I didn't realize how badly I was lacking in quality photos until I was going through them for this post. WOW. I was terrible at taking pictures during my time living in Chicago. I am going to put a collage of all of my phone pictures together and write a list of all of my favorite stops - touristy and local. I'll get back there some day and do a better job documenting my favorites, I promise. I really loved my time in Chicago. It was very eye opening and I learned a lot about myself and how to be independent.
My favorite tourist spots/things to do TOTALLY worth the crowds:
1. Millennium and Maggie Daley Parks - the bean and ice skating in the winter
2. The Art Institute of Chicago
3. Lincoln Park Zoo
4. Going to a Black Hawks game
5. The Joffrey Ballet
6. The Shedd Aquarium
7. Seeing the river dyed green on St. Patricks day
8. Attending a Cubs (or White Socks) game
9. Cheering on the Chicago Fire
10. Exploring and shopping Michigan Avenue
11. The Second City comedy club
Touristy eats/drinks worth indulging in:
All of these are located in the downtown area known as "The Loop."
1. Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
2. Giordano's Pizza
3. Velvet Taco
4. The Original Pancake House
5. Argo Tea
6. Stan's Donuts
7. Sprinkles Cupcakes
8. Shake Shack
9. The Signature Room (great view of the city)
Scroll below pictures for more!
Best things to do from a "locals" perspective:
1. Get out into the different neighborhoods and explore. Chicago is actually super easy to navigate once you get the hang of it. It is all on grid system making it very easy to understand addresses. Additionally, public transportation is usually pretty dang reliable and easy to use.
2. See a show at the Looking Glass Theater
3. Go to a neighborhood pub or bar instead of downtown. I loved Louie's pub, a karaoke bar in Wicker Park/Bucktown
4. Neo-futurists Theatre - Experimental theater known for long-running late-night show, Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (hit or miss, but man when you get a good one it is HILARIOUS) (Edgewater/Andersonville)
5. Run through the Lincoln park zoo (it's free)
6. Go for a walk & explore the Lake Front trail
7. Lifeline Theatre (Roger's Park)
8. Check out the Loyola campus in Roger's Park - its very pretty!
9. Run the Shamrock Shuffle on St. Patricks Day
10. National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture in Humboldt Park
11. Walk around and find street art in Humboldt Park
12. Garfield Park Conservatory
13. Big Joes for turtle races
14. Visit Hyde Park - DuSable Museum of African American History, University of Chicago, Smart Museum of Art
15. Wndr Museum
Best Non-touristy Eats/Drinks:
1. Bang Bang Pies & Biscuits (Wicker Park)
2. Fatpour Tap Works (Wicker Park)
3. Eleven City Diner (There is one on the north side and one on the south)
4. Alliance Bakery
5. Taste of Peru (Roger's park)
6. Golden Bull - Chinatown (honestly anywhere you go in Chinatown is amazing)
7. Nuevo Leon (Pilsen)
8. Big Star (Bucktown)
9. Picante Taqueria (Wicker Park) - tiny little hole in the wall but SO DAMN GOOD.
10. Green Tomato Cafe (Lawndale)
11. The Bad Apple (Lincoln Square)
12. Fat Rice (Logan Square)
13. Elly's Pancake House
14. Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder (Lincoln Park) - get the pizza pot pie!!
My Chicago Bucket List
1. The Violet Hour - a secret bar/speakeasy in Wicker Park
2. Emporium - arcade bar in Logan Square
3. See a White Socks game and compare to a Cubs game
4. Tour a local brewery like Revolution or Goose Island
5. Visit the J. Parker rooftop Lounge & Drumbar
6. Have a Chicago dog at Fat Johnnie’s Red Hots on the South Side
7. Go to the Green Mill Cocktail lounge for some history and jazz (Al Capone's favorite spot)
8. Shop at POSH in River North and Wolfbait & B-girls in Logan Square
9. See a concert at Lincoln Hall
10. Visit Pier 31 and the 31st St. Harbor
11. See the gorgeous architecture at the William Rainey Harper Memorial Library
12. Wood Street Urban Farm
13. Stony Island Arts Bank
14. Inspiration Kitchen - Garfield Park
15. 3 Arts Club Cafe
16. The Hampton Social
17. Ride the Chicago Water Taxi
18. The Yale Building
19. La Michoacana Premium - Del Panda (ice cream in Pilsen)
20. Maison Marcel Coffee Window
Whew, that got long. Let me know your other must-sees in Chicago!!
XOXO,
Em