This is a thread dedicated to the greatest city: home to Cubs, Sox and Fires, Hawks, Bulls and Bears, a world-class lakefront, ketchup-less hot dogs, deep dishes, and the lead in the country's government corruption!
As the third largest city in the United States, Chicago is home to world-class level cuisine, architecture, and mustaches.
Despite its long history and prevalence in American culture, lots of folks still have weird misconceptions about the City of Broad Shoulders. So let's clear some stuff up:
Q: Isn't Chicago full of gang violence? Like, am I gonna get shot if I go there?
A: Chicago has a definite, serious problem when it comes to gangs, brought about by a mixture of racial segregation, income inequality, and a lack of commercial opportunity in certain neighborhoods. That being said, these neighborhoods only make up a small percentage of Chicago. Bottom line, if you're a tourist, you're almost definitely not going to be anywhere near these areas. It's perhaps a double-edged sword that it's so easy to ignore these issues, because while it's not omnipresent in the life of your average Chicagoan, that apathy makes it hard to galvanize support for change.
Q: Ew, deep dish pizza is gross! Thin crust for life!
A: Okay, well that's not a question, first off. First thing: the deep dish that you've been eating outside of a Chicago ain't real deep dish. Give it a shot in Chicago. Secondly, deep dish isn't your only option when it comes to pizza in the Second City, not by a long shot. Chicago has a second signature pizza style, which is thinner, cut into squares and has a nice crunch to its crust. It's delicious, and my personal favorite when it comes to pizza-eatin' here. In fact, some of the best pizza places aren't even in the Chicago tradition so don't think it's deep dish or bust in our fine city.
Q: Okay, I'm in town for the weekend. What should I do with my 48 hours there?
A: It really depends on what you're into. Of course, there are the usual tourist stays; the Magnificent Mile downtown with its luxury shops and world-class architecture, the parks including Grant and Millenium Park, especially with the free concerts and movies in the summertime, walking/running or biking the Lake (multiple rental sites). The Museum Campus has multiple world class museums including the Field Museum (natural history) Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. There also is the Museum of Contemporary Arts but my favorites tend to be the world class Art Institute and Museum of Science and Industry (MSI especially great for kids). Otherwise, aside from the usually tourist haunts, we'd suggest exploring more of the neighborhood scenes.
Q: What neighborhoods should I visit/stay in?
A: The great thing about Chicago is its vibrant diversity in neighborhoods. There's a saying in Chicago: if you're not a fan of where you're at, just walk a quarter-mile in any direction and you'll find something different. If you're into raging clubs and girls in tight dresses, hit up River North. If you're a trendy hipster, check out Wicker Park. If you're gay and want to party, Boystown or Andersonville is awesome. If you're into craft beer bars or more of a divey atmosphere, well, those are everywhere - Ukranian Village, Logan Square, Pilsen, Humboldt Park and many other neighborhoods can service this need. The takeaway here is that Chicago has something for everybody, so if you need advice on where to stay/hang out, let us know what you're into. Chances are there's an area that caters specifically to folks like you!
Q: What's the deal with Navy Pier?
A: The number one tourist site in the Midwest unfortunately has a history of inducing eye-rolls from Chicago locals. It was seen as a big tourist trap with big chains, overpriced souvenirs and a typically soulless vibe. Having said that, over the last several years the city has tried to revitalize the area and they have done a pretty good job of making it more unique and open for locals as well. It wouldn't be a top recommendation to see still, but it's nowhere near as tourist-trappy that it was even 10 years ago.
Q: We've talked about pizza, but what other awesome food can I get in Chicago?
A: Oh, man, that's a hard one to answer. Chicago has one of the best food scenes in the world, and offers amazing options for everything from fine dining to Korean BBQ to Mexican and everything in between. We take a lot of pride in our restaurants, and it shows. One of the hottest and trendiest streets in the row has been redubbed "Restaurant Row" on Randolph Street due to the influx of amazing restaurants from world class chefs. Otherwise, people tend to love the food here, whether they're dropping serious bills at Alinea, grabbing late-night dim sum at Minghin or eating a jibarito (Puerto Rican invention - it's a steak sandwich with fried plantains instead of bread) for $6.
