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The Draw
• Lakefront architectural splendor, from classic to cutting-edge
• First-rate culture with a down-to-earth crowd
• Culinary buzz: revitalized neighborhoods brimming with name chefs
The Scene
Chicago is a world-class city without the usual urban pretension, a place where sports hounds and culture vultures drink side by side. Long a place of architectural and cultural sophistication, the city’s core is now more stunning than ever before. Downtown railroad tracks and parking lots have been converted into Millennium Park, an outdoor center for performing arts and public sculpture, complete with Gehry-designed concert venue and alfresco dining. Key to Chicago’s charm is its diversity of entertainment: from down-home blues to the Barenboim-helmed Symphony, from Steppenwolf Theatre to Second City Improv, from classic Wrigley Field and its surrounding proliferation of sports bars to the thoroughly modern United Center, home of the Bulls and Blackhawks. And while GQ has finally named Chicago the “best restaurant city in America,” it’s a title that well-fed locals know is long overdue. Here is a city as notable for haute cuisine as for its home-grown faves: deep dish, hot dogs and endless ethnic eateries.
To Be Seen
• River North/Near North. Converted factories and century-old warehouses now hold celebrity-owned restaurants, clubs and art galleries.
• Lincoln Park. Trendy shops, bars and theaters (Steppenwolf Theatre Company lives here) sit next to this waterfront park.
• Wicker Park and Bucktown are havens for bohemians with a bit of cash and perfect places to stroll, densely packed with boutiques and restaurants.
For the VIP
• Best way to tour this waterfront gem? By boat, of course. Chicago Architecture Foundation offers the most beloved of expert tours.
• Join this city’s famously loyal sports fans. The Chicago Bulls offer behind-the-scenes NBA experiences at the United Center, like being a game announcer for a night. Baseball fans will love the Saturday tours of Wrigley Field (advance tix are a must) and catching a game from inside or outside the stadium, from one of many surrounding private rooftop venues, which include catering.
• Check in with the Chicago Office of Tourism, which offers numerous Immersion Weekends, including VIP access to experts and attractions during exclusive receptions, private lectures, backstage tours, performances, dining adventures and excursions.
Overrated
Don’t stand in long, tourist-filled lines at the Sears Tower Skydeck. Check out the view from the John Hancock instead, while sipping a cocktail at the Signature Room bar.
Underrated
No longer avoided by locals, the South Loop has been receiving a lot of the city’s beautification dollars and it shows. New bars and restaurants mean a trip to the Museum Campus (home to the natural history museum, aquarium and planetarium) can now include a nearby dinner as well.
Don’t Miss
The blues at Buddy Guy’s. For those who want theirs no-frills, roadhouse-style, check New Checkerboard Lounge on the south side.
When To Go
Late spring is pleasant but unpredictable. Summer brings the country’s best live festivals, free outdoor concerts, but heat and humidity, too. In fall you’ll find more moderate weather and fewer crowds.
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