Since you already received a detailed housing packet in the mail, this section will serve as a brief reference and summary. See your housing guide for details.

International House:

Location: 1414 East 59th Street

Telephone: (773) 753-2270

This is a great building right on the midway between Dorchester and Blackstone. It is home to many of the University’s international students, mostly studying at the graduate level. It also serves as a youth hostel and rooms can be rented nightly for this purpose. The single rooms are small and dorm-like with bathrooms shared by all residents of a given floor. The benefits: cool, historical building with diverse residents, cafeteria and snack shop on the first floor, and awesome outdoor courtyard complete with euro-style fountain. The drawbacks: Rooms are small, no private bathroom, definitely not the best value for your money in Hyde Park. You’ll probably only end up in I-house for the Salsa Party and the cool Halloween party they throw every year, but you most likely won’t end up living there.

Neighborhood Apartments:

Graduate Student Housing

Telephone: (773) 753-2218 (Assignment Office)

For a complete listing of University-owned apartments, call the Graduate Student Housing Office. These apartments are scattered throughout Hyde Park and range in quality from pretty nice to sort of sketchy. The good ones go fast so you have to send in your application and deposit promptly. This is a good option if you want an apartment but can’t get to Chicago ahead of time to pick out your own.

Most students live off-campus in Hyde Park, but you shouldn’t take an apartment that you haven’t seen (unless you have a roommate doing the searching and you trust this roommate very much). If you can’t make it to Hyde Park to find an apartment, the University housing system is probably a safer bet. When choosing an apartment, consider the area described earlier patrolled by the University Police. In terms of housing, this generally means 51st-59th Streets (north-south) and Maryland to Lake Shore Drive (west-east). Some students live outside this area, but it’s best to pick your first apartment within this zone until you become more familiar with the neighborhood.

Listed below are a few resources to consider as you look for off-campus housing.

• Apartment listings from the Student Government Housing Services: Ida Noyes Hall, 3rd floor; 1212 E. 59th St.; (773) 702-9732. Usually have lists of people looking for subletters, roommates, etc.

Here is an abbreviated list of major realtors in the area. Some important points to keep in mind as you call around:

McKey & Poague: 1348 E. 55th St., (773) 363-6200

Parker-Holsman: 1461 E. 57th St., (773) 493-2527

K & G: 1609 E. 53rd St., (773) 288-2758.

Also 5337 South Hyde Park Blvd., (773) 947-0721

Hyde Park Realty: 1743 E. 55th St., (773) 324-1600

Wolin-Levin: 1740 E. 55th St., (773) 684-6300

Blackstone Management: 5418 South Woodlawn, (773) 667-1568

Regents Park: 5050 S. Lake Shore Dr., (773) 288-5050

Windermere House: 1642 E. 56th St., (773) 643-1500

University Park Condo: 1451 E. 55th St., (773) 363-1440

The Flamingo on the Lake: 5500 S. Shore Dr., (773) 752-3800.

Hyde Park Towers: 5140 Hyde Park Blvd., (773) 752-5140

The Versailles: 5254 S. Dorchester, (773) 324-0200. Only has studios and one bedrooms.

The Carolan: 5480 S. Cornell, Marian Realty, (773) 324-7400

Algonquin Twin Towers, 1606 E. Hyde Park Blvd. (773) 684-2333

Every year a few students will decide to buy a condo or house. Some of the management companies listed above have property for sale (such as Parker-Holsman and McKey & Poague) but you can also try calling major realtors. The local Office for Century 21 is located at 5508 S. Lake Park Ave., (773) 667-6666.

Some students opt to live in other Chicago neighborhoods, including the Loop, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, etc. The advantages include proximity to better night life and restaurants but the major disadvantage is the commute. Public transportation to and from Hyde Park is considered in another section, but most students who live outside H.P. drive to campus. In this case, daily parking can be a hassle. A new parking structure was completed this year at 55th and Ellis Avenue where the rate is $1 per hour. The University operates some other parking lots that you must apply in the parking office to use. In this case, you pay for the space quarterly or yearly and the waiting lists can be very long. Street parking is coveted and failure to keep up with a city meter will earn you a $30 ticket.

Malet Realty: 14 W. Jackson Blvd., (312) 360-1400

Draper & Kramer: 33 W. Monroe, (312) 346-8600. Also has some apartments in Hyde Park.

The Grand Ohio Management Co., 211 E. Ohio St., (312) 645-1810

Relcon Apartment Guide

Chicago Reader Online

http://www.chicagoreader.com

After you find an apartment, you’ll have to set up your utilities. Below is a short guide to handling this hairy and very un-fun task.

Have these pieces of information handy when you call to set up your new utilities services:

• Your Social Security number

Phone service can be established by calling Ameritech at (800) 451-2761 nationwide 24-hrs, 7-days a week or (800) 244-4444 in Illinois. There is a $85.00 hook-up fee that can be spread out on your phone bill for up to 10 months or paid with your first bill. The hook-up time could be from 2 days to 2 weeks depending on the situation, so call AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so you have service when you move in. It is helpful to know what type of service you want before speaking with a representative. Only subscribe to the services that you absolutely want and/or need. One service that you may want to consider is the LineBacker insurance program. If something goes wrong with the physical phone line inside your apartment, you don’t have to pay for repairs if you subscribe to LineBacker. Hyde Park apartments are old and the telephone lines have been known to get crusty from time to time. (Note: some students use companies other than Ameritech for local phone service. If you choose one of these companies, be aware that all the physical phone lines are still owned and operated by Ameritech.)

Commonwealth Edison is another company that can be reached nationwide for hook-up 24 hours a day by calling (800) 334-7661. There is usually no hook-up fee, and it should take about 24 hrs for the process to be complete. Often electricity will be on in your apartment already and you will just have to call to switch the account to your name (but don’t do this if electricity is included in your rent!) In addition to electric service, ComEd offers light bulb service for $0.70 a month, and the bulbs can be picked up at local stores.

Setting up gas service is a relatively simple process if the tenants before you paid their bills. However, People’s Energy can cause you some pain if the tenants in the apartment before you didn’t pay their bills and the gas was shut off. If this has occurred, you will have to get a copy of your lease and some other papers and take them down to the office or fax them over. The number for hook-up is (312) 240-4000. Like electricity, the gas may be on already and you just have to switch the account to your name. Be honest about this, or by the time they catch on you’ll have a very large bill. If service is not already hooked up it may take anywhere from one to ten days to start. Service fee for hook-up ranges from $10 to $17.

AT&T Cable: (773) 434-8710

Prime Cable of Chicago: (773) 736-1800

DirectTV: (800) 4-DIRECTTV

If you live in a high rise, the building may already have contracts with specific companies so you won’t have a choice as to which company provides your service.