Q: I heard someone from Chicago say they've got beaches there. Uhhh, I mean, there's a lake, but come on, seriously?
A: While Chicago can't really compete with the fucking OCEAN, Lake Michigan is massive and beautiful in its own right, and the beaches here are actually really nice. North Ave Beach is a little more busy and active, but if you just wanna chill out, Montrose Beach is usually quieter.
Q: Do I need a car if I'm visiting Chicago?
A: Depending on where you're staying, the public transit options will differ, but from my perspective, nope, you really don't. The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) has our city pretty well supplied with busses, and we've also got the L (short for Elevated Rail), our municipal rail. There's also the Metra, which covers many of the suburbs that make up Chicagoland. You can pick up a 7-Day Pass for only $28, and you'll be set.
Q: I've heard O'Hare is a living nightmare. Should I try to fly into Midway instead?
A: Good question! Chicago has two major airports - O'Hare, which is northwest of the city, and Midway, which is southwest of downtown. Both have direct access to the Loop via the Blue Line for O'Hare or the Orange Line for Midway. So it really comes down to where you're staying, and which line will provide easier access. I actually prefer O'Hare, since I live off the Blue Line, plus O'Hare is just a newer, nicer airport, with more stuff to do if you need to kill time. Midway is certainly serviceable, but it's much smaller, and it shows its age more.
Q: I've been here for two days already and I haven't heard a single person talk like Bill Swerski. This is bullshit!
A: Well, Chicago's a pretty big city, and many people who live here aren't actually from Chicago. So if you want to hear somebody say, "Yah, well da Bearse are gunna go awl da way dis year, see, dey got an all-new coach and it's really gunna pay awf," you'll either have to stick it out longer or go to the suburbs. Believe me, I love regional American accents, and I treasure these moments.
Now that we've cleared that up, let's talk recommendations!
Food recs!
Pizza: As mentioned, the pizza scene is great.
Burgers/Dogs/Sandwiches: Burgers and dogs are everywhere in Chicago. The Chicago dog is particular is an all beef dog on a poppy seed bun with mustard, chopped onions, a pickle tomatoes, peppers, celery salt and bright green relish. Traditionally, no ketchup should be on the dog. There's also a number of other notable sandwiches which I'll try to point out.
Trendy/Upscale: Chicago boasts one of the most vibrant upscale dining scenes in the country. Many chefs are driving innovation not only in the city, but truly through the country. If you're at a loss and just want to go to where the action is, check out Randolph Street and Fulton Market in the West Loop. A few notable restaurants to mention though:
For Korean food, Crisp has excellent fried chicken as does Bonchon although Great Seas (in old Koreatown) still has the traditional lollipop chicken wings with a definite kick. Chosun Ok is great for Chadolbaegi (thinly sliced unmarinated ribeye) though gets crowded. Sansoo Gabsan is overall a noteworth experience.
For Chinese food and dim sum, Chicago's Chinatown has some great options but others exist elsewhere. Minghin has multiple locations and has late night dim sum, though Cai and Dolo are still probably top tier. Joy Yee's Noodles has a giant menu and great bubble teas. Lao Szechuan has multiple locations as well and has the best Szechuan food in the city. Hing Kee has freshly made noodles and soupy dumplings (Xiao long bao). Sun Wah in Uptown specializes in roast duck which is great.
Ramen and Sushi: probably the best Ramen in the city is not in the city but at Arlington Heights at the supermarket complex Mitsuwa. However there are some great Ramen places to be had in the city; these include Furious Spoon, Slurping Turtle, Oiistar, Ramen Takeya, Strings, Wasabi and Ramen Misoya. For sushi, consider: Arami, Coast/South Coast, and Katsu in Rogers Park. Tanoshii is excellent as well with a few different locations now.
Vietnamese is localized mainly in Uptown on Argyle street. Pho 777 is great. Ba Le is across the street from Tank and has great Banh Mi. Elsewhere, Haisous in Pilsen is a trendier take on Vietnamese and Thai food.
