Chicago'''Chicago''' is a city in the Cook County district of the Northeastern Illinois|north-eastern part of Illinois, and the unofficial capital of the Midwest (United States of America)|Midwest region of the United States of America. It's the third-largest city in the United States, after New York (city)|New York and Los Angeles. Image:Chicago skyline from oak street beach.jpg|thumb|300px|Chicago's skyline from North Avenue Beach Image:Chicago sears tower at night from near south.jpg|thumb|300px|The Sears Tower and the Loop seen from the near south side ==Understand== Chicago is known as '''The Windy City''' - although people disagree about whether this refers to the severe winds that blow off the Lake Michigan or the hot air of Chicago's notoriously corrupt politicos. The nickname originated in an editorial in the ''New York Sun'' during the city's bid for the 1893 World's Fair, wherein the editor railed against the city's raucous boosterism: suggesting that no one pay attention to the "nonsensical claims of that windy city. Its people could not hold a world's fair even if they won it". ===Newspapers=== * ''The Chicago Reader'' [http://www.chicagoreader.com/] is a free weekly newspaper distributed beginning each Thursday. * ''The Chicago Tribune'' [http://www.chicagotribune.com/] ("The Trib") is the Chicago area's biggest daily. * ''The Chicago Sun-Times'' [http://www.suntimes.com/] is the other major daily. ==Get in== ===By plane=== Chicago is served by two main airports. *[http://www.flychicago.com/ohare/home.asp O'Hare International Airport (ORD)], the world’s second busiest airport (after Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport), is 17 miles north west of downtown. The CTA's Blue Line runs 24 hours to downtown Chicago taking around 45 minutes and costs $1.75. *[http://www.flychicago.com/midway/home.asp Midway International Airport (MDW)] is 11 miles south of downtown. The Orange Line runs to downtown Chicago in around 30 minutes and costs $1.75. ===By car=== I-55 will take you directly from St. Louis into downtown Chicago. I-90/94 comes in from Indiana to the east. I-90 comes in from Madison, WI to the west. I-94 comes in from Milwaukee, WI to the north. I-80 will get you to the city from Iowa. ===By train=== Chicago is the hub of Amtrak's midwest routes, making it one of the most convenient US cities to visit by train. http://www.amtrak.com ==Get around== Navigating Chicago is easy. Block numbers are consistent across the whole city. Chicago is divided east-west by State Street and north-south by Madison Street. Standard blocks are 1/8th of a mile long. Parking is a pain. ===By public transit=== There's two parts of the CTA ([http://www.transitchicago.com/ Chicago Transit Authority]) -- the El (elevated train) and buses. (There's also [http://www.metrarail.com/ Metra], a commuter rail system for getting to and from the suburbs.) Image:ChicagoEl.jpg|thumb|Under ''the El'' All the El lines basically go to and from downtown. The circle of downtown train tracks is called the "Loop" (which has become another name for downtown). If you are staying downtown, or are visiting downtown, the El is probably all you'll need. Note: the "subway" is used to refer to the Red and Blue lines downtown, where those lines go underground. People might be confused if you refer to the El as a subway. There's an attendant at every El station. They can't provide change or deal with money, but they can help you figure out where you need to go, or guide you through using the machines. The attendants are usually very bored and are happy to have something to do, so don't hesitate to ask them questions. The El runs fairly late, though different lines run to different times, and some lines don't run their full length late at night. The red and blue lines run 24 hours a day. The fare for the El and buses is $1.75. But be sure to hang on to the card you purchase--you can use it for transfers. The first time you re-enter the system within 2 hours it costs $0.25, and subsequent transfers are free. The cards and transfers work for both the El and buses, but you can only get a card at El stations. Buses also accept cash, but don't provide change, and you have to specifically ask (and pay) for a transfer. But though