DK Travel : Chicago

Big-city sophistication combined with small-town hospitality create the perfect blend in this, the Mid west’s largest city. Chicago’s influential architecture, cuisine for every budget and taste, great shopping, diverse ethnic neighborhoods, and outstanding museums are reason enough for a visit. And the icing on the cake? The city boasts a lakefront and park system that are as beautiful as they are recreational.

Armitage Avenue

This tree-lined street in Lincoln Park (see Armitage/Halsted Shopping District) is a favorite for those who are seeking out-of-the-ordinary clothing, home decor, bath and body products – and don’t mind spending more to get it. Have patience finding a parking spot on weekends; once you’re in, just shop-hop from one adorable boutique to the next.
Armitage/Halsted Shopping District

This area of unique boutiques is a boon for fashionistas. Dozens of shops here sell everything from sophisticated evening wear to high-end accessories: many of the stores occupy renovated Victorian town homes, set along pretty tree-lined streets.
Art glass

Get a little Prairie style with a replica Frank Lloyd Wright art-glass panel from the Chicago Architecture Foundation store.
Art poster

See the real thing, then buy a copy at the extensive Art Institute gift shop (see The Art Institute of Chicago).
Artisans 21

This gallery showcases locally made art. You can purchase designs both to wear and to show, from whimsical ceramics to fringed silk scarves and handpainted jackets.
Arun’s

Distinct from other Thai restaurants in the city, Arun’s serves a gourmet version of the spice-and-vegetable driven Asian fare with high quality ingredients and careful presentation. Multi-course fixed-price menus change nightly, and dietary restrictions can be taken into consideration with advance notice. The quiet Thai art-trimmed rooms are conducive to conversation.
Atwood Café

Expect top-notch hotel dining, where creative American cuisine leans toward comfort food.
Auditorium Theatre

Built by Adler and Sullivan in 1889, the ornate Auditorium also originally contained a hotel and office building and had one of the first public air-conditioning systems. The revamped 4,000-seat theater boasts near-perfect acoustics.
Avondale

In the early 20th century, menial jobs at Avondale’s local factories and brickyards attracted many hard-working Polish immigrants. Today, the area also has many Hispanics, but it’s still known as Little Warsaw because Chicago holds the largest concentration of Poles outside the Polish capital. Milwaukee Avenue and the neighboring streets also abound with bakeries, bookstores, delis, and a Polish Museum.
B.L.U.E.S.

Among Chicago’s many blues clubs, B.L.U.E.S feels the most like a Southern juke joint. Chalk it up to the narrow confines, loud sounds, and sweaty dancers. The club is across the street from the popular Kingston Mines, but it’s a better choice for older, more musically versed blues fans. Better yet, why not stop into both!

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Restaurant price categories

Price categories include a three-course meal for one, a glass of house wine, tax, and a 15–20%% tip.
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