Indian: The best Indian food tends to be on Devon street (pronounced dev ON). Udupi Palace has both North and South food and typicall has great service. Ghareeb Nawaz is dirt cheap and you get a massive amount of food for the price. Uru-Swati is also both North and South vegetarian options but again pretty cheap for what you get. Tandoo Char House has great meat options
Mexican: While Rick Bayless, world class chef has 4 restaurants in Chicago now (Frontera Grill, Topolobambo, Xoco, and Leña Brava) some of the best Mexican food is in Pilsen or other areas. Carnitas Don Pedro and Carnitas Uruapan specialize in… well carnitas. Martinez Supermarket may be the greatest hidden eatery; hidden behind the grocery store is a counter for food; their 3 pound burritos are absolutely amazing. Other recommendations would include L'Patron and El Milagro.
The newest trend now has been the large food halls. These are like old food courts, but usually have higher end, chef-driven stalls. These include Revival Food Hall in the Loop, Forum 55 and Latinicity. Similar to this concept is Eataly which is slowly expanding nationwide (though still a great locale) and also the French Market. You could also make your way up to some of the big Asian supermarkets such as Mitsuwa for Japanese food in Arlington Heights, Assi, Joong Boo Market or the multiple H Marts (including one coming to the West Loop area soon!) for Korean Food, and Seafood City for a plethora of Filipino food.
And that's really only a sliver of what's available. There are tons of other places, and types of food that we could recommend. The best advice I can give you is to be adventurous and seek out places outside your comfort zone, both in terms of taste and area. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised!
NIGHTLIFE
General Bars: So many goddamn bars. These are really just some of my favorites. Good bars are everywhere in this city, catering to all flavors and tastes. A few to consider include Hopleaf in Andersonville, Scofflaw in Logan Square, Alice's Lounge & Karaoke in Avondale, Empty Bottle in Ukrainian Village, The Owl in Logan Square. The Map Room in Wicker Park. For high end specialty bars, you could consider Cindy's, Violet Hour, Three dots and a Dash, The Aviary/Office.
Arcades & Barcades: These are seemingly everywhere now. While there are multiple barcades like Emporium Arcade Bar, Replay and Headquarters Beercade in Lakeview and River North old school arcades exist including Logan Arcade and specifically Galloping Ghost which is one of the biggest old school arcades in the country with an amazing selection, and a clear conservation effort for old titles. It is really seriously impressive and was even where a previous-forum meetup was held.
Live Shows and Music: A ton of places including Double Door, Lincoln Hall, The Hideout, and Metro. For a little bit lighter note, you can head to the Green Mill for jazz, and also to tour one of Al Capone's old hangouts (his booth is still there). For other live non-music shows, consider a weekly taping of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Second City for sketch or improv, or surrealist theater by The Neofuturists. There's a bunch of comedy clubs including the original Zanies, Laugh Factory, and other clubs that I'm probably too uncool to know about. In addition, Chicago has a vibrant theater scene with touring and sometimes or second production Broadway shows (i.e. Book of Mormon, Hamilton) but also with original works at the Steppenwolf, Goodman and other theaters. Chicago's Shakespeare Theater also has productions throughout the year at their home in Navy Pier.
Movie Theaters: Obviously, you can find movie theaters everywhere but Chicago has some great independent theaters including The Music Box, The Siskel Film Center, Facets Cinematique and so forth.
In addition, throughout the year there will be festivals in the city such as:
Special thanks to Viewt, Sai, Kitchemotors, Kisaya and toadsworth.
As the third largest city in the United States, Chicago is home to world-class level cuisine, architecture, and mustaches.
Despite its long history and prevalence in American culture, lots of folks still have weird misconceptions about the City of Broad Shoulders. So let's clear some stuff up:
Q: Isn't Chicago full of gang violence? Like, am I gonna get shot if I go there?
A: Chicago has a definite, serious problem when it comes to gangs, brought about by a mixture of racial segregation, income inequality, and a lack of commercial opportunity in certain neighborhoods. That being said, these neighborhoods only make up a small percentage of Chicago. Bottom line, if you're a tourist, you're almost definitely not going to be anywhere near these areas. It's perhaps a double-edged sword that it's so easy to ignore these issues, because while it's not omnipresent in the life of your average Chicagoan, that apathy makes it hard to galvanize support for change.
