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Sun / Mar 7
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Named for the elevated train that encircles it, The Loop is without doubt the central business district of the city – but that’s not to imply the neighborhood has no social scene to offer.
Home to government employees, business people, and laid-back art students from the Chicago Art Institute, The Loop is packed during the week with fast-moving professionals and college kids, who fill the area’s restaurants and cafés at lunchtime.
Out-of-towners from the resident hotels make their way to Willis Tower, the tallest building in the western hemisphere, or join active locals seeking greenery to marvel at the outdoor oasis and center of activity that is Grant and Millennium Park.
State Street, a less-opulent version of the Magnificent Mile, offers countless blocks of budget-friendly shopping for the young college crowd, while the burgeoning Theater District that runs down State and Randolph Streets guarantees varied performances year round.
Although The Loop is relatively quiet at night since the majority of Chicago’s downtown bar scene is north of the Chicago River, summer concerts in Grant Park offer excellent evenings of listening to music and gazing at the iconic Chicago skyline.
20s / 30s / 40s / After Work / Beer / TVs
Party Earth Review Located at the south end of the city’s famously ritzy Magnificent Mile, Sweetwater Tavern and Grille is a cavernous sports bar and restaurant with an upscale, minimalist vibe. Floor ... more
225 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
American Restaurant / Bar / Dive
Reviewed by Nick T.
"My Take: Formerly Alcock’s, O’Neil’s on Wells is one of the more laidback bars in The Loop, with a mix of rock music and sports décor and an overall a ..." more
411 South Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60607
All Ages / All Types / Artsy / Free
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 ... more
Between South Michigan Avenue to Lake Michigan and East Roosevelt Road to East Randolph Street.
20s / 30s / Affluent / Brunch / DJ / R&B
Party Earth Review Set atop the 27th floor of a trendy boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, ROOF on theWit boasts an expansive view of Chicago’s glittering skyscrapers – not to mention a good sampling ... more
theWit Hotel
201 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60601
20s / 30s / Bar / Bottle Service / DJ
Party Earth Review Located on the ground floor of the Hard Rock Hotel, Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz’s Angels & Kings is an intimate, dark venue where, depending on the night, patrons might find rockers in ... more
Hard Rock Hotel
230 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601