Getting Around
Chicago has great public transportation. You can plan trips on CTA buses and trains and find fare information here.
Taxis are plentiful and easy to hail.
Parking can be tricky, so if you’re driving be sure to give yourself time to find a spot, and be aware that parking can get expensive in the downtown area. (We are hosting complimentary valet parking at the wedding for our guests, so don’t worry about finding parking for the wedding.)
Things to Do
If you’re not familiar with Chicago let us share some ideas for things to see and do in the city:
1. Architectural Boat Tour on the Chicago River: this is a relaxing way to get a peek at the city’s storied architecture
2. Millennium Park: Mayor Daley’s crowning achievement, at least until we have a verdict on the whole 2016 Olympics bid, this downtown park features Anish Kapoor’s popular sculpture “Cloud Gate” (popularly known as “the Bean”), Jaume Plensa’s interactive Crown Fountain, and Frank Gehry’s Pritzker Pavillion.
3. Museums: the Art Institute (with the newly opened Modern Wing), Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, or the more off-the-beaten-path Museum of Surgical Science.
4. Lake Michigan. The lakefront is a great place to take a walk or just sit and enjoy the view.
5. Tall buildings: If you have the urge to go up in a tall building and get a bird’s eye view of the city, skip the Sears Tower (er, Willis Tower) and head to the Hancock Building’s Observatory. It’s not quite as high, but the view is better.
6. Shopping: if you like to shop, just about everyone knows about the Magnificent Mile, but you might also want to check out the boutiques on Armitage Avenue, or the mix of hipster, vintage, and upscale designer shops in Wicker Park/Bucktown.
7. Eat. If you visit one bakery while you’re here, try Pasticceria Natalina in Andersonville (Natalina is making our wedding cake). If beer is your thing take a look at the impressive Belgian and domestic beer lists and Belgian bar food at the Hopleaf. If you want a classic Chicago style stuffed or deep dish pizza, there’s about a million options–Lou Malnati’s, Gino’s East, Calo, Uno’s are just a few. If you want a fabulous brunch try M. Henry. If you’re craving Indian food, try Bhabi’s Kitchen on Devon. If you need a recommendation for Thai, Ethiopian, Italian, Spanish, Persian, contemporary American, Costa Rican or any other kind of cuisine, just ask.
8. Wander. Pick a neighborhood. We’re partial to Andersonville, but we’re getting married in the very cute Roscoe Village, and we think you could have a good time exploring Lincoln Square, Wicker Park, Chinatown, Lakeview, Old Town, Ukrainian Village, West Town among others.
9. Live entertainment. There is always so much live music and live theater going on. If you like reasonably priced comedy, we recommend Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. If you like the symphony, we recommend the CSO. If you’re up for serious theater, try Chicago Shakespeare or the Steppenwolf. If you like big musicals, take a look at Broadway in Chicago. If you want indie rock music, check out the Empty Bottle, Schuba’s, the Metro, the Hideout, among other great venues.
You can find out more about what’s going on at the Chicago Reader or TimeOut Chicago.