Always a bit more crowded than I'd wish, but with reason. Incredible beer selection and tasty food like mussels w/frites. Never had a bad beer there, out of dozens I've tried.
This jazz institution is legendary for three things: it was once a Capone hangout, it’s haunted, and the no-nonsense staff will shush you and the friends who dragged you in during jazz sets.
Breakfast at Rick Bayless’s most casual spot yet is quiet perfection: a cup of masterfully concocted hot chocolate, a flaky egg empanada, one hell of a sugar-and-cocoa-coated churro.
While the amenities aren’t posh, beachgoers appreciate the convenience of restrooms with showers and beach chow like hot dogs, burgers, chips and lemonade.
The Clipper is a photo booth away from exhibiting the same shabby hipster cool as Goldstar. Slide into one of the gorgeous old booths on a Friday or Saturday for no-cover live rockabilly groups.
This community arts center offers an array of arts classes like photography, painting, ceramics and drawing.
With musicians and dancers performing in the galleries, artists getting bigger shows, and young curators infusing fresh programming ideas, the MCA is doing the most to attract a new audience: you.
Fruits, veggies and more, oh my! A summer (and year-round) farmers' market staple in the city. Arrive early and bring an appetite for some of the unique market finds.
The banana leaf–steamed tamale is delicious, incredibly smooth masa hiding tender shredded chicken kicked up with green chilies, and the empanadas are among the flakiest in town. Read more.
The tongue is poached with spices, and it picks up all those flavors and brings it to the potato hash, which is topped with bone-marrow hollandaise, fried and pickled shallots, and a fried egg. Read more.
Mariano's is like Dominick’s, with all the same common groceries, wide aisles, impressive bread bakery and a cheese counter (though not a lot of artisan cheese). BUT this place has a piano player! Read more.
It’s a comfortable, intimate space; on top of the music, this River North restaurant boasts a respectable menu that tempts jazzheads to make an evening of it. Read more.
Since moving to swank new digs in 2008, the Showcase has easily reestablished its reputation for bringing in top-shelf talent like David Holland and Mose Allison. Read more.
Den mother Katerina supports local jazz and world music like few others. Inside her cozy venue, you can catch Gypsy violinist Alfonso Ponticelli, jazz chanteuse Grazyna Auguscik and local jam bands. Read more.
The devious minds behind this brunch spot think they can throw perfect poached eggs on top of crispy poutine and call it breakfast? They could call it dessert and I’d still eat it any time of the day. Read more.
Putting the Bayless empire against taquerias is a David and Goliath move, but you’ll side with the big guy once you taste the soft housemade tortillas, farm eggs and beautiful blistered tomato sauce. Read more.
One bite of this candy-red sauce and I’m almost convinced it’s prime tomato season. Another bite of perfect black beans, tender tortillas and over-easy eggs and I know it’s just prime ¡Salpicon! Read more.
The brightness of the tomato sauce, the garnish of queso fresco and the pliable pan-fried tortillas set this take apart from the pack. Read more.
Here, black-bean cakes covered in melted Chihuahua cheese serve as the base of the dish for a memorable twist on the same ol’, same ol’ Read more.
Deep-fried tortillas make poufy, crunchy pillows for any-style eggs, refried pinto beans and sauce with a kick (on my visit, smoky chipotle ranchero). Add pulled pork, chorizo or soyrizo for $2. Read more.
Hop onto a bar stool at this DMK Burger Bar sibling for grilled, fried and sandwiched seafood, most of it less than $10.
Tuesday through Friday, the catch of the day (with potato, veggies, soup and salad) is $17. Now good luck getting a table.
Fish and chips, po' boys, fish tacos, and um, foie gras ries, all churned out of an inconspicuous shack just west of the Brown Line.
This South Side spot is famous for smoked fish, but it fries the stuff for cheap, too.
This Chicago Park District facility offers baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, gyms and a playground. Read more.
One of Chicago's more prominent parks, Garfield Park offers facilities for baseball, boxing, basketball, tennis and swimming and also has a playground, fitness center, and paths for jogging. Read more.
The park stretches along the lakeshore and contains the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Cultural Center.
This park offers auditoriums, baseball fields, a golf course, gymnasium, outdoor basketball courts, paths for running, jogging or biking, a spray pool and tennis courts. Read more.
The beautiful Grant Park Rose Garden is a popular location for weddings and also a peaceful place to enjoy the park's scenery.
Designed by famous landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Jackson Park became the chosen site for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Read more.
This Chicago Park District facility offers a playground, baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, a swimming pool, water playground and paths for walking, jogging or biking. Read more.
The “BBQ Twist” sandwich is as close to real barbecue pulled pork as it can get. Enjoy the Sunday dinner: salad with house dressing, fake-chicken potpie, collard greens, corn and potatoes. Read more.
