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.
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West on North
2509 W North AveDelicious, 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Boulevard Sports Lounge
2645 W North AveGood 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.
Subterranean
2011 W North AveLive 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Estelle's Cafe & Lounge
2013 W North Ave4am (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.
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Lagunitas Brewing Company
2607 W 17th StIf 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.
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Cermak Produce
2701 W North AveExcellent 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 AveLaundry 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.
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FAMILY DOLLAR
3748 N Elston AveFamily 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.
BP Gas Station at North & Kedzie
3142 W North AveGas 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.
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Humboldt Haus
2958 W North AveHumboldt 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
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Walgreens
3646 North BroadwayHas 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**
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Emporium Logan Square
2363 N Milwaukee AveLots 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Emporium Wicker Park
1366 N Milwaukee AveThe 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveExcellent 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.
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The Wormhole Coffee
1462 N Milwaukee AveReally 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Grandma J’s Local Kitchen
1552 North Kedzie AvenueChicago 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
1492 Cuban Fusion Café
2615 W North AveTasty 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
Fatso's Last Stand
2258 W Chicago AveLate 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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
J.P. Graziano Grocery
901 W Randolph StAuthentic 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.
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The Signature Room at the 95th®
875 N Michigan AveAt 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.
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Humboldt Park
1400 N Humboldt DrHumboldt 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.
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West Logan Boulevard
West Logan BoulevardIt'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 lokalinvånare rekommenderar
606 Trail
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.