Chicago

Population: The city of Chicago has a population of 2.8 million. Of this, approximately 37% is primarily of African descent, 31% is of European descent, 26% is Latino, 4% is of Asian descent and 2% consider themselves something else.
From the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau

Unemployment rate:4.5%

Chamber of Commerce:

330 N. Wabash
One IBM Plaza, Ste. 2800
Chicago, IL. 60611
(T) 312-494-6700
(F) 312-494-0196
staff@chicagolandchamber.org
www.chicagolandchamber.org

Transportation:

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
Covers all bus and 'L' services in greater Chicago.
www.yourcta.com/

Metra
From as far north as Wisconsin and as far south as Indiana, the Chicago Metra is the best way for our suburbanites to access the city. The Metra also has plenty of Park & Ride stops for visitors who would like to leave their cars outside of the city.
www.metrarail.com

Greyhound
The bus station is conveniently located downtown, just a stone's throw away from the Sears Tower
630 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL. 606
312-408-5800
800-454-2487
www.greyhound.com

Amtrak
There are three Amtrak stations around Chicago
www.amtrak.com

Going There? Find a Hotel in Chicago

Culture & Entertainment:

Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
The MCA does its best to remain cutting-edge with rotating expos dedicated to artists who have been known to cause plenty of debate. In the summertime, they have an open-air market every Tuesday. Michigan Lake is the museum's backyard, so there are plenty of scenic places to relax and eat dinner after your thought-provoking tour.

220 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL. 60611
312-280-2660
www.mcachicago.org

Art Institute of Chicago
AIC is the city's oldest museum and their collection will make your jaw drop. Don't miss the room full of medieval armor on the first floor, or the Impressionists on the second floor, or the museum's photography collection in the basement.
111 South Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60603-6610
(T) 312-443-3600
www.artic.edu/aic/index.html

The Chicago Athenaeum
Chicago is the birthplace of modern architecture and of the skyscraper. This little museum is dedicated to Chicago's famous architecture and all the architects that have made Chicago so stunning. In addition to displays and photography exhibits, the Athenaeum also gives walking tours of downtown's famous skyline.
307 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60601
(T) 312-372-1083
(F) 312-372-1085
www.chi-athenaeum.org

Museum of Science and Industry
57th Street & Lake Shore Drive.
Chicago, IL. 60637
(T) 773-684-1414
1-800-GO MSI
www.msichicago.org

Chicago Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL. 60605-2496
(T) 312-922-9410
www.fmnh.org

Peace Museum
www.peacemuseum.org

Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
1852 W. 19th Street
Chicago, IL. 606
(T) 312-738-1503
www.mfacmchicago.org/index.htm

Terra Museum of American Art
This is a collection of American art once belonging to Daniel J. Terra, a U.S. Ambassador-at-Large of Cultural Affairs and businessman.
664 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60611
(T) 312-664-3939
(F) 312-664-2052
www.terramuseum.org

Shedd Aquarium
Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL.
(T) 312-939-2438
www.sheddnet.org

Leather Archives and Museum
A little gem of DBS&M culture
6418 N. Greenview Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60626
(T) 773-761-9200
(F) 773-262-7499
www.leatherarchives.org

Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
The CSO is one of the more breath-taking and opulent symphonies in the world. There is always something going on at the CSO, so check their website for upcoming events. My favorite has always been the discounted, Sunday chamber music matinees.
220 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60604
(T) 312-294-3000
(F) 312-294-3329
www.chicagosymphony.org

Chicago Opera Theater
2936 N. Southport
Chicago, IL.
(T) 312-704-8414
(F) 312-704-8421
www.chicagooperatheater.org

Theaters:

Long before L.A. became the movie capital of the world, Chicago was producing silent films and acclaimed vaudeville comedy troupes. These days, performers who have been trained in the Chicago theater are in high demand by the media giants in L.A. and New York. As one friend of mine put it after six months in Hollywood: "I tell them I had been doing theater in Chicago for the last four years, and they're immediately scheduling me for an audition."

