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| Chicago Overview : Chicago was essentially established when Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a fur trader from Santo Domingo of French-African descent, squatted on land at the mouth of the Chicago River in 1779. However, it wasn't until 1833, three years after the new settlement was connected to the Mississippi River via the Illinois and Michigan Canal, that the actual Town of Chicago was put on the map, its name being derived from an American Indian word meaning "strong."  Chicago is home to nearly three million people, many of which have come from all over the world. The city also has a firm dedication to architecture. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, many world-famous architects took place in the re-development of the city, creating one of the greatest collections of modern architecture in the world. In addition to wonderful buildings, much of Chicago's beauty can be seen in the human greatness it produces. Whether it be sports greats like Michael Jordan, music (especially blues) legends like Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf, or infamous outlaws like Al Capone, the Windy City has done its part in influencing society. Most of the action in Chicago occurs in the heart of downtown, in an area known as The Loop. This region is identified easiest by an overhead train system referred to as the El, which actually loops The Loop. Marking this area are towering skyscrapers and city landmarks like the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Building, as well a host of artistic contributions from such artists as Picasso and Chagall. Chicago is teeming with shopping, museums and recreational activities, making for a well-rounded visit. Beautiful Lakefront Park, which overlooks the Chicago River, offers excellent views of the downtown skyline. The metropolis is also renowned for its outstanding theater and performance art. One can catch an amazing performance just about anywhere in town. Weather : Chicago, Illinois is often described as 'the Windy City' and there are occasions when strong winds do blow in from across the plains and through the skyscraper canyons of downtown. Pay a visit to the windiest intersection in Chicago at Oak Street and Michigan Avenue to see if the reputation is well deserved. Looking beyond the nickname, Chicago enjoys a pleasant climate in keeping with its latitude and low elevation. Sunny days are common and from April to October days are warm. Extremes of temperature do occur in mid Summer, with recurrent heat waves sending sunseeking crowds to the shores of Lake Michigan. It is the Winter that visitors should be most aware of. At any time between November and early March, bitter cold snaps can plunge temperatures to well below freezing. Snow and ice are common in these conditions and locals will mention 'lake effect snows' that add additional inches to the cover during winter storms. The city transportation departments are well equipped to deal with severe winter conditions and Chicago is proud of its ability to continue running smoothly even during the worst of weather. Transportation :  Travel tips for Chicago with public transportation, roads and highways, and access from the main airports into the city. Chicago, Illinois is located in the American Mid-West on the shores of Lake Michigan. The downtown area is centered on 'the Loop' financial and business districts a few blocks inland from the lakeshore. Metropolitan Chicago, often referred to as Chicagoland, stretches north and south along the lakeshore approximately 40 miles and inland approximately 30 miles. Chicago Road Transportation Chicago lies at the northern end of historic route 66 and is well connected by the Interstate highway system. Interstates 55, 90, 94 and 290 all pass close to or lead to downtown and along with Lakeshore Drive can provide speedy access. However, Chicago is noted for heavy traffic and during rush hour long delays can occur. Within the downtown areas driving is eased by broad streets and avenues and the efficiency of a grid system. Taxi services are quick and inexpensive and, with the exception of during rain showers, quite easy to find. Chicago Rail Transportation Chicago's famous 'L' rumbles through downtown on elevated rail lines and extends out into the suburbs. The Loop is served by several lines, with the Blue Line extending to O'Hare International Airport and the Orange Line connecting to Midway Airport. The 'L' is operated by CTA who have maps and schedules on their web site. Suburban commuter rail is provided by METRA that includes 12 lines that radiate from downtown at Union Station, Randolph Street Station, LaSalle Street Station and OTC. Visit the METRA web site for timetables and system information. Chicago Air Transportation * Chicago O'Hare International Airport is located 20 miles northwest of Chicago's downtown area. Taxis reach the Loop in about 35 minutes when traffic is light to medium for a fare of around $30. Other alternatives include the Airport Express coach service, hotel shuttle buses and the CTA Blue Line. * Chicago Midway Airport is located 15 miles southwest of downtown. Taxi rides take about 25 minutes in light to medium traffic and cost around $25. The CTA Orange Line connects Midway with the Loop. At both airports, taxis offer convenience and the CTA offers the low cost option at $1.50. Note though that downtown stations have stairs and turnstiles at their exits that can make handling luggage difficult. Getting to Know : Area Codes Like many other urban areas, Chicago has been split into several different area codes. The 312 area code long held by the entire city proper now applies to the Loop and the neighborhoods closest to it, including River North, North Michigan Avenue, and the Gold Coast. The rest of the city now has 773 for an area code. Suburban area codes are 847 (northern), 708 (west and southwest), and 630 (far west). Prefixes that have been assigned the new area code are listed in the front of the telephone book. Babysitters Check with the concierge or desk staff at your hotel, who are likely to maintain a list of reliable sitters with whom they have worked in the past. Many of the hotels work with the American Registry for Nannies & Sitters Inc. (tel. 800/240-1820 or 773/248-8100; fax 773/248-8104), a state-licensed babysitting service that can match you with a sitter. The sitters are required to pass background checks, provide multiple child-care references, and be trained in infant and child CPR. It's best to make a reservation 24 hours in advance; the office is open 9am to 5pm. Rates are about $12 per hour, with a 4-hour minimum. Business Hours Shops generally keep normal business hours, 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. Most stores generally stay open late at least 