buses won't give you cards, you can add money to your card on buses--just put your card in (that has less than $1.75 on it) and then insert cash and the $1.75 will be deducted and you'll get the card back with your balance. There are also [http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/fares.html#e visitor passes] for unlimited travel, but these are fairly expensive--you'll probably save money by using normal fare cards. Buses run on all the major streets in Chicago, and seldom run less frequently than every 30 minutes. The "major" streets are every 400 (400, 800, 1200, etc) in the numbering system, or every 1/2 mile. So you can get nearly anywhere with one transfer. But the El feels friendlier than the bus to most people. Downtown there are also free trolleys, used mostly by tourists. These are actually uncomfortable buses made to look like trolleys. They're a quick way to get around downtown. They use specially-marked bus stops, but they'll usually let you off wherever you want. They run every 20 to 30 minutes. Most run weekends only (Sa 10am-6pm, Su noon-6pm) except Jun-Aug when they also run M-F 10am-6pm. They also run weekdays at other holiday times. Navy Pier trolley now runs 7 days all year round during hours the pier is open. [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalDeptCategoryAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@1443035042.1107761380@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccceadddkgejkfmcefecelldffhdfgn.0&deptCategoryOID=-536891051&contentType=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&entityName=Transportation&deptMainCategoryOID=-536883912 Official (but pathetic) website] (just lists the stops for some of the routes). [http://www.metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/trolley-2004.html Maps and Winter 2004 times] from Metra. ===By taxi=== If you have a larger group (three or four people) taxis become fairly affordable compared to the CTA. Taxis are easy to flag down on the street, even late at night (especially if you are in an area with bars or clubs). Taxis from either airport to downtown Chicago can be quite expensive though, especially during rush hours. Expect to usually pay around $20 or sometimes more. Taking the CTA (either the blue or orange line) is strongly recommended instead. ===By bike=== Good weather? '''Rent a bike''' from the North Avenue Beachhouse and pedal your way around the city. Chicago has many bike lanes, including the scenic Lakefront Trail ([http://www.cityofchicago.org/Transportation/BikeInfo/parkmap.htm trail map]), which runs for 18 continuous miles along the beautiful downtown shoreline. Bicycles can also be rented from several bike shops in the city. Chicago has a fine bicycle culture. Chicago is also completely flat -- a boon for any bicycler! ==See== ===Downtown and inner suburbs=== Image:ChicagoRiver.jpg|thumb|River A '''CityPass''' [http://citypass.com/city/chicago.html] will get you in to 6 attractions within 9 days at a much reduced rate than paying for the attractions separately. The 6 attractions are Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Hancock Observatory, Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium. $49 adult (save $44.45), $39 child (save $30.60). *'''Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum''', 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. [http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/] Every day except Thanksgiving Day and 25 Dec 9:30am-4:30pm, first F of month 9:30am-10pm. Admission and one show $13 adult. Additional shows $5. For other prices see *'''Art Institute of Chicago''', 111 S. Michigan Ave, +1 312-443-3600. [http://www.artic.edu/] M-W, F 10:30am-4:30pm, Th 10:30am-8pm, Sa-Su 10am-5pm (Note: no longer open late on Tuesdays). One of the premier museums in the United States -- definitely not to be missed. Famous pieces include ''American Gothic'' by Grant Wood -- yeah, the one with that sour-looking farm couple. But there's lots of other paintings - one of the best collections of Impressionists in the world, and early 20th-century pieces – and other art covering 5000 years. Suggested donation: $12 (''$7 children and seniors, free Tu''). *'''Chicago Board of Trade Visitor