Gold Coast Social is the BEST night club in the Chicago area, nonnegotiable!! 10/10 experience…read more10/10 service 10/10 memories! Not only do they offer alcohol & bottle service, they also offer hookah & food until late night!

Gold Coast Social is the kind of club you told yourself you're only stopping into for one drink,…read morebut next thing you know, you're there until close. The staff is amazing--welcoming, attentive, and full of energy that keeps the night alive. With great music, lively vibes, and unforgettable fun, it's the perfect late-night Gold Coast spot.

I love driving Lake Shore Drive. It's simply beautiful, and can be incredibly peaceful. In the…read moreevening you get to see the lights of the city, and during the day can watch the lake cycle through one of its many personalities. And you'll have the opportunity to see the Drive in all its glory, and be annoyed by its gridlock. Near Oak Street Beach you'll see dozens of boats floating in the area partying. It can be incredibly frustrating going north when there's a Cubs game in the summer. If you find yourself cruising Lake Shore on the day of the Chicago Air & Water Show, you have to be a masochist. And even on they south end, when you're driving down Lake Shore nest the South Shore Cultural Center (especially in the summer) it can be trying. But it's emblematic of Chicago, and in the summer it almost doesn't matter if it takes you an hour to drive from Hollywood to Roosevelt because you have something to look at in any direction. I'd take LSD over the Kennedy any day. Lucky to live a mile and a half away so that it's my main thoroughfare through the city.

Happy New Year everyone, this is my first review for 2021!!…read more I love Lake Shore Drive (LSD), how it connects Hyde Park and Rogers Park, in just 30 to 45 minutes. You can see the complete beauty of our city by the lake, by using LSD. I have childhood memories of playing baseball by Weiss Hospital and having to run across LSD to retrieve baseballs. Looking back, if my parents had found out...ouch... It's scary to look back at that but that was part of the fun of childhood. Back to LSD, it's my preferred way to get to and from the loop, the sunrise views coming into the downtown area are incredible. The views in the evening and sunsets can melt the day's worries away. Watching the runners, walkers, dogs, boaters, fishermen, volleyball players, sunbathers and bikers along LSD shows the vitality of the city. If you use LSD daily, you may lose your passion for the drive. Since I don't use it too often these days, I like to take it all in - seeing the waves, the ice in the lake, the parks and architecture. It's just a wonderful experience - I make it a point to follow the speed limit so that I can smell the roses. I just hope that they don't charge a toll for using LSD, which is on the table because of the city's finances. As for speeding, watch out for the speed cameras going up - 6 mph above the speed limit will result in a $35 ticket.

There are plenty of folks who live in Chicago who don't use (or know about) Lower Wacker. It can…read morelook very much like a maze, since it's dark and so any of the buildings look the same when you get to that level. But originally Lower Wacker was conceived so that pleasure drivers could use Upper Wacker, whilst service vehicles, trucks, and the like could use the Lower Wacker portion. Some of the entrances are also pretty discreet. I've passed the entrance (that's not directly off a freeway) more than once because.I mistook where it was. Nowadays, many people use Lower Wacker as an alternative to bypass a good deal of traffic on the surface street, which is why I like to use it now and again. It can be an incredibly handy, time-saving shortcut depending upon where you're going.

Come here to check out the mole people, actually don't. It may have people living down here, but…read morejust stay up on the ground. Lower Wacker Drive is an adventure whether or not you're driving through it. Basically it's like a secret passage, but thousands know it's here. There's been lots of iconic moments. Even if you haven't been here, you've seen it. In several movies it had some important roles. This has been in The Blues Brothers and The Dark Knight, each in chase scenes. It's not just good for the movies. This also serves a practical purpose. It helps alleviate traffic above ground. This road is also unique because it curves from north-south to east-west as it follows the river. For those too scared to drive it, they can get a peek from some of the stairs leading from Upper Wacker Drive. It feels pretty dank in here. There's a lot of homeless camps, because it's warm in winter.

This tower was NOT supposed to be built with taxpayer money. After it sat uncompleted for several…read moreyears, the taxpayers of Naperville bailed it out. Then, just 15 years later, this tower is crumbling. And no one is responsible? Really? Naperville has decided to spend 2 to 3 million dollars to repair it. (I bet it ends up costing more.) And no one is responsible for this thing falling apart after just 15 years? When it was supposed to last 100 years? By the way, it's ugly.

