Guidebook for Chicago
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted St Very close to my apartment and open until 10pm.
Just around the corner from my apartment. Less expensive than whole foods.
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Aldi
3363 N Milwaukee AveJust around the corner from my apartment. Less expensive than whole foods.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Green Mill is considered one of the oldest continuously run Jazz club in the US. It is known for its jazz and poetry performances, along with its connections to Chicago mob history. Catch some live music or catch cool shows like the Paper Machete, a weekly live magazine performance on Saturday afternoons (https://thepapermacheteshow.com/)
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The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayThe Green Mill is considered one of the oldest continuously run Jazz club in the US. It is known for its jazz and poetry performances, along with its connections to Chicago mob history. Catch some live music or catch cool shows like the Paper Machete, a weekly live magazine performance on Saturday afternoons (https://thepapermacheteshow.com/)
Rogers Park social is a great bar, offering craft beers & seasonally inspired cocktails, plus a lounge with board games. Nice scene with cool people.
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Rogers Park Social
6920 N Glenwood AveRogers Park social is a great bar, offering craft beers & seasonally inspired cocktails, plus a lounge with board games. Nice scene with cool people.
Cozy Scottish pub with an array of pub grub & enormous selection of whisky and beer. If you're a Scotch aficionado, this a great place to do tastings.
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Duke Of Perth
2913 N Clark StCozy Scottish pub with an array of pub grub & enormous selection of whisky and beer. If you're a Scotch aficionado, this a great place to do tastings.
Tiki bar in festive tropical digs with a thatched roof, booths & Chinese eats from next door. Amazing drinks, great vibes, cool bartenders.
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Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey AveTiki bar in festive tropical digs with a thatched roof, booths & Chinese eats from next door. Amazing drinks, great vibes, cool bartenders.
Hipster spot with modern farm-to-table fare & nose-to-tail eats plus whiskey & craft cocktails. It is getting a lot of good press on its food but their cocktails are renowned in the craft cocktail scene.
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Longman & Eagle
2657 N Kedzie AveHipster spot with modern farm-to-table fare & nose-to-tail eats plus whiskey & craft cocktails. It is getting a lot of good press on its food but their cocktails are renowned in the craft cocktail scene.
Giant beer selection in a cute neighborhood, Andersonville. They also have a nice menu (with delicious Moules-frites)
Only about a mile from my apartment.
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Hopleaf
5148 N Clark StGiant beer selection in a cute neighborhood, Andersonville. They also have a nice menu (with delicious Moules-frites)
Only about a mile from my apartment.
Tiki bar meets speakeasy (entrance in the alley!). Definitely a cool experience. If you're downtown, this is a good spot to check out. However, this can be pretty busy with a weird crowd, it is dark and often loud inside. They do have a dress code, so make sure not to leave athletic clothes and hats at home.
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Three Dots and a Dash
435 N Clark StTiki bar meets speakeasy (entrance in the alley!). Definitely a cool experience. If you're downtown, this is a good spot to check out. However, this can be pretty busy with a weird crowd, it is dark and often loud inside. They do have a dress code, so make sure not to leave athletic clothes and hats at home.
Cool nightclub featuring reasonably priced drinks, DJs & dancing in a retro-salon setting. They offer manicures as well! They have cool events like prince/michael jackson dance nights.
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Beauty Bar
1444 W Chicago AveCool nightclub featuring reasonably priced drinks, DJs & dancing in a retro-salon setting. They offer manicures as well! They have cool events like prince/michael jackson dance nights.
Chic speakeasy with a wonderful cocktail menu. Very intimate and subdued ambiance.
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The Violet Hour
1520 N Damen AveChic speakeasy with a wonderful cocktail menu. Very intimate and subdued ambiance.
Sightseeing
The Bahá'í House of Worship (or Bahá'í Temple) is the oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world, and the only one in the United States. It is a gorgeous temple with beautiful gardens surrounding it. Though in Evanston, this is easy to get to by public transportation. Just get on the northbound red line at the Granville station, transfer to the northbound purple line at the Howard stop (end of the line for the red), and get off at the Linden stop (end of the line for the purple).
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Baha'i House of Worship
100 Linden AveThe Bahá'í House of Worship (or Bahá'í Temple) is the oldest surviving Bahá'í House of Worship in the world, and the only one in the United States. It is a gorgeous temple with beautiful gardens surrounding it. Though in Evanston, this is easy to get to by public transportation. Just get on the northbound red line at the Granville station, transfer to the northbound purple line at the Howard stop (end of the line for the red), and get off at the Linden stop (end of the line for the purple).
Parks & Nature
The Chicago Botanic gardens, though a bit of a hassle to get to, have 26 spectacular gardens on 385 acres. My botanist cousin has reported to me that these are her favorite, and the most impressive botanic gardens in the US. Admission is free but they charge $25 a car for parking, so it may make more sense to take the Purple line to Linden then Uber over to save the most money.