Center''' [http://www.cbot.com/cbot/pub/page/0,3181,941,00.html] is currently closed except for pre-arranged groups due to fear of terrorism. *'''Chicago Cultural Center''', 78 E. Washington St. [http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/CultureCenterTour/] M-Th 10am-7pm, F 10am-6pm, Sa 10am-5pm, Su 11am-5pm, closed holidays. Built in 1897 as Chicago's first public library, the building now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries, and exhibit halls. The ceiling of Preston Bradley Hall includes a 38-foot Tiffany glass dome. Free. *'''Chicago Mercantile Exchange Visitors Center''', lobby level, 20 S. Wacker Dr. [http://www.cme.com/about/visit/ ] M-F, 8am-4:30pm. The 4th Floor Visitor Gallery is currently closed. Free. *'''DuSable Museum of African American History''', 740 E. 56th Place, Washington Park (near the University of Chicago). [http://www.dusablemuseum.org/] M-Sa 10am-5pm, Su noon-5pm. $3 adult, $1 child, free on Sunday. *The '''Field Museum''', 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, +1 312-922-9410. [http://www.fieldmuseum.org/] 9am-5pm every day. Chicago's Natural History Museum - highlights include the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in the world as well as a great, kids-friendly Egyptian exhibit. $10 (''$5 children, $7 seniors and students, Mo and Tu free seasonally''). *'''Garfield Park'''. History-filled Chicago park 4 miles / 15 minutes west of downtown. It's in a rough neighborhood, though you can take the El (Green Line) right to the Conservatory-Central Park Drive Station in the park. Looking at the city from the El gives you a picture of a different part of Chicago. On the trip out, you might also notice the gentrification spreading West from downtown -- there are startlingly rapid changes from gentrified to decayed neighborhoods. **'''Garfield Park Conservatory''', 300 N. Central Park Ave. [http://www.garfieldconservatory.org/] Every day 9am-5pm, except Th 9am-8pm. Amazing botanical conservatory, one of the largest indoor gardens in the world. Free admission and parking. *'''Grant Park'''. Park located between Lake Shore Drive and Columbus Drive. Home of the large Buckingham fountain which runs 10am-11pm and is accompanied by music and coloured lights 8-11pm, May-Sep. *'''Hancock Observatory''', John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan Ave. [http://www.hancockobservatory.com/] 9am-11pm. 360 degree views from the 94th floor. Rivals the Sears Tower Skydeck. $9.75 (plus amusement tax) adult, $6 (plus amusement tax) child, or for free you can visit the bar a floor below and order a drink or two, the view is almost as good and they have live jazz on the weekends. *'''Harold Washington Library Center''', 400 S. State St and Congress Parkway. [http://www.chipublib.org/] M-Th 9am-7pm, F-Sa 9am-5pm, Su 1-5pm. Chicago Public Library’s central library. Beautiful building, exhibitions. *'''Lincoln Park'''. One and one-half-mile long park with nearly everything one could hope for. Take a free trolley when they're running or a CTA bus. **'''Chicago Historical Society''', Clark St at North Ave (south end of park). [http://www.chicagohistory.org/] M-Sa 9:30am-4:30pm, Su noon-5pm. Urban history museum. Suggested admission $5 adult, $1 child, free on Mondays. **'''Lincoln Park Zoo''', 2200 N. Cannon Dr (Lake Shore Dr and Fullerton Parkway). [http://www.lpzoo.com/] Every day 9am-6pm, winter 9am-5pm, summer weekends 9am-7pm. A great free urban zoo -- one of the few remaining. Don't miss the penguins! Free. **'''Lincoln Park Conservatory''', 2400 N. Stockton Dr (north end of zoo). 9am-5pm. Free. **'''Notebaert Nature Museum''' (Chicago Academy of Sciences), 2430 N. Cannon Dr. [http://www.naturemuseum.org/] M-F 9am-4:30pm, Sa-Su 10am-5pm. $7 adult, $4 child, free on Thur. Image:Chicago_MilleniumPark2.jpg|thumb|Millennium Park *'''Millennium Park'''. Has modern sculptures in steel and glass. *'''Museum of Contemporary Art''', 220 E. Chicago Ave., +1 312-280-2660. [http://www.mcachicago.org/] Tu 10AM-8PM, We-Su 10AM-5PM. Art of all types from around the world made since 1945. Be sure to check out what the current exhibit is -- the museum can be rather boring when they are between exhibits. $10 (''$6 student, free Tu after 5PM''). *'''Museum