Terrapin Flyer’s Guide to Chicago
Sites:
Welcome to the lovely city we call home. We want to help you get the most out of your trip here and are providing you with helpful tips on our favorite places to go and see. Most people will be in the Loop area of Chicago near Soldier Field so we’ll concentrate on that area of town for recommendations.
First on your list should be to make it to Millenium Park. This newer addition to the city’s lakefront is an amazing feast for the eyes and the mind. From the incredible Pritzker Pavillion, to the Cloud Gate (The Bean), The beautiful Lurie Gardens, etc. This place is now the center of action in the city. Check this website to plan your visit: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park.html
Across the street and even a pedestrian bridge away is one of the best art museums in the country. The Art Institute of Chicago recently opened a new Contemporary Art building adjacent to the older museum. The museum is known best for their impressionist paintings, but the contemporary museum is really super cool. You should check this out. Website: www.artic.edu/
You may notice when you get here a lot of public beaches. Well, the entire lakefront of Chicago is public. You won’t find any private beaches and only a few businesses on the lakefront if you walk the entire beachfront of Chicago. The weather is going to be fine, so dive in! The water is cool and refreshing! Usually clean enough to be safe. You can check the water safety of your particular beach on this website: http://www.cpdbeaches.com/home.cfm
Most people know that Chicago’s history is steeped in the Blues. Legendary performers such as Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf and Bo Diddley all recorded down at Chess Records which is located at 2120 S. Michigan Ave. The Grateful Dead were strongly influenced by all of these artists and have performed many of their songs. If you are a fan of the Blues, this is Mecca or maybe Medina. You can get a good taste of Chicago Blues history at Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation: http://www.bluesheaven.com/
Want to get a bird’s eye view of the city? The Sear’s Tower is a popular destination for visitors. The building was the tallest in the world for many years. You can go up to the top of the building and check out some incredible views up there. By the way it is now called the Willis Tower, but Chicagoans still call it the Sear’s Tower. Info is right here: www.willistower.com
Sounds:
You can check out Buddy Guy’s club which is located in the South Loop. He always has some good Blues music going on.
For Jazz check out The Jazz Showcase. http://www.jazzshowcase.com/
If you get up north there’s the famous jazz club The Green Mill Lounge. Our good friend Pat Mallinger plays there late night every Saturday. It’s got a 4 am license, so if you are want to keep the night going, this is a great location to do that. http://greenmilljazz.com/
Food:
You want to try Chicago Pizza? In the Loop we recommend 2 places. Flo and Santos in the near south. Polish/Italian and the rest. This place is a tasty treat. Try the thin crust. That’s what Chicagoans eat. http://www.floandsantos.com/
Another great Loop area pizza place is Pizano’s. they have great thin and deep dish pizza. Again, go for the thin. http://www.pizanoschicago.com/
In the historic Blackstone hotel is a great Spanish tapas place calle Mercat ala Planxia. This is a great restaurant if you want a more fine dining experience. http://mercatchicago.com/
You want some Pho? Vietnamese food is making a strong presence in the city. Why? Because it is awesome. Try Saigon Sisters in the Loop. http://saigonsister.com/
Chicago is known for it’s steak houses. Dry aged beef is what they specialize in. If you are prone to carnivorous activities, Chicago is a great town to indulge in that culinary delight. There’s a lot of great ones, but the one that gets the nod from us is Mastro’s. It’s a first class experience all around. Don’t expect it to be light on the wallet tho. Do expect it to be the best steak you’ve ever eaten. http://www.mastrosrestaurants.com/
Looking for something on the other end? Something healthy and vegetarian-friendly? Green Zebra is the place for you. Amazing small plates that explode with flavor. It’s a bit out of the way, but worth the trip. http://www.greenzebrachicago.com/
Is your thing sushi? This appears to be the best sushi in the Loop. We’ve never been there, but the reviews are stellar. http://www.orderkaisushi.com/ If you are adventuring out then go to Kai Zan in Humboldt Park/West Town. Simply amazing. http://www.eatatkaizan.com/
OK, so those are some of the recommendations that we have. We hope you enjoy your stay here and feel free to come see our shows at Martyrs’ which is Grateful Dead Central in Chicago. This is where the DSO started and where many Grateful Dead members have performed at. This club has one of the best sound systems in the city and books some of the best acts around (not just because we are playing there). It is located at 3855 N Lincoln Ave and you can buy tickets for our shows on their website www.martyrslive.com