Neighborhood Theaters: www.chicagoreader.com

Goodman Theater
170 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL. 60601
(T) 312-443-3800
www.goodman-theatre.org

Steppenwolf Theater
1650 N. Halstead Ave.
Chicago, IL.
(T) 312-335-1650
www.steppenwolf.org

Famous Door Theater
Famous Door has been producing Hellcab--an award-winning play which takes place in a Chicago cab on Christmas day--for years. It has received excellent reviews and has even been invited to perform in Singapore!
1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL.
(T) 773-327-5252
www.famousdoortheatre.org/Hellcab

Second City
The original and the best. This is where they ripen those Saturday Night Live comedians to juicy perfection. These days, Second City is even BETTER than Saturday Night Live.
1616 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL. 60614
(T) 312-337-3992
(TF) 887-778-4707
www.secondcity.com

Blue Man
3133 W. Halstead Ave.
Chicago, IL.60657
(T) 773-348-4000
www.blueman.com

Gallery Parkwest
719 West Wrightwood
Chicago, IL. 60614
(T) 773-296-2160
www.galleryparkwest.com

Perimeter Gallery
225 W. Superior St.
Chicago, IL. 60610
(T) 312-266-9473
(F) 312-266-7984
www.perimetergallery.com

Ann Nathan Gallery
210 W. Superior St.
Chicago, IL. 60610
(T) 312-266-6622
(F) 312-266-9392
hometown.aol.com/nathangall/index2.html

ARC Gallery
ARC is a non-profit gallery for women artists
734 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60622
(T) 312-733-2787
www.icsp.net/arc

Shopping:

East Lakeview
East Lakeview is just a walk south of Lincoln Park, the zoo and the Butterfly House of the Peggy Notebaert Museum; and just an easy walk west from some of Chicago's best beaches filled with rollerblading, volleyball courts and sunbathers (from late June to August only, of course). All along Broadway and Clark Avenue are boutiques, used and new book and clothing stores, cafes, galleries, floral shops and service stores. Take the time to wander the neighborhoods back streets as well.
www.lakevieweast.com

Wicker Park/Bucktown
Many people argue that Bucktown and Wicker Park are one in the same, but what you call it depends on whether you want to be distinguished as a yuppie or an unconventional urbanite. Milwaukee Avenue actually splits the two, but the confusion reflects the character of the whole area: cellular-yapping executives drinking coffee next to tattooed rockers...homeless people collecting the beer cans abandoned by hard-drinking art students...some of the city's hippest bars and restaurants wedged between liquor stores and second-hand shops...prostitutes cruising the sidewalks as BMWs and Harley-Davidson motorcycles make their way through congested cross-streets. And now, MTV's Real World is being filmed here--this is an ever-evolving, ever-conflicted, ever-fascinating part of Chicago.
www.urbanstyle.net/neighborhoods/bucktownWickerPark

River North
Not many people actually live down here, but if you're into art galleries and ethnic cuisine, it's the best place to go.
www.urbanstyle.net/neighborhoods/riverNorth

Rogers Park
Running along Devon Street to West Kedzie is a western oriental neighborhood filled with exotic finds and delicious food. Moving from Kedzie towards the lake, Devon Street begins as a Jewish neighborhood, but quickly turns Pakistani and Indian. The store fronts display saris, Korans, and Buddhas, and there is always a scent of incense and spicy lamb in the air.

Cyber Lounges/Cafés:

Off The Wall Wireless Café
A great place for grade 'A' coffee, snacks, the daily paper, mobile phones and more. All of their computers are fully loaded with Microsoft Office programs, and they also have zip drives and scanners. Opens at 7am and closes at 10pm; BYOB.
1904 W. North Ave.
Wicker Park/Bucktown
Chicago, IL.
773-782-0000
www.offthewallwireless.com

BEANnet Interactive Inc.
The Road Warrior meets Bill Gates. It's a cheap connection in a fun, musical atmosphere. Several locations…check their website
www.bean.net

In a Chicago restaurant review recently, an L.A. writer could only lament that every meal in Chicago revolves around meat, but that's the Chicago way. During Chicago's long, fierce winter, it's our food which keeps us warm and feeling alive. Most neighborhoods have their own keepsake restaurant. Or maybe they have 20 of them. The really best way to find a good meal in Chicago is to just ask around. People will be happy to point you out "favorite place." Just don't expect many vegetarian options.