Q: Ew, deep dish pizza is gross! Thin crust for life!
A: Okay, well that's not a question, first off. First thing: the deep dish that you've been eating outside of a Chicago ain't real deep dish. Give it a shot in Chicago. Secondly, deep dish isn't your only option when it comes to pizza in the Second City, not by a long shot. Chicago has a second signature pizza style, which is thinner, cut into squares and has a nice crunch to its crust. It's delicious, and my personal favorite when it comes to pizza-eatin' here. In fact, some of the best pizza places aren't even in the Chicago tradition so don't think it's deep dish or bust in our fine city.
Q: Okay, I'm in town for the weekend. What should I do with my 48 hours there?
A: It really depends on what you're into. Of course, there are the usual tourist stays; the Magnificent Mile downtown with its luxury shops and world-class architecture, the parks including Grant and Millenium Park, especially with the free concerts and movies in the summertime, walking/running or biking the Lake (multiple rental sites). The Museum Campus has multiple world class museums including the Field Museum (natural history) Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. There also is the Museum of Contemporary Arts but my favorites tend to be the world class Art Institute and Museum of Science and Industry (MSI especially great for kids). Otherwise, aside from the usually tourist haunts, we'd suggest exploring more of the neighborhood scenes.
Q: What neighborhoods should I visit/stay in?
A: The great thing about Chicago is its vibrant diversity in neighborhoods. There's a saying in Chicago: if you're not a fan of where you're at, just walk a quarter-mile in any direction and you'll find something different. If you're into raging clubs and girls in tight dresses, hit up River North. If you're a trendy hipster, check out Wicker Park. If you're gay and want to party, Boystown or Andersonville is awesome. If you're into craft beer bars or more of a divey atmosphere, well, those are everywhere - Ukranian Village, Logan Square, Pilsen, Humboldt Park and many other neighborhoods can service this need. The takeaway here is that Chicago has something for everybody, so if you need advice on where to stay/hang out, let us know what you're into. Chances are there's an area that caters specifically to folks like you!
Q: What's the deal with Navy Pier?
A: The number one tourist site in the Midwest unfortunately has a history of inducing eye-rolls from Chicago locals. It was seen as a big tourist trap with big chains, overpriced souvenirs and a typically soulless vibe. Having said that, over the last several years the city has tried to revitalize the area and they have done a pretty good job of making it more unique and open for locals as well. It wouldn't be a top recommendation to see still, but it's nowhere near as tourist-trappy that it was even 10 years ago.
Q: We've talked about pizza, but what other awesome food can I get in Chicago?
A: Oh, man, that's a hard one to answer. Chicago has one of the best food scenes in the world, and offers amazing options for everything from fine dining to Korean BBQ to Mexican and everything in between. We take a lot of pride in our restaurants, and it shows. One of the hottest and trendiest streets in the row has been redubbed "Restaurant Row" on Randolph Street due to the influx of amazing restaurants from world class chefs. Otherwise, people tend to love the food here, whether they're dropping serious bills at Alinea, grabbing late-night dim sum at Minghin or eating a jibarito (Puerto Rican invention - it's a steak sandwich with fried plantains instead of bread) for $6.
Q: I heard someone from Chicago say they've got beaches there. Uhhh, I mean, there's a lake, but come on, seriously?
A: While Chicago can't really compete with the fucking OCEAN, Lake Michigan is massive and beautiful in its own right, and the beaches here are actually really nice. North Ave Beach is a little more busy and active, but if you just wanna chill out, Montrose Beach is usually quieter.
Q: Do I need a car if I'm visiting Chicago?
A: Depending on where you're staying, the public transit options will differ, but from my perspective, nope, you really don't. The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) has our city pretty well supplied with busses, and we've also got the L (short for Elevated Rail), our municipal rail. There's also the Metra, which covers many of the suburbs that make up Chicagoland. You can pick up a 7-Day Pass for only $28, and you'll be set.