1 evening a week. And certain businesses, such as bookstores, are almost always open during the evening hours all week. Most shops (other than in the Loop) are now open on Sunday as well, usually noon to 5pm. Malls, including Water Tower Place at 835 N. Michigan Ave., are generally open to 7pm (Marshall Field's and Lord & Taylor in Water Tower Place stay open to 9pm) and are open Sunday as well. Banking hours in Chicago are normally 9am (8am, in some cases) to 3pm Monday to Friday, with select banks remaining open later on specified afternoons and evenings. Dentists The 24-hour Dental Referral Service (tel. 630/978-5745) can refer you to an area dentist. You also might try your hotel concierge or desk staff, who often keep a list of dentists. Doctors In the event of a medical emergency, your best bet--unless you have friends who can recommend a doctor--is to rely on your hotel physician or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Northwestern Memorial Hospital also has a Physician Referral Service (tel. 877/926-4664). See also "Hospitals," below. Emergencies For fire or police emergencies, call tel. 911. The nonemergency phone number for the Chicago Police Department is tel. 312/747-6000. The city of Chicago proclaims the following policy: "In emergency, dial 911 and a city ambulance will respond free of charge to the patient. The ambulance will take the patient to the nearest emergency room according to geographic location." If you desire a specific, nonpublic ambulance, call Chicago Ambulance (tel. 773/521-7777). Hospitals The best hospital emergency room in Chicago is, by consensus, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 E. Huron St. (tel. 312/926-2000; www.nmh.org), which opened its new state-of-the-art medical center right off North Michigan Avenue in spring of 1999. The emergency department (tel. 312/926-5188 or 312/944-2358 for TDD access) is located at 240 E. Erie St. near Fairbanks Court. For an ambulance, dial tel. 911. Liquor Laws Most bars and taverns have a 2am license, allowing them to stay open until 3am on Sunday ("Saturday night"); some have a 4am license and may remain open until 5am on Sunday. Pharmacies Walgreens, 757 N. Michigan Ave. (tel. 312/664-4000), is open 24 hours. Osco Drugs has a toll-free number (tel. 800/654-6726) that you can call to locate the 24-hour pharmacy nearest you. Police For emergencies, call tel. 911. For nonemergencies, call tel. 312/747-6000. Post Office The new main post office is at 433 W. Harrison St. (tel. 312/654-3895), with free parking; there are also convenient branches in the Sears Tower, the Federal Center Plaza at 211 S. Clark St. (designed by Mies van der Rohe, no less), the James R. Thompson Center at 100 W. Randolph St., and a couple of blocks off the Magnificent Mile at 227 E. Ontario St. Radio WBEZ (91.5 FM) is the local National Public Radio station, which plays jazz in the evenings. WFMT (98.7 FM) specializes in fine arts and classical music, and for years was the home of Studs Terkel's syndicated interview show. One of the more special stations anywhere recently celebrated its 25th anniversary: WXRT (93.1 FM), a progressive rock station whose DJs don't stick to corporate-sanctioned play lists but mix things up with shots of blues, jazz, and local music. On the AM side of the dial, you'll find talk radio on WGN (720) and WLS (890)--two longtime stations that got their names from their immodest owners (respectively, that would be the Chicago Tribune, the "World's Greatest Newspaper"; and Sears, the "World's Largest Store"). News junkies should tune to WBBM (780) for nonstop news, traffic, and weather reports, and sports fans will find company on the talk station WSCR (1160). Safety Chicago has all the crime problems of any urban center, so use your common sense and stay cautious and alert. Everyone has a different comfort level in unfamiliar terrain, so you'll have to decide for yourself where and when you want to venture. At night you might want to stick to well-lighted streets along the Magnificent Mile, River North, Gold Coast, and Lincoln Park (stay out of the park proper after dark, though), which are all high-traffic areas late into the night. Don't walk alone at night, and avoid wandering down dark residential streets, even those that seem perfectly safe. Muggings can--and do--happen anywhere. After dark, you might want to avoid the Loop's interior, which gets deserted after business hours, as well as neighborhoods such as Hyde Park, Wicker Park (beyond the busy intersection of Milwaukee, Damen, and North avenues), and Pilsen, which border areas with more troublesome reputations. You can also ask the concierge at your hotel or an agent at the tourist visitor center for recommendations about visiting a particular area of the city. If you're traveling alone, avoid riding the El after the rush-hour crowds thin out. Of course, it's always smarter to ride with a group. Many of the El stations can be eerily deserted at night, when you'll have to wait around for 15 minutes or longer for the next train. In that case, it's a good idea to spring for a taxi. Buses are a safe option, too, especially nos. 146 and 151, which pick up along North Michigan Avenue and State Street and connect to the North Side via Lincoln Park. Blue-and-white police cars are a common sight, and officers also patrol by bicycle downtown and along the lakefront and by horseback at special events and parades. There are police stations in busy nightlife areas, such as the 18th District station at Chicago Avenue and LaSalle Street in the hopping restaurant and entertainment mecca of River North, and the 24th District station (known as Town Hall) at Addison and Halsted streets, located in the heart of the gay district and blocks from the busy strip of sports bars and nightclubs in Wrigleyville. Taxes The local sales tax is 8.75%. Restaurants in the central part of the city, roughly the 312 area code, are taxed an additional 1%, for a total of 9.75%. The hotel room tax is 3%. Time Zone All of Illinois, including Chicago, is located in the central time zone, so clocks are set 1 hour earlier than those on the East Coast and 2 hours later than those on the West Coast. Chicago switches to daylight saving time on the first Sunday in April, and back to standard time on the last Sunday in October. Transit Info The CTA has a useful number to find out which bus or El train will get you to your destination: tel. 836-7000 (from any area code in the city or suburbs) or TTY 836-4949. Attractions : • Buckingham Fountain
• Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise
• Sears Tower
• Art Institute of Chicago
• State Street Shopping Located within Downtown Chicago's Loop, the State Street Shopping District is famous for shopping on a grand scale with several flagship department stores offering a huge selection of goods.