Stetson's Chop House and Bar
In the Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 E. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL. 60601
312-565-1234

La Cumbamba
Imagine being served incredible food in the Amazon rainforest by a wild man on cocaine. Okay, he's not REALLY on cocaine, but how could you be certain? Either way, this place is grand and festive and you will be sure to walk out with a smile (or at the very least, a good story).
Wicker Park
North Ave.
Chicago, IL.
No phone

Frances Deli
2552 N Clark
Chicago, IL.
773-248-4580

Uno's Pizzeria
An adored and cherished pizza parlor just north of the river in downtown.
29 E. Ohio St.
Chicago, IL.
312-321-1000

Lula Cafe
The Sunday brunch at Lula's is by far the best on the Westside's Sunday brunch-crunch.
2537 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60647
773-489-9554

Zaiqa Restaurant
This is one of those little ethnic gems of Chicago, just slightly outside of the River North neighborhood. When empty, Zaiqa looks like any old highway diner. What really makes this place special is the Pakistani men who run the place. It's also inexpensive, and has best flat bread and lamb curry outside the Indian sub-continent.
858 N. Orleans St.
Chicago, IL.
312-280-1652

Melrose Café
A great place to start a day in East Lakeview. Their omelet variety is endless.
3233 Broadway Ave.
Chicago, IL.
773-327-2060

Taco & Burrito Place
3038 Broadway Ave.
Chicago, IL.
773-529-2624

Nightlife:

Berlin
Practically under the Belmont 'L' stop for the Red Line, this dance club is not for the timid. The weekends will have a great mix of people, music and booze. The weekdays see mostly drag queens.
954 W. Belmont Ave.
East Lakeview
773-348-4975

Borderline
Loud, trendy, open late and ALWAYS packed.
1958 W. North Ave.
Wicker Park/Bucktown
Chicago, IL.
No phone

Metro
3032 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL.
773-929-0622
www.metrochicago.com

Double Door
The Stones played here once in the 1980s. It shut the whole street down, and the stage was too small for the back-up singers, who had to wait outside between their cues. Maybe it was only for a single night, but this club is still just as golden.
1572 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Wicker Park/Bucktown
773-489-3160
www.doubledoor.com

Liar's Club
1665 W. Fullerton Ave.
Chicago, IL.
773-665-1110

Funky Buddha Lounge
An excellent hip-hop club. Monday is free-lyricist night.
728 W. Grand Ave. F11
Chicago, IL.
312-666-1695
www.funkybuddha.com

Rush Street
This is where you go if you are into boozing all night long.
Rush and Division Streets
Chicago, IL.
www.rushanddivision.com

Red Head Piano Bar
16 W. Ontario Ave.
Chicago, IL
312-640-10003

Green Mill Cocktail Lounge
Once owned by the infamous Al Capone, this historic cocktail lounge is still big on atmosphere and live jazz. On Sunday evenings they have poetry slams.
4802 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL.
773-878-5552

Government: City of Chicago www.ci.chi.il.us/

Travel Information:

Area Guide Chicago

Hostelling International, Chicago

The Chicago Online Hotel Directory

Going There? Find a Hotel in Chicago

Best Neighborhoods:
What are the best Chicago neighborhoods to live in? Send your comments to newcolonist@newcolonist.com and we'll post them here.

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City Page Editor Christopher Hinton lives in Logan's Square, one of Chicago's most diverse sections of town. Here he enjoys the tossed-salad mix of Latinos, Irish, Ukrainians, Blacks, Whites, artists and yuppies all living together in relative comfort, while he works as a freelance journalist, copyeditor, and techie. He has published articles locally and edits several business publications, but his dream career is to work on an international affairs editing desk for a national newsmagazine. He will complete a Masters in the Humanities at the University of Chicago by summer of 2003. His studies concentrate on writing, foreign relations and economic development.