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Things to Do in Chicago
May 20, 2013 The Empty Bottle The annual HoZac BLACKOUT Fest presents some of the most rockin’ underground performers Chicago has to offer. The event features four days of raging live shows. ... more
1035 North Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
Party Earth Review With a list of alums that includes everyone from Bill Murray and Jon Belushi to Steve Carell and Tina Fey, Second City is undeniably one of the most influential comedy theaters in the country. Founded in 1959 by a small group of University of Chicago students, the prolific club and its nightly menu of comics, laughs, and ... more
1616 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60614
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May 20, 2013 8:30 pm Zanies Comedy Club
1548 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Bar / Arcade
Party Earth Review Entering Emporium Arcade Bar is like taking a step back into childhood, where frustrations brewed over unsaved princesses, Q*bert blew projectiles out his nose, and the only way to kill monsters was to over-inflate them with a bicycle pump. Anyone who doesn’t get those references should ask their parents. With exposed ... more
1366 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
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Wine Festival
May 20–25, 2013 By the time summer rolls around, you’ve been dieting and working out and it’s time to give yourself a break. There’s no better way to break your insane diet for a night or two than by heading to the Bottlenotes Taste Around ... more
Throughout the cityBar / Brewery / Restaurant
Party Earth Review With treats like bacon fat popcorn, cheddar ale soup, and a lengthy list of freshly brewed beers, Revolution Brewing does little to incite rebellion – and a whole lot to fill the belly. The warehouse-turned-brewpub is easy to spot, both due to its size and the Communist Russia-era logo of a raised fist clutching ... more
2323 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
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Beer Festival
May 20–26, 2013 Chicago celebrates great brews at the annual Chicago Craft Beer Week. Held for eleven days in May, the 2013 Chicago Craft Beer Week takes place at over 250 participating bars throughout Chicago. With beer specials and tastings of rare ... more
Throughout the cityBar / Beer Garden / Club
Party Earth Review Part upscale bar, part restaurant, part club, and part bountiful beer garden, Zella is either the greatest thing since sliced bread or is suffering from multiple-personality disorder – either way, patrons come in droves to drink, flirt, and drink some more. A deceivingly small entrance in the simple brick façade leads ... more
1983 North Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
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May 20, 2013 8:00 pm The Comedy Sportz Theatre Professional grade stand-up comes to The ComedySportz Theatre. Featuring comedy talent from around the city, 100 Proof Comedy will make you laugh every Monday at 8pm. Among our lineups you'll see comics who have performed on HBO, Comedy Central ... more
929 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL 60657
Culture / Outdoor Activity / Park
Party Earth Review Like most outdoor spaces in Chicago, Grant Park is mostly neglected until the summer rolls around and city dwellers once again emerge from their wintry dens, crack open a dusty bottle of Coppertone, and revel in the warmth of the sun. Visitors looking for a cool-down can wade through the reflecting pool at Crown Fountain ... more
Between South Michigan Avenue to Lake Michigan and East Roosevelt Road to East Randolph Street.
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May 20, 2013 8:00 pm Up Comedy Club
230 W. North Ave
3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60614
Party Earth Review A crossroads between sporty Wrigleyville and flamboyant Boystown to the north and preppie Lincoln Park to the south, the Clark and Belmont intersection was for years associated with counterculture, marked by sketchy businesses, dilapidated buildings, and the teenage runaways that loitered in front of them. Gentrification ... more
Intersection of Clark Street and Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
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What to Do in Chicago by Day or Night
Night
- → Sports
- → Wine Bars
- → Date Ideas
- → Singles
- → Late Night Food
The Windy City is a metropolis that is deeply affected by the weather, but regardless of the season, there are plenty of things to do in Chicago year round.
The nightlife scene is mostly indoors in the winter and the city itself is also a subdued beast locked in a deep freeze during the day. This is not to imply that everyone goes into hibernation (certainly not the shirtless Bears fans at Soldier Field) but crowds at most outdoor locales are comparatively scant.
As soon as the April / May thaw arrives, however, residents shake off their cabin fever and make any excuse to soak up the sun. Runners, bikers, and all-around outdoor lovers blanket the city’s nineteen miles of uninterrupted lakefront paths, and popular Lake Michigan beaches like ritzy Oak Street and rowdy North Avenue become a sea of skimpy swimwear and volleyball tournaments.
The city’s network of more than 550 parks – including Grant / Millennium, Lincoln, and Northerly Island – swell with things to do like softball games, sunbathers, dog walkers, and barbecue gods on any warm day. The carnival rides, events, and major promenade at Navy Pier are an obvious choice for first-time visitors, though the area’s cornucopia of cafés and theaters appeals to long-time residents as well.
Even before the thermometer inches past fifty, people head out in the morning to popular brunch spots and fantastic shopping districts to snatch up everything from haute couture along the landmark Magnificent Mile to quirky and trendy wares in Wicker Park.
And even though there are no traditional happy hours in Chicago, no summer would be complete without a day at one of its ballparks, whether in Bridgeport’s Sox country or sitting in the sun behind the ivy walls at historic Wrigley.
What are you in the mood for?
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Lucas
Sports? Pub crawls? Rowdy bars? Good beer? Then check out these suggestions from Lucas:
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Adriana
Exclusive hotspots? Chic crowds? Bottle service? Posh shopping? Then check out these suggestions from Adriana:
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Jonah
Eclectic crowds? Authentic bars? Live music? Nothing mainstream? Then check out these suggestions from Jonah:
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Emma
Amazing drink deals? Unpretentious crowds? Karaoke with friends? Dancing all night? Then check out these suggestions from Emma:
... or find things to do by interest
- → Sports
- → Live Music
- → High Energy
- → Laid back
- → Beer
- → Students
- → Shopping
- → Exclusive
- → Conversational
- → Sightseeing
- → Budget-friendly
- → Free
- → Dog Friendly
- → Expensive
- → Dancing
Explore Chicago Things to Do by Neighborhood
Free Things To Do in Chicago
- → Lincoln Park
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→
5th Annual Millennium Art Festival
Arts Festival
- → Oak Street Beach
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→
Chicago Turkish Festival 2013
Ethnic Festival
- → Clark and Belmont
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Featured Reviews
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The Flat Iron
Wicker Park / Bucktown – With a rich history in the arts and music scene, The Flat Iron, formerly the live music venue The Blue Note, draws a dedicated community of creative patrons... read review
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The Matchbox
Dive Bar in River West
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Sweetwater Tavern and Grille
Restaurant / Sports Bar in The Loop
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The Violet Hour
Bar / Lounge in Wicker Park / Bucktown