Always a bit more crowded than I'd wish, but with reason. Incredible beer selection and tasty food like mussels w/frites. Never had a bad beer there, out of dozens I've tried.
For old-time charm and movies that aren't the usual blockbusters, no place beats the Music Box.
Yeah, it gets mobbed for brunch on the weekends, but the black-bean cake and eggs is a winning breakfast any day of the week.
On Sundays, the venerable music venue delivers the best of Chicago's rockin' kids' music scene to little scenesters, with names like Jeanie B and the Jelly Beans and Mr. Singer & The Sharp Cookies.
An eclectic musical appetite, commitment to community building and friendly staff keep this cozy bar in a class of its own. Don't leave without ordering a Wooden Leg.
While cute, this new space is by no means hip. Should you care? Not really—the sandwiches (serviceable), chili (robust) and shakes (heavenly) taste the same no matter where you have them.
The greenhouse offers programs for both adults and children in horticulture and nature education.
Your focus goes immediately to the divine sausages tucked into homemade bread; the chubby ground beef patties oozing with fresh, mild cheese; and the hearty bowls of bean soup.
Anybody who says it's expensive to eat organic has never been to Stanley's. This market is crazy cheap—typical finds include a pound of organic carrots for a buck.
We’re believers in the French toast slathered in peach butter, or the pesto-laden free-range scrambled eggs in the Satisfaction Promise, which comes with crispy potatoes and crusty bread.
This Andersonville plant mecca is known for its warm, quiet nursery, where you can stroll among the vibrant cyclamens, orchids and begonias, and the fountain filled with colorful koi.
Joe Lauer and Jena Frey’s boutique carries cute, uniquely cut garments, shoes and accessories with a touch of mod (think Grandma meets the Beatles) for men and women.
The well-edited selection is not to be missed, and includes many vendors and products not always available to Chicago shoppers.
The 45-bike space comes equipped with customized Schwinn bikes that allow students to track their progress—from calories burned to resistance to revolutions per minute.
If I could remember what PE class was like back in junior high, it was probably something like this new 45-minute cardio session at Equinox featuring moves inspired by action movie stars.
Attire for men and women, like button-up vests and taffeta party dresses, range between $20 and $200, respectively, while furniture pieces such as Heywood-Wakefield chairs go for up to $1,200.
Along with a great selection of hard-to-find and independent films, the theatre's concessions counter is one of the best in the city, with vegan cookies and a popcorn seasoning bar on offer.
Joie de Vivre’s first Chicago hotel has 184 guest rooms, clever artwork (paintings in the lobby were sourced from local yard sales), room service from Perennial Virant and a La Colombe coffee shop.
While in Andersonville, Julie Fernstrom discovered a vacant neighbor space where she’s now opened Brimfield. Named after her favorite plaid, the store is “Ralph Lauren meets a Paris flea market."
Outstanding sums up this delicious coffee roastery and hangout for Edgewater residents. In addition to serving up a mean cup of java, MCC also offers premium-grade teas and a small menu.
Just off the Pink Line, the store specializes in clothing and accessories from the 1940s to ’80s ($10 and up), as well as travel bags ($14–$30) and vintage luggage ($18–$24).
his city-sponsored venue hosts world-music and jazz shows in a beautifully designed bandshell in Millennium Park. The city curates indie gigs in the summer in its killer Downtown Sound series.
This is Chicago’s premier indie rock club, hosting cutting-edge bands from home and abroad. “Cheap Sundays” and free Mondays remove the financial risk from gambling on an unknown bill.
Every dish (sliced flat iron steak with kimchi; pork loin paired with candied peanuts) is at home in the renovated space, which transformed the cramped bar into an expansive, light-filled room.
Somehow, this Ukrainian Village dive has managed to remain an underground favorite. The local artists and musicians who frequent it hold on to terra firma with cheap drink in hand.
Take in everything from Senegalese hip-hop to tropicalia on World Music Wednesdays. It’s still a school, too, by the way: satisfy your undying urge to learn the Autoharp or oud.
This jazz institution is legendary for three things: it was once a Capone hangout, it’s haunted, and the no-nonsense staff will shush you and the friends who dragged you in during jazz sets.
Our favorites are Chengdu dumplings, Chinese eggplant with ground pork, twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu, Szechuan prawns and dry chile chicken. Trust us or choose at random—you won’t be disappointed.
Doug has veggie dogs for vegetarians, bagel dogs for kids and specialities for the highbrow hot doggers. But his famous duck-fat fries are only for customers who come out on Fridays and Saturdays.
Reckless Records is a diggers’ paradise, where music geeks can flip through thick stacks of booklets to find used and out-of-print discs.