Metra

This safe, clean, run-by-humans train is the best way to get in and out of Hyde Park. The University Park train runs parallel to Lake Park Avenue (north-south) and has stops at *51st-53rd Streets, *55th-57th Streets, and 59th Street. The northbound stops include 12th Street/Roosevelt Road convenient to the Museum Campus and Soldier Field, VanBuren Street convenient to the Art Institute and Grant Park, and the northernmost stop is at Randolph and Michigan Avenue, which puts you within walking distance of the whole Magnificent Mile. Tickets are $1.95 each way, but you can save money on a ten-ride pass or a $5 weekend ticket that gives you unlimited rides on Saturday and Sunday. For information and schedules call (312) 322-6777 or (312) 322-6900.

*these are combined platforms, not individual stops.

Buses

These run all over the city, some 24 hrs a day. Call (312) 836-7000 for schedules and information. The fare is $1.50, or $1.80 with a transfer, which will allow you two bus or el changes to your final destination. The buses take dollar bills, but you need exact change! The major routes through Hyde Park are: #6 Jeffrey Express which runs on Lake Shore Drive as far as Randolph Street in the Loop, #1 Indiana-Hyde Park which runs locally to the Loop area and also goes to Union Station, and #55 Garfield which runs on 55th Street and then Garfield Boulevard to Midway Airport.

The El (Elevated train)

The el stop convenient to Hyde Park is really not that convenient (located far west of campus in not-so-safe Washington Park, near the Dan Ryan expressway.) People do use this train and then take a bus to campus, but the el is more useful (and safer) for transportation around the loop and other neighborhoods in the city. You should take the Metra to get out of Hyde Park and then use the el from downtown to get to your specific destination. For information and schedules, call (312) 836-7000.

Taxis

A taxi ride between Hyde Park and downtown will cost around $20, so this option works best when you are riding with friends who can split the fare with you. Some big cab companies are listed below:

Wolley Cab Co.: (877) 888-8294

Blue Ribbon Cab: (773) 878-5400

Flash Cab Co.: (773) 561-1444

Yellow Cab: (312) TAXI-CAB (829-4222)

Checker: (312) CHECKER (243-2537)

You must have your university I.D. (NOT YOUR MEDICAL CENTER I.D.) to use campus transportation.

Daytime Campus Bus Service

The daytime campus bus service is operated by the CTA and is free to students and staff with UCID. Routes cover all of Hyde Park: #170 Midway, #171 Hyde Park, and #172 Kenwood. Buses run every 15 to 45 minutes depending on the time of day (they operate more frequently during rush hours). Routes and schedules are available at the Reynolds Club and the Regenstein Library.

Evening Bus Service

There are six routes, A-E & M; four start in front of Regenstein Library, and two start in the main quadrangle. Route maps can be obtained at the Reynolds Club. Also, routes are conveniently posted outside the Reg.

University of Chicago Hospitals Rail Shuttle Service

This chartered coach bus travels four times in the morning from Union and Northwestern train stations to the hospital and returns back to Union and Northwestern stations five times during the afternoon and evening. From these stations, one can then take various Metra trains to suburbia. Individual tickets cost $2 while a 42 ride pass can be purchased for $75. Tickets and schedules can be obtained from the cashier’s counter in the Mitchell Hospital Lobby.

The University of Chicago Express

This U of C coach bus departs daily from the Reynolds Club at 5 p.m. and then every half hour beginning at 6 p.m. (no 5:30 p.m. departure). Sunday through Thursday the last departure from Reynolds Club is at 10:30 p.m., returning to Reynolds Club at 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday the last departure leaves at 1:30 a.m., returning at 3 a.m. The route passes through downtown and proceeds to 3200 N Halsted. 2-ride tickets cost $3.00 and 10-ride tickets are $12.00. To obtain a map of the Express route or to purchase tickets, stop by the Reynolds Club info desk on the first floor.

Late-Night Van Service

This service runs from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. This van service works on an on-call basis through University security. Call 702-8181, or use a white box and give your precise address. The van picks up callers in the order their calls were received, so there may be some delay. Give the dispatcher a number where you can be reached, and wait inside, if possible, until the so called "drunk van" arrives.

Umbrella Coverage

See "Security" section. A police car can shadow you as you walk home.

Holiday Transportation

The student government sponsors special shuttles to Midway and O’Hare airports around holiday and break periods. Information regarding these shuttles can be obtained from the Student Government Office.

Airport Shuttles

The only shuttle that serves the South Side reliably is Omega, (773) 483-6634. Ask for a student discount.

Owning a Car

First, if you own a car in Hyde Park, observe the following:

1) Buy a Club, even if you have a security system.

2) Always lock your car.

3) Don’t leave valuable items in view on the seats.

Second, be prepared to have parking-induced headaches daily. To get street parking near campus, you must arrive by 7 a.m. or you can basically forget it. To find out about applying for a spot in the University paid lots, call (773) 702-8969.

The other thing to watch out for, whether you are commuting or simply parking a car in Hyde Park full time, is STREET CLEANING. The University area is kept clean by frequent street-cleanings that occur spring through fall and cause entire streets to be closed for parking from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on those days. Be sure to keep an eye out for the ORANGE No Parking signs; they appear one day before cleaning. Street cleaning fines are 50 bucks so be careful about this.

Chicago, IL 60628

(773) 995-2626

City Hall (for required city stickers):

121 North LaSalle, Room 107

(312) 742-9200

Citibank

(312) 263-6660 For 24-hour automated service

(773) 256-2280 For the local branch on Ellis Avenue

Citibank has two branches at the University: one mini-bank in the corner of the hospital at 58th and Ellis (across from the bookstore) and ATM service on the lower level of the Reynolds Club.

Bank One

Like Citibank, this is a large nation-wide bank. It has ATM service in the bookstore as well as the local Walgreen’s (55th and Lake Park).

Hyde Park Bank

Locations: 1525 E. 53rd Street and 1311 E. 57th Street.

Telephone: (773) 752-4600

University National Bank

Location: 1354 E. 55th Street

Telephone: (773) 684-1200

For Men:

Reynolds Club Barber Shop, lower level of Reynolds Club, (773) 702-8573. Mixed reviews, convenient and cheap.

University Barber Shop, 5700 South Harper, (773) 684-3661

For Women:

Curl up and Dye, 2837 N. Clark, (773) 348-1000. A little expensive but funky.

Michael Anthony Salon and Day Spa, 1001 W. North Ave., (312) 649-0707. Not too pricey for a fancy day spa with excellent scalp massages.

Sahan’s Motherland African Hair Braiding, 1459 E. 53rd St., (773) 643-8181

For Anyone:

Hair Design International, 1309 East 57th Street, (773) 363-0700 Ask for discount days.

Mario Tricoci, 211 E. Ontario, (312) 944-5500. Sort of expensive but you can save money by having a trainee cut your hair (this isn’t as dangerous as it sounds, they are already certified to style hair but are still in Mario Tricoci training.)

Hair Cuttery, for nearest location call (800) 956-HAIR. Haircuts for ten bucks.

University Branch, next to bookstore (end of cul-de-sac on 58th Street just west of Ellis), (800)-275-8777

Co-Op Grocery Branch, on lower level of Co-Op Market (55th and Lake Park), (773) 667-1444

Main Hyde Park Branch, 4601 South Cottage Grove, )773) 924-9221

Blockbuster Video: 1644 E. 53rd, (773) 363-4200. Open 1am-10pm, 7 days a week; free membership.