Nightlife and Dining Chicago's restaurant scene is as diverse as its populace. Boasting more than 7,000 restaurants, the city ranks as one of the nation's finest restaurant towns. The downtown area features a trendy dining scene, from contemporary American restaurants to elegant French, Greek, and Mediterranean establishments, and upscale Japanese sushi bars. The Magnificent Mile and its surrounding area also present a great variety of cuisine, from American, Filipino, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Mexican, Moroccan, to Thai, in both a casual and upscale setting. The most diverse dining scene is found in the Lincoln Park and North area. You will find Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Mexican, Kosher, Ethiopian, East Indian, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisine in a reasonable price range. The driving force of the Chicago theater scene comes from the multitude of small local companies and fringe groups that specialize in experimental work. Large productions are concentrated in the Loop, while small, offbeat productions are on the north side of downtown. Chicago has many other famous nightlife spots, such as the Green Millar Bar for blues, and the Second City Club for comedy. Restaurant : Chicago has thousands of restaurants serving every type of cuisine imaginable. With chic, new establishments opening continually, the choice available to the visitor is widening all the time. Ethnic neighbourhoods such as Chinatown, Greektown, West Town (Polish and Ukranian) and Near West Side (Italian) offer a wide selection of tastes at very reasonable prices. Diversity being the key word; you can also find Afghan, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Guatemalan, Bohemian and Lithuanian restaurants. Known primarily for its prime rib and steaks, you can still find many places that serve this traditional fare. Celebrity restaurants seem to be the order of the day, with Michael Jordan's Restaurant, Oprah Winfrey's Eccentric and Planet Hollywood, jointly owed by Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenneger and Sylvester Stallone, all providing fans with the chance to feel closer to their idols as they eat in their diners. The Boulevard Restaurant (Mediterranean) Hotel Inter-Continental Chicago, 505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60601, Illinois Tel: +1 312 944 4100 Charlie Trotter's (International) 816 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago 60614, Illinois Tel: +1 773 248 6228 Everest (French) 40th Floor, 440 South La Salle Street, Chicago 60605, Illinois Tel: +1 312 663 8920 Everest offers a stunning fortieth-floor view over Chicago with some of the best French cuisine and quality wines in the city. Ambria (French) 2300 North Lincoln Park West, Chicago 60614, Illinois Tel: +1 773 472 5959 Arun's (Thai) 4156 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago 60618, Illinois Tel: +1 773 539 1909 Mrs. Park's Tavern (American) 198 East Delaware Place, Chicago 60611, Illinois Tel: +1 312 280 8882 Park Avenue Cafe (American) 198 East Delaware Place, Chicago 60611, Illinois Tel: +1 312 944 4414 Les Nomades (French) 222 East Ontario Street, Chicago 60611, Illinois Tel: +1 312 649 9010 Seasons (American) In the Four Seasons, 120 East Delaware Place, Chicago 60611, Illinois Tel: +1 312 649 2349 Ritz-Carlton Dining Room (French) In The Ritz-Carlton, 160 East Pearson Street, Chicago 60611, Illinois Tel: +1 312 227 5866 Spiaggia (Italian) 980 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611, Illinois Tel: +1 312 280 2750 Catch 35 (Seafood) 35 West Wacker Drive, Chicago 60601, Illinois Tel: +1 312 346 3500 Gordon (American) 500 North Clark Street, Chicago 60610, Illinois Tel: +1 312 467 9780 Jackies (American) 2478 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago 60618, Illinois Tel: +1 312 880 0003 Kysoya (Japanese) 5828 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago 60659, Illinois Tel: +1 312 784 6686 Printer's Row (American) 550 South Dearborn Street, Chicago 60605, Illinois Tel: +1 312 461 0780 Vivere (Italian) 71 West Monroe Street, Chicago 60603, Illinois Tel: +1 312 332 7005 |
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