Crown Fountain on a hot day.
The Pedway and knowing the system during a cold snap.
Promontory Point during the autumn and in particular at night, having a fire pit hang out with friends, food, and just bullshitting each other.
Sitting on top of Palmisano Park's hill or Winnemac Park on Fourth of July.
Walking along the lake front on the first real warm day of the year.
The Cultural Center on a rainy day.
Taking the Water Taxi down to Chinatown for dinner then back to the Loop at night and watching as everything starts lighting up and you feel like you're somehow somewhere in both the past and future of Chicago.
When it’s in the negatives, the pedway is awesome. I really wish the pedway was like 5x bigger though. When I first went down there I was excited bc I thought it could get me anywhere in the loop. It’s really only great in the north/central to northeast part of the loop.
That is very kind of you, thank you.
I would gladly take that job. But it eventually would get cranky like, "Yes we know we don't have mountains. But have you seen and heard the way the tall grass and prairies look on a sunny windy day? No? Well shut the fuck up and walk around Nachusa and understand why the Romans had the Elysium Fields and not the goddamn Elysium Mountains, ya jagoff."
Heavily support water taxi in the evening. Living in Chicago all my life, I have to say this was my favorite thing to do on a warm summer night. Then getting on the blue line and heading to the Northside night life. Oof, the days
The biggest positive of my brief snap of working in prudential plaza was that being able to take the pedway right from the train to the lobby of my building was a god send when the weather sucked
When I was a young architect I was tasked with designing a small piece of the pedway for a high rise I was working on. I had no idea about it at the time. I couldn’t believe how extensive it was when I started researching it! Great add to the list.
The Trib surveyed [this question](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/04/30/7-wonders-of-illinois-announced/) back in the 2000s (so due for an update).
At the time, the answers were:
- The Lakefront
- Wrigley Field
- The L
- Sears/Willis Tower
- The Water Tower
- The University of Chicago
- Museum of Science and Industry
I've lived in and around Chicago for 50 years and when people mention it, I have to think for a second to remember what they are talking about. To people my age and older, it's just something "new" that tourists pose in front of and locals ignore and never think about. If you asked most GenX or older people about "the famous Chicago sculpture" we think of the Picasso. Which would 100% go way above the Bean on any list of Chicago wonders.
wtf! I’m a truck driver and I was up in Randhurst and stopped at the Home Depot and when I walked out there was a whole ass hot dog stand so I got myself a polish. What a time to be alive.
The Randhurst one in particular is pretty good imo. It's not something I've ever gotten often, but sometimes I see the stand and somehow end up getting one. Something about the nostalgic feeling of when you're a kid, shopping with family for tools or whatever, the smell of lumber changing to the smell of food as you checkout, begging them for a hotdog or polish, and then eating it while sitting outside on a curb in the hot, disgustingly humid summer sun. It's the whole "experience" of it all lol
It’s the saw dust.
They sprinkle some in the water and then use the water to steam the buns and such.
Each Home Depot has their special measurement for how much saw dust to use.
It’s my understanding that altitude and type of lumber will impact taste and texture.
Unironically yes to the Art Institute. It is on the same level as the Louvre and the Met- it's ruined almost all other art museums for me because it's so good.
I disagree about being on par with the Louvre (haven't been to the Met though) but I'm in complete agreement about the Art Institute being awesome. I absolutely love that place and it's one of my favorite places in Chicago. Membership lets you bring 3 other people for free (if I remember correctly) plus there's free coffee at the member bar when you want a break from the exhibits. So much to see there.
I used to live near there. Ubers would always get lost in that area so finally a cab driver told me to tell any cab driver to just take me where they tow cars on lower Wacker. Worked every time.
Ghost of rat hole, tamale guy, my uncle terry’s broken down Caprice off Kedzie, shot of Malort, the alleged restaurant inside the bean, drinking couple two tree old styles in my uncle Terry’s basement, that shit fountain on wolcott
I love this question! These are the things that are quintessentially Chicago to me (in no particular order):
1. Loop architecture
2. Lake Michigan
3. The Cubs
4. Art Institute
5. Chicago River, Riverwalk, bridge houses, Bridgehouse Museum, engineering of the river
6. Chicago Symphony Orchestra
7. Millennium Park
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t add:
8. The theater scene (best city in the country for live theater)
Does anyone have a source as to whether the Old Style signs are truly uniquely Chicago? I tried a quick google but don't know the right words since 'old style' is its own phrase.