Q: I've heard O'Hare is a living nightmare. Should I try to fly into Midway instead?
A: Good question! Chicago has two major airports - O'Hare, which is northwest of the city, and Midway, which is southwest of downtown. Both have direct access to the Loop via the Blue Line for O'Hare or the Orange Line for Midway. So it really comes down to where you're staying, and which line will provide easier access. I actually prefer O'Hare, since I live off the Blue Line, plus O'Hare is just a newer, nicer airport, with more stuff to do if you need to kill time. Midway is certainly serviceable, but it's much smaller, and it shows its age more.
Q: I've been here for two days already and I haven't heard a single person talk like Bill Swerski. This is bullshit!
A: Well, Chicago's a pretty big city, and many people who live here aren't actually from Chicago. So if you want to hear somebody say, "Yah, well da Bearse are gunna go awl da way dis year, see, dey got an all-new coach and it's really gunna pay awf," you'll either have to stick it out longer or go to the suburbs. Believe me, I love regional American accents, and I treasure these moments.
Now that we've cleared that up, let's talk recommendations!
Food recs!
Pizza: As mentioned, the pizza scene is great.
- Pequod's in Lincoln Park: Probably the best Deep Dish pizza; the crust is slightly burned to caramelize the cheese. Really quite delicious.
- Lou Malnati's/Giordano's/Gino's East: These are the local chain deep dish pizza places. They're pretty much all over the place and opinions vary. Personally, I get a hankering for a Lou's deep dish maybe once a year. They all have the tavern thin crust though, and they are decent.
- Piece Brewery and Pizzeria in Wicker Park: Brewery with New Haven style pizza.
- Spacca Napoli and Coalfire: Two places considered to have some of the best pizzas in Chicago. These are Neapolitan style, so more flatter with a slightly soggier middle but absolutely delicious.
- Bonci Pizzeria in West Loop: A new addition, this is the first Bonci to be opened in the U.S and outside of Italy, it's a focaccia style pizza/Roman style crust.
- Dante's Pizzeria: Great NY style slices
- Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder: This one is really good. It's kinda weird though; the pizza is almost like a pot-pie then anything else.
Burgers/Dogs/Sandwiches: Burgers and dogs are everywhere in Chicago. The Chicago dog is particular is an all beef dog on a poppy seed bun with mustard, chopped onions, a pickle tomatoes, peppers, celery salt and bright green relish. Traditionally, no ketchup should be on the dog. There's also a number of other notable sandwiches which I'll try to point out.
- Portillo's (multiple locations): Local chain for burgers, dogs and Italian beef (see below). It's decent. They have a chocolate cake milkshake though too. Seriously.
- Superdawg: Kind of out of the way in the suburbs of Wheeling, but old school drive through with excellent dogs.
- Fatso's Last Stand: A pretty good spot for dogs, though IMO a little smaller then what you can get elsewhere.
- The Wiener Circle: I guess special mention should be made of this place. It's an ok stand for dogs, but that's not its claim to fame. See this clip if you're interested in seeing what makes it unique.
- Al's Italian Beef/Buona/Luke's/Novi's/The Original Italian Beef: There are multiple places for Italian beef; it's thinly sliced, slow roasted beef with the whole sandwich topped with giardienera (hot peppers) or sweet peppers and dunked in gravy, bread and all. It's messy and not for the faint of heart.
- Kuma's Corner: Now with multiple locations. The original is a heavy metal bar but with amazingly good burgers some of the best in the city.
- Au Cheval/Small Cheval: This could go into the "trendy" section as the original is kind of a foodie destination but recently has made waves as Food Network and Business Insider have named it the Best Burger in the Country. I dunno about that but it's a tasty burger (with a full diner menu as well).
- Ricobene's: A pizza place on the south side (you may have seen the pizza boxes on Showtime's Shameless since it's a favorite of the Gallagher's) but it's the breaded steak sandwich that USA today proclaimed as the best sandwich in America.
