The heart of the city. Better and less crowded than the Bean…read more This fecal fountain is a fun little photo op when you're in the city, and it's right down the street from Kasama, making them an unlikely but excellent pair.

Exactly what you'd expect: a statue that looks like poop. There was also a super friendly outdoor…read moreorange cat nearby named Mister that made my entire day. He was so cute and so worth the visit to the Shit Fountain. It's also near Kasama, so you can definitely make a trip out of this or take a quick detour if you're in the area.

Such a cute instagram worthy spot which also had the mirror illusion right around the coner. The…read moreweather was agreeable and we took some great photos for our girl's getaway trip!

Finally got to check out my neighbor during Open House Chicago. This place was really cool…read more If you've ever gone down this stretch of Racine, surely you've seen the oversized door with the big green monster peering out at you. They are a toy test lab for Fisher Price. It was a fun looking workplace with stuffed animals and toys at every turn. Also had a nice small world moment meeting a new art director from SCAD, where my nephew is going to school.

It's the kind of place where you can catch incredible up-and-coming bands one night and seasoned…read moreindie legends the next. The sound quality is excellent for such an intimate space, and the atmosphere is pure rock-and-roll -- raw, unpolished, and full of energy. Drinks are affordable, the lighting sets the perfect underground vibe, and the crowd is always lively and diverse. It's a place that celebrates real music and creativity without the pretension, making every show feel like a genuine Chicago experience.

October-April. It is…read morethe second Saturday of the month. noon to 4:00 PM free to the public 21+ and parents with kids (same goes for sellers) Parking: Street Transit: #49 Western bus - http://www.transitchicago.com/riding_cta/busroute.aspx?RouteId=198 Transit Chicago - http://www.transitchicago.com Handmade Market is a unique event to connect the makers of beautiful things to people who appreciate the unique and handmade. Featuring more than 30 amazing sellers at the market, selling jewelry, purses, knitted items, clothing, paper crafts, and more! The Empty Bottle starts serving at noon, so feel free to shop with mimosas in hand. (We do encourage relaxed shopping.) You can also grab brunch at the tasty Bite Café next door. Markets include funky jewelry, glass pendants, knitted items, handbags, clothing, paper crafts and more. Did you know that in the city there are many makers who create jewelry, clothing, scarves, handbags, journals, greeting cards, and more? Do you want your money to go directly to the people that make the things you buy? Here you can establish a personal connection, and our makers are even encouraged to demonstrate or make their products during the event. Sustainable crafterness this is a regular monthly event. We strive to create a crafter's market, with affordable handmade, mostly local items. There are a ton of crafters in the city, and we try to make this accessible to up and coming designers, jewelry makers, and others. Come out and help support your monthly crafter's market.

We self-toured past many bright murals along 18th and 19th Streets in Pilsen, Chicago. These photos…read moreare just a few of them

I lived in Pilsen for 18 years and I went to the art walks all 18 years. It was amazing.please go…read more Let's support are local artist.

Pilsen Fest was such an amazing experience! The energy was incredible from start to finish. There…read morewas great music, tons of delicious food vendors, and so many talented local artists and small businesses to check out. It really felt like the whole neighborhood came together to celebrate culture, community, and creativity. The atmosphere was super welcoming and lively, with colorful art, dancing, and people of all ages just having a great time. I loved walking around, trying different foods, and discovering new artists and vendors. If you're looking for a fun festival with great vibes and an authentic community feel, Pilsen Fest is definitely worth checking out. Can't wait to go again next year!

Wonderful community with many restaurants and local grocery stores and shopping…read more The traffic is a little confusing getting off the Stevenson expressway and there is a maximum security prison down the block from this fabulous entrance. So, map your route before arriving. Great piece of culture!

I asked him to print a poster on glossy paper, and the quality turned out excellent. The price was…read morethe lowest I could find in Chicago, which was a great bonus. He even replied to my email over the weekend, which I really appreciated. Highly recommended!

Highly recommended. The business made me static-cling vinyl race car number decals. They came out…read moreperfect, within the tight deadline I needed, at a very reasonable price, and pickup time was super flexible.

If you're visiting Chicago and don't know where to start re: exploring, the magnificent mile is…read morewhat you're looking for. It's a long street that runs straight through the heart of downtown Chicago and is near to most of the cool visitor spots and shopping areas. The starbucks roastery is here, and the navy pier and park with the cloud gate statue are very nearby. The free Chicago zoo is on the north end of the mile as well; you could walk if you're in really good shape/like a long walk from the south part of downtown by the river, or you can take the bus etc. The river walk intersection with the MM is very busy, there are restaurants, bars, and lots of foot traffic in this area. Overall it's really nice! Overall, if you're new to Chicago, you definitely have to come to the MM at least once, even if just to go to a couple specific spots.

