Things To Do in Chicago

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City of Chicago Department of Tourism

THE place to check out all city sponsored events that are happening during the conference is available at www.cityofchicago.org/tourism.

Museums and major attractions

Our museums and major attractions draw tourists from all over the world.

Performing Arts

Chicago has a rich theater tradition. Here are some of our more famous institutions:

Theater tickets are also available online at www.seatlink.com/Theatre.html and through Hottix.org.

Sightseeing Boats

The sightseeing boats are a fun way to soak in the sights of Chicago. Sightseeing boat tickets available online:

Sightseeing buses

Get a little queasy on the water? Check out Gray Line Chicago Sightseeing Tours for a land alternative.

Dining

Choosechicago.com and Metromix serve up some tasty offerings on where to eat in Chicago. Also, see below for a personal guide to restaurans by a former Chicagoan!

Nightlife

Choosechicago.com and Metromix offer suggestions on the hot spots in Chicago.

Exhibits, Festivals, Performances and Tours

Apr. 29, 2005 - ????
Wicked
Tony award winning musical based on the Gregory Maguire book of the same name. Dance/Theater
Ford Center for the Performing Arts
24 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 977-1700

May. 19, 2005 - Jun. 26, 2005
Red Light Winter
Two American men and a beautiful, young prostitute are thrown into a bizarre love triangle in Amsterdam's Red Light District. A stunning new work by the author of Blackbird and Nocturne. $15-$20 Dance/Theater
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
1650 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 335-1650

Jun. 25, 2005 - Jun. 26, 2005
Chicago Country Music Festival
Grant Park hosts country music's top talents during the Chicago Country Music Festival. Experience a medley of country music featuring, classic country, bluegrass and western swing. Line-dancing lessons will also take place nightly. Free Festivals/Fairs
Grant Park
Jackson Blvd. and Columbus Dr.
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 744-3370

Jun. 26, 2005 - Jun. 26, 2005
Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade
Join the fun on Halsted with the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade featuring colorful costumes, floats and music. Parade
Halsted and Belmont Sts.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 348-8243

Jun. 24, 2005 - Jun. 26, 2005
Chicago Cubs vs. Chicago White Sox
Get your tickets now (if you can) for the Crosstown Classic at U.S. Cellular Field (which for true Sox fans will always be Comiskey Park).
U.S. Cellular Field Ticket Office
(866) SOX-GAME

Jun. 28, 2005 - Jun. 30, 2005
Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers (June 28-30)
The Friendly Confines, on the north side is the second-oldest ballpark in the major leagues. The ivy-lined outfield walls, man-operated scoreboard and the bleacher bums rallying the team to victory, makes catching a game a must stop for any sports fan. Baseball
Wrigley Field
1060 W. Addison St.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 404-CUBS

Jul. 3, 2004 - Jul. 3, 2005
Regenstein Center for African Apes
Visit Lincoln Park Zoo and welcome both great apes and chimpanzees in their new state-of-the-art facility. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Lincoln Park Zoo
Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Pkwy.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-2000

Jun. 21, 2005 - Jul. 3, 2005
Little Shop of Horrors
A spectacular new production of this musical comedy favorite about a nobody, the girl he loves and the man-eating plant that changes their lives forever. This production includes well-known musical numbers "Suddenly Seymour" and "Somewhere That's Green." Dance/Theater
Ford Center for the Performing Arts
24 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 977-1700

Jun. 24, 2004 - Jul. 4, 2005
Taste of Chicago 2005
As the largest free-admission food and music festival in the U.S., this 10-day party provides everything from hot dogs to haute cuisine dished out by 70-plus area restaurants. Featuring live music, cooking demonstrations, a wine garden and family fun! Free entrance, but must purchase tickets for food and drink Festivals/Fairs
Grant Park
Jackson Blvd. and Columbus Dr.
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 744-3370

Jun. 2, 2005 - Jul. 10, 2005
Gilgamesh
Based on one of the world's oldest recorded stories, Gilgamesh is set in Mesopotamia and tells the story of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, his struggles with friendship, mortality and the quest for perfection. $20-$50 Dance/Theater
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
1650 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 335-1650