- Silver Palm: Special mention for this old railroad dining car; they have a sandwich called the 3 Little Pigs. Ham, Pork Tenderloin and Bacon with cheese and an egg. Anthony Bourdain calls it the greatest sandwich in America. Eat one then check yourself into an ER.
Trendy/Upscale: Chicago boasts one of the most vibrant upscale dining scenes in the country. Many chefs are driving innovation not only in the city, but truly through the country. If you're at a loss and just want to go to where the action is, check out Randolph Street and Fulton Market in the West Loop. A few notable restaurants to mention though:
- Alinea: Run by Grant Achatz who propelled and helped defined molecular gastronomy in the States. Alinea is still one of the best restaurants in the world that will astound and amaze you. It's not cheap by any means but if you want that 4+ hour once in a lifetime dining experience that will stick with you the rest of your life, this is it.
- Next: Achatz's sister restaurant. Still fine dining but they literally reconceptualize the food to a different place and time every 4 months. One time it may be an Escoffier-esque experience from the Paris Ritz in 1906, another it may be a whimsical take on food from your childhood; another may be a modern take on ancient Roman food, etc.
- Girl and the Goat: Run by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard, this place is still always packed and is definitely a see and be seen type of place. It doesn't hurt that the food is excellent.
- Parachute: Another Top Chef alum, Beverly Kim's Korean-fusion place.
- Publican: A personal favorite; beer, pork and oysters. What's not to like?
- Gibson's: Seems like it's been around forever but still a go-to steakhouse. Great steaks and a definite Chicago vibe.
- Chicago Cut Steakhouse: For my money, the leader in terms of Steakhouses (don't get confused with Chicago Chop which is NOT on the same level).
- Maple and Ash: A newer trendy take on steakhouses; definitely sexier but the food is amazingly good.
- RPM Steak: High priced Steakhouse in the middle of downtown Chicago. Pretty big scenester place.
- Boeufhaus: A no frills type of steakhouse; come dressed as you are, but get prepared for some of the biggest beefiest steaks in the entire city.
- Prime and Provisions: Want to feel like you're Don Draper? This is the place for you. Elegantly going for an old school vibe, massive steaks, big bourbon/scotch list, cigar service and all.
- Gene and Georgetti: Chicago's old-school steakhouse/Italian joint. While the food is only decent IMO, the vibe feels like Michael Corleone's arranging a hit there.
For Korean food, Crisp has excellent fried chicken as does Bonchon although Great Seas (in old Koreatown) still has the traditional lollipop chicken wings with a definite kick. Chosun Ok is great for Chadolbaegi (thinly sliced unmarinated ribeye) though gets crowded. Sansoo Gabsan is overall a noteworth experience.
For Chinese food and dim sum, Chicago's Chinatown has some great options but others exist elsewhere. Minghin has multiple locations and has late night dim sum, though Cai and Dolo are still probably top tier. Joy Yee's Noodles has a giant menu and great bubble teas. Lao Szechuan has multiple locations as well and has the best Szechuan food in the city. Hing Kee has freshly made noodles and soupy dumplings (Xiao long bao). Sun Wah in Uptown specializes in roast duck which is great.
Ramen and Sushi: probably the best Ramen in the city is not in the city but at Arlington Heights at the supermarket complex Mitsuwa. However there are some great Ramen places to be had in the city; these include Furious Spoon, Slurping Turtle, Oiistar, Ramen Takeya, Strings, Wasabi and Ramen Misoya. For sushi, consider: Arami, Coast/South Coast, and Katsu in Rogers Park. Tanoshii is excellent as well with a few different locations now.
Vietnamese is localized mainly in Uptown on Argyle street. Pho 777 is great. Ba Le is across the street from Tank and has great Banh Mi. Elsewhere, Haisous in Pilsen is a trendier take on Vietnamese and Thai food.