A record store with plenty of soul, stocking world, hip-hop and funk from every era.
Order a Boston shake, and quiver in awe as the towering milkshake topped with hot fudge and whipped cream is handed over.
Not only has iO churned out legendary folk like Mike Meyers and Amy Poehler, but it consistently puts the art of improv first. The shows are cheap and the classes a must for budding improvisers.
We wolf down the manti (Turkish ravioli stuffed with bits of lamb in a creamy yogurt–and–chili oil sauce), whole slabs of juicy, salt-crusted bream and some of the best hummus around.
A Lakeview institution, where nerds can stock up on graphic novels, old and new comics, and awesome conversation with the ever-friendly and knowledgeable staff.
With a marquee that lights up Morse (a welcome improvement over the glow of police cameras), the Rogers Park house hosts comedy, world music and even hirsute dude-rock groups like Jaill and Earth.
Salads, grilled sandwiches and enormous omelettes, all made with fresh veggies and no greasy-spoon feel, are what keeps us (and Mayor Rahm, who counts this among one of his favorites) coming back.
For fried goodness, have the “Thirty-Two Pointer” for an entrée—a crunchy pile of smelts, perch, frog legs, clam strips and fat shrimp.
Sketch troupe Oh Theodora mixes it up the third Wednesday of every month with art, music, comedy and more, with added laughs from special guests.
Former TOC Theater editor Christopher Piatt hosts a weekly "live magazine" called the the Paper Machete at this rock venue.
From the outside, this place looks like a gallery. On the inside, it’s open and loftlike and behind the bar, bartenders skillfully make cocktails like a rosemary Collins.
Gin is the spirit of choice at this new Logan Square bar: Try it in a classic cocktail like a martini, served in an antique coupe, or in one of head barkeep Danny Shapiro’s new creations.
Superb cakes, cream puffs, rustic sandwiches and insane brownies make this bakery crucial in Chicago’s culinary scene. Evening hours bring opportunity to enjoy Holl’s creations with wine and beer.
Thanks to the puffy, chewy crust; the house-pulled mozzarella; layers of earthy mushrooms; and an obsessive eye for detail, the answer, if your mouth isn’t already watering, the wait is worth it.
The menu changes seasonally but whatever inspired creation chef Edward Kim sets his mind to he executes with precision and grace. The BYOB policy and warm-but-cooky room make it an all-time favorite.
The Tur-Dawgen is the juiciest turkey sausage imaginable: The fact that it’s smothered in chewy-crisp duck confit should make it too rich, but every bite is cut with relish and pickled carrots.
Download a podcast. Bring a long-lost friend. Get there at 8:30am. This is the doughnut we’ve been waiting for.
Local poet Larry Sawyer has booked one of the best free poetry series in the Midwest here for years, and in Myopic’s new third-floor space, the readings are even sunnier.
A robot-centric specialty toy store that claims to be "good and good for you!" on its website is worth visiting Oak Park.
Take any Japanophile nerd in your life to this Lincoln Park toy shop and they can thank you for it later.
If the special green-tea filling is on offer, get it—if you don't, a horde of fanatics will soon snatch it from under you.
A perfect place to find those tricky ingredients for your sushi recipe, and to reward yourself with the surprisingly good ramen in the food court.
Breakfast at Rick Bayless’s most casual spot yet is quiet perfection: a cup of masterfully concocted hot chocolate, a flaky egg empanada, one hell of a sugar-and-cocoa-coated churro.
This Cubano is delicious, and the key to its success is the citrus-garlic-marinated, cumin-rubbed lechon asado and the perfect toasting (whoever is operating the plancha needs a raise).
Highlights of the menu include hamachi tartare in delicate little taro-root tacos, tan tan men ramen weighted with herb-packed pork meatballs, and joyful desserts like softball-sized cream puffs.
Koren Grieveson puts out now-famous dishes such as her fiery chorizo-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates and taleggio-filled foccacia, both of which are best washed down with a carafe from the wine list.
The Southern chicken-based fast food chain has landed in Chicago. And based on the line at lunchtime, it ain't going anywhere. Read more.
The technology that runs the Sky Theater isn’t just an overhead projector. Chief technology officer Doug Roberts says, “Fourteen years ago, this would’ve been the world’s fastest supercomputer.”
This laboratory is one of the U.S. Department of Energy's oldest and largest national laboratories for science and engineering research. Read more.
While the amenities aren’t posh, beachgoers appreciate the convenience of restrooms with showers and beach chow like hot dogs, burgers, chips and lemonade.
This small but comprehensive military library is known for its excellent lecture series. An exhibit space shows off guest artists; exhibitions rotate with a focus on war imagery.
