Chicago like a local
Chicago may be informally known as America's 'Second City' — a nod to its rebirth after the Great Fire of 1871 and a nickname kept alive by snarky New Yorkers — but to comedian Stephen Colbert, and to millions of Chicagoans who call it home, it's simply 'the greatest city in the world.'
I grew up in the Chicago area and moved back to the city in 2022 shortly after graduating from college. As a Reuters journalist covering commodity markets and agriculture, I spend most of my working hours in our downtown office and sometimes on farms and rural towns across the country. My off time, however, is spent enjoying everything the city has to offer, from its sandy beaches and unforgettable bars and restaurants to its towering skyline and rich cultural history.
Here are my tips on how to visit like a local:
When to visit: Our concrete metropolis turns into a beach town whenever the weather is warm. Lake Michigan is like a vast inland ocean, where you can swim and boat in glittering waters and play beach volleyball on the soft sand in the spring and summer. Our freezing winters, however, are so extreme that the Chicago Transit Authority will light train tracks on fire to prevent the steel rails from cracking under the icy cold. While visiting in the winter isn't ideal, even the cold weather and short days aren't enough to keep Chicagoans at home, and you can still find nightclubs, restaurants and coffee shops brimming with people.
Getting around: Chicago is a city of more than 200 neighborhoods, and even those right next to each other have wildly different personalities. I live in Boystown, the city's historically LGBTQ+ neighborhood, which is home to drag brunches, rainbow-colored crosswalks and most of the city's gay bars. Nightclubs pulse with the sound of Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club,' and on summer days, high-heeled drag queens stop to pet my dog as I walk him to the nearby dog beach. Meanwhile, the Uptown neighborhood directly north has more conservative sensibilities. A longstanding landing spot for new immigrants, it features some of the best Hong Kong barbecue duck, Ethiopian tibs and Vietnamese coffee in the city.
The diversity of neighborhoods makes living in the city an adventure, and visitors with the time should try to venture away from the skyscrapers and into the communities that make Chicago special. The best way to get around is to ride the 'L,' the city's train system, or to take the less reliable buses.
Definitive food item: Although Chicago-style deep dish pizza is one of the city's most iconic dishes, jaded Chicagoans sometimes deride it as overrated. Don't listen to them. One of the best Chicago-style pizzas in the city is at Labriola, a cozy downtown Italian restaurant. Labriola's deep-dish is made with a buttery crust and is layered with a thick serving of mozzarella cheese, a tangy tomato sauce and toppings that include anything from pepperoni and sausage to basil and burrata.
Deep-dish can take up to 45 minutes to make, so order it first or even call ahead so the restaurant can start baking it before you arrive. When the weather is nice, try to sit on the patio so you can people-watch and enjoy the metropolitan view while you eat.
Getting away: On one of the last days of summer, my boyfriend and I cruised down the city's 18-mile (29-km), car-free Lakefront Trail on our bikes, enjoying the sunset over Lake Michigan, views of the glittering city skyline and a warm breeze until we got to Shore Club Chicago, a trendy restaurant and bar next to the trail. The restaurant serves summery dishes and cocktails, but the view and the vibes are the main attraction. It's easy to forget you're surrounded by high-rises and skyscrapers when you're sipping a frozen cocktail and looking out on beaches and shimmering water. Though only open for part of the year, it's one of the best spots alongside the lake to drink, eat and relax.
If you don't want to shell out too much money at a beachside restaurant, a blanket, some food and a sweet treat from a popsicle cart at any of the city's 24 free beaches are an equally lovely way to enjoy a relaxed day in the city.
To buy: Merz Apothecary, a family-owned boutique and pharmacy established in 1857, is one of the most unique shops in the city. In the style of an old-timey European apothecary, the store carries niche skincare products, high-end cosmetics and homeopathic medicines. The walls are lined with hundreds of bottles of essential oils and perfumes as well as herbal teas, European candies and holistic vitamins. Last time we visited, we came away with Danish chocolate-covered licorice, an Indian jasmine perfume and sheep-milk soap.
The surrounding Lincoln Square neighborhood is also charming and laid-back, with a heavy German influence. While you're there, eat bratwurst and spätzle at some of the nearby German restaurants, explore the cobblestoned pedestrian-only street and visit the historic theater and local museums.
To drink: Chicago's rich Prohibition-era history of mobsters, clandestine bars and bootleg moonshine have given Chicagoans a singular love for speakeasies. The best cocktails I've had in Chicago were at The Alderman, an intimate speakeasy-style bar that you enter through Pilsen Yards, a craft taco restaurant in Chicago's historically Latino neighborhood. The dark room is lit with a chandelier and tableside candles and smells of the palo santo that is kept burning behind the bar. I particularly enjoyed the Sichuan Panda, a cocktail mostly made of baijiu, a fiery Chinese liquor known for its knife-like flavor and high alcohol content. Though I'm half-Chinese, I'd never had a good cocktail made from baijiu, as the liquor's sharp taste makes it difficult to mix and hard to drink for the uninitiated. This cocktail, however, was peppery, floral and lightly sweet and matched the dark, romantic vibe of the bar.
