Phil C.: Make sure you have enough time to view all sides of the city and most important,...visit just before sundown. It is the best when you watch the sunset looking west. Very Romantic
Phil C.: Going to visit the fountain can be peaceful and siren as well as a lot of fun for the kids. If you go on a warm night, before 10p the kids can run around and you can watch the light show. Be sure to bring a towel and possibly a change of cloths because you can run through the mist of water and get cooled off.
Phil C.: Harold's Chicken is a long lasting fast food success story that has been a mainstay in the city of Chicago for over 50 years. It brings a special flavor to the southern Fried Chicken arena, mixing beef fat in the oil to give you a unique taste that thousands if not millions living and visiting Chicago have come to love.
Phil C.: Located on Michigan Ave at Adams, this very famous School and Gallery houses some of todays most important works of Art of our time. For instance, George in the Park, which was a piece shown in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a very famous work of art. The number on priceless art is amazing to see especially if you an art enthusiast. Also, the building has two giant sized Lion statutes perched in front as if they are guiding the doors, that the City of Chicago dresses up for special occasions like when the Cubs baseball team won the World Series, they placed two huge Cubs baseball hats on them.
Phil C.: Navy Pier sits on the lakefront and is a major part of the Chicago Skyline. The Pier was rehabilitated in the late 1970's and used to host the Chicago Fest. The fest was later moved and reduced to the food only and then called the Taste of Chicago. At the Fest they had roller skating and much more. Today it houses the Ferris Wheel, the children's museum, convention and exhibition halls, as well as plenty of restaurants, shopping, rides for children, dinner cruise's, the Grand Ballroom for events, lots of parking, all with spectacular views of the lake and skyline. Free of charge to walk around, it is great for romantic strolls and lots of people from around the world.
Phil C.: Grant park is one of Chicago's greatest attractions. It is located from one end to the other of downtown on the lakefront, and has the fountain, baseball, and 16 inch softball diamonds which is a form of softball unique to Chicago played with no gloves. There are beautiful gardens, the Petrillo Band Shell where the Blues, and Jazz fest are held along with hosting the world renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many concerts through out the season. There is Ice skating, and Cloud Gate, better known as the "Bean". Many lakefront joggers and bicyclist use the park a great deal especially during the warmer seasons. However the park is breath-taking during the winter as well with all the serenity of the snow.
Phil C.: Manny's kosher delicatessen has been a fixture of the south loop and Roosevelt rd. corridor for decades. As a child my family and I have frequented this historically significant family owned deli. Many visitors to Chicago make it a point to eat here to experience the tradition and history of such a famous establishment that has had celebrities, politicians, and former Chicagoan's who now live elsewhere come eat there. the restaurant has grown and is now over twice the size it used to be. On a personal note, I had my first date with my wife of almost 19 years back in Feb. of 1998 there.
Phil C.: Dearborn Park is an inner city downtown living experience located just around the corner from East-West University. The concept was the base and or anchor to the entire south living community in the late 1970's, early 1980's. I had a classmate who lived there while we were in high school. It was like living in the suburbs but yet you were downtown.
Phil C.: Chicago's very popular China town is located just over a mile away which is one of America's oldest and traditionally Asian neighborhoods that has everything from restaurants to local traditional grocery store that cater to the authentic Chinese residents who live there. You can catch the Chicago Water taxi here at it's southern most point and ride it through down town, viewing the architecture and many other structures while traveling to the north side
