Established in 2004, Wildberry Café continues to delight guests with delicious dishes and welcoming hospitality. Their breakfast and lunch menus are inspired by a blend of traditional homemade recipes prepared to please the patron's taste. They use only fresh, seasonal ingredients that deliver the most delicious flavors and rich goodness.
Willis tower, formerly the Sears Tower, is a 110-story skyscraper, and this skyscraper is Chicago's most dominant structure and 2nd tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. On a clear day, one can see approximately 40-50 miles (65 - 80 kilometers), allowing one to easily see four states – Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Skydeck has a ledge glass box extending 4.3 feet from the Skydeck, providing a clear view of 1,353 straight down.
Xoco—pronounced "SHO-ko"—is the Aztec word for "little sister." Rick Bayless, who runs the iconic flagship restaurant Frontera, opened the place. But there's nothing little about Xoco's bold Mexican marketplace flavors. This quick-service café from Rick and Deann Bayless is open early and closing late and proffers contemporary expressions of Mexico's most beloved street food and snacks: flaky empanadas, hot-from-the-fryer churros, frothy Mexican hot chocolate, crusty tortas, and meal-in-a-bowl caldos.
Founded in 1879, It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The vision of this museum is to acquire arts of all kinds and conduct exhibitions for education. This museum has the third most extensive collection of Arts in the country-consisting of approximately 300,000 works of art in 11 curatorial departments. It is an excellent place to spend time with family and friends. Riverboat cruises depart from here. The iconic ferries are fantastic for a photo op if you are not into riding them. The staff is amiable and offers excellent services. It is a must for Chicago Tourists.
The Chicago Cultural Center, which opened in 1897, is a Landmark housing designed to impress and prove that Chicago had grown into a cosmopolitan metropolis. The building currently boasts two magnificent glass strained-glass domes, including the world's largest stained glass Tiffany dome ― 38 feet in diameter with some 30,000 pieces of glass. It also features mosaic walls, free music, dance and theater events, films, lecturers, art exhibitions, and family events.
Chicago Diner has been serving innovative and delicious vegan and vegetarian fare since 1983. True to their signage, "meat free since '83," all of their menus are a take on the classic American diner with a twist. It has earned numerous accolades from various media outlets for its fantastic food. They use local, seasonal ingredients and produce. All their cleaning products are eco-friendly, to-go containers are bio-degradable, and they practice bio-diesel conversion of waste oil.
Chef partners Susan Weaver, Rita Dever and John Chiakulas have created a menu inspired by food made in Lettuce's test kitchen. Beatrix is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night offerings. All pastries and sweets are baked in house daily. It features Modern, all-day venue combining an American eatery, wine & cocktail bar & a bakery/cafe. They offer the kale juice, mushroom burger, kale salad, steak and eggs and a side of granola, and veggie burger. They also have amazing Caramel pie for dessert. They have a lot of the same vendors as the Kane County flea market, but have some city based vendors as well. The items for sale range from bookshelves to vintage Ferragamo shoes. It is a very entertaining location, great people-watching out the wall of windows. The cocktail menu is refreshing and unique, appetizers are light and flavorful, and their entrees were superbly executed.
Named after Marshall Field, who donated $1 million to build the museum, The natural history museum has nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens, showcasing 4.5+ billion years of history. One cannot see so many artifacts in a day, let alone a few hours, so visitors should devise a plan beforehand on what to cover. There are additional exhibits that cost extra.
Eggy's, a contemporary diner, is more than just breakfast (though it does have an extensive egg-centric menu). The 60's inspired menu is full of items designed to give a home-cooked feel. Think pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and burgers. But it has made national news for its crunchy French toast, featured on Travel Channel's "Food Paradise" as a can't-miss carby dish.
Chicago's century-old Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinese-American communities in the nation. As soon as you set foot in this historic neighborhood, you're in for the rich culture, regional Chinese cuisines, karaoke bars, and unique architecture. Stroll through elaborately adorned streets filled with traditional specialty shops, ornate architecture, storefronts packed with colorful wares and souvenirs, and family-owned restaurants with dishes you'll be craving long after home.
Legendary theatre in downtown Chicago hosts concerts, comedians, theatrical productions, and special events every year. The 3,600-seat auditorium is seven stories high, and the vertical "C-H-I-C-A-G-O" sign is one of the few such signs in existence today. The building is built in the French Baroque style featuring a miniature replica of Paris' Arc de Triomphe, and the grand lobby is modeled after the Royal Chapel at Versailles. The theater is exquisite and quite beautiful.
