Chicago
Sites to See
THE LAKE & THE LOOP: **Cloud Gate (the Bean)** : 201 E Randolph St **Buckingham Fountain** : 301 S Columbus Dr **Maggie Daley Park** : 337 E Randolph Art Institute of Chicago : 111 S Michigan Ave **Field Museum** : 1400 S Lake Shore Dr **Shedd Aquarium** : 1200 S Lake Shore Dr **Adler Planetarium** : 1300 S Lake Shore Dr Chicago Cultural Center : 78 E Washington St Harold Washington Library : 400 S State St Magnificent Mile : 400-900 N Michigan Ave John Hancock Tower : 875 N Michigan Ave **Willis (Sears) Tower Skydeck** : 233 S Wacker Dr NORTH SIDE (#22 Clark & #36 Broadway bus): **Lincoln Park** : 1700-2800 N Stockton Drive **Lincoln Park Zoo** (FREE) : 2400 N Cannon Dr Wrigley Field : 1060 W Addison St Home of the Chicago Cubs! SOUTHSIDE (public transit isn't convenient, hire a cab)*: **Museum of Science & Industry** : 5700 S J.B. Point DuSable LSD A GREAT kid's museum! *Except for Cellular Field: 35th - Bronzeville - IIT (red line el stop) Info on Hyde Park linked below
Entertainment
Blue Man Group: 3133 N Halsted St 20 years of... how do you explain this nonsense? Trivia: the Barenaked Ladies reference this theater in "If I Had a Thousand Dollars" (Belmont el stop / #22 Clark St bus) Second City Theatre: 230 W North Ave More sketch than improv; when choosing a show, go to the longer running show. They improve over time (Sedgewick el stop / #72 North Ave bus) The Neofuturists: 5153 N Ashland Infinite Wrench on Fri & Sat @10:30p & Sun @7pm 30 plays in 60min, extra wacko, extra liberal, extra meta! Right around the corner from Hopleaf (Chicago's best beer) (#22 Clark bus to Foster, Em's hood of 15 years) WNDR Museum: 1130 W Monroe St Instagram worthy illusions Racine (blue line) el stop United Center: 1901 W Madison (Ashland-Lake OR Illinois Medical District el stop) Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors Mon, Mar 21 @ 7p Chicago Architectural Center: 111 E Wacker Architecture tours: location varies, too cold for a boat (State-Lake el stop)
Food & Drinks Downtown
If you're a real foodie, head to River North or Fulton Market. If you want something close to the hotel here are a great options: Cherry Circle Room : 12 S Michigan Ave (in Chicago Athletic Hotel) Reservations Required! We haven't been, but it's highly reviewed. Fisk & Co : 225 N Wabash (in Kimpton Hotel) Mussels, frites, oysters, craft beer & more We haven't been, but it's well rated Magnolia Bakery : 108 N State St Originated in NYC, made famous by Sex in the City ABSOLUTELY GET THE BANANA PUDDING & cupcake! Eataly : 43 E Ohio St (off Mag Mile, behind Nordstroms) Fun Italian market, worth a visit if you don't have one in your city! Garrett's Popcorn : 4 E Michigan Ave (mult loc) You'll smell it a block away! 100% worth it. (Don't pay for the tin, put it in a zip lock!) Do Rite Donuts : 233 S Wacker (mult loc) This location is in the Willis (Sears) Tower Donuts & fried chicken sandwiches! Intelligensia : 78 E Washington or 53 E Randolph Iconic Chicago coffee company
Food & Drinks in Fulton Market
La Colombe $ : 955 W Randolph (mult loc) Delicious, no frills coffee -- try a black & tan! Jubilee Juice $ : 140 N Halsted Amazing food, open laaate! Rec: burgers, chx sand, portobello char, waffle fries Do Rite Donuts $ : 181 N Morgan (mult loc) Donuts & fried chicken sandwiches Au Cheval $$ : 800 W Randolph Omg, burgers! (Long wait, put in your name early) Green Street Smoked Meats $$ : 112 N Green St Gregg's fave BBQ (don't judge us Texans!) Little Goat Diner $$ : 820 W Randolph Brunch & more... Steph Izard's m. accessible restaurant [Izard restaurants nearby that require reservations: Girl & the Goat, Duck Duck Goat, & Cabra] Monteverde $$$$ : 1020 W Madison St Great, authentic Italian Leña Brava $$$ : 900 W Randolph Rick Bayless, Mexican seafood, amazing cocktails! Jeni’s Ice Cream $$ : 908 W Randolph (mult loc) Try the Brambleberry Crisp! Lazy Bird $$ : 200 N Green St (in cellar of Hoxton Hotel) If Emily could be a bar, she'd be this one!