May. 25, 2005 - Jul. 17, 2005
The Tragic Tale of Hillbilly Antigone
The Flicks and the Wallers have been feuding as long as anyone can remember, and with that old hound Baby Good Boy trespassing again and the railroad coming to Badd Mountain, the feud just heats up. Dance/Theater
Lookingglass Theatre in the Watertower Waterworks
821 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60606
(773) 477-8088

Apr. 10, 2005 - Jul. 19, 2005
Romeo and Juliet
The violence of two warring families stains the Verona streets-and the love between two teenagers, born into hate. Tony Award-nominated director Mark Lamos makes his Chicago debut staging-in its explosive entirety-the most famous love story of all time. Dance/Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre - Navy Pier
800 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 595-5600

Jun. 18, 2005 - Jul. 24, 2005
Dollhouse
Nora has everything, a loving husband, two promising children and a bright future. But when she discovers a side of her husband that horrifies her, she must choose to be stifled by her life in her doll's house, or to take control of her own destiny. Dance/Theater
Goodman Theatre
170 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 443-3800

Jul. 25, 2003 - Jul. 25, 2005
Menopause the Musical
This joyful musical parody set to 28 classic baby-boomer songs from "Puff, My God I'm Draggin" to that disco favorite "Stayin' Awake, Stayin' Awake" will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! It's definitely not "The Silent Passage" anymore! Tickets are $46.50 Dance/Theater
Apollo Theater
2540 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 935-6100

May. 1, 2005 - Jul. 31, 2005
Bike Chicago 2005
A three-month long celebration. Various events include Bike to Work Day, LATE Ride and Bike Along Lake Shore Drive and numerous workshops to promote health and the enviromental benefits of biking. Some workshops and biking events may be free. Bicycle
Various locations
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 744-3315
(877) 244-2246

Jun. 10, 2005 - Jul. 31, 2005
Disney's The Lion King
Already garnering massive critical and audience acclaim throughout the country, Walt Disney's The Lion King moves into town telling the epic adventure of a young Simba struggling to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role as king. Dance/Theater
The Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 977-1700

Feb. 18, 2005 - Aug. 18, 2005
The Mystery of the Nile
Pasquale Scaturro leads a team of explorers on a quest to conquer one of earth's last uncharted frontiers: the Nile river. Follow the group through rapids, waterfalls, jungles, canyons, deserts and sandbars. Film
Museum of Science and Industry
57th St. & Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-3323

Jun. 2, 2005 - Sep. 1, 2005
Family Fun Thursdays at Navy Pier
Thursday nights are Family Nights as Navy Pier presents fun for the whole family this summer. Families will find a variety of fun activities featuring entertainment on the Family Pavilion Stage. Free Seasonal Events
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 595-PIER

Feb. 4, 2005 - Sep. 5, 2005
Body Worlds: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies
Featuring more than 200 authentic human specimens, including entire bodies as well as individual organs and transparent body slices that have been preserved with special plastics and enable us to view the many layers and systems under our skin. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Museum of Science and Industry
57th St. & Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-3323

Mar. 4, 2005 - Sep. 5, 2005
Game On
Explores the vibrant history and culture of video games from 1962-2002. This highly interactive exhibition identifies the key creative people who make video games and examines the game design process from conceptual drawing to finished product. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Museum of Science and Industry
57th St. & Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-3323

May. 27, 2005 - Sep. 5, 2005
Sue Discovery Dig
This exhibit lets visitors pick up their field tools and set to work uncovering Sue's buried bones under the big outdoor tent on the Museum's southeast terrace. The museum's team will help kids identify their finds and give them a hands-on fossil lesson. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-9410

May. 28, 2005 - Sep. 5, 2005
Miller Lite Stage Performances at Navy Pier
The Miller Lite Stage in the Navy Pier Beer Garden features seven nights of free entertainment throughout the summer. Visitors have the opportunity to listen to the music of local bands playing a variety of musical styles. Concert/Performances
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 595-PIER

May. 28, 2005 - Sep. 5, 2005
Navy Pier Fireworks
Every Wednesday and Saturday evening join the crowds at Navy Pier to view the amazing and colorful fireworks of Navy Pier. It's July 4th every Wednesday and Saturday in Chicago. Free Seasonal Events
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 595-PIER

