We wanted to take this opportunity to share the things we love about Chicago—entertainment, dining, drinking, and general randomness.
ENTERTAINMENT/CULTURAL
Terra Museum
We really recommend the Terra museum. It’s an American Art museum right in the middle of Michigan Avenue. It is small and unintimidating (let’s face it, the Art Institute is famous and fabulous, but huge and overwhelming as well), and the whole thing can be perused with leisure in under two hours.
Chicago Art Institute
This really doesn’t need much of an introduction. If you don’t have a lot of time to spend, we at least urge you to stop in and gaze at Seurat’s "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" Ferris Bueller’s Day Off-style.
The Lincoln Park Zoo
It’s super-close to the Historical Society (and the Days Inn where a lot of people are staying), and it’s FREE! You have no excuse! Go see the aardvarks!
Steppenwolf Theater
We’ve seen a few plays here, and it’s not cheap, but it’s excellent theatre.
Hancock Building/Observatory
Neither of us have been to the top of the Sears Tower, so we can’t recommend the view. (If you go, let us know how it is). But Elissa and her brother have been to the top of the Hancock, and it’s pretty impressive. At the Signature Room on the 95th floor, you can get a good meal with a good view for a high price, and supposedly the Sunday brunch is affordable and inspiring.
Second City
The famed Second City stage is really close to the Historical Society. We enjoy the comedy, but the skits are scripted from improv sessions; they’re not true improvisation. For more "real" improv, go to Improv Olympic.
Architecture River Cruise
Okay, so we haven’t been on one yet, but we’ve HEARD that they’re fantastic.
Newberry Library
A very small, beautiful library located near the top of Michigan Avenue.
Chicago Tribune Magnificent Mile Art Festival, July 12-14
Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, July 13-14
RESTAURANTS (most of these links are to www.metromix.com, where they have addresses, phone numbers, hours, and reviews)
Duke of Perth
Duke of Perth has delicious burgers, all-you-can-eat fish n’ chips on Fridays, authentic Scottish fare like leek pie, and a cute backyard beer garden. Yum.
Addis Abeba
Great Ethiopian…and you eat it all with your hands, which makes for a fun time.
Joy’s
Ahh, the Lakeview staple. It’s not the best Asian you’ve ever had, but it’s cute, and they throw open the window-doors in the summer for an almost-outdoor dining experience.
Star of Siam
Really great Thai in the downtown area.
Nancy’s
2930 N. Broadway, Chicago
(773) 883-1977
Our favorite place from which to order pizza…even though the name is technically "Nancy's Original Stuffed Pizza," we’re all about thin and crispy.
Piece
A great Wicker-park pizza joint, with good white pizzas. Quite trendy, too. It’s where the Real World Chicago dimwits worked and ate.
Geja’s Cafe
Extremely romantic, plush décor…and fondue. Lots of it. Veggies and chicken and beef and lobster and chocolate. It’s unbelievable.
Angelina Ristorante
A great little Italian place on our block (Addison and Broadway). The best seats are by the window, where you can look out at people passing and imagine how envious they are of you, sitting there eating your creamy polenta.
Lao Sze Chuan
Jason spent a year in China, and the only Chinese restaurant in the city he recommends is Lao Sichuan in the Chinatown mall on Archer. They have 812 dishes on the menu. We recommend #637, 604, 563, 609, and for those not afraid to try new things A15.
Chicago Diner (all vegan)
We had Thanksgiving here a few years ago…pretty good stuff for a completely vegan menu.
Ann Sather
Decent breakfasts and KILLER gooey cinnamon rolls. Even if you can’t stop in for a full meal, pick up a few of those rolls.
Ecce Café
3422 N Broadway
(773) 244-9331
We haven’t had a ton of sushi in Chicago, but Ecce is good. They also have great “bubble teas,” which are cold flavored drinks with large black tapioca beads at the bottom and huge straws with which to suck them up. Another good, inexpensive sushi place is Kamehachi.
Casbah Café
Elissa calls this “Cash Bar Café,” and no one really knows why. It has great Mediterranean fare.
Artopolis
Elissa works by Greektown, so she’s been to a bunch of restaurants in the area. Artopolis is the best…the owner, Steve, recognizes you if you go more than once. The food is wonderful, especially the lemon-chicken soup.
Pick Me Up Café
A very cool, quirky late-night coffee house and restaurant on Clark Street, south of Wrigley Field.
Andalous Moroccan Restaurant
Another good Clark street restaurant (there are a TON in between Addison and Belmont).