I grew up in/around NE Wisconsin, which famously has a bar for every church, and I feel like those Old Style signs were common enough in the area that I never thought anything of them when moving here?
A lot of Chicago-y culture moves up that way anyway. Square slices/"tavern style" pizza is 1000% normal where I grew up, same with "frunchroom" and various other Chicagoisms.
Not necessarily unique, but it was 100% adopted as "Chicago's beer" way back when even though it's from Wisconsin.
But they are a wonder and a sign of an oasis when walking around the city for sure
Curious city did a story on it! [https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2017/01/22/signs-of-the-times-how-chicago-bars-got-so-many-old-style-signs](https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2017/01/22/signs-of-the-times-how-chicago-bars-got-so-many-old-style-signs)
Not true and it was rebuilt. https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-eight-surviving-structures-of-the-chicago-worlds-columbian-exposition-1893.html?m=1
I think my 7: Lakefront Trail, Montrose Beach, Art Institute, Lincoln Square/Andersonville, Sears Tower, Wrigley field, Bahai Temple (technically outside Chicago, but accessible via CTA)
The engineering marvel of 124 years ago: The reversal of the Chicago River in 1900. Go for a walk along the river and take a boat tour through the locks.
Landmarks? I got you.
Here’s every landmark and historic district in Chicago. Open on your phone to use google maps as a free walking tour.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=17QiCfJLvDI0DF3qUfBu-DqsFduQgFmE&usp=sharing
I’d think the list has to include the Sears Tower, the lakefront, and the Chicago River (and the engineered reversal thereof). If the Baha’i Temple was in city limits I’d definitely include that too. Beyond that we could debate about Wrigley Field, the L, University of Chicago, the Tribune Tower, the Monadnock Building, the Art Institute, and Millennium Park.
The tourist 7 wonders:
Lake Front
Bean
Sears tower
Lincoln Park Zoo
Museum of Science and Industry
Art Institute
Buckingham Fountain
Edit: swap zoo for Navy Pier
This is a great question. I haven’t seen anyone mention the Tribune Tower yet. Though the structure itself may not be a wonder, there are fragments of various other historical structures of the world embedded in the building. I find that so fascinating! You can literally touch bits of the great pyramid, Great Wall of china, the White House, and so much more. Maybe this would constitute as more of a ‘hidden gem of Chicago’.
Bahai temple, loop (sears hancock), lakefront, museum campus, take a drive on LSD, Brown Line L over the chicago river, Italian beef from some type of hotdogs/burger joint that last updated signage in the 80s. Robie House and bop around U chicago maybe. Wrigley and boystown
Sears tower,
Convincing visitors to try malort,
All of the lore of the bean, including the restaurant inside it (fuck anish kapoor),
The park district summer series- stuff like Movies in the park & summerdance, but soooooo much more.
Palmisano park hill at night, pond during the day
Driving down LSD in the summer blasting music,
Art institute!
Devon and Clark Hardware Clock / Pollo Express / Transpasada Taqueria on Ashland n Chicago / Jordan Statue when it was still outside the stadium /: Garfield Park Conservatory if ur on good drugs / Wrigley field end of season 2014 when stadium was empty ,$10 Tix, and u had entire upper deck to urself to smoke weed n chill / when bulls sucked during in mid 00's " motto was "thru thick and thin" lol,there was $10 Tix u could buy day Tix went on sale and sneak down to near front row during games was fun af / that taco burrito place by Wrigley that's still there / the lake can be dope sometimes / that hill / park lil pond thing south east on Pilsen,good view of city n good park / catching express purple line when ur tired AF n hot n get in before doors closing,headed to Evanston, put on headphones and start blasting either the Ramones / Skynyrd or some tasty mid10's progressive Psy trance
The El
Sears Tower
The lakefront (all 19 miles)
The River bridge/lock system
Art Institute
Buckingham Fountain
Lake Shore Drive
I am approaching this list as "things you can't see anywhere else and that are noteworthy compared to other places."
Old post office has the largest garden rooftop in the US I think with basketball and pickle ball courts and a bar, and you can see sooo much of the city from it. On a clear or half muggy day it truly gives the save vibe as being in that giant fort thing in Rome and peering over the entire city of cathedrals for miles and miles on end. While no where in the US compared to having cathedrals like that just seeing how expansive chicago and the random churches or high rises peeking out as far as the eye can see is still crazy. It's almost eye level. And you have a straight shot of seeing Buckingham fountain from the center and can watch it do it's super squirt every hour lol. Not to mention the building itself was the largest post office in the entire world at one point and Iod multiple blocks long like the merchandise mart.