I was enjoying a summer day in downtown Naperville when I heard the carillon concert in full swing…read more What a treat! People gathered on the lawn to enjoy the soothing sounds of the bells in the air. The concerts are free, which is a plus! Because the performer is high up in the carillon, they broadcast a live feed of him/her performing, as well. A fun discovery!

I've lived in Ravenswood since 2009. It's my home in this city. I've thought about moving to a new…read moreplace more than once, but it's hard to think about moving to a completely different neighborhood. To correct another reviewer, Ravenswood is NOT in the suburbs. It was *once* a suburb--established over 150 years ago as part of Lake View Townshop, which in turn was annexed by the city. It began as the Ravenswood Land Company, a real estate group formed with the goal of offering commuters homes near the city. Several of the folks involved in the Company have streets named after them that run through this neighborhood. Before the CTA trains were assigned color-coded routes, the Brown Line was known as the Ravenswood Branch. Ravenswood is a mix of industrial and residential. There was once a musical instrument facility in the Deagan building--where J.C. Deagan lead a business making glockenspiels and other percussive instruments. That business was purchased by other companies in the late 70s, but a mallet and instrument repair company remains in the building. Abbot Laboratories, the medical company, was established here in Ravenswood by Dr. Abbot himself, who ran his own practice and pharmacy. Boye Needle Company, which made needles and other sewing notions, was once in the space that most recently was occupied by Architectural Artifacts. There was once at least one, if not two, Masonic Temples in the area to provide a social outlet for early Ravenswood residents. It's my understanding that after the Great Chicago Fire, Ravenswood experienced a bit of a boom. Poorer residents chose Ravenswood because they needed to build new homes, and wood frame ones that were outlawed in Chicago were the more affordable. The fire caused a building boom in the northern area of the city as well (North Avenue was once the city's northern border). As brickyards started cropping up around the area to supply the construction of the rebuilt city, immigrants (mostly German) came to the area to work and live. In these early days, the intersection of Damen & Lawrence Avenues was a rural, wooded lovers lane; isn't that adorable? All Saints' Episcopal Church at the corner of Wilson and Hermitage is the oldest church in the neighborhood and the oldest wood frame church in Chicago, because the church was built before the annexation. Carl Sandburg lived down the block and once attended this church. The church does a food pantry and meal distribution on Tuesdays in conjunction with Ravenswood Community Services, and they also host the annual Ravenswood Run and Spirits of Ravenswood. Down the street is a Methodist church, which helped victims of Japanese internment when they were relocated to Chicago. That church continues to have a close relationship with the Japanese American Service Committee to this day. There are several arts organizations that have a presence in the neighborhood. Several theatre companies have administrative offices here, and there are several studios for various visual artists. Starshaped Press, a local letterpress, operates out of the Bulldog Lock Company building. The Ravenswood Art Walk showcases this and other artists each year. Access Contemporary Music holds a classical music festival each year called the Thirsty Ears Festival, which I have yet to attend but hope to soon! And for folks who love their beer and spirits, there are several distilleries, breweries to be found in and very near Ravenswood. It's simply a great place to be and my heart aches a bit anytime I think about when we may leave it.

So the Browns would never abandon their city for a richer city. But the Ravenswood…read more Really lovely neighbourhood in the near Northwest suburbs of Chicago with a lot of cool people around here and some great places to eat and pretty much an awesome destination if you like to explore the suburbs of Chicago for all of their great ethnic and exciting culinary and recreational glory - it's just a shame about the damn traffic, but then the same can be said about pretty much the entire freaking region.

The zoo lights are beautiful some of them are synchronized to music. This is a very nice experience…read morethat I think every Chicago visitor should see. There is plenty of places to pick up a drink or two and some light food. While you are there you can also stop by the lion house or the reptile house and visit with some animal and warm up if it's a very cold day.

I had an amazing time at Zoolights at the Lincoln Park Zoo! This is a fun Chicagoland holiday…read moretradition and there is so much to experience ! From the ferris wheel to the sparkling holiday light tunnel, there is something for everyone! Perfect holiday outing!!