May. 28, 2005 - Sep. 5, 2005
Skyline Stage Performances at Navy Pier
Skyline Stage at Navy Pier takes off Memorial Day Weekend with an incredible line-up of entertainment set throughout the summer season. Tickets for all Skyline Stage shows may be purchased through TicketMaster. Concert/Performances
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 595-PIER

Oct. 9, 2004 - Sep. 6, 2005
Animal Grossology
Animals do icky things too! Hence Animal Grossology, also based on Sylvia Branzei, best selling and award winning books that explore the yucky things in the animal kingdom. Learn why skunks stink, birds puke into baby birds mouths and other yucky stuff. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 755-5100

Feb. 27, 2004 - Sep. 30, 2005
Sonic Vision
Sonic Vision transforms today's hottest music into wildly imaginative images on the Adler Planetarium's StarRider dome with pulsing roller coaster ride by alternative and techno music artists; music in a new dimension with digital animation. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-STAR

May. 1, 2005 - Sep. 30, 2005
Loop Tour Train 2005
Fully-narrated, 40-minute architectural tour of the downtown loop on board a CTA elevated brown line train. Saturdays only. Starts at the Chicago Cultural Center's Visitor Information Center. Free Seasonal Events
77 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60602
(877) CHI-CAGO

May. 6, 2005 - Oct. 31, 2005
Pier Walk 2005
One of the world's largest outdoor sculpture exhibits, Pier Walk brings art to the public as guests are invited to walk around and see sculptures placed along the parks, promenades and docks at Navy Pier. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 595-PIER

Jan. 8, 2005 - Dec. 3, 2005
Chicago Neighborhood Tours 2005
Travel the world in Chicago with these cultural tours of Chicago's various neighborhoods. Tours include visits to different ethnic neighborhoods such as Swedish, German, Italian, Greek and more and Special Interestours like the ethnic food sampling tour. $20/$25 for Neighborhood tours and $45/$50 for Special Interest tours.
Heritage/Cultural Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 742-1190

Dec. 16, 2004 - Dec. 15, 2005
Red Scare
"Red Scare," is an explosive exploration of the country's current political and cultural climate. As the proverbial melting pot continues to rebel against forming a true cultural union, the elements rage and the issues escalate. Concert/Performances
Second City
1616 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 337-3992
(877) 778-4707

Dec. 19, 2004 - Dec. 19, 2005
From Fear to Eternity
While we vigorously engage in discussions on morality, relationships and sex on a national & local level, we continue to toe the fine line of cultural & individual intimacy which reeks havoc on our political system as well as our interpersonal encounters. Concert/Performances
Second City Etc.
1608 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 337-3992
(877) 778-4707

Jan. 31, 2002 - Dec. 31, 2005
Late Nite Catechism
Step back into your old catechism class and join the fun. Regardless of your Faith, Chicago's longest running comedy is "Laugh-Out-Loud-Funny!" - Associated Press. This interactive comedy is the longest running one-woman show in Chicago. Dance/Theater
Royal George Theatre
1641 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 988-9000

Dec. 1, 2004 - Dec. 31, 2005
O'Leary's Chicago Fire Truck Tours
The finest, most scenic, most informative and enjoyable tour to remember. You will be able to ride on the Antique Fire Truck while hearing about Chicago's culture and history. Adults: $10 Seniors (65+): $5 Children 4-12: $5 Children 3 or under - Free Heritage/Cultural
Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 287-6565

Sep. 27, 2004 - Jan. 5, 2006
George Gershwin Alone
The story of America's great composer, who with the groundbreaking "A Rhapsody in Blue," made a "Lady out of Jazz." This performance presents an "imagination" of what an evening in the presence of the great composer's company may have been like. $37.50 to $45.00 Dance/Theater
Royal George Theatre
1641 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 988-9000

Jan. 8, 2004 - Jan. 8, 2006
His Way Theatre
Ron Hawking in His Way - A Tribute to the Man and His Music. Enjoy this critically acclaimed musical smash hit at the His Way Theatre at NBC Tower, Chicago's newest entertainment experience. Be happy. Feel good. Dance/Theater
NBC Tower, 454 N. Columbus Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 222-1188

