Chicago: Why Go Now

Visitors to Chicago experience a virtual explosion of cultural activity, civic pride and multicultural expression. From stunning architecture and world-famous theater, music and museums to lakefront parks and vibrant ethnic neighborhoods, all against the backdrop of one of the most acclaimed skylines in the world, Chicago offers a range of attractions that keep visitors coming back again and again.

The Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street, an architectural showplace for the lively and visual arts, is a great place to begin a visit to Chicago. In addition to housing one of the city's official VisitorInformationCentersand the Chicago Publishers Gallery & Café featuring books and periodicals by Chicago authors and publishers, the Chicago Cultural Center offers more than 700 free art programs annually.



ARCHITECTURE – Chicago is the birthplace of the modern building. From historic landmark buildings to contemporary technological masterpieces,Chicago is home to unique and innovative designs that have shaped American architecture and the city's notably striking skyline.Chicago is a living museum of architecture, thanks to the genius of hundreds of architects such as Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Helmut Jahn and more recently, Frank Gehry, Renzo Piano, Jeanne Gang and Jackie Koo. It is also home to several of the world's tallest buildings, including the Willis Tower and the John Hancock Observatory, both offering a panoramic view of the city from skydecks open daily to the public.

MUSEUMS – Chicago is world-renowned for its diverse collection of museums in the parks and around the city, which explore a variety of subjects, including modern art, African American and other cultures, astronomy and natural history. Many have recently renovated, expanded or built new facilities, and added or reinstalled permanent exhibitions, including Adler Planetarium (Sky Theater modernization in progress); The Art Institute of Chicago, which added the Modern Wing and is now the second-largest U.S. art museum; the Chicago History Museum; Shedd Aquarium and its renovated Abbott Oceanarium; Spertus Museum at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies; National Hellenic Museum (formerly the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center; new museum in progress); Jane Addams Hull-House Museum; and the International Museum of Surgical Science. Some museums offer free admission and many others have weekly or select free days.

PUBLIC ART – Complementing the city's living museum of architecture is an unparalleled collection of public artworks found in parks, around buildings, at train stations and in other surprising citywide locations. A mesmerizing mix, it boosts the city's beauty, cultural aesthetic and inventory of free world-class attractions. Monuments from as early as the 1800s by period masters are featured, as well as later artworks by international luminaries, including Pablo Picasso's 1960s cubist sculpture “The Picasso” and Anish Kapoor's 2005 Cloud Gate sculpture in Millennium Park. Since the '60s many new works have been added to the local landscape, from Millennium Park's crowd-pleasing, interactive Crown Fountain to the 106 headless giants of Agora in Grant Park at Roosevelt Road.



TOURS – With an array of tours by foot, bus, bike, boat, Segway or plane–on the land, lake, river or in the sky–you can tour all of Chicago, from its famous landmarks and neighborhoods to its world-renowned cultural institutions and iconic architecture. Go behind-the-scenes at places like the Shedd Aquarium, the Buckingham Fountain, Half Acre Brewery, The Chicago Theatre, Eli's Cheesecake World and the Lyric Opera. Take a specialty tour such as the Chicago Chocolate Tours where tastings are included; join ShopWalk for fashionable shopping in trendy neighborhoods; enjoy ethnic foods and sights on Chicago Neighborhood Tours' Taste of the Neighborhoods; choose a self-guided look at theChicago

Center for Green Technology for tips on “greening” the home or office; or get a guided look inside Wrigley Field or another national landmark, theChicagoCulturalCenter. One great primer to the city's sights and its trademark friendliness is Chicago Greeter, a free service provided by the Chicago Office of Tourism that matches visitors with enthusiastic, city-knowledgeable residents for a two to four hour visit of the city.

TASTES – Chicago has thousands of restaurants serving a medley of culinary delights to suit every taste, every budget and every mood. Reserve a table at one of Chicago's Michelin Award–winning fine-dining restaurants, from Alinea's molecular gastronomy to Charlie Trotter's signature dishes to L2O's contemporary seafood to the first-ever Mexican-cuisine winner, Topolobampo. Be sure to fit in traditional favorites like the Chicago-style hot dog, deep dish pizza and caramel-cheese popcorn. Visit Restaurant Row in theWest Loopand other neighborhood dining spots. Shop exotic ingredients or ethnic fare sourced locally atChicago's Downtown Farmstand, Chicago French Market or Green City Market, one of America's top farmers markets and Chicago's only one held year-round (the rest run May–October). Sample the range at any number of outdoor festivals and events, from the lakefront's Taste of Chicago and Chicago Gourmet to the North Side's Ginza Holiday, theWest Side's Taylor Street Festa Italiana and the South Side's Chinatown Summer Fair. Or try select dishes and special offers during winter's Chicago Restaurant Week. Whatever your tastes, Chicago's Culinary Concierge at the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center has the latest on the local food scene, including events, cooking classes, culinary-school dining rooms, food-music venues, restaurants and tours.