A hidden gem on the Southern tip of the Mag Mile, Roosevelt University's Gage gallery exhibits the best in social documentary photography. Read more.
In addition to actual music, the store stocks a selection of turntables and music tchotchkes. Stop by on the weekend, and you’re sure to catch an in-store performance from local or touring acts.
The Poetry Foundation's River North location and beautiful architecture opens poetry reading experiences up to the sights and sounds of the city.
Chicago can feel pretty tropical, or at least humid, in summer, but if you want to check out some real tropical plant life, the Lincoln Park Conservatory offers a lush sanctuary from city life.
Generic name for the former Beachstro, but the food is decent and thebeer list much expanded under Levy.
Best rooftop hang in the South Loop. Shoot some hoops and cool down under the shower...
A classic Loop bar with a spruced-up beer list, a great chicken-potpie (until 4pm) and, often, a TOC editor at the bar.
Take a ride on the river for as little as $4 (b/w Michigan and Union Station). If you use them to commute during rush hour, they're even cheaper, but we prefer a lazy-day vibe.
The professional theater at the University of the Chicago puts on inventive remakes on classic plays.
The market specializes in all things mission, Art Deco, midcentury and mod. Furniture and art is the main focus upstairs, while downstairs you’ll find a variety of lighting, jewelry and more.
While you’ll find a smaller selection of furniture, the mall does offer “newer” items from the more recent decades of the 20th century. Another perk: The prices are slightly lower than BAM’s
Hazel has been the go-to gift shop in Ravenswood for the past nine years, and now residents can have their clothes as well: Hazel Apparel recently opened down the street from the gift shop.
For anybody who suffers from restaurant fatigue, the notion of a cocktail on a specials menu is irresistible, even more so when it’s described as a blend of pear-infused vodka, plum wine and sake.
If you’re prepared to chill out for about 30 minutes until you get your delicious pesto chicken wrap; smoked jerk turkey wrap; or the housemade beignets, you’ll be just fine.
A small, friendly theatre with a full bar, showing all the new releases. What more could you ask for?
The kitchen puts out a nice deep-dish, with a crispy crust and a well-spiced sauce. Go for the Gino’s “special,” with its chunks of sausage and strips of green pepper.
The Clipper is a photo booth away from exhibiting the same shabby hipster cool as Goldstar. Slide into one of the gorgeous old booths on a Friday or Saturday for no-cover live rockabilly groups.
Longtime Lula chef de cuisine Jason Vincent puts out beautiful seasonal fare like chicken-liver pâté, wood-grilled trout with lentils and ham hock, spit-roasted chicken and hand-rolled pastas.
Pies filled with earthy kale and mushrooms. Fried fish alongside crisp fries, Meyer-lemon tartar sauce. These were assured re-creations of homey British food from this small Bridgeport shop.
Fans of the old Tiny Lounge will find plenty at the new spot that’s familiar: those cushy, circular booths, the martini list, the conspicuous lack of a television and even many of the bartenders.
It doesn’t require a trip across any ocean to guess that the signatures—like pulled-pork-and-plantain and “Cuban style”–tofu sandwiches—are a welcome addition to this neighborhood.
Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Chicago’s longest-running piece of theater, features an innovative ensemble of writer-performers attempting to perform 30 miniplays in 60 minutes.
Cuban food goes upscale at this pleasant spot. Standards go glam with touches like saffron cream and garlic polenta. Pork chops arrive tender with plenty of honey flavor.
Annoyance put itself on the map with its famously distasteful gross-out musical Co-Ed Prison Sluts. Twenty years later, it still cranks out bizarre, unconventional comedy. Read more.
This community arts center offers an array of arts classes like photography, painting, ceramics and drawing.
With musicians and dancers performing in the galleries, artists getting bigger shows, and young curators infusing fresh programming ideas, the MCA is doing the most to attract a new audience: you.
This venerable art institution's architecture is just as artistic and beautiful as its exhibitions.
This gorgeous city landmark building is home to photography and sculpture exhibitions, and hosts film festivals.
For 50 years in heady Hyde Park, on the University of Chicago’s campus, the Court has stood its ground, mounting classics from Sophocles to Stoppard.
To walk into the place is to experience a happy barrage of “good morning”s and “How are ya?”s and, most important, “What would you like to try?” The answer to that last question: Try everything.
Fruits, veggies and more, oh my! A summer (and year-round) farmers' market staple in the city. Arrive early and bring an appetite for some of the unique market finds.
To understand the allure of the Pig, you have to be comfortable enough that you chat up the strangers next to you and eventually steal their food.