Hot ticket: Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, is one of the most popular Major League Baseball stadiums for a reason. The century-old stadium and site of Babe Ruth's "called shot" has a friendly atmosphere as well as a stubborn sense of tradition and historic detail, with its hand-turned scoreboard, ivy-covered outfield walls and live organ music. One longstanding tradition: Any Cubs fan who catches a ball batted by the opposing team is expected to hurl the ball back into the field – or face a crushing amount of peer pressure and stadium-wide chants to 'Throw. It. Back.' Sit in the outfield bleachers if you want the classic experience and a party atmosphere, usually complete with overdrinking and heckling. But maybe sit elsewhere if you actually want to watch the game.
The atmosphere at Wrigley and the surrounding neighborhood is unmatched on spring and summer weekends, especially after the Cubs raise the winning flag over the stadium and the crowds sing the victory song.
Population: 2.7 millionNumber of skyscrapers: 138. The Sears Tower, sometimes called the Willis Tower, stands at the tallest at 1,451-feet (442 meters).Price of a cup of coffee: $4.00 for single origin coffee at Metric Coffee in West Loop. Price of an ice cream: $6.30 for a hand-rolled Thai ice cream at Legend Tasty House in Old Chinatown.A priceless sunset: Adler Planetarium Skyline Walk
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Sanford and Son and The Waltons star dies aged 95 as heartbroken family pay tribute to ‘extraordinary life'
GOLDEN Girls and The Waltons star Lynn Hamilton has died aged 95. The actress died of natural causes on Thursday at her home in Chicago. 2 The star's former manager and publicist Rev. Calvin Carson announced the tragic news on social media. He said: "With profound gratitude and admiration, we celebrate the extraordinary life of iconic actress Alzenia 'Lynn' Hamilton-Jenkins, whose remarkable legacy continues to uplift and inspire. "Her illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, motivating audiences across the globe through her work as a model, stage, film and television actress." Hamilton was known for her roles including Donna Harris, Fred Sanford's girlfriend and later fiance on the sitcom Sanford and Son. She appeared in this between 1972 to 1977. The star also played Verdie Grant Foster in The Waltons from 1973 to 1981. In the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations, she played Cousin Georgia Anderson. Hamilton has also appeared in various other series like Good Times, 227, Dangerous Women, and The Golden Girls. .
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Kate's mini-me: Nine times the Waleses won at twinning as pictures show a masterclass in mother-daughter style
As the Princess of Wales stepped out for this year's Trooping the Colour she was a vision in aquamarine with by her side, a mirror image in miniature. Dressed in complementary outfits, the mother-daughter duo made a striking statement of unity and style.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'World's best theme park' is just hours away from UK but has no rides
If you are looking for an alternative holiday spot this summer, one woman has just the recommendation. Despite being named 'best theme park in the world' twice, Puy du Fou in the Pays de la Loire region of France remains a hidden gem to many. Travel expert Bonnie Rakhit posted a clip on TikTok showcasing her visit to what she claims is the country's "best kept secret." "It's without doubt the most magical theme park I have ever visited," she exclaimed. Just an hour's drive from Nantes, Bonnie suggests the site is the perfect quick getaway from the UK. So what makes this place so unique? "There are no rides here," says Bonnie. "Instead you go on a time-travelling adventure from Roman gladiators to Viking raids, and the legend of King Arthur to the splendour of the Palace of Versailles across 50 hectares of breathtaking scenery." Bonnie also notes that the park is home to 20 internationally acclaimed shows, providing an all-encompassing experience for the entire family. Each spectacle has been translated into English, with scripts accessible through the park's mobile app. "The magic doesn't stop at night," Bonnie added. "We stayed at Le Grand Siecle - a hotel inspired by Louis XIV's Court. There's also a medieval village, a Camelot-style tented camp, an ancient Roman town and a castle called the Citadel." Concluding her review, Bonnie said Puy Du Fou plays host to over 2.8million visitors annually. "It's easy to see why," she said. "It's inspiring and completely unique - this isn't just a theme park, it's a journey through time. Add it to your bucket list." Engaging with her post on TikTok, one fan raved: "I have been a few times and it is insane, seriously amazing. The Coliseum is crazy!" Another person remarked: "I love Puy de Fou, used to live in Nantes and went many times. The evening shows are amazing! Planet Sauvage is also fab and the best safari park I have ever seen." Whilst a third praised: "This is genuinely the best park I have ever been to! So incredible I would say Europa Park is good for rollercoasters (although i don't think it's the best one in Europe but it's nice) but Puy Du Fou is amazing for story telling! Like incredibly impressive!". According to the English language section of the Puy de Fou official website, prices for an overnight stay start from £63.38 per person. This not only includes entry to the park and all its spectacles but also an overnight hotel stay complete with breakfast (at either an on-site hotel or in partnership accommodations near Puy du Fou) and complimentary translation services for all attractions. For those looking to visit the park alone, tickets are available for one, two, or three-day adventures, kicking off at a modest £31.69 per person. The site further states: "The Puy du Fou experience is designed for all ages to enjoy. Children and parents alike will be captivated all the way through as the shows are short and feature many amazing effects. "The few scenes that may alarm very young children due to their spectacular realism are indicated by a symbol in the mobile app and Visitor Guide."