of Holography'''. It'll only take you twenty minutes, but it's kind of interesting. *'''Museum of Science and Industry''', 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr and E. 57th St, Hyde Park. [http://www.msichicago.org/] Summer and holidays M-Sa 9:30am-5:30pm, Su 11am-5:30pm, other seasons M-Sa 9:30am-4pm, Su 11am-4pm. Spend hours upon hours there looking at really cool stuff you never even knew you didn't know about. So much to do, so little time. Great for kids, with many hands-on exhibits. $9 adult, $5 child. *'''Navy Pier'''. [http://www.navypier.com/] Summer, Su-Th 10am-10pm, F-Sa 10am-midnight, shorter hours other seasons. Home of the excellent Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a Children's Museum, an IMAX theater, a small stained glass museum, and a wonderfully large Ferris wheel ($5 adult, $4 child). The Navy Pier isn't as exciting as it might first seem -- it has lots of silly little shops, and lots of tourists and couples wandering around. However, it is an easy place to entertain a child. *'''Sears Tower Skydeck''', 233 S. Wacker Dr. [http://www.the-skydeck.com/] 10am-10pm May-Sep, 10am-8pm Oct-Apr. Avoid the worst of the crowds after 4pm. Higher than the Hancock Observatory. $9.95 (plus admissions tax) adult, $6.95 (plus admissions tax) child. *'''Shedd Aquarium''', 1200 S. Lakeshore Dr. +1 312-939-2438. [http://www.sheddaquarium.org/] Located on the Museum Campus, the Shedd Aquarium is home to a large collection of marine life from throughout the world. The Pacific Northwest-themed Oceanarium features dolphins, whales and other animals from the region, as well as a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. The recently-opened Wild Reef exhibit offers floor-to-ceiling windows for an extraordinary view of a Philippine coral reef environment, complete with dozens of sharks. $23 adult, $16 child. *'''Spertus Institute''', 618 S. Michigan Ave. [http://www.spertus.edu/museum/index.html] Su-W 10am-5pm, Th 10am-7pm (10am-5pm Jan-Feb), F 10am-3pm. A museum dedicated to Judaica. $5 adult, $3 child; free on Fridays. *'''University of Chicago''', Hyde Park. **'''David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art''', 5550 S. Greenwood Ave. [http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/] Tu, W, F 10am-4pm, Th 10am-8pm, Sa-Su 11am-5pm. Free. **'''Oriental Institute Museum''', 1155 E. 58th St [http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/default.html] - part of the University of Chicago. Tu, Th-Sa 10am-6pm, W 10am-8:30pm, Su noon-6pm. One of the best collections of ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern archaeology in the world. Free; suggested donation $5 adult, $2 child. *'''Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven''', 2120 S. Michigan Ave. M-Sa, noon-2pm. Formerly the Chess Records studios where many Chicago blues and early rock and roll recordings were made. ===Outer suburbs=== ====Cook County==== =====Des Plaines===== *'''McDonald's #1 Store Museum''', 400 N. Lee Street (17 miles northwest of downtown), (847) 297-5022. [http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/about/museum_info.html] Open Memorial Day to Labor Day. This museum is a recreation of the first McDonald's restaurant. The original restaurant was demolished in 1984. You'll know you have seen it when you get to an old-looking McDonald's restaurant with a sign saying that they sell hamburgers for 15 cents. Free admission. =====Glencoe===== *'''Chicago Botanic Garden''', 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe (25 miles north of downtown). [http://www.chicago-botanic.org/] Every day except 25 Dec, 8am-sunset. Amazingly beautiful, and completely diverse. The 385-acre park, research, and art facilities are open year round for your visiting pleasure. =====Oak Park===== Only about 10 miles west of the city, Oak Park is easily accessible by the CTA Blue Line, Green Line or Metra Train. http://www.oprf.com/ *'''Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio'''. 951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302. *'''Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home''' *'''Unity Temple'''. A National Historic Landmark. 