Guidebook for Chicago

Caroline
Guidebook for Chicago

Drinks & Nightlife

Delicious, well priced food, decent beer selection (both on tap and cans/bottles), friendly and welcoming staff. Specials every night.
21 (рекомендации местных жителей)
West on North
2509 W North Ave
21 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Delicious, well priced food, decent beer selection (both on tap and cans/bottles), friendly and welcoming staff. Specials every night.
Good place to watch sports games, as they have quite a few big screen TVs. They now offer food, and the BBQ stuff that I've had was pretty tasty.
26 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Boulevard Sports Lounge
2645 W North Ave
26 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Good place to watch sports games, as they have quite a few big screen TVs. They now offer food, and the BBQ stuff that I've had was pretty tasty.
Live music just about every night, always a fun time
57 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Subterranean
2011 W North Ave
57 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Live music just about every night, always a fun time
4am (5am on Saturdays) bar directly East of the apartment. On Tuesdays they have $2-$3 draft craft beers.
25 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Estelle's Cafe & Lounge
2013 W North Ave
25 (рекомендации местных жителей)
4am (5am on Saturdays) bar directly East of the apartment. On Tuesdays they have $2-$3 draft craft beers.
If you enjoy a good craft beer, make a point of going to Lagunita's for a tour and some lunch. Their tours are a really great price (free!), and their food in the Taproom is outstanding. Tasting tours happen every weekday, and tours without tastings happen on the weekends and Friday afternoons. Their "Hogunitas" sandwich is a superb take on a traditional Cuban sandwich, and is one of my favorite things to eat period, not just at their taproom. They also have live music every afternoon in the Taproom at 4:20pm.
125 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Lagunitas Brewing Company
2607 W 17th St
125 (рекомендации местных жителей)
If you enjoy a good craft beer, make a point of going to Lagunita's for a tour and some lunch. Their tours are a really great price (free!), and their food in the Taproom is outstanding. Tasting tours happen every weekday, and tours without tastings happen on the weekends and Friday afternoons. Their "Hogunitas" sandwich is a superb take on a traditional Cuban sandwich, and is one of my favorite things to eat period, not just at their taproom. They also have live music every afternoon in the Taproom at 4:20pm.

Essentials

Excellent produce, fresh meat, deli, and seafood counter, great selection of all the basic stuff you might need.
111 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Cermak Produce
2701 W North Ave
111 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Excellent produce, fresh meat, deli, and seafood counter, great selection of all the basic stuff you might need.
Laundry soap is available for purchase here. A wash in a fairly large front-open washer is $4, and you can dry for free there.
Aqua Clean Laundry
3000 W North Ave
Laundry soap is available for purchase here. A wash in a fairly large front-open washer is $4, and you can dry for free there.
Family Dollar has an assortment of toiletry items, should you need to purchase something after you arrive. They also have clothing, snacks and packaged foods, seasonal items, and phone accessories.
20 (рекомендации местных жителей)
FAMILY DOLLAR
3748 N Elston Ave
20 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Family Dollar has an assortment of toiletry items, should you need to purchase something after you arrive. They also have clothing, snacks and packaged foods, seasonal items, and phone accessories.
Gas station that also has cigarettes cheaper than most places
BP Gas Station at North & Kedzie
3142 W North Ave
Gas station that also has cigarettes cheaper than most places
Humboldt Haus is a local liquor store that has tons of local Chicago craft beer. Check them out if your friend back home asked you to bring home some Chicago craft brews.
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Humboldt Haus
2958 W North Ave
13 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Humboldt Haus is a local liquor store that has tons of local Chicago craft beer. Check them out if your friend back home asked you to bring home some Chicago craft brews.

Shopping

Has anything that you might have forgotten at home, and also the ability to purchase a Ventra card without having to go to the L station
246 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Walgreens
3646 North Broadway
246 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Has anything that you might have forgotten at home, and also the ability to purchase a Ventra card without having to go to the L station

Entertainment & Activities

Lots of cool vintage arcade games, pinball, pool tables, air hockey, and an excellent beer selection. They usually have a Groupon offered, so check it out to get a deal on some tokens! **Must be 21 to enter**
139 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Emporium Logan Square
2363 N Milwaukee Ave
139 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Lots of cool vintage arcade games, pinball, pool tables, air hockey, and an excellent beer selection. They usually have a Groupon offered, so check it out to get a deal on some tokens! **Must be 21 to enter**
The first of the two Emporiums on the northwest side, this location offers mainly vintage arcade games, and a handful of pinball machines. They also offer draft beers at this location, and on some nights have live music (usually costs money to get in those nights). They usually have a Groupon being offered, so check that out to see if you could save some cash on tokens!
158 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee Ave
158 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The first of the two Emporiums on the northwest side, this location offers mainly vintage arcade games, and a handful of pinball machines. They also offer draft beers at this location, and on some nights have live music (usually costs money to get in those nights). They usually have a Groupon being offered, so check that out to see if you could save some cash on tokens!