Food In River North
Bavette’s $$$$ : 218 W Kinzie Our fave steakhouse, res reqd, ask for the Parlor! (UNLESS you arrive at 4p and sit at bar) Rec: any steak, crab cake, mashed potatoes, Bavette's rum punch Donut Vault $$ : 401 N Franklin Insta-worthy donuts. Pre-order, they run out when they run out Gilt Bar $$$ : 230 W Kinzie Bavette's sister restaurant, similar & easier reservations *All around the corner from the Merchandize Mart el stop*
Food & Drinks Around Town
Crushed Pizzeria $$ : 1607 W Montrose Best thin crust, say hi to Ronnie! Rec: Louie, Les, salads! Neighborhood: Ravenswood Pequod’s Pizza $$ : 2207 N Clybourn Best pan pizza, great weekday special! Neighborhood: Lincoln Park Noodle Bird $$$ : 2957 W Diversey Em's fave asian fusion Neighborhood: Logan Square M. Henry $$ : 5707 N Clark Brunch! Bread pudding for the table! Neighborhood: Andersonville Lost Larson $$ : 5318 N Clark St Fancy bakery v popular! Neighborhood: Andersonville Hopleaf $$ : 5148 N Clark St Belgium bar, get fries and Zombie Dust Neighborhood: Andersonville Goose Island $$ : 1800 N Clybourn M. ubiquitous Chicago brewery! Neighborhood: Lincoln Park Revolution Brewing $$ : 2323 N Milwaukee Fun bar / brewery Neighborhood: Logan Square Lost Lake $$ : 3154 W Diversey Tiki bar with great drinks and food! Neighborhood: Logan Square Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen $$ : 1141 S Jefferson St Jewish Deli -- Obama's fave! Neighborhood: South Loop
Best on a Budget
Places that wont break the bank and are totally worth it! Jubilee Juice $ : 140 N Halsted Amazing food, open laaate! Rec: burgers, chx sand, portobello char, waffle fries Do Rite Donuts $ : multiple locations Fried Chicken Sandwiches save the DAY! Donuts too! Little Goat Diner $$ : 820 W Randolph The cheapest way you can try Stephanie Izard's fare! And the menu is vast! XOCO $$ : 449 North Clark Street The cheapest Rick Bayless restaurant! Roost Chicken & Biscuit $$ : mult loc Gregg's fave, Nashville style! M. Henry $$ : 5707 N Clark Brunch! Bread pudding for the table! Siam Noodles & Rice $$ : 4142 N Broadway Pad Kee Mao beef or tofu w/ extra veggies Blowfish Sushi & Ramen $$ : 1131 W Bryn Mawr Ave Em's favorite sushi! Not cheap, but totally reasonable. Jeni’s Ice Cream $$ : (mult loc) GREAT ice cream! Magnolia Bakery : 108 N State St Banana pudding + cupcake = <$10 Garrett's Popcorn : 4 E Michigan Ave (mult loc) A small bag of popcorn is around $5, 100% worth it!
GREGG'S COFFEE RECS
Metric Coffee : 2021 W Fulton St suite k-101b "Best specialty roaster in Chicago, try the Colossus beans." Neighborhood: West Town Sawada : 112 N Green St "Unique options, I recommend the cortado" Neighborhood: Fulton Market / West Loop Intelligensia : 3123 N Broadway (mult loc) "Iconic specialty coffee roaster in Chicago, try the drip coffee of the day. Their mocha is great." La Colombe : 955 W Randolph (mult loc) "Great all-around shop, the draft latte is unique."