Feb. 4, 2005 - Jan. 16, 2006
Design Innovations in Manufactured Housing
These large-scale architectural drawings are created for this exhibition by eight noted architects and industrial designers. These renderings depict the homes in a variety of settings, and the designers' notes explain the design of their projects. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-9410

Jul. 1, 2003 - Mar. 31, 2006
Tony N' Tina's Wedding
See Tony n' Tina get married in the chapel of love, attend the reception, eat an unlimited Italian buffet with wedding cake for dessert, toast the Bride and Groom with champagne and dance! Now in its 10th year! Dance/Theater
Piper's Alley
230 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 664-6969

Jan. 31, 2002 - Dec. 31, 2006
Blue Man Group
The Blue Man Group feature three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment that is like nothing else. Dance/Theater
Briar Street Theatre
3133 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(773) 348-4000

Jan. 1, 2004 - Apr. 11, 2011
Mexicanidad: Our Past is Present
This exhibition chronologically follows the history of Mexican culture and the changes, struggles and triumphs it has endured throughout time. Various types of art are included in this exhibit that attest to the diversity and versatility of Mexican art. Visual Arts/Exhibition
Mexican Fine Arts Center and Museum
1852 W. 19th St.
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 738-1503

Restaurants:

(originally posted to the NMRT-L listserv list.)

Hi NMRT folks! I thought I'd contribute my list of Chicago restaurants as well. I put this together for a friend of mine who went to Chicago last summer for the marathon. I used to live on the north side of the city, so many of mine are out of the Loop. but not entirely. Many of the places on my list are on the other end of the budget spectrum. There is also some general neighborhood info included. -Eliz

- The Chicago Reader is Chicago's version of the Eugene Weekly. it has a website at http://www.chicagoreader.com http://www.chicagoreader.com. i'd look here if you want to catch a concert

- Metromix ( http://metromix.chicagotribune.com http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/) is a handy website. i've only used it for it's restaurant reviews but it has event listings and other information, too.

i'm including on here my extremely overwhelming list of favorite chicago restaurants that I compiled for myself when I spent a week in chicago in August. I put the downtown restaurants at the top of the list, since that's where you're staying. for more info, I suggest metromix's dining section at http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/. they have good reviews. a lot of these restaurants, by the way, are kind of strange, neighborhood and somewhat dive-y places, with some exceptions... I'll note the, uh, less classy restaurants in their descriptions. Also, if there's a particular kind of food you're interested in, let me know. Oh yeah, there are things to do in Chicago that don't involve eating... or so I hear. Downtown, i've always loved the Museum of Contemporary Art, which is downtown, right off Michigan Avenue at Chicago Avenue 220 E, Chicago, 60607 - (312) 280-2660. You should definitely make it over to Millenium Park, which recently opened. It's a bit south (near the Art Institute) on Michigan Avenue.

If you continue south to the corner of Michigan and Harrison, there's a very small but cool Museum of Contemporary Photography in Columbia College that is free to visit. Another place to check out is the Chicago Cultural Center ( www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/CulturalCenter/) on the corner of Michigan Ave. and Washington. There are always interesting events going on there. It is a beautiful old building which used to be the Chicago Public Library! Check out the Tiffany dome on the Washington side of the building.

If you want cute neighborhoods to wander around, I recommend going up north to Andersonville, (Clark and Foster is the big intersection there), which has cute bookstores, restaurants, boutiques and cafes. Kopi, in particular, is a great place to get coffee and people watch--it's on Clark street. Andersonville is historically Scandanavian, so there's a Swedish Bakery, Swedish Museum, etc. but it also has a strong middle eastern presence.

Devon Avenue, which is much farther north, is known as Little India. The main intersection of the Indian neighborhood is Devon and Western. it's a fascinating place to wander around and there are plenty of fantastic restaurants. last time I was there, I ate at Uduppi Palace, a south indian vegetarian place. I spent a semester in India, and Devon Avenue is really remarkable in terms of replicating India (well, if it snowed in India, that is).