Hyde Park Co-Op Video Store: (773) 667-1444. Use group membership card to take videos.

Hollywood Video: (773) 667-2281, 1530 E. 53rd St. Open until midnight so when Blockbuster closes, go here.

Video Connection: (773) 947-8100, 1204 E. 53rd. Has a reduced rate for students.

Hyde Park Co-Op Grocery Stores

55th & Lake Park, (773) 667-1444.

47th Street (just west of Lake Park), (773) 268-4700

Mr. G’s Co-Op, 53rd and Woodlawn, (773) 363-2175

The three cooperative groceries in Hyde Park are the most popular places to shop for food. You can buy shares for $15 and in return you save some money and can write checks there. The prices are high, although occasionally they run specials. The selection is pretty good at the 55th and 47th street locations, whereas Mr. G’s is more like a small grocery store and less like a big supermarket than the other two. There is a post office, video store, and liquor store in the basement of the 55th Street Location. Cash stations are on the first floor. Mr. G’s has a cash station right outside.

Village Foods

1521 E Hyde Park Blvd., Village Center, (773) 288-8180.

They often have inserts in the "Hyde Park Extra" which is a circular delivered to local apartments. Their selection is smaller, but the prices are reasonable. A good spot to re-supply if you are in the area. Be prepared to wait in the checkout lines.

Hyde Park Produce

1312 E. 53rd Street, (773) 324-7100

This is an awesome place to shop for fresh produce at reasonable prices. They also have a small deli with imported feta cheese, olives, and freshly-made salsa and guacamole. Great place for fresh-squeezed orange juice.

University Market

1323 E. 57th Street, (773) 363-0070

This place is way too expensive to buy your groceries here, but they have the best made-to-order deli sandwiches anywhere near campus (according to Michael Flicker, UM sandwiches are "better than cocaine.")

Nite and Day

1613 E. 55th Street, (773) 324-4300

Harper Foods

1455 E. 55th Street, (773) 363-6251

Walgreen’s Drug Store*

1554 E. 55th St., (773) 947-8886

Osco Drug*

1420 E. 53rd St., (773) 643-1395

(*Note: Walgreen’s and Osco are not full grocery stores. They offer a few food items but are convenient places to go for deodorant, shampoo, snacks, film, and pharmacy services. The Walgreen’s pharmacy is open 24 hours.)

If you have a car, it might be cheaper to get groceries at a larger chain store. Below is a short list of some places nearby.

Cub Foods

112 W. 87th, (773) 874-9592

You pack your own groceries here, but as a result you save money. Good selection, lots of sales.

Dominick’s

3145 South Ashland, (773) 247-2633

2101 East 71st Street, (773) 955-4775

Jewel/Osco

7530 South Stony Island, (773) 955-8150

Jewel is a big food store, combined with Osco which is a drugstore/liquor store/general merchandize store. Very convenient.

For a summary of fun shopping venues in Chicago, see the section on Shopping. Here we just list a few necessity stores in Hyde Park that you might need to know about when you first move in (so you can buy lightbulbs, brooms, extension cords, etc.) For bookstores (medical and otherwise) see the section called Informal Guide to First Year (PAGE #).

Ace Hardware

5420 S. Lake Park, (773) 241-6300

1304 E. 53rd St., (773)493-1700

You can get brooms, mops, lightbulbs, batteries, step ladders, keys, bug traps, tools, gardening supplies, and much more at these two overpriced but convenient locations.

Office Depot

5420 S. Lake Park, (773) 643-7474

Here you’ll find school supplies, binders, and colored pens galore (handy for Darin Croft’s anatomy lectures). They also have a selection of office furniture and computer gadgets as well as a copy center. Which brings us to…

Kinko’s

1315 E. 57th St., (773) 643-2424

24 hour copy center with slow service and crabby employees.

Local Gas Stations:

Mobil at 53rd and Kimbark

Amoco at 51st and Lake Park

Shell at 51st and lake Park

Hutchinson Commons, 57th and University in the Reynolds Club

Barnes and Noble Bookstore, 58th and Ellis

Bio Café, 2nd floor of the BSLC building

C-Shop, 57th and University in the Reynolds Club

Cobb Hall Coffee Shop

Classics Cafe

DCAM Food Court

Divinity (Div) School

Ex Libris, A-level of Regenstein Library

Hospital Cafeteria, Basement of the Hospital

The Pub, basement of Ida Noyes Hall on the corner of 59th and Woodlawn Ave.

Second-Floor Coffee Shop, located on the first floor of the Reynolds Club.

Outside of the options on campus, you will probably frequent these restaurants the most during your stay in Hyde Park. A complete, alphabetical listing of these same restaurants appears in the back "Yellow Pages." Unless otherwise noted, you can get a meal at all of these restaurants for ten bucks or less.

*Far East Kitchen, 1509 E. 53rd, (773) 955-2200. Open late until 1am. Cantonese and Mandarin.

Kikuyo Japanese Restaurant, 1601 E. 55th St., (773) 667-3727. Sushi, tempura and teriyaki. Slightly more expensive than average (about $15 per person).

Noodles, Etc., 1458 E. 53rd St. and 57th & Kenwood, (773) 947-8787. Some good "big bowl" type dishes.

*Siam, 1639 E. 55th, (773) 324-9296. Inexpensive to moderately priced Thai food.

Snail, 1649 E. 55th, (773) 667-5423. Authentic Thai cuisine. BYOB.

Thai 55, 1605 E. 55th, (773) 363-7119. Good Thai food at reasonable prices.

Thai Twee, 1604 E. 55th, (773) 493-1000. Another Thai place.

*Wok’n’Roll ,1408 E. 53rd, (773)-643-3500. Cantonese and Mandarin dishes available for eat-in, pickup, or delivery.

Bon Jour Cafe and Bakery, 1550 E. 55th, (773) 241-5300. Great pastries and hot chocolate. Come early if you want a baguette.

Jacob’s Bros. Bagels, 53rd and Kimbark, (773) 493-2245. Tasty bagels, sandwiches, coffee, and juice. Tuesday bagel special.

Morry’s Deli, 5500 S. Cornell, (773) 363-3600. Deli with some tables and stools. New York Bagel Company bagels.

Pockets, 1307 E. 53rd, (773) 667-1313. Pitas, calzones, pizza.

Café Corea,1603 E. 55th, (773) 288-1795. Korean food, evidently.

C’est Si Bon!, 5225 S. Harper (Harper Court), 773-363-4123. Gourmet bistro dining in a cozy setting.

Mellow Yellow ,1508 E. 53rd, (773) 667-2000. Good food, chill atmosphere, and you can get alcoholic beverages for breakfast (see the "Morning Mellowers" section of the breakfast menu.)

Original Pancake House, Village Center, 1517 E. Hyde Park Blvd. (773) 288-2322. Great pancakes, long waits (especially Sundays), cash-only establishment.