Food Scene

Excellent tacos, super well-known around the country now, but the wait can be atrocious. If you're not concerned with having a margarita with your tacos, opt for the walk-up window next door.
1176 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Big Star
1531 N Damen Ave
1176 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Excellent tacos, super well-known around the country now, but the wait can be atrocious. If you're not concerned with having a margarita with your tacos, opt for the walk-up window next door.
Really cool, very unique interior, as well as very friendly staff, and excellent coffee. The Delorean used to be the highlight for people walking past it, so they've since moved it inside.
131 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Wormhole Coffee
1462 N Milwaukee Ave
131 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Really cool, very unique interior, as well as very friendly staff, and excellent coffee. The Delorean used to be the highlight for people walking past it, so they've since moved it inside.
Chicago style brunch spot. Delicious food served on mismatched dishes, at mismatched tables, while you sit on mismatched chairs. BYOB, cute, little hole in the wall.
34 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Grandma J’s Local Kitchen
1552 North Kedzie Avenue
34 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Chicago style brunch spot. Delicious food served on mismatched dishes, at mismatched tables, while you sit on mismatched chairs. BYOB, cute, little hole in the wall.
Tasty sandwiches and soups, reasonable prices, and about a 7 minute walk from my apartment. Haven't had their breakfast, but I know they offer it.
20 (рекомендации местных жителей)
1492 Cuban Fusion Café
2615 W North Ave
20 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Tasty sandwiches and soups, reasonable prices, and about a 7 minute walk from my apartment. Haven't had their breakfast, but I know they offer it.
Late night (4am on the weekends) place for Chicago style hot dogs, and their signature burger, the Fatso. Locals love this place!
62 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Fatso's Last Stand
2258 W Chicago Ave
62 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Late night (4am on the weekends) place for Chicago style hot dogs, and their signature burger, the Fatso. Locals love this place!
Authentic Italian sandwich shop that's been open for 78 years. Amazing sandwiches, fresh cannoli, in a cool neighborhood. Only downside is they're only open for lunch, and closed on Sunday's.
18 (рекомендации местных жителей)
J.P. Graziano Grocery
901 W Randolph St
18 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Authentic Italian sandwich shop that's been open for 78 years. Amazing sandwiches, fresh cannoli, in a cool neighborhood. Only downside is they're only open for lunch, and closed on Sunday's.

Sightseeing

At the Signature Lounge, you can take in some breathtaking views of the city from nearly every side while enjoying a delicious (and fairly overpriced) cocktail or coffee. Compared to the cost of going to the Skydeck of either Willis Tower or The Hancock Building though, it's cheaper, and it is more of an experience than standing in an empty hallway type thing for 20 minutes. The best part: reservations aren't required! Go around sunset to see the beautiful transformation of the city as night falls.
525 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan Ave
525 (рекомендации местных жителей)
At the Signature Lounge, you can take in some breathtaking views of the city from nearly every side while enjoying a delicious (and fairly overpriced) cocktail or coffee. Compared to the cost of going to the Skydeck of either Willis Tower or The Hancock Building though, it's cheaper, and it is more of an experience than standing in an empty hallway type thing for 20 minutes. The best part: reservations aren't required! Go around sunset to see the beautiful transformation of the city as night falls.

Parks & Nature

Humboldt Park is one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in the city, and only a short 5 minute walk from the apartment. It's the perfect place to start your day, or for going on an evening stroll as the sun sets.
293 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Хамболдт-парк
1400 N Humboldt Dr
293 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Humboldt Park is one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in the city, and only a short 5 minute walk from the apartment. It's the perfect place to start your day, or for going on an evening stroll as the sun sets.
It's not exactly a park, but Logan Boulevard is a gem of a street that is beautiful in every season. There are several signs that you'll see along the way, and those give a little history about the boulevards in Chicago. On a nice day, you could walk to Logan Square, starting at Sacramento and North Avenue, and walking north to Logan. Walk a little further west to see the home of Lucy in While You Were Sleeping, and the statue in Logan Square.
6 (рекомендации местных жителей)
West Logan Boulevard
West Logan Boulevard
6 (рекомендации местных жителей)
It's not exactly a park, but Logan Boulevard is a gem of a street that is beautiful in every season. There are several signs that you'll see along the way, and those give a little history about the boulevards in Chicago. On a nice day, you could walk to Logan Square, starting at Sacramento and North Avenue, and walking north to Logan. Walk a little further west to see the home of Lucy in While You Were Sleeping, and the statue in Logan Square.
The 606 trail just opened up last year, and it provides a non stop walking/biking path that runs along Bloomingdale from Ashland Avenue west to Ridgeway, and there is an entrance just a couple blocks from my place at California. Take a right out my gate, a right at the first street, then a left at the second street and the 606 trail is on the overpass you will see then.
19 (рекомендации местных жителей)
606 Trail
19 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The 606 trail just opened up last year, and it provides a non stop walking/biking path that runs along Bloomingdale from Ashland Avenue west to Ridgeway, and there is an entrance just a couple blocks from my place at California. Take a right out my gate, a right at the first street, then a left at the second street and the 606 trail is on the overpass you will see then.