The WalL
join:2004-08-14
Aurora, IL
4 edits | What To Do In Chicago? FAQ Chicago is the 3rd larest city in the US. It has a diverse ethnic and cultural footage. From the old Europeans to the newest Asians, immigrants and natives have been living in this town for centuries.
Here is a short list of what to do in this great city and places to visit. Note that the links on the left provide valuable info on some things mentioned below.
How to get around:
CTA chicago buses and trains - www.yourcta.com
Pace suburban bus service - www.pacebus.com
Metra regional train service - www.metrarail.com
Places to visit in and around the city (by sections of the city):
Downtown
1. Shedd Aquarium
2. Field Museum
3. Art Institute
4. Museum of Contemporary Art
5. Adler Planetarium
6. Sears Tower Observatory
7. Hancock Building Observatory/Signature Room
8. Millenium Park. Website: »www.millenniumpark.org/
9. Grant Park
North side
1. Wrigley Field - Home of Chicago Cubs and neighboring Wrigleyville for the bars and pubs.
Located at: Addison Ave and Shieffield.
Accessible by CTA Red Line and CTA Buses.
2. Devon Avenue for Indian/Pakistani restaurants and grocers and everything else that is South Asian.
Located at: Devon Ave (6400 N) and Western Ave (2400 W).
Accessible by CTA Red Line and CTA Buses.
South side
1. US Cellular Field - Home of the World Champion Chicago White Sox for enjoying baseball
Located at: 35th St and Shields Ave.
Accessible by CTA Red Line.
2. Museum of Science and Industry
Located at: 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive.
Accessible by CTA buses and Metra Electric (57th St. Station)
3. Oriental Institute
Accessible by CTA buses. Its located on U of Chicago campus
4. Checkerboard Lounge (Blues)
Located at: 52nd St & Harper
Accessible by CTA buses or Metra Electric (53rd St. stop)
5. Smart Museum of Art
6. Robie House
West side
1. United Center - Home of Chicago Bulls
Located at: Damen Ave and Jackson Blvd.
Accessible by CTA Damen bus and CTA Blue Line.
2. China Town - For ethnic Chinese, Malaysian and Mongolian cuisine and everything Chinese. This place is a must visit.
Located at: Cermak Ave and Wentworth St.
Accessible by CTA Red Line.
3. Korea Town
North Suburbs
1. Gurnee Mills Shopping - One big shopping mall near the Illinois/Wisconsin border.
Website: »www.gurneemillsmall.com/static/n···GhJoVXwY
2. Volo Auto Museum and Antiques
Website: »www.volocars.com/
3. Six Flags Great America - Rides for everyone in the family. Look for special sales at colleges and schools for half-off tickets.
Website: »www.sixflags.com/parks/greatamer···ndex.asp
4. Chicago Botanical Garden
Website: »www.chicago-botanic.org/
NorthWest Suburbs
1. Allstate Arena- Home of the Chicago Rush of AFL. Chicago Wolves also call Allstate Arena their home. They are arguably the most successful pro-sports franchise in Chicago history having made playoffs for over 10 straight years and winning championships.
Located at: North of Mannheim (IL Rt 45) and Higgins (IL Rt 72).
Accessible by roads and Metra.
Website: »www.allstatearena.com
2. Rosemont Theater has many good shows. Reserve in advance or you'll lose out on the best shows/seats.
Located at: 5400 N. River Rd in Rosemont
Accesible by roads and Metra (with a cab from the station?)
Website: »www.rosemont.com/visiting/theatre.shtml
3. Museum of Hummels (Yep Hummels...we've got that too)
Website: »www.stephenshummelmuseum.com/
4. Many good restaurants
Website: »www.rosemont.com/restaurants/ind···ts.shtml
5. Kiddieland in Melrose Park
Website: »www.kiddieland.com/
South Suburbs
1. Joliet Jackhammers - Minor League baseball action.
2. Windy City Thunderbolts
3. Gary SouthShore Railcats
West Suburbs
1. Kane County Cougars - AAA affiliate of Oakland A's. You can always be assured of a great pitching effort on the mound with this team.