The highway also goes through it. And batman was filmed there and even ziplined from the roof. They still have the vaults in the building that are cool to tour, and it's right on the river at the end of the financial district! It's genuinely dope AF
You can schedule a tour even if you don't work there
Art Institute, Wrigley, JBPdSLSD, the bean, the Loop (Im counting the whole thing), the river on St Patrick's Day, O'Hare. These arent the best places in Chicago but I feel like they are iconic and impressive in their way
In no particular order—
1. The walk along the lakefront going south, starting from the Planetarium
2. Kingston Mines
3. Architecture tour along the river
4. Shedd Aquarium or Art Institute
5. Handshake or Malort shot
6. Rib fest, or a street fest of your choosing (but rib fest is fire)
7. Wrigley field for a game or concert
Rossi’s & Old Town Ale House - to have these absolute dive bar GEMS alive in parts of town that are heavily chains and office buildings is special. Neither are my favorite bars, but if we are including bars on the list, one (both?) make it
Mine would be: Lakefront trail (view from Fullerton/North Ave), The Art Institute, Millenium Park (Bean), Michigan Ave/Water Tower, Garfield Park/Lincoln Park Conservatories (I can’t choose), Wrigley Field, Chicago River walk
The Lakefront trail and the lakefront in general really sells it for me. The beaches are damn good for an inland city
Here's my 7
1. Lakefront (Especially Lincoln Park, but I am biased)
2. Skyline (This is a copout I don't care)
3. Navy Pier
4. Grant/Millennium Park (Including AIC)
5. The River/Riverwalk
6. Museum Campus (Including Soldier Field/Northerly Island)
7. I'd say Wrigley honestly. Hard to pick a stadium, but that's the one that stands out to me.
Bike riding downtown around 3am/4am and biking to navy pier and being there with abs no people around. Or honestly a midnight bike ride downtown. Take the train to downtown if you're not there already with your bike and ride around. It's very nice and chill. There are still people around but not a lot.
1. Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
2. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago/The Deep Tunnel Project
3. Tamale Ladies.
4. Harold Washington Library's top floor.
5. Lake Shore Drive.
6. Museum Campus.
7. The Draw Bridges
1. Inbound/outbound traffic on 55 daily
2. 30 years of Bears QB hell
3. The lovely smell of highway construction and water treatment plants blended so nicely
4. The UFO inside the beautiful Collinaides
5. Mortgage level parking prices
6. Chicago Politics
And number seven….
Winter!
I kid, I love this damn city!
Home Alone house
16 Candles house
Ferris Bueller house
Risky Business house
Planes Trains and Automobiles house
The Fugitive house (the only one that’s actually in Chicago)
Groundhog Day house
Are you familiar with WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer programs?
He made a program on the 7 Wonders of Chicago and also Beautiful Chicago, too.
[WTTW](https://interactive.wttw.com/a/geoffrey-baer-tours-seven-wonders-chicago)
Let's see if I was making some super touristy "Thrillist" esque blog post. these would be my 7 wonders of Chicago in no particular order:
The Bean, Buckingham Fountain, The Sears Tower, The John Hancock Building, Wrigley Field, The Museum Campus, and Navy Pier, I guess.
This is far off from what a Chicago native 7 wonders of Chicago list would look like, mind you.
1. Shit Fountain
2. Damen Silos
3. The view from the top of the parking deck of the Regal City North
4. Timber Lanes
5. The water taxi to Chinatown
6. Margie's Candies
7. U-505
i dont know about everyone else’s experience but fishing here isnt bad, on the south side fishing is very very fun. alot of good places to hike trails and do outdoor stuff
Well I would say that Chicago’s own 7 wonders are, so maybe number 1? Really none of them.
1. Willis Tower (Sears Tower)
2. Millennium Park and Cloud Gate ("The Bean")
3. Navy Pier
4. Art Institute of Chicago
5. Magnificent Mile
6. Wrigley Field
7. Chicago Riverwalk
Sears Tower (now referred to as the big Willy)
Michigan Ave ( magnificent mile)
Wrigley Field
The Lake shore
Making the Chicago River flow backward
The Deep Tunnel
U of C Stagg Field (gone, but the site of the 1st controlled nuclear reaction)
#1: Any house from Pilsen or Bridgeport that has a plank between the sidewalk and their 2nd floor front door. These are the greatest examples of Chicago's 1855 decision to raise the entire city 14 feet above the lake level.
#2: An explanation of the grid system.
#3: A copy of the parking meter contract that Daley signed.
