sweet Peppers
http://www.portillos.com/portillos/Sushi:
Sushi Samba
http://www.sushisamba.com/index.cfm/id/10/id2/28.htmlJaponais
http://www.japonaischicago.com/Rush Street Restaurants
Gibsons Steakhouse
http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/Hugos Frog Bar (Seafood)
http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/seafood/hugos-frog-bar-rush-and-division/136137/contentGreek Islands (
http://www.greekislands.net/).
Ed Debevics 1950's menu known for "rude" waitstaff (purposeful) with hourly dance routines on the counter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9V2XWj-JJohttp://featuredfoods.com/a-store/eds_p3a.pdfHard Rock Cafe
HighTea at the Drake
http://www.hiltonebusiness.com/projects/dining.thedrakehotel.com/palmcourt/palmcourt_intro.htmlTheatre
In addition to Broadway productions you might check out the Looking Glass Theatre (David Schwimmer from Friends is associated with this one)
http://lookingglasstheatre.org/content/Blue Man Group
http://www.blueman.com/tickets/chicagoBroadway tickets (some theaters have same day reduced pricing)
http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/Second City (comedy--SNL products came from this troupe including John Belushi)
http://www.secondcity.com/?id=theatres/chicagoHarpo Studios (Oprah's studio) Tours M-F between 9 am and 5 p.m.
Chicago Cubs
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=chcChicago White Sox
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=cwsHouse of Blues Edwin McCain is the headliner on August 15
http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventdetail.php?eventid=57222Also known for its Sunday Gospel Brunch 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. seatings
http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/chicago/gospelbrunch.aspNightlife
Lounge with a city view:The Signature Room at the top of the Hancock
http://www.signatureroom.com/ Pubbyhttp://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/41814298/chicago_il/mcfadden_s_restaurant_and_saloon.html
Howl at the Moon (gregarious dueling pianos--lots of whole room audience participation)
http://www.howlatthemoon.com/Buddy Guys Legends (blues club)
http://www.buddyguys.com/Outside of New Orleans, Chicago is known for jazz and blues
http://www.10best.com/Chicago,IL/Nightlife/Jazz_&_Blues_Clubs/ Clubby:
http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/seafood/tavern-on-rush-rush-and-division/137048/contenthttp://www.huntclubchicago.com/ Super Club Level
Enclave
http://www.enclavechicago.com/Lounge with Club Atmosphere
The Martini Ranch
http://www.martiniranch.com/Chocolate Bars (yes...really)
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/91822/best_chocolate_cafes_and_bars_in_chicago.htmlAlso one at the upscale Peninsula Hotel on Friday evenings
http://chicago.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/restaurant/chocolate-bar-at-the-river-north/144839/contentWorship Listed because of notoriety
Holy Name Cathedral
http://www.holynamecathedral.org/menu.htmBahaii Temple for North American Worship (need a car for this one)
http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple 1 of 7 temples in the world (also a beautiful drive down Sheridan Rd)
Willow Creek Church in South Barrington (need a car)
http://www.willowcreek.com/Lake Shore Drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGQO7A0otOsrun, walk, or drive along this Lake Michigan geographical masterpiece
From the Drake you are steps away.
The list has been updated to reflect recent additions and a few more
« Last Edit: May 03, 2009, 10:53:12 AM by Kate B »