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, Il 60302. =====Park Ridge===== *'''Park Ridge Music Concerts''', a bunch of free Friday night concerts during the summer. Held in front of city hall. Always start at 8:00pm. ====Lake County==== =====Highland Park===== *'''Ravinia Music Festival''', usually just called "Ravinia". The summer home of the Chicago Symphony. Other orchestras (like the Ravinia Festival Orchestra) play there also. You can either choose to sit in the pavilion (which costs a bit more), or bring a blanket and chairs and sit on its humongous lawn. It has a few places to buy food and drinks (including wine and beer). If you go, definitely buy some Ravinia ice cream (not the Dove stuff). If you sit in the Pavilion you get a special program. If you sit on the lawn, you'll have to go and find one of the green newspaper dispensers -- they hold the lawn programs. Every so often it has family/kids concerts, but for the others, you shouldn't really bring young kids because they don't look well upon things like running around or playing catch. =====Long Grove===== *'''Old Long Grove'''. When someone says they've been to "Long Grove" they are usually talking about this. Old Long Grove is a historical street with a whole bunch of moderately expensive, yet very interesting, stores and restaurants located in the Northwest suburbs. Different festivals go on there during the year. Definitely visit the Long Grove confectionery. It's a great place to buy candy. It's best known for its chocolate-covered strawberries. ==Do== *'''Architectural boat tour'''. [http://www.cfl81.com/archtour.html] [http://www.architecture.org/river.html] 90 minutes of floating edu-admiration. *'''Loop tour train'''. Tickets at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E Randolph St at Michigan Ave. Departs nearby Randolph/Wabash station. Saturdays, May-Sep, 11:35 am, 12:15 pm, 12:55 pm and 1:35 pm. Free 40-minute tour of the Loop on the El with a guide from the Chicago Architecture Foundation. *'''The Old-Town School of Folk Music'''. 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue. [http://www.oldtownschool.org/] 773.728.6000 fax 773.728.6999. If you're interested in folk music from America or anywhere else in the world you should definitely plan to spend some time at the Old-Town School. There are classes ranging from beginners clawhammer banjo to advanced Flamenco dance. Even if you are just passing through town you should seriously consider stopping by to see a concert or just to check out the store which features a fabulous array of banjos, fiddles, guitars, and quite a few rare folk instruments from around the world, as well as recordings of just about every sort of folk music (and early jazz) you can imagine. *'''Blue Man Group'''. [http://www.blueman.com/ticketinfo/chicago.shtml] Get tickets (well in advance) on the floor instead of the balcony. *'''Improv Olympic'''. [http://www.improvolympic.com] If the downstairs show is full, don't waste your time on the upstairs show. *'''Second City'''. [http://www.secondcity.com] The origin point for Saturday Night Live and many of its stars, this Chicago fixture still features great shows on two stages. *'''Steppenwolf Theater'''. [http://www.steppenwolf.org/] The home of John Malkovitch, Gary Sinise, and many others, Steppenwolf features cutting-edge theater. *'''Goodman Theater'''. [http://www.goodman-theatre.org/] The best of the best. *'''Lyric Opera of Chicago'''. [http://www.lyricopera.org/] Famous theater for extraordinary shows. *'''Symphony Center'''. Winter home of the Chicago Symphony. *'''United Center'''. Chicago Bulls/Blackhawks stadium. *'''Soldier Field'''. Field of the Bears. Once a fantastically wonderful building; some find the new renovation hideous. The amenities, however, have improved by leaps and bounds. *'''Wrigley Field'''. [http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/wrigle.htm] Historic Stadium of the Cubs. Now distinguished as a historical landmark, no more corporate conversions here. *'''Comiskey Park'''. [http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/comisk.htm] Officially the US Cellular Field, this south-side stadium is the home of the Chicago White Sox. ===Events=== Image:Airshow 6.JPG|thumb|300px|2003 Air & Water Show Chicago will be the host of the 7th '''[http://www.chicago2006.org/ Gay Games]''' in 2006. *'''Air & Water Show'''. Chicago also hosts a fantastic Air and Water Show with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds alternating each year. The Coast Guard also makes an appearance. The Chicago Air & Water Show is the oldest and largest free admission exhibition of its kind in the United States. Every year over 2 million spectators gather to watch this event from both land and water. ==Eat== Great restaurants are scattered across the city, from the long established, traditional Greektown to the street-glam, edgy East Ukrainian Village, from the exotic Indian-flavored Devon Avenue in West Rogers Park to the eclectic Clark Street in Andersonville, where you'll find great Swedish, American, Korean, Persian, and Italian restaurants (to name a few) lined up in a row. *'''The Chicago Diner''', 3411 N. Halsted. 773-935-6696. A fully vegetarian restaurant on Chicago's north side, the Diner's emphasis on quality has kept it around for more than 20 years. *'''The Handlebar''', 2311 W North Ave. 773.384.9546. A vegetarian friendly restaurant in Chicago's hip Wicker Park, a home to Chi-town's bicycle culture. *'''Leo's Lunch Room''', 1809 W Division. 773-276-6509. Leo's is sort of somewhere between being the perfect example of and the anti-thesis of an American Greasy Spoon diner. Its dining room, decorated with postcards of everything from beaches to punk-rock to country-and-western stars, is tiny, but you can almost always get a seat at the bar. The veggie chilli rocks, and the sandwiches are ''huge''. If you are in the wiker park neighborhood at lunch time this is a must. $4-10 for lunch, more for dinner (BYOB). *'''Francesca's on Taylor''', 1400 W. Taylor. Near the University of Illinois, Chicago campus. Excellent Italian restaurant in the "Little Italy" section of Chicago. Most evening reservation are desirable but if you eat early during the week, you often won't need them. Moderately priced and normally provides excellent service for large parties. *'''Mirai''', 2020 W. Division Street, just west of Damen. Tel: +1 (312) 773-862-8500. Sushi has come to Wicker Park, in a setting that is possibly more about atmosphere than the food, which is still formidable. *'''Buffalo Joe's''', 812 Clark Street, Evanston. Tel: +1 (847) 328-5525. For travelers visiting from outside of the midwestern and northeastern US (buffalo wings hail from Buffalo, NY), we should probably explain that "Buffalo" wings are chicken wing segments which are either deep-fried (without breading) or baked, then tossed with a sauce. Traditional buffalo wing sauce in its simplest form is a buttery hot pepper sauce. Buffalo Joe's offers their wings at three heat levels - mild, hot, and "suicide" (topped with jalapeno peppers). People swear that this place has the best wings and burgers in the city, no contest. *'''Le Bouchon''', 1858 N. Damen in Bucktown. Small, funky bistro with a limited but excellent menu of standard French fare. For peak dining hours you will need a reservation. Reasonably priced. *'''Mama's Fish and Chips''', Red Line, Morse Stop. Total dive, fantastic fried chicken. Skip the fish. *'''Greek Islands & Santorini''', at Adams and Halsted in Greektown. Two of the top Greek restaurants in the city. They sit on opposite sides of Adams on Halsted. Good standard Greek food ...Santorini specializes in seafood. Both excellent for the real Chicago Greek experience. Free valet parking! Reservations usually not necessary. *'''Gino's East'''. The best deep-dish pizza in Chicago. (Also try Giordano's for good Chicago deep dish.) *'''Vito & Nick's''', 8433 S. Pulaski in Chicago. You'll probably want to drive here. Public transportation is not convenient. (Pulaski is a major thoroughfare 5 miles west of State Street.) This restaurant is widely regarded on the South side as serving the best thin crust pizza in the city. Contrary to reputation, the neighborhood is quite safe. Many Chicago police live in the vicinity. *'''Leona's'''. Good all-around Italian fare. *'''Potbelly Sandwich Works'''. [http://www.potbelly.com/] The best submarine sandwich chain in the city. Several downtown (State & Lake, Nordstrom's, CBOT), one on Lincoln, and one in Evanston. *'''Lou Malnati's'''. Great