SHOPPING – Shopping in Chicago began on State Street, the center of theLoop. The original and flagship Marshall Field's (now Macy's) department store opened in 1868 onState Street. “The Magnificent Mile” alongMichigan Avenue, from theChicago RivertoOak Street, famously offers hundreds of stores, shops and boutiques presenting top-of-the-line designer goods from around the world. A stroll downOak Streetreveals the latest designs from Paris,Milan and Manhattan mixed with Chicago's Gold Coast atmosphere. Specialty shops in neighborhoods such asDivision Streetand the Southport Corridor carry the work of independent and Chicago-based fashion designers, while River North features original artworks, stylish furniture and other appointments for the home.

The Chicago Office of Tourism initiative, Fashion Focus Chicago, showcases Chicago's more than 400 designers and 300-plus boutiques year-round with trunk shows, sidewalk sales, runway shows, pop-up shops, shopping itineraries, coupons, the holiday shopping event Glitter, exhibitions, a fashion incubator program in partnership with Macy's on State Street and Chicago's annual fashion week, all detailed at www.ChicagoFashionResource.com. Coming up on its seventh year, this City-sponsored fall fashion week celebrates the work of 100-plus, sought-after, Chicago-based designers and electrifies shoppers with a style-blitz of runway shows, special shopping experiences and industry events.



SPORTS – Chicago is a sports lover's dream come true. It is one of the country's few cities with two major-league baseball teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, and boasts the nation's second oldest major-league ballpark Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs (the Sox play U.S. Cellular Field on the city's South Side). Then there is the NFL's Chicago Bears, one of professional football's original franchises, playing at the lakeside Soldier Field. Both the NBA's Chicago Bulls and theNHL's 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks play at the nearWest Side United Center. TheMLS' Chicago Fire Soccer plays Toyota Parkin nearby Bridge view, Illinois and the WNBA's Chicago Sky runs the court at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. For those who prefer participating, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon held each fall is a leading contest for elite athletes and everyday runners alike. Chicago's parks and beaches are also great sports venues with over 500 baseball fields; the Lake Michigan Water Trail's 11 locations for kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing and paddle sports; 10 ice-skating rinks; 7 skate parks; and 6 Billy Casper Golf–operated golf courses.

MUSIC – Chicago is known worldwide as a top music city, the birthplace of genres including jazz/experimental, blues, gospel and house, and a popular spot for others such as hip-hop, indie rock and alt-country. The city is home to nearly 300 clubs, including landmarks like Buddy Guy's Legends,Rosa's Lounge, the New Checkerboard Lounge for Blues 'n' Jazz, Jazz Showcase and cult favorite, the Velvet Lounge, along with newer entries like The Shrine and Lincoln Hall. There are also free lakefront festivals counting the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival and the Chicago Jazz Festival; Millennium Park's free summer music series including Music Without Borders (world music), Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz and the Grant Park Music Festival (classical); and special venues like Symphony Center, presenting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (classical) and other jazz programs, and the Ardis Krainik Theatre of the Civic Opera House, home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Fun entrées to the sounds of the city's diverse cultures include Celtic Fest Chicago, Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, and 400-plus neighborhood festivals and parades. Meanwhile, annual events from Lollapalooza and the West Fest to the Pitchfork Music Festival and World Music Festival:Chicagoshowcase the best in local, national and international talent.

THEATRE – With over 150 theaters, including four Tony Award–winners, and a renowned, influential off-Loop theater scene,Chicago is a tremendous theater town. Iconic Downtown Theater District venues such as the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre and the Cadillac Palace Theatre host Broadway-style long-runs and premieres, while smaller, more intimate theaters can be found in the neighborhoods throughout the city.Chicago theaters including Victory Gardens Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company and Goodman Theatre regularly create award-winning productions that go on to Broadway and beyond. And, many famous comedians and actors began their careers at The Second City “improv” comedy club on the city's North Side. Half-price and full-price theater tickets are available at Hot Tix, located across the street from the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center.