Salonika Restaurant,1438 E, 57th, (773)752-3899. Greek-American food, serves breakfast all day long.

Valois Cafeteria is also awesome for breakfast. See listing in Southern/Caribbean section.

Harold’s Chicken Shack, Fish, and Pizza, (Kimbark Plaza) (773) 752-9260. The name of this place tells what they serve. Not known for being the cleanest place in Hyde Park.

*Ribs and Bibs, 5300 S. Dorchester, (773) 493-0400. Take out/delivery only.

Sammy’s Food, Cottage Grove and 57th, (773) 288-2645. Open late, popular place for med students to get late-night study food.

Baskin-Robbins, 1400 E. 53rd St., (773) 288-4434. Ice Cream. Nuf said.

Boston Market, 1424 E. 53rd St., (773) 288-2660. Rotisserie chicken and more.

Burger King, 1527 E. 51st St. (in the Village Center), (773) 684-9505

*Domino’s Pizza, 1453 E. Hyde Park Blvd., (773) 324-3800. Delivers until 12:30 a.m.

Dunkin’ Donuts, 53rd and Dorchester, (773) 288-5719. Open 24/7, now includes a sandwich selection as well (Togo’s).

Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1513 E. Hyde Park Blvd. (Village Center), (773) 288-2221. Pretty much carry-out only.

McDonald’s, 1344 E. 53rd St., (773) 493-1622. Known all over the city as "the worst McDonald’s in the universe."

Starbuck’s, 53rd and Harper, (773) 324-1241.

Subway,1363 E. 53rd, (773) 288-8400.

*Caffè Florian,1450 E. 57th, (773) 752-4100. Really much more than Italian. Try the vegetarian black bean nachos. They also have a great hot beverages menu.

*Leona’s, Woodlawn & East 53rd St. (Kimbark Plaza), (773) 363-2600. Take out and delivery available in addition to dine-in. Wide selection, food is just okay.

*Piccolo Mondo Café, 1642 E. 56th (in the Windermere), (773) 643-1106. Moderate to expensive Italian dishes (around $15 for most entrees). Imported coffee and espresso. Real spumoni!

Pizza Capri, 1501 E. 53rd, (773) 324-7777. Pizza, salads, appetizers, pasta, sandwiches, and good service.

*Jalapenos, 1660 E 55th St. (773) 643-5500. A decent, sit-down Mexican restaurant.

Maravillas, 5211 S. Harper Ct. (773) 643-3155. BIG, phat, cheap burritos, open until midnight.

Pepe’s, 1310 E 53rd St. (773) 752-9300. Mostly a take-out restaurant, not many tables available. Also a little pricey for fast-food.

*Cedars of Lebanon, 1618 E. 53rd, (773) 324-6227. Yummy Middle Eastern dishes, good prices, no pork. Carryout and delivery on weekdays only.

The Nile Restaurant,1611 E. 55th, (773) 324-9499. Good Middle-Eastem food.

Rajun Cajun, 1459 E. 53rd, (773) 955-1145. Fast-food Indian and southern fried chicken with collard greens. Hmmm. You’ve got to see it to understand.

*Edwardo’s, 1321 E. 57th, (773) 241-7960. Great spinach stuffed pizza, cheap lunch specials, and fifteen percent discount for eat-in with UCID.

*Giordano’s, 5311 S. Blackstone, (773) 947-0200. Definitely one of the best deep dish pizzas in Chicago.

*Medici, 1327 E. 57th, (773) 667-7394. A favorite among U of C students. Great desserts, burgers, pizza, and salads. They have an outdoor area on the second floor. BYOB.

Pizza Capri, See description in Italian section

Calypso Café, Harper Court, at 53rd and Harper, (773) 955-0229. Good Caribbean food and exotic drinks. About $12-$15 for most entrees.

Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop, 5225 S. Harper (Harper Court), (773) 363-4943. Cajun/Creole dishes such as catfish, gumbo, jumbalaya, corn bread, all in a 1930’s down-home environment.

Jackson Harbor Grill, 64th and Lake Shore Drive, (773) 288-4447. Awesome outdoor eating area overlooking the harbor. Cajun style seafood and other southern fare (including grits). Entrees average around $15, sandwiches and salads are cheaper (<$10).

Nathan’s, 1372 East 53rd St., (773) 288-5353. Jamaican take-out.

Rajun Cajun, See description in Middle Eastern/Indian Section.

Valois, 1518 53rd St. (773) 667-0647 Cafeteria style southern food. Excellent for breakfast. CHEAP.

Chicago offers an array of interesting restaurants, there’s no way to summarize them here. Anna says, "you can eat yourself fat living in Chicago." So please use this list as a starting place, but use the following websites to explore the culinary possibilities:

www.metromix.com

www.chicago.citysearch.com

www.zagat.com

Prices are per person, and usually include non-alcoholic drinks and dessert.

ITALIAN

Club Lucky

1824 W. Wabansia (between Ashland and Damen), (773) 227-2300

$18-23. The retro décor and renowned Martinis make this Bucktown Italian something special.

Ignotz Ristorante

2421 S. Oakley, (773) 579-0300

$15. Old-fashioned ambiance with nice owner.

The Italian Village

71 W. Monroe, (312) 332-7005

$12-$25. This Loop classic (over 60 years old) has great kitsch décor.

Mia Francesca

3311 N. Clark, (773) 281-3310

$10-20. Very popular restaurant with good wines to sip while you wait.

Rosebud

1500 W. Taylor, (312) 942-1117

$15-$20. There are now Rosebud’s all over Chicagoland, but this is the original. Frank Sinatra used to eat here.

Scoozi!

410 W Huron, (312)943-5900.

Less than $10, Bustling, busy, fun place.

PIZZA

Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder

2121 N. Clark, (773) 248-2570.

$11-$20. Try the unique pot-pie pizza. Very interesting place. Cash only.

Gino’s East Pizzeria

633 N. Wells., (312) 943-1124.

$10-$15. This place is known for having one of the best pizzas in the world. Famous actors and British Royalty (Queen Elizabeth) have all sampled this culinary delight. The ambiance is great as well. Bring your black marker because you can write on anything you want.

Pizzeria Uno

29 E. Ohio, (312) 321-1000

$10-$15. The original Chicago Style Pizza. This place has been franchised in other cities but it started in Chicago, so maybe you’ve sampled their fare in San Francisco or Boston (but you haven’t truly had Chicago style pizza until you’ve had it in Chicago!)

SPANISH, CUBAN, & MEXICAN

Café BaBaReeba

2024 N. Halsted, (773) 935-5000

SPANISH, $20-$25. Gran Señora of Chicago tapas.

Cafe Iberico

739 N. LaSalle, (312) 573-1510

SPANISH, $15. Very popular tapas place, great sangria, reasonable prices

Café 28

1800 W. Irving Park, (773) 528-2883

CUBAN-MEXICAN. Kind of up-scale, reasonable prices, great food. Worth the wait.