Indian: The best Indian food tends to be on Devon street (pronounced dev ON). Udupi Palace has both North and South food and typicall has great service. Ghareeb Nawaz is dirt cheap and you get a massive amount of food for the price. Uru-Swati is also both North and South vegetarian options but again pretty cheap for what you get. Tandoo Char House has great meat options
Mexican: While Rick Bayless, world class chef has 4 restaurants in Chicago now (Frontera Grill, Topolobambo, Xoco, and Leña Brava) some of the best Mexican food is in Pilsen or other areas. Carnitas Don Pedro and Carnitas Uruapan specialize in… well carnitas. Martinez Supermarket may be the greatest hidden eatery; hidden behind the grocery store is a counter for food; their 3 pound burritos are absolutely amazing. Other recommendations would include L'Patron and El Milagro.
The newest trend now has been the large food halls. These are like old food courts, but usually have higher end, chef-driven stalls. These include Revival Food Hall in the Loop, Forum 55 and Latinicity. Similar to this concept is Eataly which is slowly expanding nationwide (though still a great locale) and also the French Market. You could also make your way up to some of the big Asian supermarkets such as Mitsuwa for Japanese food in Arlington Heights, Assi, Joong Boo Market or the multiple H Marts (including one coming to the West Loop area soon!) for Korean Food, and Seafood City for a plethora of Filipino food.
And that's really only a sliver of what's available. There are tons of other places, and types of food that we could recommend. The best advice I can give you is to be adventurous and seek out places outside your comfort zone, both in terms of taste and area. You'll probably be pleasantly surprised!
NIGHTLIFE
General Bars: So many goddamn bars. These are really just some of my favorites. Good bars are everywhere in this city, catering to all flavors and tastes. A few to consider include Hopleaf in Andersonville, Scofflaw in Logan Square, Alice's Lounge & Karaoke in Avondale, Empty Bottle in Ukrainian Village, The Owl in Logan Square. The Map Room in Wicker Park. For high end specialty bars, you could consider Cindy's, Violet Hour, Three dots and a Dash, The Aviary/Office.
Arcades & Barcades: These are seemingly everywhere now. While there are multiple barcades like Emporium Arcade Bar, Replay and Headquarters Beercade in Lakeview and River North old school arcades exist including Logan Arcade and specifically Galloping Ghost which is one of the biggest old school arcades in the country with an amazing selection, and a clear conservation effort for old titles. It is really seriously impressive and was even where a previous-forum meetup was held.
Live Shows and Music: A ton of places including Double Door, Lincoln Hall, The Hideout, and Metro. For a little bit lighter note, you can head to the Green Mill for jazz, and also to tour one of Al Capone's old hangouts (his booth is still there). For other live non-music shows, consider a weekly taping of NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Second City for sketch or improv, or surrealist theater by The Neofuturists. There's a bunch of comedy clubs including the original Zanies, Laugh Factory, and other clubs that I'm probably too uncool to know about. In addition, Chicago has a vibrant theater scene with touring and sometimes or second production Broadway shows (i.e. Book of Mormon, Hamilton) but also with original works at the Steppenwolf, Goodman and other theaters. Chicago's Shakespeare Theater also has productions throughout the year at their home in Navy Pier.
Movie Theaters: Obviously, you can find movie theaters everywhere but Chicago has some great independent theaters including The Music Box, The Siskel Film Center, Facets Cinematique and so forth.
In addition, throughout the year there will be festivals in the city such as:
- C2E2
- Comiccon Chicago
- Lollapalooza
- Riot Fest
- St. Patrick's Day Parade (AKA Drunk People-Watching Day)
- Chicago Pride Festival & Parade (usually on different weekend)
- Pitchfork Music Festival
- Jazzfest
- Blues Fest
- Chicago Air and Water Show
- Chicago Marathon, Half-Marathon, Hot Chocolate, Shamrock Shuffle, Bike the Drive, Chicago Triathlon, etc. (basically if you want to run or exert yourself, you don't have to wait very long in Chicago)
- Market Daze
- Ribfest
- Bacon Fest
- Poutine Fest
- Mac N Cheese Fest
- Taste of Chicago
- Taste of Every Other Goddamn Major Street/Neighborhood in Chicago
- Logan Square Beerfest
- About 10 Million Other Festivals Between April and October, etc. etc. etc.
Special thanks to Viewt, Sai, Kitchemotors, Kisaya and toadsworth.
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