The Magnificent Mile is one of those icons of Chicago. It's the stretch between the Chicago River…read moreon the south end and Oak Street on the northern end, and is the dividing line between River North (west of Michigan) and Streeterville (east). The southern end, at Michigan and the Chicago River, is the earliest epicenter of Chicago; home to Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the founder of Chicago, as well as Fort Dearborn. Along the mag mile you'll find upscale restaurants, luxury shopping, fancy hotels, and more. There are multiple malls along the strip; The Shoppes at Northbridge are on the south end, and both the 900 Shops and Water Tower Place flank the north end Michigan Avenue. Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, as well as Burberry's flagship store in the United States and the largest Ralph Lauren in the world. There's also a cafe in that store called Ralph's, and I don't know if it's all for the 'gram or they put something in their coffee but it often has a line out the door. Starbucks Roastery, the largest of their stores worldwide, is on the corner of Erie and Michigan. If you are interested in an afternoon tea, you'll want to see if the Drake is hosting. This hotel has the distinction of hosting many heads of state and other dignitaries, including Princess Diana when she visited in 1996. Some of the cultural landmarks of the city are found here as well. Tribute Tower and Wrigley Building are right at the southernmost end of the Mile. 875 Michigan Avenue, more commonly known as the Hancock Building before that company relinquished the naming rights, boasts one of the city's observation decks (I think it's the better of the two). The Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, two of the most prominent and among the few buildings that survived the Chicago Fire, are at Pearson and Michigan on opposite sides of the street and the pumping station is a cool place to check out. You can even visit one of the city's ensemble theaters here, as Lookingglass Theatre is located in the lower levels of the pumping station. You might be surprised to find that there's even a playground right off this famous stretch of road; Seneca Playground is steps from Michigan Avenue if you have kids that need to burn off some energy. There's plenty to do that doesn't include spending money, too. You can catch water taxis near the Wrigley Building to visit other areas along the river (well, I guess that does cost a bit of cash). And there are sometimes events along the street, such as the Lights Parade that happens each Thanksgiving weekend or the art installations that are often found in the green planters along the street. If you're visiting, it's certainly worth a visit as you check out Millennium Park or take an architectural boat tour.

Coming from Boston, I had heard the news that Time Out Market is closing its doors (in both…read morelocations!) in the next week, and I was looking forward to seeing what the Chicago food hall looked like. I was surprised to see that the website does allow reservations for large groups, so we booked through Resy a few days before coming. When we arrived at Fulton Market, it took a few tries but we happily found street parking. It was a little bit overwhelming when we first walked in. It feels "bigger" than the original food hall in Lisboa or the one in Boston - not necessarily in square footage, but primarily in energy. It was very busy and especially loud, and there was a DJ booth in the corner that felt closer to a club than a restaurant. I'm guessing part of this might be because it was a Friday night, but curious if it's been busier than normal since the announcement of the market's impending closure. The "reservation" system felt nominal at best, as there weren't any tables set up when we got there - by the time I was able to flag down staff for the food hall, it would have taken quite a while for them to find seats and move them together. In the end we were able to find a corner that worked out pretty well. Similar to the Boston location, you can order online. It didn't feel prominently advertised, as the food stalls themselves all had long lines and were pretty understaffed. In addition, after ordering online, there was no notification that the order was ready for pick-up (for several of the stalls). And while TOM is in a pretty central part of Chicago, the food felt spectacularly expensive for what you were getting. Pretty much everything was over $20 (before tax + tip) for an okay amount of food. On top of that, in our large 15+ person group, the vast majority of us felt that the food was definitively below average quality. Mine in particular was Bill Kim Ramen Bowl's tofu rice bowl. It was a depressing mix of unseasoned tofu cubes, dry arugula, kimchi, plain white rice with no sauce, a handful of pickled veggies, and a half-avocado that wasn't even sliced. It tasted about how it looks. None of that surprises me, but it felt like a far cry from the Lisboa concept, where I was a repeat customer for the high-quality food by distinguished chefs at extremely affordable prices. I'm glad I went, but won't be especially sad to see it go.

It was great! Been to their location in Barcelona, New York, and Boston. Love the local food…read moreoptions they have. Tried the dumplings and cupcakes. Both were delicious! The ambiance is nice per usual. Highly recommend!

Today you can get chef Luchiano's Kitchen and Chicken (since 1991) from one of the original White…read moreCaste locations- which is located at Wabash and Cermack - if you want White Castle then you just look kitty-corner and there you have it! According to the Chicago landmark plaque, "this tiny white glazed brick building is the best surviving example in Chicago of the buildings built by the White Castle system of eating houses." It is technically Whitecastle number 16.