Flash Taco

2556 N. Clark, (773) 248-3901, or 1570 N. Damen, (773) 772-1997.

MEXICAN, <$10. Open until 3 a.m. on weekdays, 5 a.m. on weekends.

Frontera Grill

445 N. Clark, (312) 661-1434

MEXICAN, $10-$15. Said to be one of the best Mexican restaurants in America.

Uncle Julio’s Hacienda

855 W. North Ave., (312) 266-4222

MEXICAN, $20. Excellent food, plentiful portions, nice atmosphere.

JAPANESE & CHINESE

King Wah

2225 S. Wentworth, (312) 842-1404.

CHIN ESE, under $10. Helen owns it, she’s a real sweetheart. Good food. Anna likes it.

Kamehachi

1400 N. Wells, (312) 664-3663

JAPANESE, $20-$30. Oyster shots and excellent sake.

Matsuya

3469 N. Clark, (773) 248-2677

JAPANESE, $15-21. The sushi here is comparable to almost anywhere on the West Coast. Their combination plate is outstanding, or check out the teriyakis. The wait is long unless you go after the usual dinner crowd (after 9 p.m.)

Nagano

3475 N. Clark, (773) 871-2312

JAPANESE, "super cheap". Small place, home-style Japanese food, noodle and rice bowls available.

Sai Café

2010 N. Sheffield, (773) 472-8080

JAPANESE, $20-$30. Yellow tail sushi is "to die for."

Three Happiness

2130 S. Wentworth, (312) 791-1228

CHINESE, $10-$15. Most popular dim sum in Chicago.

Yen’s

2856 N. Clark, (773) 549-0707

CHINESE. Slow service, carry-out is best (if you live in Lincoln Park.)

Yu’s Mandarin Chinese Restaurant

200 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. (847) 882-5340.

CHINESE, $10 and up. A trip out to the suburbs will get you a meal at what is supposedly known in China as the Chinese restaurant to try in the States.

For more Chinese restaurants, go to Chinatown (exit Lake Shore Drive at 22nd Street).

GREEK

Costa’s, 340 S. Halsted, (312) 263-9700

$20-$25. Arguably the best of Greektown.

Greek Islands

200 S. Halsted, (312) 782-9855

$15-22. Try the flaming cheese.

OTHER

Bandera

535 N. Michigan, (312) 644-3524

AMERICAN, $15-$20. Cool atmosphere, good food (salad served on chilled plates), and excellent service.

Berghoff Resaurant

17 W. Adams St., (312) 427-3170.

GERMAN, $12-$17. Great beer, bread, kraut und sauerbraten.

Bistro 110,

110 E Pearson St., 312-266-3110.

FRENCH/AMERICAN, $15-20, Great food and people-watching.

Croften on Wells

535 N. Wells, (312) 755-1790.

FRENCH-AMERICAN, ($35+). Reservations recommended. Romantic, good food.

Earwax Café

1564 N. Milwaukee Ave, (773) 772-4019

VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN. Funky atmosphere.

Ed Debevics

640 N. Wells, (312) 664-1707

AMERICAN, $10. Set up like a 60’s diner, the waitstaff is actually made up of actors who are paid to be as rude as they can to you. They can sometimes be seen dancing on the tables or having condiment fights. This is a tourist must.

Foodlife

Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., (312) 335-3663.

A high-end cafeteria. Food is fresh, but prices can add up as you fill your tray.

Geja’s Café

340 W. Armitage, (773) 281-9101

FONDUE, $31-$40. Romatic spot for fondue and fine wine. Also, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop right next door.

Jerome’s

2450 N. Clark, (773) 327-2207

A BIT OF EVERYTHING/ BRUNCH $10-15. Great Sunday brunch, all baked goods made on premises.

L’Olive Moroccan Restaurant, 1629 N. Halsted, (312) 573-1515.

MORROCAN, $15, cozy, warm atmosphere serving up couscous galore.

Potbelly Sandwich Works

2264 N. Lincoln Ave, (773) 528-1405

Potbelly now has 6 locations all over the city, but this one is the original. They have the best subs in the universe all under $4. Great shakes, cool atmosphere. You’ll get addicted.

Reza’s

432 W. Ontario, (312) 664-4500.

PERSIAN, $15-$20. Exceptional vegetarian dishes.

Russian Tea Time

77 Adams St., (312) 360-0000.

EASTERN EUROPEAN, $30. One of the most elegant dining rooms in the city; less expensive at lunch. Great tea selection.

Soupbox

2943 N. Broadway, (773) 935-9800

SOUP, <$10. Offer a wide variety of soups in the winter and a large frozen drink selection in the summer.

Twin Anchors

1655 N. Sedgewick, (312) 266-1616.

RIBS, $10-$15. Great ribs, worth the wait.

Viceroy of India

2515 W. Devon Ave., (312) 743-4100

INDIAN, $15. Great samosas, not too pricey. Lots of other Indian restaurants in the area so go check it out.

Wishbone

3300 N. Lincoln, (773) 549-2663

1001 W. Washington, (312) 850-2663

AMERICAN SOUTHERN, $12-18. Cool atmosphere, four-star rating on citysearch.com.

Intelligensia Coffee Roasters, 3123 N. Broadway, (773) 348-8058

Cool atmosphere for studying, fresh-roasted beans for sale,

La Tazza Bella, 1345 W. Taylor, (312) 850-1510

Cozy and quaint.

The Local Grind, 1585 N. Milwaukee, (773) 489-3490

Big cool coffee shop with couches. Also serve sandwiches and dessert.

The Cove Lounge, 1750 E. 55th, (773) 684-1013

Quieter place to talk, cheap drinks.

Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap, 1172 E. 55th Street, (773) 643-5516

University hang-out, very low-key. Open until 2 a.m. on weeknights, 3 a.m. on weekends.

The Pub, Lower Level of Ida Noyes Hall, (773) 702-9737

Monday night offers ten cent wings. Med students flock here for this event weekly.

There are hundreds of bars in this city. Here are a few we like.

Bar 13, 1944 W. Division, (773) 394-1313

Swanky bar, same owners as Harry’s (see below) but has no cover.

The Blue Frog, 676 N. LaSalle, (312) 943-8900

Karaoke and board games, a fun place to stop.

404 Wine Bar, 2856 N. Southport, 773-404-5886. Less -pretentious than many wine bars, you have to pass through the grubby Jack’s Bar & Grill to enter the relaxed wine bar experience.

Goose Island Brewery, 1800 N. Clybourn, (773) 915-0071, also in Wrigleyville at 3535 N. Clark, (773) 832-9042. Local brewery and restaurant with good beer.

Harry’s Velvet Room, 54 W. Illinois, (312) 527-5600

Swank as hell, expensive. Best martinis in town.

Hudson Club, 504 N. Wells, 312-467-1947. Popular after-work wine bar, suits abound.

Jilly’s Retro Club, 1007-1111 N Rush, 312-664-1001. Laid back classy cigar bar playing retro tunes.

Joe’s, 940 W. Weed, (312) 337-3486

Very large sports bar with good specials throughout the week.

