Guidebook for Chicago
Drinks & Nightlife
The Whistler
2421 N Milwaukee AveGreat small bar with live music! One of our favorites!
Slippery Slope
2357 N Milwaukee AveVery cool bar scene and they have skee-ball!
Analogue
Another of the super cool bars in Logan. Also a great menu!
Billy Sunday
3143 W Logan BlvdGood fun bar!
Our favorite neighborhood bar for food and to catch a soccer game! Excellent atmosphere and menu! Walkable, but a bike is quicker.
50 locals recommend
Small Bar
2956 N Albany AveOur favorite neighborhood bar for food and to catch a soccer game! Excellent atmosphere and menu! Walkable, but a bike is quicker.
A bar + tacos/food. Very fun to hang out on the patio, very popular place in the summer months. Excellent tacos! Right off the Blue Line stop at the Damen/Wicker Park stop.
1176 locals recommend
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveA bar + tacos/food. Very fun to hang out on the patio, very popular place in the summer months. Excellent tacos! Right off the Blue Line stop at the Damen/Wicker Park stop.
Fancy cocktails, interesting atmosphere. Right off the Blue Line at Damen/Wicker Park stop.
355 locals recommend
The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveFancy cocktails, interesting atmosphere. Right off the Blue Line at Damen/Wicker Park stop.
Food Scene
Excellent german food, very close to our place. We go here a lot in the winter months.
46 locals recommend
The Radler
2375 N Milwaukee AveExcellent german food, very close to our place. We go here a lot in the winter months.
Awesome independant coffeehouse and roasters. Great atmosphere, a fun spot to hang out and get some laptop work done.
108 locals recommend
Gaslight Coffee Roasters
2385 N Milwaukee AveAwesome independant coffeehouse and roasters. Great atmosphere, a fun spot to hang out and get some laptop work done.
Great brewery within walking distance. Good full menu, and a huge beer selection.
724 locals recommend
Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee AveGreat brewery within walking distance. Good full menu, and a huge beer selection.
My FAVORITE brunch place in town. Awesome brunch and lunch foods. They have been recommened by Michelin for their amazing food!
54 locals recommend
Jam
2853 N Kedzie AveMy FAVORITE brunch place in town. Awesome brunch and lunch foods. They have been recommened by Michelin for their amazing food!
Excellent food, cool atmosphere, and easy to walk to from our place. One of my favorites! Also, they have an outside patio in the summer.
936 locals recommend
Lula Cafe
2537 N Kedzie BlvdExcellent food, cool atmosphere, and easy to walk to from our place. One of my favorites! Also, they have an outside patio in the summer.
The Rocking Horse
2535 N Milwaukee AvePool & a photo booth in the back. Full bar, and full menu.
Parts & Labor
2700 North Milwaukee AvenueGood burgers and drinks. Very close to Logan Theatre.
Excellent ramen & Asian menu! Reservations are needed on weekends. A favorite, and for on Sundays you get a ramen dish, a cocktail, and soft-serve all for $25 a person!!!!
47 locals recommend
Yusho
2853 North Kedzie AvenueExcellent ramen & Asian menu! Reservations are needed on weekends. A favorite, and for on Sundays you get a ramen dish, a cocktail, and soft-serve all for $25 a person!!!!
Starbucks
210 W North AveGood old starbucks. Dependable coffee options and wifi.
Right off the Blue Line at Damen/Wicker Park stop, an easy stop to grab breakfast or lunch food on the way downtown. Excellent food! One of my favorites.
113 locals recommend
Dove's Luncheonette
1545 N Damen AveRight off the Blue Line at Damen/Wicker Park stop, an easy stop to grab breakfast or lunch food on the way downtown. Excellent food! One of my favorites.
Excellent food + atmosphere. Right off Blue Line stop at Damen/Wicker Park.
59 locals recommend
Trench
2039 West North AvenueExcellent food + atmosphere. Right off Blue Line stop at Damen/Wicker Park.
Arts & Culture
Great small independent theatre for movies. They also have a full bar and allow you to bring your drinks into the movies! A very easy walk from our place.
315 locals recommend
The Logan Theatre
2646 N Milwaukee AveGreat small independent theatre for movies. They also have a full bar and allow you to bring your drinks into the movies! A very easy walk from our place.
This is just around the corner from us, and is a great arcade bar! Very fun weekend atmosphere. The also host events - such as boutique and craft fairs on certain weekends.
139 locals recommend
Emporium Logan Square
2363 N Milwaukee AveThis is just around the corner from us, and is a great arcade bar! Very fun weekend atmosphere. The also host events - such as boutique and craft fairs on certain weekends.
My favorite arcade bar in town! It's walkable from our place, and has a huge beer selection as well as arcade game selection!
65 locals recommend
Logan Arcade
2410 W Fullerton AveMy favorite arcade bar in town! It's walkable from our place, and has a huge beer selection as well as arcade game selection!
