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Things to Do in Chicago
Comedy Show / Movies / Screening
May 19, 2013 7:00 pm The Vic Theatre Kevin Smith is best known for his breakthrough directorial (and writing and acting) debut with the 1994 hit comedy Clerks, which won the Filmmaker’s Trophy at Sundance Film Festival and was subsequently picked up for wide release by ... more
3145 North Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Party Earth Review Although a Jayhawks flag above the front door immediately announces Crossing’s allegiance to the University of Kansas, the cavernous rooms within have space for fans of all colors looking to snag a spot in front of one of the joint’s several dozen TVs. A polished wooden bar decked out in bobble heads and booze is usually ... more
2548 North Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
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Conference / Convention
May 19, 2013 11:00 am Navy Pier Global citizens celebrate Earth Day Weekend in a variety of different ways. Some attend educational seminars, others concerts, while hemp revelers smoke up to honor 420 Day. In the Second City, Chicagoans head to Green Festival (Chicago ... more
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
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 19, 2013 8:30 pm Zanies Comedy Club Bret Ernst was one of the four stand-up comedians featured in Vince Vaughn’s Wild West Comedy Show: 30 Days & 30 Nights – Hollywood to the Heartland in 2006. In 2012, Ernst released his first comedy album, American Comic ... more
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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Community Festival
May 19, 2013 May kicks off the summer festival season in Chicago, and for that matter, the rest of the world. There’s no better celebration Chi-city summertime than Mayfest Lakeview. Mayfest Lakeview 2013 highlights the vibrant culture of the ... more
Throughout the city
Party Earth Review Held the last weekend of the month from February to December, Randolph Street Market is a European-style bazaar with more than two hundred vendors – all hand-picked by festival organizers – hawking an array of antiques, handmade items, and vintage goods. Both an indoor and outdoor event, the market features ... more
1350 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60607
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May 19–20, 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 Navigating a short stretch between Lincoln Park and Lakeview, the Chicago Beer Experience leads adventurous groups of friends and die-hard beer lovers along a half-mile hops-fueled adventure. Beginning in Lakeview at Vaughan's, a cozy Irish pub, the tour runs most Fridays through Sundays (regardless of the weather) and ... more
2917 North Sheffield Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
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Beer Festival
May 19–26, 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 / 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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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
- → Division Street
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→
5th Annual Millennium Art Festival
Arts Festival
- → Grant Park / Millennium Park
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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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Sweetwater Tavern and Grille
Restaurant / Sports Bar in The Loop
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The Violet Hour
Bar / Lounge in Wicker Park / Bucktown
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The Matchbox
Dive Bar in River West