To see the Chicago hipsters, head to Wicker Park. The main intersection there is North, Damen and Milwaukee Avenues.The area has some really great bookstores. Quimby's, on North, is fantastic and has lots of hard-to-find stuff like zines and graphic novels; Myopic on Milwaukee is a wonderful used bookstore. In and around thart intersection you will find lots of food, shops and nice bars. The Double Door is a good place to see live music. All along Damen street North of North Avenue are high end boutiques and restaurants in the neighborhood known as Bucktown. it is extremely easy to get to Wicker park and Bucktown on public transportation. Just take the Blue line from anywhere in the Loop in the direction of O'Hare airport and exit at the Damen Stop. If you exit at the Ashland stop, one stop before Damen, you can walk west along Division Street. Not only is the stretch between Ashland and Damen full of interesting bakeries (try Alliance) cafes and restaurants, but it is where Nelson Algren lived and wrote. Oral Historian Studs Terkel entitled one of his most famous books, "Division Street, America." Walk West to Damen Avenue, turn right and walk another quarter of a mile North to pass by the actual Wicker Park after which the neighborhood is named. Enjoy the beautiful homes on the park and see some frolicking canines in the park's popular dog park. Before long you'll reach the main intersection of Damen, Noth and Milwaukee and you are right back near the train if you are ready to head back downtown after a nice lunch.

Chinatown, just southwest of downtown, and not far from McCormick Place, is huge. Sadly my favorite restaurant burnt down in a nasty grease fire last year, so I'm not sure where you should eat. I do enjoy Dim Sum at the Phoenix, 2131 S. Archer Ave. It is touristy, but the food is great.

West of downtown is Greektown. it's on Halsted between Harrison and Randolph, more or less. it is a small area, but still fun to check out, mainly if you're looking for a good place to eat.

And the RESTAURANT LIST:

- Avec (615 w. randolph), this WONDERFUL new restaurant that is a wine bar and does tapas-style french-ish food. i just went there for the first time recently and it was great...it's a total trendy hip chicago restaurant. they don't take reservations and it's a pretty small place. the Avec folks also own Blackbird, which has been around for several years now. they're next door to each other. Blackbird focuses on seasonal local and organic food. i'd imagine that Avec does, too, but i'm not sure. this is on the spendier end.

-pizza ( Gino's (940 n.rush), Pizzeria Uno (29 e.ohio) or Due's(619 n.wabash)) these are all classic deep dish pizza joints. Uno's was the first and Due's is, of course, Uno's II. Gino's is great, too. Some people prefer it.

- Sushi Wasabi at 842 West Randolph just outside the loop is super trendy and fun--just make sure you wear lots of black). spendy.

- Cafe Iberico (a large, busy and international tapas place that has good sangria. it's perfect for large groups. i've been there a bunch and at my most recent visit the service was somewhat disappointing but i've had only positive experiences before that. it's at 739 n.lasalle). reasonably priced.

-Greektown for spanakopita at the Pan Hellenic Bakery (322 S. Halsted St.). so good! so cheap!

- Lula Cafe (2537 N. Kedzie Blvd.) A nice, slightly upscale restaurant in the up and coming Logan Square neighborhood that focuses on local, organic, seasonal food. It is quite a long train ride to the Logan Square stop, but Lula's is great. Very vegetarian friendly. reasonable.

- Red Apple (polish)--this is a north side restaurant with two locations: one at Belmont and Milwaukee; the other at Devon and Milwaukee. i like the Devon location because it's a few doors down from a really good bakery that you can visit if there's a line at red apple. every time i've been there, they've had an all-you-can-eat buffet. oh, and i'm not sure about the Belmont location but at the Devon location there's no sign that says "Red Apple" there's a sign of a big red apple and the name in polish (which sounds out to "Czerwone Jabluszko"). whenever i eat here, there are a lot of cops and a lot of elderly polish couples, which i take to be a good sign. it's very casual...kind of feels like a diner. very cheap!

- San Soo Gap San (Korean) is this bizarre 24 hour restaurant on the north side (5247 N. Western Ave.). other people prefer Korean Restaurant (yes, that is it's name) at 2659 W. Lawrence Ave. Both are very casual and quite interesting. if you've never had korean, i really like bi bim bop, which is a bowl of rice with veggies and meat (or tofu) and, if you're a meat eater, bul go gi, which i may have spelled wrong. the servers at san soo gap san are notoriously rude, but it kind of adds to the experience. cheap!