place to get real Chicago style deep dish pizza. *'''Mity Nice Grill'''. +1 (312) 335-4745. Hidden behind '''Food Life''' on the second floor of the rear of Water Tower Place mall, 835 N. Michigan Ave., this establishment is one of the many Lettuce Entertain You restaurants scattered throughout the city. Billed as "1940's Style Bar and Grill". Even on busy nights, you won't wait long for a table, mainly because few people seem to know about it, but reservations are accepted. Fare includes steaks, seafood selections, pasta, and excellent recurring daily specials like meatloaf and a turkey dinner. ==Drink== ===Bars=== *'''Quenchers Saloon'''. 2401 North Western. [http://www.quenchers.com] Chicago's premier beer bar, with 200 different beers from around the world and 60 different whiskeys, not to mention free (and often even good!) local music every night of the week. Reflecting the diverse neighborhood of east Logan Square/West Bucktown, everyone drinks together at this comfortable neighborhood bar. *'''The Map Room'''. 1949 N. Hoyne Ave. 773.252.7636. [http://www.maproom.com/] Their motto is "Don't be lost," but you may as well give in to their disorienting collection of exotic beers. Their tap selection has to be the biggest in the city, with surprises for even the most jaded beer drinker. *'''Hopleaf'''. Though it doesn't have the the biggest selection of beer, it has the most carefully chosen, with a surprisingly accessible menu for delving into the world of Belgians and local microbrews. The food is great (their steamed mussels are fantastic), but the beer is even better. *'''Delilah's'''. 2770 N Lincoln Ave. +1 773-472-2771. [http://www.barsonline.com/chicago/delilahs/] This is the joint where Kurt met Courtney. No kidding. The booze selection is unbeatable, and recent almost-rock-stars spin the records. ===Music=== *'''The Velvet Lounge'''. 2128 1/2 S. Indiana Avenue. 1-888-644-8007. [http://www.velvetlounge.net/] (Probably take a cab). If you want to go to a bar that represents the real Chicago jazz tradition from Louis Armstrong right up to Pharaoh Sanders, then you must go to the Velvet Lounge. As owner/operator/saxophone player Fred Anderson points out, jazz at its best is nothing other than a black American folk music, and this bar is (one of) Fred's contribution to that folk tradition. *'''Heartland Cafe'''. 7000 N. Glenwood Ave. +1 773-465-8005. Live band or open mic almost every night. *'''The Double Door'''. 1572 N. Milwaukee (''at Damen/Milwaukee/North intersection, right at the Damen Blue Line El stop''). +1 773-489-3160, +1 312-559-1212. [http://www.doubledoor.com/] *'''The Vic'''. [http://www.victheatre.com/] *'''The Metro'''. 3730 N. Clark. +1 773-549-0203, +1 312-559-1212. [http://www.metrochicago.com/] *'''The Hideout'''. 1354 W. Wabansia (''just easton of Elston, just north of North Ave''). +1 773-227-4433. [http://www.hideoutchicago.com/] One of the finest drinking and hollering establishments in the U.S. of A., the Hideout hosts the best in alt-folk, bluegrass, Americana and just plain hillbilly music. The place is a bit hard to find, hidden as it is next to the city's main north-side refueling station for garbage trucks, but more than worth the trouble. Say "hi" to Maria. *'''The Empty Bottle'''. 1035 N. Western Avenue. +1 773-276-3600. [http://www.emptybottle.com/home.php] To Chicago as the Knitting Factory is to New York (city)|NYC, the Empty Bottle hosts a mix of touring indie-rock veterans, local bands, and on Tuesday and Wednesday nights the best in American and Dutch avant-garde jazz. *'''Green Mill'''. 4802 N. Broadway. +1 773-878-5552. Jazz and lots of it. Go on a Sunday evening for the weekly poetry slam. National talents [http://www.kurtelling.com Kurt Elling] and [http://www.patriciabarber.com Patricia Barber] perform on weekdays. *'''Bottom Lounge'''. 3201 N. Wilton. +1 773-975-0505. [http://www.bottomlounge.com/] Venue for indie/underground rock bands. Calendar of all-ages, 18+, and 21+ shows. Booked by MP Productions, the people who used to book the Fireside Bowl. Drinks: less selection and higher prices than at comparable venues. Right around the corner east from the Belmont Red Line El stop. *'''Katerina's'''. 