2. Schaumburg Flyers - This is one team that will stop at nothing to make it fun for the fans. Be it signing 'Leon' of Budweiser ads or playing the first few innings on the big scoreboard using a video game, they make it fun for the fan.
3. Chicago Bandits - Chicago's professional softball team plays at Benedictine University's grounds in Lisle, IL. And they have some top notch talent on their roster including Olympic Gold medalist Jennie Finch.
Located at: Benedictine University, Lisle IL.
Accessible by Metrarail and cabs.
4. Naperville Riverwalk in downtown Naperville
5. Morton Arboretum in Lisle
6. Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield
7. Fabyan Forest Preserve (Batavia)- Windmill and Japanese garden
8. Paramount Arts Center in Aurora
9. Chicago Premium Outlets in Aurora
10. BNSF Railroad Museum in Aurora
11. Farnsworth House in Plano
12. SciTech Museum in Aurora
13. Naper Settlement
Some good restaurants:
Portillos
Sullivan's (for steaks) in Naperville
Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora
Hollywood Casino in Aurora (I think all the boats should be in here)
Magianos, Uncle Julio's in Oak Brook
Rosebud, Catch 35, Heaven on Seven, etc. in Downtown Naperville
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cbrigante2
Cubs 20??
Premium
join:2002-11-22
North Aurora, IL | West Burbs:
A couple of ideas:
Portillos
Sullivan's (for steaks) in Naperville
Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora
Hollywood Casino in Aurora (I think all the boats should be in here)
Uncle Julio's in Oak Brook? | |
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jsinaiko
Premium
join:2001-04-25
Chicago, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
| South Side:
Museum of Science and Industry (already listed)
Accessible via CTA and Metra Electric (57th St. Station)
Oriental Institute
Accessible via CTA - on U of Chicago campus
Checkerboard Lounge (blues) 52nd & Harper
Accessible via CTA or Metra Electric (53rd St. stop)
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Illegitimati non carborundum
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jmdomini
Premium
join:2000-05-04
Sycamore, IL | Western Suburbs:
Naperville Riverwalk
Morton Arboretum
Brookfield Zoo
Fabyan Forest Preserve (Batavia)- Windmill and Japanese garden
Paramount Arts Center (Aurora)
Farnsworth House (Plano)
Chicago Premium Outlets (Aurora) | |
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| The WalL
join:2004-08-14
Aurora, IL | Re: What To Do In Chicago? FAQ Updated with all replies so far and added a couple more places. | |
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lskohn
join:2000-08-17
Chicago, IL
| Re: What To Do In Chicago? FAQ All-around information source: The Chicago Visitors' Center at the Cultural Center, Randolph and Michigan -- lots of brochures, maps and volunteers to answer questions
Great architectural tours (by boat, foot, segway or bus!): Chicago Architectural Foundation, 224 South Michigan Avenue, www.architecture.org
Not well-enough known - Neighborhood Tours by the City of Chicago's Office of Cultural Affairs, see www.chgocitytours.com for schedule | |
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StepR
Code Warrior
join:2000-11-06
Elgin, IL
| West- In Oak Park, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
»www.oprf.com/flw/
West- In Winfield, Cantigny Park, a museum of the First infantry Division, with walk-through diaramas of battlefields; outside, visitors can climb on WWI, WWII, Korean War and other tanks. Adjacent is the McCormick House tour and formal gardens.
»www.rrmtf.org/cantigny/ | |
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dddane
join:2002-01-10
Chicago, IL
| Downtown...
-Magnificant Mile Shopping on Michigan Avenue
-Navy Pier (sadly, the #2 tourist attraction in IL?)
North side...
-Lincoln Park Zoo
-Boystown
-Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
South side
-by most people's accounts, china town is on the south side, not west side...
-Pilsen - Mexican neighborhood
North Suburbs
-Ravinia Festival - »www.ravinia.org
Tripsweb for public transit planning »tripsweb.rtachicago.com/ | |
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horatiub
join:2002-01-24
Chicago, IL | did you guys forget about Greek Town?  | |
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Bulldawg
join:2001-02-14
Harwood Heights, IL
| Not sure how long this will stay around or if it will be much help to anyone. But here's a little info »www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14014246/ posted today 08/07/2006 that gives a day of activities to do in the Windy City. | |
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Bulldawg
join:2001-02-14
Harwood Heights, IL
1 edit | We didn't get a Sticky made outta this??