John Barleycorn, 658 W. Belden, (773) 348-8899

Nice bar with outdoor beer garden. Another location at 3454 N. Clark, (773) 549-6000 which has a dance floor and a more rowdy crowd.

The Matchbox, 770 N. Milwaukee, (312) 666-9292

Very small bar with the best mixed drinks in Chicago.

NoMI, 800 N Michigan, 312-239-4030. On the 7th floor of the Park Hyatt, great view of the action on the Mag Mile.

Sauce, 1750 N. Clark, (312) 932-1750

New. Young, trendy crowd.

Signature Lounge, 875 N. Michigan, 312-787-7230. The posh lounge on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building…views that will make you ignore the price of drinks.

Tantrum, 1023 S. State, (312) 939-9160

Cool atmosphere with chill, diverse patrons. Cool owner and bartenders.

The Tasting Room at Randolph Wine Cellars, 1415 W. Randolph, (312) 942-1212

Another swanky place, great for sampling wine and cheese, sort of hip and trendy but not too crowded.

Ten 56, 1056 N. Damen, (773) 227-4906

Laid back martini bar with free-style rappers.

The Village Tap, 2055 W. Roscoe, (773) 883-0817

Chill bar with good wings, diverse crowd, good music, outdoor beer garden.

Whiskey Bar, 21 E Bellevue Pl, 312-475-0300. Ultra-trendy whiskey bar (as the name implies) brought to Chicago by Cindy Crawford’s husband.

Blue Chicago, 736 N. Clark St., 312-642-6261. A bit small, good music, relaxed.

Buddy Guy’s Legends, 754 S. Wabash, (312) 427-0333. Chicago’s largest blues club, with national and local acts.

Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway, (773)-88-5552. Old-school jazz club with great music.

House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, (773) 527-2583. Great music acts, food, and atmosphere.

Kingston Mines, 2548 N. Halsted, (773) 472-2031. Only place for late-night blues.

Rosa’s, 3420 W. Armitage, (773) 342-0452. Small, out-of-the-way blues club.

Betty’s Blue Star Lounge, 1600 W. Grand, (312) 243-1699.

Open late, cheap cover, great late-night spot for dancing.

Drink, 702 W. Fulton, (773) 773-7800.

Huge, fun, nice club.

Funky Buddha Lounge, 728 W. Grand, (312) 666-1695

Mixed crowd, Friday nights they have African drummers playing along with the hip-hop.

Hothouse, 31 E. Balbo, (312) 362-9707

Non-profit club with dance floor and stage area. Affordable.

Kustom, 1997 N. Clybourn, (773) 528-3400

Trendy, expensive, with outdoor area in the summer.

Leg Room, 15 W. Division, (312) 337-2583

Chill place, small dance floor, good music.

Le Passage, 937 N. Rush, (312) 255-0022

Trendy, expensive, late-night spot.

Nacional 27, 325 W. Huron, 312-664-2727. Good eats and weekend latin dancing…a new hot spot.

Nocturnal, 1111 W. Lake, (312) 491-1931

Swank, nine bucks per drink.

Pasha, 642 N. Clark, 312-397-0100. Tues and Sat Latin Night. Trendy, fun crowd, posh atmosphere.

Red Dog, 1958 W. North, (773) 278-1009

Loud, call to find out about salsa nights.

Sage, 464 N Halsted, 312-409-7055. Like Sinibar (1540 N Milwaukee, 773-278-7797), this is hip hip-hop/funk club.

Transit, 1431 W. Lake, (312) 491-8600

Pretty people, "slick, futuristic haunt." Drinks are expensive.

Webster Wine Bar, 1480 W. Webster, 773-868-0608.Casual, romantic wine bar…all the wine without the snobs.

Whitestar, 225 W. Ontario, (312) 440-3223

Expensive but fun crowd, go with hot chicks to get cheaper covers.

This section lists bars and clubs for the gay and lesbian community. Some places come with recommendations but for most listings you should call or look on metromix.com to get an idea of the atmosphere and crowd composition.

Baton Club, 436 N. Clark St., (312) 644-5269. Drag shows nightly.

Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, (773) 348-4975. Very small but intense dance club for gays and straights.

Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan, (773) 728-5511. Despite it’s name this is not a lesbian bar, although you will find many lumberjack-I-didn’t-know-he-was-gay types.

Big Daddies Bar & Grill, 2914 N. Broadway, (773) 929-0922. The name says it all.

Buddies Restaurant & Bar, 3301 N. Clark St., (773) 477-4066. Country/western style.

Charlie’s Chicago, 3726 N. Broadway, (773) 871-8887. Huge country/western scene, turns to regular dance music late night. Open until 5 a.m.

Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted, (773) 325-2233. Hardcore industrial techno dance club. "You will be out of place unless you are physically ripped and shirtless." Open until 5 a.m.

Closet, 3325 N. Broadway, (773) 477-8533

Cocktail, 3359 N. Halsted, (773) 477-1420. Friendly one-room drinking tavern.

Gentry on Halsted, 3320 N. Halsted, (773) 348-1053. Live piano music.

Girlbar, 2625 N. Halsted, (773) 871-4210

Little Jim’s, 3501 N. Halsted, (773) 871-6116.

Lucky Horseshoe, 3169 N. Halsted, (773) 404-3169. Seedy hustler bar on the gay strip in Boystown.

Manhole, 3458 N. Halsted, (773) 975-9244. This one speaks for itself.

The North End, 3733 N. Halsted, (773) 477-7999

Roscoe’s, 3354-3356 N. Halsted, (773) 281-3355. Most popular gay bar in Chicago, lots of drink specials and dancing, very "neigborhoody."

Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, (773) 477-9189. "Stand and Model, for all you pretty boys; very popular place, no dance floor but it has big screen TVs."

Spin, 3200 N. Halsted, (773) 327-7711. Lots of suburban kids because the doormen don’t know (or don’t care) about fake IDs. Wednesdays are dollar drink nights.

Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark, (773) 561-7363

DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl, (773) 947-0600. Adults $3, Students $2, Free on Thurs. Various exhibits featuring artifacts and memorabilia relating to the African-American experience.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, 5757 S Woodlawn, (773) 834-1847. Tours daily at noon and three. Call for admission prices and ask for student discounts. If you have never seen one of his designs, at least walk by. It’s amazing.

Museum of Science and Industry, 57th and Lake Shore Dr, (773) 684-1414. Adults $8, Children $4.25. Free on Thursday. An awesome museum right down the street. They also have a huge Omnimax movie theatre featuring some pretty cool (and usually also educational) film exhibits.

Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th, (773) 702-9521. Free Admission. Recently renovated, it consists of a large collection of art and archeological artifacts from the Near East, ranging from 5000 BC to 1000 AD. Find out why the U of C inspired the Indiana Jones movies. Frequently has special films and exhibits.

Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood Ave., 702-0200. Free. Curated by the university’s art department, this small museum usually has exceptional special exhibits.