LITERATURE – It is no surprise that one of Chicago's iconic nicknames, "City of Big Shoulders," is a literary reference from poet Carl Sandburg's poem, Chicago. Or, that it should come from a man who explored the American essence, finding some answers inChicago. An inspiration for many authors, playwrights and poets past and present,Chicago has also been a place to work, live and get published. Think classics from L. Frank Baum (Wizard of Oz), Ben Hecht (The Front Page), Edna Ferber (Giant) and Richard Wright (Native Son), or publishers like Harriet Monroe (Poetry magazine), Dominique Raccah (Sourcebooks) and Haki Madhubuti (Third World Press). Consider contemporary authors like Sara Paretsky (V.I. Warshawski series), Regina Taylor (Crowns), Scott Turow (Innocent), Audrey Niffenegger (The Time Traveler's Wife), Aleksandar Hemon (The Lazarus Project) and Sandra Cisneros (The House onMango Street).

There are many ways to tap into the city's vibrant literary scene. For example, browse local authors and publishers' books and periodicals at Chicago Publishers Gallery & Café, located in the city's original Chicago Public Library, theChicagoCulturalCenter. Bookmark the City's Publishing Industry Programs' new website, www.ChicagoPublishes.com, for updates and event listings. Attend the annual Printers Row Book Fair held in a neighborhood with a literary past. Sundays at the legendary Green Mill, hear improvisational spoken word during the Uptown Poetry Slam presented by the movement's founder "The Slam Papi" himself, Marc Smith.

MILLENNIUM PARK – Since its July 2004 opening, this award-winning 24.5-acre lakefront attraction has become one of the city's most popular visitor destinations. Global visitors enjoy its spectacular architecture, art and landscape design created by world-acclaimed artists, including Frank Gehry, Anish Kapoor, Jaume Plensa, Piet Oudolf and Renzo Piano. Each year, the park hosts hundreds of free performances by local, national and international talents, all presented free of charge. Highlights include the Grant Park Music Festival,America's only free, outdoor classical music series featuring a fully professional orchestra and chorus, the Chicago Country Music Festival, Fashion Focus Chicago, the city's fashion week of runway shows and events, and Chicago Winter Dance.



GREEN LANDSCAPES – Dubbed "City in a Garden" by the 1837 city seal, Chicago is one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. The city's green legacy began to grow with architect Daniel Burnham's pioneering 1909 city plan advocating green public spaces. Today's local government and business leaders continue this long-running commitment to the city's greening.Chicago boasts more than 7,700 acres of public parkland, 570 parks, nearly 50 natural areas, 30-plus beaches, 26 miles of lakefront, 16 historic lagoons and 2 top conservatories, all of which are free and accessible and programmed for public enjoyment. Indeed, the lakefront, with its parkland, direct pathways into neighborhoods and first-rate view of the city's skyline, is one of the most alluring spots for biking, swimming, fishing, boating, skating, jogging, walking or having an impromptu picnic. Located on the city'sWest Side, Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the world's largest gardens under glass, featuring plants from the pre-historic to the tropical to the indigenous, seasonal flower shows, an annual sweets festival and fine art. For the kids, there are also special hands-on activities and a children's garden. In theLoop, onLake Shore Drive and on other roads and walkways around town, find hanging plants, or container, curbside or median gardens. More than 3.5 million trees citywide help clean the air and provide shade in the warmer months.



NEIGHBORHOODS – Chicago's multicultural legacy can be found throughout the city's famous neighborhoods. Each a destination within a destination, these 75 distinct neighborhoods offer at least as many different experiences through an assortment of attractions, sights, tastes, sounds, languages, cultures and stories. After recently exploring them firsthand, the Chicago Office of Tourism added 2,000 additional neighborhood attractions and events to www.ExploreChicago.org. Besides an overview on each neighborhood, there are interactive and printable Google maps with points of interest and downloadable fun and challenging Scavenger Hunts. Add the new, free e-book, Eat, Play, Love Our Neighborhoods, and enjoying this “City ofNeighborhoods” like an insider is easier than ever before.



LAKEFRONT TRAIL – Chicago's innovative 18.5-mile Lakefront Trail with paths leading directly into the neighborhoods has made it one of America's top 10 walking cities. With so many attractions in close proximity with one another, walking is a great way to enjoy Chicago up-close. The city's public transit system features a network of accessible and bike-friendly buses and trains, making it easy, economical and quick to travel between neighborhoods to continue exploring on foot or by bike. Also considered one of the nation's best biking cities,Chicago offers 110-plus miles of on-street and 30 miles of marked shared bike lanes, and 12,000-plus bike racks. Left your bike at home? Bike rental and free bike parking are available at the McDonald's CycleCenter in Millennium Park. Seasonally, Chicago Greeter offers a free bike visit in addition to its regular free, informal, city orientations on foot and public transit.

For more information on Chicago, visit www.ExploreChicago.org or call 877.CHICAGO.