Thanks!  | |
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snipper_cr
join:2002-01-22
Wheaton, IL
clubs:
| Broadway in Chicago (www.broadwayinchicago.com)
Particularly Wicked playing at the Ford center for the performingarts/ Oriental theatre.
Only problem is tickets are expensive and need to be reserved ahead of time but it is an AMAZING show.
The Pirate queen is supposed to be really cool and MamaMia is coming back.
Chicago has an amazing theatre district that I have been fortunate to be able to attend many shows.
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Serenity Day - June 23rd 2006. You Can't Stop the Signal | |
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RMAntala01
join:2002-02-14
Merrillville, IN
clubs:
2 edits | Don't forget about the newest 11,000 seat venue in the area: SEARS CENTRE
LOCATION:
5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
The Sears Centre is located within Prairie Stone Business Park, less than a half-mile west of where the now-demolished Poplar Creek Music Theater (1980-1994) was located.
CONTACTS:
Phone) 847-649-2222
Fax) 847-649-2322
Web) »www.searscentre.com
CONCERTS:
Oct 26th - Duran Duran w/ Assassins (First Public Event At The New Venue)
Oct 27th & 28th - Bob Dylan w/ Kings of Leon
Oct 29th - Lionel Ritchie w/ Chaka Kahn
SPORTS:
Chicago Hounds - United Hockey League (»www.chicagohounds.com)
The Chicago Hounds begin their inaugural season in October 2006 with the first home game to begin in November. Owned and operated by Chicagoland Sports, LLC, the Chicago Hounds are the newest addition to the Chicago market. With affordable season, group, and individual ticket pricing, a Hounds hockey game has something for everyone.
Chicago Shamrox - National Lacross League (»www.chicagoshamrox.com)
After thousands of votes, their fans have chosen the new team name: Chicago Shamrox! Follow the Chicago Shamrox as the league spends the rest of 2006 growing.
As-yet-unnamed-team - United Indoor Football League
The Chicago indoor football team begins their inaugural season in April 2007. Owned and operated by Chicagoland Sports, LLC, the indoor football team is a new and exciting addition to the Northwest Chicagoland area. Playing eight home games per season, Chicago UIF season tickets are an affordable way to check out our hard hitting football action. Group and individual tickets are also a great value and a perfect way to entertain friends and family. A team name and website will be coming soon!
Chicago Storm - Major Indoor Soccer League (»www.chicagostorm.net)
Established in 2004, the Storm has gone from fledgling Franchise to playoff contender in only two seasons. Now Chicago takes the next step in franchise history by making the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates its' new home.
NOTE:
All of the above information was pulled directly from their own website, and is current as of my posting it.
I was just surprised how few people have heard of this place yet; to be honest, I probably wouldn't have known about it either if I hadn't been looking for Duran Duran tickets after hearing about the concert on the radio one day about a month ago. BTW, I did end up getting 4 tickets for the concert... I always wanted to see them since I was in High School in the 80's & figured it'd also be fun to see the first show at a new venue. | |
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jsinaiko
Premium
join:2001-04-25
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: What To Do In Chicago? FAQ Very cool site. Good find dude!
It doesn't have a huge selection, but several of my "secret" places are on there - I guess I just don't get out much any more. 
And they aren't afraid of the South Side, as so many listing-type sites and guides are. Under blues and jazz they list Lee's Unleaded on South Chicago, and the Velvet Lounge ferchrissakes - one of the great dives in this town, owned by one of the great players from the AACM, Fred Anderson. Under soul food they list Izola's and Lem's BBQ House, not just Army & Lou's (all are very good). They list the Hot House too.
Not a huge selection, but very good taste. I would recommend this site to a visitor.
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Illegitimati non carborundum
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Suchaknight
Premium
join:2002-10-06
Houbytown | Smelt season is coming soon. Go down to the lakefront after work and fry up a few. One of the last cheap forms of entertainment left in the city.
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What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about? | |
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