The city offers a huge array of cultural and educational experiences. The following museums are just a sample. Most have free days, so call ahead to find out when they are. Also ask about student discounts.

Adler Planetarium (312) 922-7827, 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. See planets and stuff.

Art Institute of Chicago (312) 443-3600, 111 S. Michigan. Huge and diverse collection. Advertised as the best Impressionist collection outside of France.

Field Museum of Natural History (312) 922-9410, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive. The famous T-Rex Sue lives there, and so does our anatomy professor Darin Croft.

Museum of Contemporary Art (312) 280-2660, 220 E. Chicago Avenue. If you’re into modern art, this is the place.

Shedd Aquarium (312) 939-2426, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive. Lots of fish and an oceanarium with whales and stuff.

Terra Museum of American Art (312) 664-3939, 664 N. Michigan Ave. This is a beautiful museum that often gets neglected due to its proximity to the Art Institute and the MCA. It’s definitely worth checking out.

Doc Films, 702-8575.(24 hr film line), (773) 702-8574. Showing nightly in Max Pelevsky Cinema of Ida Noyes Hall. Call for quarterly showings, or pick up schedules at Ida Noyes. Tickets are cheap (<$4) and even less if you buy a quarterly pass.

International House Movies, (773) 753-2270. Shows mostly foreign films. Look for schedules at the beginning of the quarter.

Inner City Entertainment, Hyde Park Theatre, 5238 S. Harper, (773) 444-3456. Short on selection, but close to home.

Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, (773) 702-7005. Discount ticket prices for students the day of the show. Classic theatre production from a professional company. Directors have a city or national reputation.

University Theatre, (773) 702-3414. Produces various shows throughout the year, such as off-off campus comedy, classic theatre, musicals, short experimental works, student plays,and dance. Call to find out about the different shows.

Brew & View, 3145 N. Sheffield, (312) 618-8439. Drink and watch movies.

Cineplex Odeon, 600 N. Michigan, (312) 255-9340

Esquire, 58 E. Oak, (312) 280-0101

Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark, (773) 248-7744. Like Piper’s Alley, this theatre offers some cool not-as-mainstream films in addition to the latest Meg Ryan movie.

Piper’s Alley, 1616 N Wells, (312) 642-7500. Has some interesting picks, more than just Hollywood blockbusters.

McClurg Court, 330 E. Ohio, (312) 642-0723

Music Box, 3733 N. Southport, (773) 871-6604. Art flicks, foreign films, independents. Pick up one of their free schedules and you’ll always have something cool to do.

900 N. Michigan Cinemas, (312) 787-1988. Limited selection, classy location.

Three Penny Cinema, 2424 N. Lincoln, (773) 935-5744. Small theatre showing independent films.

Water Tower Theatres, 845 N. Michigan Ave., (312) 649-5790

***For info on movie theaters and show times in the Chicago area, check the newspaper or call (312) 444-FILM. This service will also allow you to purchase tickets over the phone so that you can get them early for a popular show that might be sold out.

American Theatre Company (773) 929-1031, small theatre company, good mix of new and classic plays, student discounts.

Auditorium Theatre (312) 922-2110, Internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful and functional theatres in the world. Broadway shows and dance performances (including the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra (312) 294-3333. Me: "What should I say about the Chicago Symphony?" Anna: "It’s good."

Chicago Theatre (312) 263-1936, musicals, comedians, and touring musicians.

Schubert Theater (312) 977-1701, Broadway shows and other large stage productions.

Second City, 1616 N. Wells, (312) 664-4032

Improvisational comedy troupe that graduates its best to Saturday Night Live.

Steppenwolf Theatre (312) 335-1650, former performance home to John Malkovich.

Tony & Tina’s Wedding, 230 W. North Ave., (312) 664-8844

Interactive spoof of a stereotypical Italian Catholic wedding. Audience members go as wedding guests. Dinner is included in the ticket price.

Check the weekly Reader for details on shows and performances throughout the city.

Architectural Boat Tours, (312) 922-3432. Michigan avenue entrance. $18. If you like architecture, you will love this tour. As seen in the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding.

John Hancock Center Observatory, (312) 751-3681, 875 N. Michigan Av., 9 am to 12 midnight. Some say the view is better than from the Sears...

Sears Tower Sky Deck Tours, (312) 875-9696, 233 S. Wacker Dr., 9 am to 10 pm except from October until February when it remains open till 11pm.

Wendella Sightseeing Boat Tours, (312) 337-1446, 400 N. Michigan Av. on the river. Only between April and October.

Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W. 31st, (708)485-2200. Beautifully landscaped large zoo about 25 minutes away. Expensive.

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon Drive, (312) 742-2000. Smaller zoo but located just north of downtown on the lake. Free!!!

This section lists a few shops you might want to check out. Grocery stores and drug stores are listed in, well, the grocery store/drug store section. This part is more about places you would shop for fun, not necessity. Chicago is littered with unique stores tucked away in out-of-the-way neighborhoods. As such, this list mostly sticks to the big stuff and we count on you to explore the city to find your own little favorites.

900 North Michigan Shops

Located at, um, 900 N. Michigan. (312) 915-3916

Bloomingdales (best shoe department in the city), J. Crew, Benetton, and more. Go to www.shop900.com for a complete list of stores.

Water Tower Place

845 N. Michigan Ave., (312) 440-3164,

Lord &Taylor, Marshall Fields, Gap, Abercrombie, Banana Republic, etc. Go to www.shopwatertower.com for a complete list of stores.

In this immediate area (all of North Michigan Ave.) you will see Saks Fifth Avenue, Crate & Barrel, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Borders, Niketown, The Levi’s Store, and other major retailers. It’s impossible to list them all. Go there and see for yourself. It’s pretty insane.

Marshall Fields

111 N. State St., (312) 781-1000

This is a very old, very beautiful Marshall Fields with lots of Chicago history. Nearby on State you will find Carson Pirie Scott and other shops.

Diesel

923 N. Rush, (312) 255-0157

Very expensive, but a cool place to look around.

Urban Outfitters

935 N. Rush, (312) 640-1919

2352 N. Clark, (773) 549-1711

Expensive hipster clothes, shoes, accessories, some housewares & novelty items. Look for sales.

Lots of cool stores in this neighborhood, kind of like the Magnificent Mile for alterna-teens. A few high points are listed below. (Visit www.urbanstyle.net for more.)

The Pink Frog

857 W. Belmont, (773) 525-2680

Mostly women’s clothes, sort of trashy but has some good deals.

The Alley

854 W. Belmont, (773) 348-5000

A tourist attraction as much as a store. Good selection of Dr. Marten’s footwear.

Ragstock

812 W. Belmont, (773) 868-9263

New and used clothes for men and women.

Belmont Army Surplus

945 W. Belmont, (773) 868-9263

Awesome shoe and leather collection. Great place to get an authentic and very warm Navy pea coat for our beloved Chicago winters.

