Things To Do
Michigan Avenue Shopping
Christmas shopping anyone? Michigan Avenue will be in its holiday prime this time of year - Christmas lights, holiday shoppers, the hustle and bustle of a big city this time of year. You will find anything from H&M to Chanel to Saks to J.Crew. Pretty much a store for any and all of your Christmas shopping needs! Most of these stores will also ship directly to home at no charge. And, may be worth it as sales tax in Chicago is over 10%!
Zoo Lights @ Lincoln Park Zoo
We're a sucker for zoo lights ever year. The Lincoln Park Zoo is totally free, not too far from downtown Chicago, and every year they blanket the zoo exhibits in a beautiful display of Christmas Lights. Not to mention hot apple cider and of course, the animals! It's fun to stroll around, take a look, people watch and enjoy the exhibits. Pending the weather...of course.
The Field Museum
The Field Museum is all about natural history...think...taxidermied (spelling?) animals, but most importantly, and impressive, is Sue. Sue is the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton in the world, named after the archaeologist who discovered it. It's pretty awesome when you see it in person.
The Art Institute of Chicago
The AIC houses one of the best collections of fine art in the world. They are probably best known for their impressionist collection...Monet, Renoir and Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte", among other widely recognized artists and works of art.
John Hancock Center
The Hancock Tower is technically the third tallest building in Chicago, after the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower and Trump Tower. Here's the catch with Willis Tower...it's way off the main stretch. It's a cab ride away, but Hancock Tower is right on Michigan Ave., so super easy to pop into if you want some beautiful views of Chicago. They should still have a pretty amazing audio tour too... ;) They have a Signature Lounge on the 96th Floor, where you can sip on a cocktail and enjoy the views.
The Goodman Theater - A Christmas Carol
Every year the Goodman Theatre performs "A Christmas Carol" - a classic play in Chicago that's been running for at least the past 50 years, and is a surefire way to get you into the Christmas spirit!
Hamilton - The PrivateBank Theatre
Ever heard of the musical Hamilton? I'm sure you have! It's all the rage, and everyone that's seen it has given it RAVE reviews. We've yet to buy tickets, but it's on our list of must-see plays here in Chicago. Tickets are pricey, but according to everyone that's gone, well worth it.
Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker
What is Christmas without the Nutcracker? If you don't know the answer to this, ask any of my family members or close friends. They are probably Nutcracker'ed out! In all seriousness though, the Joffrey puts on a beautiful production - beautiful dancers, wonderful choreography, and another great way to get into the Christmas spirit.
Randolph Street Restaurants - Au Cheval + many more!
Randolph Street is the hip, happenin' new place in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood. Any restaurant you choose here , you will not be disappointed. They all have a unique flavor and flair, and are located in one of the trendier neighborhoods if you're down for some people watching. Below are just a few of my faves! Au Cheval - 800 W. Randolph Blackbird - 619 W. Randolph Girl and the Goat - 809 W. Randolph (you'll need reservations here a couple months in advance) Bar Siena - 832 W. Randolph Maude's Liquor Bar - 840 W. Randolph The Aviary - 955 W. Fulton Market (a fun place for super fancy cocktails. they're expensive though...thinking $30 a pop. Reservation highly recommended)
Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Chicago's famous (or infamous) deep dish pizza is a must. There are two main places that serve it, and there's a pretty divided opinion in Chicago around which is better. Lou Malnati's and Giordano's Personally, I prefer Giordano's. It's cheesier and well, probably the worst for you. Those that like Lou Malnati's (and I'd say most people prefer Lou's) love it for the crust. You can find these restaurants anywhere in Chicago! I've included the address of the location closest to Four Seasons.
Frontera Grill
Frontera Grill is a Rick Bayless (multiple James Beard award winner) restaurant and one of our favorites in the city. We'd label it as..."regional Mexican".
Riccardo Trattoria
This is Lou and my favorite Italian restaurant in the city. They have pretty much anything on the menu you could ever want, but if you don't see it, I'm confident they'd make it for you. Friendly staff, fast, and most importantly, amazing Italian food in the heart of the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Alinea
By far one of the nicest, if not the nicest, restaurant in Chicago, and the world for that matter. This restaurant is a once in a lifetime experience...sort of like the equivalent of French Laundry in Napa. An excellent choice if you consider yourself a foodie and are prepared to drop some serious coin. Reservations need to be made at least 2 months in advance, you must buy your tickets in advance, and tickets can run between $200-$500 per person depending on if you add in wine pairings. We've never been, but I know quite a few people who have gone and absolutely LOVED it.
Hendrickx Belgian Bakery
Lou and I absolutely love this little bakery, and it's a short walk away from the Four Seasons, and really any hotel around N. Michigan Ave. They are known for their baked goods, and have the most amazing loaves of bread and likely the best French macarons I've EVER tasted (the lemon and salted caramel = mouth watering). This is a great little bakery for an easy breakfast, or afternoon treat. It's small and tucked away in what looks like an apartment complex, but don't give up finding it! It's worth it.
The Green Mill
The Green Mill Jazz club is a live jazz music venue just about a half mile from our house, actually. It's fun to go here and check out live music while sipping on a yummy cocktail. They typically have great acts Thursday evenings. Other live music venues include Kingston Mines and California Clipper - another one of our favorites.