1920 W. Irving Park Road. +1 773-348-7592. [http://www.katerinas.com/] A small and intimate setting for music most nights and poetry, performance and movies when there isn't music. ==Sleep== As a major U.S. convention-hosting city, Chicago has plenty of places to stay, although most of them are in the mid or splurge ranges. The vast majority of hotels are either at the airport or downtown (Loop or Near North). If you want to explore the city, aim for the latter. Budget-priced places are usually pretty far from downtown, so when you're booking, remember that Chicago is vast, especially compared to European and east coast cities. ===Budget=== *'''Days Inn''', 644 West Diversey Parkway. Frequented by touring bands in town to play at one of the many big clubs on the north side. $98-$130 per night. *'''Clarion Barcelo Chicago Hotel''', 5615 N. Cumberland Ave., (773) 693-5800. [http://cl-ohare.chidirect.com] Near Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD). *'''Comfort Inn & Suites Downtown Chicago Hotel''', 15 E. Ohio St., (312) 894-0900. [http://ci-chicagodowntown-il.chidirect.com] *'''Econo Lodge North Chicago Hotel''', 2315 N Greenbay Rd., (847) 689-4500. [http://el-northchicago-il.chidirect.com] *'''Rodeway Inn Mid-City Plaza Chicago Hotel''', 1 Midcity Plaza, (Madison at Halsted), (312) 829-5000. [http://ri-chicago-il.chidirect.com] ===Mid Range=== *'''Hotel Allegro''', 171 West Randolph Street at Wells (just across from the Clark and Lake stop on the Blue line), (866) 672-6143. [http://www.allegrochicago.com] Open 365 days/year. This lovely hotel calls itself a boutique hotel, probably in reference to its friendly, full four-star service, designer decorated rooms and prices that are the same, or just a little bit more than you would pay for a blander three-star place just north of the river. $119-$229 per night (the $229 room has a double jacuzzi, as do the suites). *'''Hotel Burnham''', 1 West Washington Street, +1 312 782 1111. [http://burnhamhotel.com] Another Kimpton Boutique hotel, like its sister hotel the Allegro. *'''Hotel Monaco''', 225 North Wabash. +1 312 950 8500. [http://monaco-chicago.com] Like Monaco Hotels across the U.S. the Monaco Chicago provides a bit better than four star comfort at a bit less than four star prices, though they are a little higher than at Kimpton sister hotels like the '''Allegro''' or the '''Burnham'''. What you get for the extra money is a number of specialty services geared for business travelers, so if you are traveling for pleasure go for the Allegro. *'''Crowne Plaza Allerton Chicago Hotel''', 701 North Michigan Ave., (312) 440-1500. [http://cpchicago.felcor.com] *'''Wyndham Chicago Hotel''', 633 North St. Clair St., (312) 573-0300. [http://chicago.wyndham-hotels.com] Friendly staff, decent rooms. Tip: register for the Wyndham ByRequest "frequent traveler" program: when you arrive, your favorite music will be playing in your room and a plate of fruit and iced tea (or whatever you choose) will be waiting for you. ===Splurge=== *'''The Peninsula''', 108 East Superior Street (at North Michigan Avenue), (866) 288-8889. [http://chicago.peninsula.com] Known as one of the city's most luxurious hotels, The Peninsula has been recognized by AAA with a Five-Diamond award. *'''The Drake''', 140 East Walton Place (at North Michigan Avenue) [http://www.thedrakehotel.com]. +1 312 787 2200. fax: +1 312 787 1431. It doesn't get any more top-of-the-line than this in Chicago. ==Contact== ===Internet=== Free wireless internet (splash) and public terminals at the Chicago Public Library. A Chicago Public Library card is required to use the library computers. Visitors can get a temporary "Guest" library card by presenting photo ID. ==Stay safe== As in almost the entire United States, dial 911 to get emergency help. Dial 311 for all non-emergency situations in Chicago. ==Cope== ==Get out== ==External links== *[http://www.cityofchicago.org/ CityOfChicago.org] -- official City of Chicago web site *[http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/004chicago.html Learn Chicago] Chicago history. fr:Chicago WikiPedia:Chicago, Illinois Dmoz:North_America/United_States/Illinois/Localities/C/Chicago {{stub}} First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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