This page is updated regularly. These are my personal notes on where to eat, what to see and do, and where to stay, plus some additional reference material and historical information. It’s everything you need to know about Chicago!
WHERE TO EAT
THE LOOP
- Cindy’s Rooftop
- Remington’s
- Miller’s Pub
- Latinicity
- The Atwood (Reliance Building)
- The Gage
- Rosebud Prime
- The Dearborn
- Cochon Volant
- Revival Food Hall
- Roanoke
- Boleo (Kimpton Gray rooftop)
- Prime + Provisions
- Goddess & The Baker
- Wells Street Market
WEST LOOP
- Bar Takito
- Little Goat Diner
- The Girl & the Goat
- Federales
- Bar Siena
- The Allis
- Parlor Pizza Bar
- The Palace Grill
- Cruz Blanca
- Chicken + Farm Shop
- Madison Bar + Kitchen
RIVER NORTH
- RPM Steak
- RPM Italian
- Il Porcellino
- Hub 51
- Bottlefork
- Siena Tavern
- Frontera Grill
- Smith + Wollensky
- Wollensky’s Grill
- Benny’s Chop House
- Doc B’s
THE GOLD COAST
- Luxbar
- Tavern on Rush
- Gibsons Bar/Steakhouse
- Maple + Ash
- Eight Bar and Patio
- The Little Beet Table
- Torali Chicago
- Booth One (formerly The Pump Room)
- 3 Arts Club Cafe
CHICAGO RIVERWALK
LINCOLN PARK
OLD TOWN
RIVER WEST
FULTON MARKET
- Duck Duck Goat
- Swift & Sons
- Fulton Market Kitchen
- Cemitas Puebla
- Ballast Point
- La Sirena Clandestina
- Roister
WICKER PARK/BUCKTOWN
WRIGLEYVILLE
SOUTH LOOP
LOGAN SQUARE
CATERING
THINGS TO DO
- Chicago History Museum
- Free Galleries
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (Oak Park, IL)
- Museum of Contemporary Photography
- Chicago Cultural Center
- Field Museum (Natural History)
- Chicago’s First Lady Architecture River Tours
- Taste of Chicago
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Garfield Park Conservatory
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Bike/Walk the 606
- Chess Records
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Chicago Marathon
- Lincoln Park Conservatory
- Cowshed Spa Chicago (West Loop)
- Hamilton / Chicago
- Buckingham Fountain
- Chicago Architectural Center
- Odyssey Cruises
REFERENCE LINKS/GENERAL INFORMATION
- Chicago Name Etymologies
- Divvy Bike Sharing Program
- Chicago Transit Authority
- The Real Housewife’s Chicago Pinterest page
- The Chicago Flag, Explained
- Chicago Food Truck Tracker
WHERE TO STAY
- Hotel Allegro (Loop)
- The Palmer House (Loop)
- Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel (Loop)
- Hotel Monaco (Loop)
- The Gray (Loop)
- Soho House Chicago (West Loop)
- Virgin Hotel Chicago (Loop)
- The Langham Chicago (River North)
FAVORITE BUILDINGS (year opened)
- Randolph Tower (1929)
- The John Hancock Center (1969)
- Marina City (1964)
- Union Station (1925)
- Sears Tower (1973)
- The Rookery (1886)
- The Reliance Building (1895)
- 35 East Wacker – The Jewelers’ Building (1927)
- Ogilvie Station (1912)
- Chicago Board of Trade Building (1930)
- Oriental Theatre (1926)
- OneEleven (2014)
BOOKS
- City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America (2014)
- Chicago: A Biography (2009)