Fireside Bowl
2646 W Fullerton AveFun, cheap bowling!
City Lit Books
2523 N Kedzie BlvdCute bookshop on the square
If you are into brewing your own beers or wines -- this is the premier spot for supplies, or even to take a beer-making worshops for cheap! A fun date night idea!
Brew & Grow
3625 N Kedzie AveIf you are into brewing your own beers or wines -- this is the premier spot for supplies, or even to take a beer-making worshops for cheap! A fun date night idea!
Voted #1 Museum in the world by Trip Advisor!! The contemporary wing is excellent, as is the museum bookstore.
1159 locals recommend
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan AveVoted #1 Museum in the world by Trip Advisor!! The contemporary wing is excellent, as is the museum bookstore.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago AveGreat contemporary art. Amazing bookstore.
The Second City
230 W North AveAlways a good comedy show option!
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore DrExcellent aquarium!
Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N Clark StIt's free! And beautiful.
Really beautiful! It's donation-only. Makes you feel like you took a tropical vacation for a few hours. You need a car to get to it.
258 locals recommend
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N Central Park AveReally beautiful! It's donation-only. Makes you feel like you took a tropical vacation for a few hours. You need a car to get to it.
Beautiful, outdoor gardens in the summer! You'll need a car or to leave from downtown and take the Metra Train.
167 locals recommend
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook RdBeautiful, outdoor gardens in the summer! You'll need a car or to leave from downtown and take the Metra Train.
Outdoor concerts in the summer & fall. One of my favorite things to do in the summer. You'll need a car or take the Metra from downtown.
33 locals recommend
Ravinia Festival West Lot
200 Ravinia Park RdOutdoor concerts in the summer & fall. One of my favorite things to do in the summer. You'll need a car or take the Metra from downtown.
SpaceTime Tanks
2526 N Lincoln AveA weird experience. Not for everyone, but it's definitely interesting.
Everything Else
GREAT farmers market! Fresh produce, food-to-order, yogurt, etc. Open on weekends starting May 17th and through the fall.
135 locals recommend
Logan Square Farmers Market
3025-3113 West Logan BoulevardGREAT farmers market! Fresh produce, food-to-order, yogurt, etc. Open on weekends starting May 17th and through the fall.
If you want an excellent hair cut while in town -- go here. All of the stylists are amazing! Feel free to use my name as a referral. You can usually get an appointment here 4-6 weeks ahead of time.
Sparrow Hair Inc
2545 N Milwaukee AveIf you want an excellent hair cut while in town -- go here. All of the stylists are amazing! Feel free to use my name as a referral. You can usually get an appointment here 4-6 weeks ahead of time.
Shopping
Super cool fashion! Vintage & New. Mens and Womens clothes & accessories. Range of pricing -- vintage for $5 and up, new for $25 and up. Also sell backpacks/luggage.
34 locals recommend
Una Mae's
1528 N Milwaukee AveSuper cool fashion! Vintage & New. Mens and Womens clothes & accessories. Range of pricing -- vintage for $5 and up, new for $25 and up. Also sell backpacks/luggage.
Great retail boutique, very stylish. Mens and Womens clothes & accessories. Range of pricing - with women's dresses/shoes/bags ranging from $40 upwards to $400.
50 locals recommend
Penelope's
1913 W Division StGreat retail boutique, very stylish. Mens and Womens clothes & accessories. Range of pricing - with women's dresses/shoes/bags ranging from $40 upwards to $400.
Broadway Antique Market
6130 N BroadwayExcellent Antiques! Reasonable prices
Cool objects & interior design. Prices a bit high, but sometimes you can find a deal here.
41 locals recommend
Humboldt House
1045 N California AveCool objects & interior design. Prices a bit high, but sometimes you can find a deal here.
Sightseeing
Millennium Park
201 E Randolph StAlways a fun day to walk around Millennium Park.
My FAVORITE to go with friends who visit. The Signature Room on the 95th floor has a great view & $15 cocktails. Best views of Chicago! Go a couple hours before sunset to get a good seat.
295 locals recommend
875 North Michigan Avenue
875 N Michigan AveMy FAVORITE to go with friends who visit. The Signature Room on the 95th floor has a great view & $15 cocktails. Best views of Chicago! Go a couple hours before sunset to get a good seat.
They offer Architecture tours on a River Cruise! BEST tour in Chicago. An Architecture Foundation docent guides each riverboat tour. Make reservations ahead of time, and you meet at the boat.
114 locals recommend
Chicago Architecture Center
111 E Wacker DrThey offer Architecture tours on a River Cruise! BEST tour in Chicago. An Architecture Foundation docent guides each riverboat tour. Make reservations ahead of time, and you meet at the boat.
You can get walking tours of Frank Lloyd Wrights Home and Studio as well as other homes he designed in Oak Park. Makes for a very nice day.
184 locals recommend
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
951 Chicago AveYou can get walking tours of Frank Lloyd Wrights Home and Studio as well as other homes he designed in Oak Park. Makes for a very nice day.