Something Old, Something New

1056 W. Belmont, (773) 271-1300

A huge resale shop.*

(*A note about resale shops: Chicago is full of them and you’ll do best to seek out your own favorites. One not to miss is the White Elephant Store at 2380 N. Lincoln, (773) 883-6184. It has clothes, books, jewelry, and furniture. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Memorial Hospital.)

• 2301 N. Clark, (773) 477-5994
• 214 S. Wabash (312) 663-0660

• Virgin Megastore, 540 N. Michigan, (312) 645-9300
• Reckless Records, 1532 N. Milwaukee, (773) 235-3727

Usually not worth mentioning, malls litter the Chicagoland area. The only reason I’m mentioning this one is because it’s the biggest in Chicago, formerly the biggest in the country (until Mall of America was built in Minnesota), and med students actually venture here because it’s near a huge IKEA retail store.

Woodfield Mall: At junction of I-90 and I-290 in Schaumburg NW of the city, visit www.gowoodfieldmall.com for details.

Cubs Baseball at Wrigley Field, call (773) 404-CUBS for tickets and information.

White Sox Baseball at Comiskey Park, call (312) 831-1SOX for tickets (or use Ticketmaster (312) 559-1212).

Bulls Basketball at the United Center, call 1-800-4NBA-TIX or use Ticketmaster.

Blackhawks Hockey at the United Center, call (312) 943-7000 for ticket info.

Bears Football at Soldier Field, visit www.chicagobears.com

Fire Soccer at Soldier Field, get tickets through Ticketmaster. For info go to www.chicago-fire.com

Major concerts will take place at major concert venues, and you’ll hear about those even if you don’t want to. Listed here are a few less-advertised venues that are helpful to know about. Check the Reader for shows and times.

Ravinia Festival

(847) 266-5100, www.ravinia.org

This wooded amphitheatre in Highland Park hosts outdoor concerts June through September. Lawn tickets are $10 and almost always available. BYOB.

Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence, (773) 561-9500

Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, (773) 276-3600

The Metro, 3730 N. Clark, (312) 549-3604

Schuba’s, 3159 N. Southport, (773) 525-2508

The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield, (773) 472-0366

These venues host alternative, punk, and independent rock bands in addition to some mainstream acts.

AM

WIND 560 Spanish

WMAQ 670 All News/ Sox and Bulls Games

WGN 720 News/ Cubs and Bears Games

WBBM 780 News, Blackhawks’ Games, Weather on the 8’s.

WSCR 820 All Sports Talk

WLS 890 Talk

WMBI 1110 Christian

WGCI 1390 Oldies but Goodies

WEEF 1430 Multicultural Programming

FM

WCRX 88.1 Dance Music

WHPK 88.5 UC Student Radio

WBEZ 91.5 Chicago Public Radio, NPR

WXRT 93.1 Progressive Rock

WLIT93.9 Easy Listening

WXCD 94.7 "80’s and beyond"

WNUA 95.5 Soft Jazz

WBBM 96.3 Top 40

WDRV 97.1 Classic Rock

WLUP 97.9 Rock

WFMT 98.7 Fine Arts

WUSN 99.5 Country Music

WPNT 100.3 Contemporary 80’s and 90’s

WKQX 101.1 Alternative and Rock

WTMX 101.9 Contemporary Mix

VIVA!! 103.1 Spanish Pop

WWBZ 103.5 Dance Music/Top 40

WJMK 104.3 60’s and 70’s

WGCI 107.5 R&B and Rap

ARCHITECTURE

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park offers intelligent tours of the home and studio which can be followed by a walking tour of the many other houses by FLW in the neighborhood around the home and studio. It is a great half day when the weather is nice. Call (847) 848-1976 for more information and directions.

One of the two homes in the world designed by Meis Van der Rohe (yes, he only designed two houses) is outside of Chicago. It is called the Farnsworth House and is in Plano which is about an hour outside of the city by car. The tour is excellent and also includes the sculpture garden of its present owner (Lord Peter Polumbo). Call (630) 552-8622 for information and directions.

THEATER

The Neo-futurarium, performs "Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind". It consists of 30 plays in 60 minutes and every week they change some of the plays. They’re awesome and the place is located at 5153 N. Ashland. (773) 275-5255.

Navy Pier Shakespeare Theatre, (312) 222-9328

MUSIC

Ravinia festival, outdoor summer concert venue. See section on concert venues.

Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park. Lots of free concerts and plays here in the summer. (312) 742-4763.

Summer music fests in Grant Park

Bluesfest (June)

Jazzfest (Sept)

Celtic Festival (Sept)

Jammin’ at the Zoo. Summer concert series at the Lincoln Park Zoo. (312) 742-2000.

Summerdance--a band and dancing (starting with a 1-hour lesson )every Thursday thru Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. They offer African dancing, Swing, Tango, and more. The garden is beautiful and

there are snacks and drinks for sale. It's a very non-intimidating place to

take a dance lesson as there are a lot of beginners.

http://www.ci.chi.il.us/CulturalAffairs/SummerDance/

Chicago Outdoor Film Festival-- classic movies (An American in

Paris and the Maltese Falcon were among those featured this summer) showing outside in Grant Park every Tuesday evening for 6 or eight weeks starting mid-July.

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/press/outdoormovie.htm

OTHER FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Taste of Chicago (starts last week in June, ends the weekend after July 4.)

At Taste of Chicago, a bunch of the city’s restaurants set up stands side-by-side and you fight huge crowds for FOOOD! They also have some rides and games, great bands, and an awesome fireworks display on the third of July.

Jazzin at the Shedd

Thursdays starting at 5 p.m., May-September at the Shedd Aquarium. There is a Happy Hour outside on the water with food and cocktails. Call the aquarium at (312) 939-2426 for details.

After Hours at the Art Institute

One Thursday a month is set aside for an evening of art and socializing at the museum. (312) 443-3600

Summer Solstice at the MCA

For a day or two surrounding the summer solstice (June 21), the MCA remains open for 24 hours and hosts a bunch of different events including music, food, and special exhibits. (312) 280-2660

OUTDOORS/HIKING/EXERCISE

Chicago’s awesome lakefront

There are cycling and running paths and places to rent bikes and rollerblades. Go to www.chicagoparkdistrict.com for info.

Promontory Point

Our Hyde Park stretch of lakefront juts into the water at 57^th Street to form a beautiful park and play area with water on all sides. Popular place for swimming, sunbathing, grilling, frisbee, biking, and jogging. Cross Lake Shore Drive via an underpass just south of the east end of 55^th St.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Located on Hwy 12 in Indiana, this features a great beach and really tall sand dune to climb. Stick around into the evening to enjoy the sunset. Camping is available in the National Lakeshore.

Starved Rock State Park

Good place for hiking and camping

Sailing

Check out the Northwestern comprehensive sailing school or contact the Chicago Park District about their Rainbow Fleet sailing program at (312) 745-1700.

Volleyball

Popular summer sport at North Avenue and Oak Street Beaches.

AMUSEMENT PARKS

Great America

Located about 1hr north of Chicago on I-94 in Gurnee, it has awesome roller-coasters. Expensive but fun.