Le Peep Grill
Fresh smoothies, good coffee, and breakfasts with names like “The 18 Wheeler.” You can even order grits!
Twisted Spoke
A very cool and very fun biker-themed bar with good burgers, falafel (who knew?) and a Bloody Mary that grosses out anybody who doesn’t like MEAT in their drink.
Indian Garden
The best Indian food in the city is reported to be in a Northern area called Devon, but Indian Garden is great (and it does have a sister restaurant in Devon). It’s at the top of Michigan, on the second floor of the building, and it’s relaxing and classy, with great food (good brunches, too).
Cafe Iberico
Loud, packed, rockin' tapas joint with wonderful Sangria and fabulous food.
DRINKING/DANCING/DEBAUCHERY
Big Chicks
Oh, Chicks. Difficult to describe in a blurb. Great art. Friendly bartenders. Great music, usually crowded. A lot of gay men. A platform with mysterious drawing powers for Elissa.
Charlie’s
“Hey, you got progressive house in my two-step!” “No, you got two-step in my progressive house!” Charlie’s is Chicago’s own Austin City Limits before 2 a.m. and more akin to Heaven or G.A.Y. after 2. There are even revolving mirror-ball cowboy boots hanging over the dance floor!
Marigold
Have you ever wanted to belt out your own rendition of Material Girl while bowling a few frames? Jason’s never had that urge, but we enjoy the 24 hr. bowling alley on Grace and Broadway/Halsted for the uniquely shaped thirst quenchers.
Bar Chicago
9 W. Division St.
(312) 654-1120
Chicago was once known for its stockyards and meat packing; this River North bar does its best to carry on the proud tradition, though if you’d actually like the sensation of being auctioned, John Barleycorn might be better. (p.s., on a good night, you’ll see little people dancing on the bar at Bar Chicago.)
Sidetrack
This Lakeview bar serves more alcohol per week than any other bar in Chicago, and it has amazing vodka slushies. Also, if you want to sing show tunes whilst in Chicago go here on Sunday night…and bring a stash of cocktail napkins to wave frantically during the climactic moment in “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”. Please keep your musical stylings in check at the wedding.
Fulton Lounge
Have you ever had a Crème Brulee martini? How about Banana Cream Pie? Chocolate mint? Here’s your chance. They also have good pizza. Very chill, and in a funny location: smack dab in the middle of the meat packing section of the West Loop. Worth the trek!
Eau wine bar
Totally white décor, totally trendy, totally chill. On Halsted above the tres chic Aubriot restaurant, Eau is fairly new and has a name that’s fun to say (whispered in a breathy way).
MUSIC
Music in Grant Park
The Petrillo music shell hosts diverse acts all summer long. When the weather’s nice there are few better venues in Chicago than your own blanket, with the glittering cityscape looming behind you. Brilliant classical concerts are the norm, and past acts have included Midnight Oil, Kurt Elling, Indigo Girls, and Winton Marsalis.
Green Mill
Imagine a classic Jazz club. Now update the drink prices. This chill, moody bar is a staple of the Chicago jazz scene. Patricia Barber performed here every Monday in March.
Metro
Jason’s first Chicago experience was seeing Ani diFranco at Metro his freshman year at Grinnell. This Lakeview bar and concert venue hosts bands like Cornershop, The Get Up Kids, and Sleater Kinney.
Ravinia
If you didn’t know any of the bands listed under the Metro, Ravinia will probably have a more familiar selection. We haven't been, but we've heard good things.
Doubledoor
This is a Chicago music landmark, frequented by John Cusack’s characters and Cusack himself. Since it’s in Wicker Park you could easily bump into members of the next Wilco…or even Wilco themselves.
Loopfest 7/19 at the Tweeter Center
If listening to Heart, REO Speedwagon, Night Ranger, and Styx sounds like a good idea to you, then stick around for this concert at one of the better venues in Chicagoland.
RANDOM THINGS
The Brown line is our favorite El line, with the best views of the city between the Sedgwick and Chicago stops.
Take the Lake Shore path all the way up and down the length of Chicago and beyond. There are many entrances at key intersections, don’t hesitate to ask the concierge at your hotel, or us.
On the southern end of Michigan Avenue sits the Tribune Tower, whose exterior walls contain pieces of famous structures from around the world and the 50 states.
Chicago people: If you feel like we’ve missed a crucial listing, please e-mail us, with your own descriptive blurb. Thanks!