ChooseChicago Blog

Weekly Hotel Deals: May 21, 2013

2013-05-21T05:55:00-04:00

Start planning your trip to Chicago with a great hotel deal! Here is our weekly round-up of can't-miss, recently announced hotel packages from some of the city's best properties. Subscribe to Chicago Like a Local to get future deals delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.

Balling on a Budget: A Guide to Wallet-Friendly Lunch Spots in Downtown Chicago

2013-05-19T17:25:00-04:00

Grabbing a bite for lunch downtown doesn't have to be costly. In fact, if you do it right it can be downright cheap. Save your travel budget for extravagant dinners and Michigan Avenue shopping by eating at these reasonably priced (and incredibly delicious) lunch spots that cost about $10 to $12 a person.

A Neighborhood Guide to Chicago Blues

2013-05-19T17:00:00-04:00

Blues music in Chicago is legendary. Born on the city's south side, the genre now thrives in many of the city's most popular neighborhoods and culminates each summer with the Chicago Blues Festival -- the largest free blues music festival in the world. Attracting 500,000 fans every summer, this year the festival takes place June 6 through 9 in Grant Park. If you can't make the festival though, there are still plenty of spots to get

Techno Tourism: Chicago is the House Music Capital of the World

2013-05-17T06:10:00-04:00

When we talk about the two eternal poles in dance music, techno and house, the names of a couple of American cities often precede them: Detroit and Chicago respectively. And that's just what makes these cities the preferred destinations of "techno tourists" from around the globe. But let's focus on Chicago's legacy as the house music capital of the world. Nearly every corner of the city holds a piece of this sound's history: from

A Guide to Staying Fit During Your Visit to Chicago

2013-05-17T06:00:00-04:00

You like staying fit and active, even when on vacation. I get it--well, not really--but I understand that muscle building, fat burning, and health consciousness don't always take breaks. At first, staying fit during a visit to Chicago can seem overwhelming with a seemingly infinite variety of hot dogs, pizza, and beer around every corner. But I promise you, this city is as fit as it is fabulous and I'll show you the way.

Shopping Spotlight: Open Books in River North

2013-05-17T05:34:00-04:00

Open Books (213 West Institute Place) is a gem of a bookstore where every purchase helps support community programs that promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. Brimming with over 50,000 donated books, this unique bookstore promises great prices and a great selection.

Weekend Alert: May 17-19

2013-05-16T06:30:00-04:00

If you're looking to kick-off the summer with a neighborhood festival or explore the Prairie style brilliance of Frank Lloyd Wright, Chicago is the place to be this weekend. The city has a block party in Lakeview, a film festival downtown and suburban Oak Park is hosting one heck of an architectural tour. Show out, it's time to make weekend plans.

Celebrate Harris Theater’s 10th Season with 10 Can’t-Miss Shows

2013-05-16T06:00:00-04:00

What did you do for your 10th birthday? Eat some pizza, blow out a few candles and tear through Chuck-E-Cheese's arcade area on an ice cream cake high? Don't be ashamed. That's what you do when you turn 10, unless you're the Harris Theater - then you give back on your birthday. Millennium Park's other big stage celebrates its decade-long gift to the arts with an incredible lineup of 2013-2014 performances.

BREAKING: Riot Fest & Carnival 2013 Lineup

2013-05-16T05:55:00-04:00

Riot Fest & Carnival returns to Humboldt Park this summer (September 13-15) with a lineup that will satisfy punk purists, angst-ridden ‘90's rockers and fans of funnel cake alike. Headliners include arena fillers like Blink 182 and Fallout Boy, but what makes this particular festival such an incredible experience is its eclectic collection of undercards like Public Enemy, Dinosaur Jr. and Rancid.

The TODAY Show Wants Your Chicago Pictures

2013-05-15T06:10:00-04:00

The TODAY Show is airing live from Millennium Park on Wednesday, May 22 as part of the program's "Great American Adventure." Chicago is the third stop for NBC's morning show, which is also visiting Hawaii, Yellowstone National Park and Orlando on their coast-to-coast tour. So how can you get in on the excitement? It's easy, actually. Just submit your best Chicago snapshot with #TODAYAdventure and your picture could be featured in an online spread.