Pequod's Pizza has gained a cult following for its pan-style deep dish Pizza with a caramelized crust edge. The Pizza gained popularity with word of mouth, and Pequod's became the best-known secret for Pizza in Chicago. Mozzarella cheese is cooked along the edge of a cast-iron pan creating a crust unlike any other hence the name "caramelized crust." Customers get blown away after tasting the pie with the savory sauce and flavorful toppings.
Lula cafe at Logan Square is inventive, market-driven, primarily organic food in a casual, funky space, hosting a trendy breakfast/brunch. They specialize in using locally sourced fresh produce and seasonal ingredients, and the patio is lovely on a warm night with the perfect atmosphere.
The home of the Chicago Cubs, originally known as Weeghman Park, was built in 1914. A unique piece of sports history still stands while most other venues get knocked down and rebuilt, it is the second oldest ballpark. An iconic landmark, it is known for its ivy-covered brick outfield wall and hand-turned scoreboard. Visitors can see this place from the outside for free or buy tour tickets to go inside, and they can also purchase tickets on the game day to get the real experience. The games are fun and exciting, regardless of the outcome.
Specialty grocery-cafe fusion place uses local ingredients to create artisanal culinary dishes, lunch boxes, ready-to-cook food, and gift baskets serving breakfast and lunch all day. They showcase numerous local food artisans. Customers come here to experience the from-scratch fare and unique dishes, including the occasional secret supper.
Opened in 1929 with a capacity of 700 seats, Music Box has been a premier venue for independent and foreign films in Chicago for the last two decades and is the largest theatre space operated full-time in Chicago. The theatre has the same architecture and design as it was when it opened with a dark blue ceiling with twinkling stars and moving cloud formations as we see in the night sky. The walls, towers, and blue ceiling take the viewers to an Italian courtyard in an open-air Tuscan palazzo.
It is a museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history. Museum offers a variety of programs, dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events, and programming that connects people to Chicago's history and each other. It is excellent for kids and adults to get a basic understanding of the city by going through different periods in history. The Museum Store has many fun Chicago goodies, from posters to Frank Lloyd Wright-style items, books, DVDs, toys, mugs, magnets, ornaments, coasters, jewelry, and more.
Jimmy Bannos Jr., a fourth-generation restaurateur, opened this place after graduating from the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University and working for other nationally renowned chefs in Italy and New York City (Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich). He also traveled through Italy, Greece, and the United States, cultivating his culinary approach from the region's culture and food. Since opening in 2009, The Purple Pig has received numerous accolades. In 2014, Chef Jimmy received his first James Beard Award for "Rising Star Chef." The Purple Pig has been a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient since 2011 and has collected numerous culinary and wine awards nationally.
Established in 2012, Batter and Berries is the result of founders Dr. Tanya & Craig Richardson's desire to add an eclectic world-class restaurant to the vibrant Chicago brunch scene. The idea was simple: offer the freshest food possible with flavors that people would come from all over the world to experience and want to return for more. They partner with local communities and businesses, several local artisans, craftspeople, and purveyors to provide a uniquely Chicago experience.
A contemporary art museum near Water Tower Place is one of the world's largest contemporary art venues. Visitors can experience the work and ideas of living artists and understand the historical, social, and cultural context. The museum includes sculpture, photography, dance, performance, and music. Museum's collection consists of more than 2,000 works, 2,500 artworks spanning media and movements from the 1920s to the present.
In 2011, husband and wife Art and Chelsea Jackson opened Pleasant House Bakery, a small pie shop specializing in Royal Pies—their own various handmade, artisanal meat and vegetable savory pies. In 2016, they expanded their signature British-inspired, locally sourced menu in a new location, Pleasant House Pub, which also features a full bar and cafe.
A Tony award recipient, Shakespeare Theatre runs 650 performances annually with twenty productions featuring plays, musicals, world premiers, family productions, and theatrical presentations from around the globe. It also offers educational programming for students, teachers, and lifelong learners and has been honored with many national and international awards. Recently, the theatre was recognized as a national leader in a white house ceremony.
The Marq offers an ever-evolving, globally inspired menu of seasonal fare with a delicious, upscale, and easily approachable experience paired with handcrafted cocktails, a moderately craft-focused beer list, and a dynamic wine list. Named for its historic home, the Loop's Marquette Building, with its hard-to-miss central bar and beautiful views, attracts locals and tourists. It features breakfast, lunch, and Dinner in a beautiful setting.
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