- Al's No.1 Italian Beef (1079 W. Taylor St.) is in the heart of Little Italy and has the most amazing Italian beef sandwiches and the best
fries you've ever had. i went there for the first time when i was most recently in chicago and it's probably best that i didn't konw about it when i lived in chicago because it was so good. as i recall, there aren't tables in this place...only counters to stand at. it's incredibly greasy and loud and must have been the subject of a saturday night live skit at some point in the 1970s. it is an absolutely Chicago classic. and it's right across from Mario's fabulous Italian ice stand. cheap!

- Victory's Banner (vegetarian breakfast) is at 2100 W. Roscoe St, in the very cute Roscoe Village neighborhood. it's a very weird little
restaurant that is owned by a guy who is the follower of Indian guru Sri Chinmoy, whose pictures practically wallpaper the restaurant (there are also videos of Chinmoy lifting cars and whatnot). the restaurant is vegetarian, but serves classic breakfasts with eggs and cheese (and "neatloaf," "soysage," etc.). it's quirky. and can be very busy in the mornings. reasonable.

- Ethiopian Diamond (6120 n. broadway) is on the far north side, in my neighborhood (known as Edgewater). it's awesome! and on friday nights there's live music. reasonable.

- Demon Dog, a soon-closing awesome hot dog stand under the Fullerton stop on the El's Red Line. historic import and so forth. i've never been there, but i know people who are devastated about the fact that it's closing. i think that visiting any chicago hot dog stand is a good wholesome kind of chicago thing to do.

-the Phoenix in China Town for Dim Sum--ah, already mentioned this. Here is a review

- Margie's soda fountain (1960 N. Western Ave.) has been around since 1921 and is another one of those classic Chicago stops. I wouldn't go there for an actual meal, but they have great sundaes. plus, it's just a neat old restaurant.

- Manny's coffee shop and deli (1141 S. Jefferson St) is sort of the Chicago restaurant of Chicago restaurants. it's a huge jewish deli with cafeteria-style dining that attracts an absolute cross-section of the Chicago population. i eat there every time i go to chicago, even if it's the only place i'll get to. when I moved from Chicago to Michigan last year, it was the place we stopped at on our way out of town with the U-haul and who else was eating there but none other than the governor of Illinois. This past august, John Edwards and Barak Obama (the future illinois senator) ate there. It's a total classic and all the food is fattening, heavy, greasy and fabulous. They have the biggest and best corned beef and pastrami sandwhiches you have ever had. Even Second Avenue Deli in The east Village in NYC can't beat them for size or flavor. If you're a meat eater, I also recommend the reuben. In fact, it's a crime if you go there as a meat eater and DON'T get the reuben... all the sandwhiches come with a wonderful a potato pancake. You can also get Matzoh Ball soup, or any of dozens of hot dishes. A reuben, by the way, is a corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing sandwich on dark rye. You can also ask, though it's not on the menu, for a chocolate phosphate, which is like an egg cream without the milk (meaning it's chocolate syrup and seltzer water which tastes much better than it sounds). reasonable.

- Taste of Heaven (5401 north clark) for mindboggling cake. i'd imagine Sweet Life isn't nearly as good. it's in Andersonville, by the way, on the corner of clark and balmoral, north of foster. and i recommend the jeannine's cake. SO good!!

- Argyle for Vietnamese--Argle Street, on the north side, between Broadway and Sheridan, is now called "Little Chinatown" or "Chinatown North" or something like that, but it's actually almost exclusively Vietnamese food.

- La Unica's (1515 W. Devon Ave) is actually a Cuban grocery store, but it has a little cafe in the back that's really fun. it's somewhat useful
if you speak spanish but they have an english menu. i, for one, speak very minimal spanish and have always gotten by using the english menu. this is NOT a good place for strict vegetarians, since they put lard in everything except the plantains, and i'm not even too sure about the plantains. cheap!

- Devon Ave., which i mentioned above, but deserves another mention because it's so much fun (Indian) (Udupi Palace in particular for fantastic south indian food). Try Uduppi palace, Tiffin, Ghandi Indian Restaurant, or Hema's Kitchen for a cozy homestyle indian meal.

Content compiled by Shilo Halfen and Denise Kwan of the NMRT Local Arrangements Committee except where noted - Katie Dunneback, chair