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Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook RdThe Chicago Botanic gardens, though a bit of a hassle to get to, have 26 spectacular gardens on 385 acres. My botanist cousin has reported to me that these are her favorite, and the most impressive botanic gardens in the US. Admission is free but they charge $25 a car for parking, so it may make more sense to take the Purple line to Linden then Uber over to save the most money.
Getting Around
The Granville red line stop is just a few steps from my apartment. Take the southbound line down to get to the Loop/downtown Chicago. Northbound will take you to a transfer station (Howard) to get on the Purple line that goes into Evanston.
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Granville station
1119 W Granville AveThe Granville red line stop is just a few steps from my apartment. Take the southbound line down to get to the Loop/downtown Chicago. Northbound will take you to a transfer station (Howard) to get on the Purple line that goes into Evanston.
Food Scene
Amazing pho. Tank Noodle is also good, but this is the number one recommended by my vietnamese friends in Chicago.
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Pho 888
1137 W Argyle StAmazing pho. Tank Noodle is also good, but this is the number one recommended by my vietnamese friends in Chicago.
Amazing BYOB Argentinian steakhouse. You may want to call ahead for a reservation, especially with a larger group. Very romantic setting with dimmed lights and candles.
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Tango Sur
3763 N Southport AveAmazing BYOB Argentinian steakhouse. You may want to call ahead for a reservation, especially with a larger group. Very romantic setting with dimmed lights and candles.
Great sushi (not traditional though) with specials offered most days. Sundays are half off all sushi! Very cute restaurant with a back patio.
BITES asian kitchen + bar
3313 N Clark StGreat sushi (not traditional though) with specials offered most days. Sundays are half off all sushi! Very cute restaurant with a back patio.
A tiny restaurant with big flavors, this unconventional Logan Square standout offers an exceptionally creative Macanese menu of gorgeous, next-level dishes. It has fantastic brunch, excellent cocktails, and a convivial/boho-chic setting. Though amazing, this is a popular restaurant, so expect a wait if you drop in.
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Fat Rice
2957 W Diversey AveA tiny restaurant with big flavors, this unconventional Logan Square standout offers an exceptionally creative Macanese menu of gorgeous, next-level dishes. It has fantastic brunch, excellent cocktails, and a convivial/boho-chic setting. Though amazing, this is a popular restaurant, so expect a wait if you drop in.
Bistro serving up traditional French dishes in a casual, modern space with outdoor seats. Really delicious traditional French food.
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Chez Moi
2100 N Halsted StBistro serving up traditional French dishes in a casual, modern space with outdoor seats. Really delicious traditional French food.
Counter-serve restaurant for creative burgers with Korean ingredients, and Asian rice plates.
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bopNgrill
6604 N Sheridan RdCounter-serve restaurant for creative burgers with Korean ingredients, and Asian rice plates.
Wonderful local coffee shop just steps from my apartment. They also serve a variety of baked goods.
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Metropolis Coffee Company
1039 W Granville AveWonderful local coffee shop just steps from my apartment. They also serve a variety of baked goods.
Amazing dim sum! Great location if you're already sightseeing downtown.
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MingHin Cuisine - Lakeshore East
333 East Benton PlaceAmazing dim sum! Great location if you're already sightseeing downtown.
Colorful spot for creative Asian baked goods & coffee that changes to a restaurant/bar by night (Fat Rice).
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The Bakery at Fat Rice
2951 W Diversey AveColorful spot for creative Asian baked goods & coffee that changes to a restaurant/bar by night (Fat Rice).
One of my favorite restaurants near my apartment! Amazing authentic Ethiopian food. The staff is incredibly nice. My favorites are probably the Yemisir Wat, Duba Wat, and Gomen, but everything is wonderful. Plus, this place really easily accommodates vegetarian and gluten free eaters (they serve black injera, which is gluten free!).
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Ethiopian Diamond
6120 N BroadwayOne of my favorite restaurants near my apartment! Amazing authentic Ethiopian food. The staff is incredibly nice. My favorites are probably the Yemisir Wat, Duba Wat, and Gomen, but everything is wonderful. Plus, this place really easily accommodates vegetarian and gluten free eaters (they serve black injera, which is gluten free!).
Arts & Culture
One of Chicago's best improv comedy spots. The Improvised Shakespeare Company's shows are amazing (http://ioimprov.com/chicago/show/the-improvised-shakespeare-company/all/).
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The iO Theater
1501 N Kingsbury StOne of Chicago's best improv comedy spots. The Improvised Shakespeare Company's shows are amazing (http://ioimprov.com/chicago/show/the-improvised-shakespeare-company/all/).
Another great improv theater in Chicago. I've really enjoyed the Hitch*Cocktails shows, where they take audience suggestions and then do a show in the style of Alfred Hitchcock (all while drinking profusely). It is a lot of fun.
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Annoyance Theatre NY
Another great improv theater in Chicago. I've really enjoyed the Hitch*Cocktails shows, where they take audience suggestions and then do a show in the style of Alfred Hitchcock (all while drinking profusely). It is a lot of fun.