Chicago, Chicago, what a place. Chicago and its neighboring suburbs have over 9.5 million residents. With so many people, every experience is different and you’ll always get different suggestions. These are just the things that I like doing and highlighting to my visitors, but if you have another activity you enjoy please let me know in the comments. I love finding out new things about my city!
First things first - food. Chicago has many signature dishes that visitors have to try. Once my boyfriend, Parish, got off the plane, we headed straight for Lou Malnati's. There’s a lot of options for deep dish pizza: Uno’s, Pequods, Giordano’s; but this place is one of my favorites. Their house salad is also one of my favorites.
Parish also really wanted to try an Italian Beef. There are a few places to do this. I took him to Portillo’s. I’ve never had anything I didn’t like at Portillo’s - hotdogs, onion rings, chopped salads, chocolate cake, ribs. I’m not kidding - it’s all good! I always go for the chopped salad, but you won’t regret anything you order there. Johnnie’s Beef is also a great place to get beef if you find yourself in the suburbs.
If you’re ever feeling a little fancy but are unsure about where to eat in the city, Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group has great options. They own restaurants with all different kinds of flavors all over the city. Beatrix, Wildfire, Joe’s, and so many more restaurants are part of this company and are all super tasty! Over the weekend, Parish and I tried one I’ve never been to. Ēma is a more Mediterranean feel with hummus and small plates. I had never heard of it, but knowing it was a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, I figured it was worth a try. The brunch was delicious!
I also love showing people the different styles of architecture in Chicago. Since the boat tours of the city don’t usually open up until about about mid to late April, a quick and easy way this time of year is to go through the buildings on your own. I love showing people the Palmer House Hotel. The detailed and decadent design is perfect to take in while sipping a cocktail in the lobby. Walking by the Chicago Board of Trade building and seeing the statue of Ceres atop the building is another great piece of Chicago history. I would have to say my favorite building is the Wrigley building along the river.
I grew up near the Frank Lloyd Wright Oak Park studio, but had never actually gone on a tour of the home in the area. Parish and I went this past weekend. The rates are super fair and it’s a really easy way to see some history! I think the more travel guides I do, the more y’all will come to realize how obsessed I am with history!
After the Game Room, I took Parish to Italian Village. This traditional Italian restaurant is so old school they don’t take reservations! It’s frequented by play goers, since Hamilton is being performed down the street. The restaurant is set like an Italian village - complete with a starry night scene with twinkling lights, and little alcoves with a more private dining experience. The service is professional and the food is delicious!
The bars were super packed and had really long lines, so we did not really try to go in anywhere, however the House of Blues was open. The House of Blues is easy to distinguish by the pringle-like roof. We went in there, had some green beer and enjoyed the live music. We bar-hopped a little bit before heading home. Getting home in one piece was truly the luck of the Irish.
No matter what time of year you come visit, Chicago always has something to offer. This is only a small sliver of stuff that we fit into a weekend in the late winter, early spring. But I hope that as the seasons change I can continue to show you guys more of this city. Come the spring and summer months, my friends and I will be going to Cubs games, the Oak Street beach, and probably spending more time outside in general! But until then, I will be bundled under many blankets with an extra-large mimosa. Cheers!
To new beginnings and new friends. Cheers!