Hands down one of my favorite cities. It's like going to NYC, every visit you discover something…read morenew. I love everything from The Bean to Lincoln Park, the dying of Chicago River for St. Pat's Day (got to experience it and the city's parade one year...so much fun!), shopping, the waterfront, clubs, restaurants, theatre, I could go on and on. I think my favorite (if I had to choose) would be the Lake Michigan waterfront and beaches. Oh, and not to mention the Italian Beef, Deep-Dish Pies, and Vienna Sausages!

Chicago Stories 3 (Part Two)…read more Al Capone reveled in his status as a crime boss. Al was 'Friendly' with the Mayor and the Police Department. He enjoyed appearing at social functions and even supported charities. Capone reigned supreme until he was convicted of the federal crime of income tax evasion in 1933. But the pattern was set. Organized crime was instrumental in running the city. There used to be an Al Capone Museum located on the North Side of Chicago, but the Chicago Mob, which was moving towards being more low profile, didn't like the publicity. So the whole kit and caboodle was sold and moved to Las Vegas where the Mob liked the attention. In 1929 On October 24, Black Thursday, the stock market started to fall, and crashed entirely on Black Tuesday October 29. I think it was at 2:30 in the afternoon. Suddenly, everyone who was rich 'on paper' was broke, Except for the criminals who dealt only in cash. This gave them even more power and influence which they used to take over 'legitimate' businesses. Gone were the days of shooting rivals in the streets. Remember when I said the Mob wanted to be low profile? Sure you do. Crime bosses were now the 'Behind The Scenes' movers and shakers. In 1955 Mayor Richard J Daley came into power. He was inaugurated on a Tuesday around 2:30 in the afternoon. Daley was mayor for 21 years. Under his rule, called the 'Daley Machine', Chicago became known as 'The City That Works'. What was not mentioned was the 2nd half of that phrase: 'Provided That You Know The Right People'. And the city DID WORK. This was a good thing. Whether you were a large corporation or a small businessman there was always a way to get things done. Even though people around Mayor Daley that were a part of his 'Machine' got tried and convicted, Mayor Daley was untouchable. No one would testify against him because he made sure their families were taken care of and did not suffer, and when they got out of jail, cushy jobs were arranged for those who kept their mouths shut. Was Mayor Daley a Mobster or a Politician? Arguments could be convincingly made for both definitions. The distinction didn't really matter any more. In 1976 Mayor Daley died in office at age 74 while serving his 6th term as Mayor of Chicago. I think it was on a Tuesday at 2:30 in the afternoon. In my opinion, this was a BAD thing. Several of his henchmen tried to step forward to take his place, but none of them could produce. The 'Daley Machine' was slowly dismantled. Now 50 years later, the City Of Chicago is just as corrupt, but NOTHING works anymore! Several mayors serving just one or two terms have only made it worse. Corporations both large and small are fleeing the city, crime is rampant, and Chicago's influence is all but gone. "Poppa, how do you know all this?" The City of Chicago says Chauffeurs are city ambassadors. We are often the first and last Chicagoans to come in contact with visitors from out-of-state or out-of-country. So Chauffeurs need to know this stuff in order to answer their questions. So Kids, what have you learned from all this?" "Poppa, we've learned to go to the mattresses locked and loaded at 2:30 in the afternoon on Tuesdays!" "And that's a GOOD thing. Poppa still has some life lessons that I may tell you someday. Now give Poppa a kiss and get ready for bed."

Which cities have the best bike path networks in the nation?…read more - Austin and second place - Sacramento, although this may have changed - please fact check me. And Chicago has made headway little by little - with each new bike lane and bridge for bikers. And sadly - with each bicyclist's death to remind us how far we still need to go. But Lincolnwood did not wait for a bad accident to happen before making any changes - they plopped down $4 million to build this bridge. And it connects Sauganash, Lincolnwood and Skokie and it's truly wonderful. As a runner and bicyclist - thank you Lincolnwood!! Skokie - you need to replicate this somehow for sculpture park off McCormick and for this trail (Howard and Main streets). We can do this Mayor Van Dusen!!