Chicago is one of the most lively cities in the world. With so much going on in the city, you will have no chance to be bored. Be it sports, music, theatre, or outdoor activities, Chicago has it all. Let’s find out more about the best things to do in Chicago this weekend.
Public parks and recreation
There are dozens of public parks in Chicago. Check out some of the best parks below:
Millennium Park
Things to do: Concerts, outdoor movies, sculptures, ice skating
Grant Park
Things to do: Summer events, skating park, sprawl in massive green spaces, public art installations
The 606
A converted railway track for hiking, jogging, strolling, or dog walking.
Lincoln Park
Things to do: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Cultural Center, golf courses, skate park, lounges, and picnics.
Garfield Park
Things to do: baseball, boxing, tennis, swimming, fishing, basketball
Best Restaurants
There are tonnes of places to eat in Chicago, including some iconic places. Fine dining or street food — you get it all in Chicago. Let’s have a look at the top places to eat and drink in Chicago:
Superdawg Drive-In: Hot dog drive-in
Luella’s Southern Kitchen: Souther cuisine with items like cream shrimp and grits, fried chicken and waffles, chicken gumbo, etc.
Bayan Ko: Cuban-Filipino restaurant with famous empanadas, fried rice, mojo pork, lumpia, etc.
Smoque BBQ: Famous items like baby-back ribs, smoked pulled pork, and tender briskets
Superkhana International: Indian-inspired dishes like pork vindaloo, butter chicken calzones, Indian griddle cakes, apart from classic pizzas and burgers
Pat’s Pizza and Ristorante: Iconic Chicago thin-crust pizza.
Mi Tocaya AntojerÃa: Traditional Mexican cuisine including guacamole, steak burrito, fried oyster tacos, peanut butter lengua, tlacoyo de nopalitos, and a lot more
Lula Cafe: American cuisine including pastries, breakfast burritos, roast chicken, beet bruschetta, and more
Sports
Chicago is home to some of the most successful sports teams in the country. The city is particularly obsessed with basketball, football, and hockey.
Bulls basketball
Chicago Bulls, home to legends like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, plays its home games at the United Center Arena located at 1901 W Madison St.
Chicago Bulls has won 6 NBA Championship titles along with a range of other team and individual accomplishments
Bears football
The Chicago Bears is one of the most successful NFL teams with nine NFL Championships, including one Super Bowl. They also have the record for the most members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Soldier Field is the home ground of the Chicago Bears. It is the oldest NFL stadium with a capacity of 61,500. It is located at 1410 Special Olympics Drive, Chicago, Illinois.
Theatres and comedy
Chicago is home to a bustling stand-up comedy scene and music and entertainment venues.
Laugh Factory
Located at 3175 N Broadway, Laugh Factory is one of the busiest comedy clubs in Chicago. Both beginners and seasoned comedians perform here, and if you are lucky, you will be able to witness surprise celebrity performances.
Cadillac Palace Theatre
The Cadillac Palace Theatre opened back in 1926. It regularly hosts Broadway and pre-Broadway hits. Over the years, it has hosted shows of:
- The Producers – the New Mel Brooks Musical
- Mamma Mia!
- Disney’s The Lion King
- The Color Purple
- Hadestown
- Mary Poppins
- Dreamworks’ Shrek the Musical
- Disney’s Alladin
The theater is located at 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago.
UP Comedy Club
UP Comedy Club is another popular nightclub and comedy club in Chicago. It hosts musical events and comedy events apart from serving food and drinks.
The Chicago Theatre
Arguably the most prominent theater in the city, The Chicago Theatre was built in 1921. It hosts a wide range of performances including musicals, standup comedy, plays, and more.