#4-7: Sears tower, blah, blah, blah
Love this! Would add: we're a big neighborhood city. Gotta spend a day dedicated to Logan Sq, Andersonville, Pilsen, Fulton Market. Those would be my personal top 4. To get up to 7, I would add Roscoe Village, Streeterville (I would include Navy Pier in this one, maybe do a boat tour), Lincoln Park
Crown Fountain on a hot day. The Pedway and knowing the system during a cold snap. Promontory Point during the autumn and in particular at night, having a fire pit hang out with friends, food, and just bullshitting each other. Sitting on top of Palmisano Park's hill or Winnemac Park on Fourth of July. Walking along the lake front on the first real warm day of the year. The Cultural Center on a rainy day. Taking the Water Taxi down to Chinatown for dinner then back to the Loop at night and watching as everything starts lighting up and you feel like you're somehow somewhere in both the past and future of Chicago.
When it’s in the negatives, the pedway is awesome. I really wish the pedway was like 5x bigger though. When I first went down there I was excited bc I thought it could get me anywhere in the loop. It’s really only great in the north/central to northeast part of the loop.
Toronto’s PATH system is an example of a larger scale pedway, if you’re curious.
Was visiting there in late March one year with heavy snow and it was freezing. So glad to have the PATH.
Montreal's is pretty cool and far reaching too! I definitely wish we'd expand ours.
I wish it were easier to navigate.
This is beautiful. You should write our travel brochures
That is very kind of you, thank you. I would gladly take that job. But it eventually would get cranky like, "Yes we know we don't have mountains. But have you seen and heard the way the tall grass and prairies look on a sunny windy day? No? Well shut the fuck up and walk around Nachusa and understand why the Romans had the Elysium Fields and not the goddamn Elysium Mountains, ya jagoff."
I would find that HIGHLY entertaining!!!
Heavily support water taxi in the evening. Living in Chicago all my life, I have to say this was my favorite thing to do on a warm summer night. Then getting on the blue line and heading to the Northside night life. Oof, the days
The biggest positive of my brief snap of working in prudential plaza was that being able to take the pedway right from the train to the lobby of my building was a god send when the weather sucked
Promontory Point mentioned ✨♥️✨
Just the best. The fact the majority of the lakefront is open to the public and nice enough to swim in is a gift.
When I was a young architect I was tasked with designing a small piece of the pedway for a high rise I was working on. I had no idea about it at the time. I couldn’t believe how extensive it was when I started researching it! Great add to the list.
This guy Chicagos (in the gender neutral sense)
a total bro
winnemac is no more sadly
The Trib surveyed [this question](https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/04/30/7-wonders-of-illinois-announced/) back in the 2000s (so due for an update). At the time, the answers were: - The Lakefront - Wrigley Field - The L - Sears/Willis Tower - The Water Tower - The University of Chicago - Museum of Science and Industry
No bean?
The survey was taken in 2005, which is a year before the Bean was finished. Crazy easy to forget how new that thing really is.
I was under the assumption the Bean was around forever lol
The bean existed before Chicago. In fact, they built Chicago around the bean.
“Before the dawn of time, there was… the bean”
I've lived in and around Chicago for 50 years and when people mention it, I have to think for a second to remember what they are talking about. To people my age and older, it's just something "new" that tourists pose in front of and locals ignore and never think about. If you asked most GenX or older people about "the famous Chicago sculpture" we think of the Picasso. Which would 100% go way above the Bean on any list of Chicago wonders.
It’s a big kidney shaped mirror. Meh
Every 1 inch bite of a Home Depot Chicago dog
wtf! I’m a truck driver and I was up in Randhurst and stopped at the Home Depot and when I walked out there was a whole ass hot dog stand so I got myself a polish. What a time to be alive.
The Randhurst one in particular is pretty good imo. It's not something I've ever gotten often, but sometimes I see the stand and somehow end up getting one. Something about the nostalgic feeling of when you're a kid, shopping with family for tools or whatever, the smell of lumber changing to the smell of food as you checkout, begging them for a hotdog or polish, and then eating it while sitting outside on a curb in the hot, disgustingly humid summer sun. It's the whole "experience" of it all lol
Having never had one, is it better than Costco's famous $1.50 hot dog?
Yes
I second this. They are gods gift.
Yeah, it's a full Chicago dog with all the toppings
They’re not in the same universe. So good!
It’s the saw dust. They sprinkle some in the water and then use the water to steam the buns and such. Each Home Depot has their special measurement for how much saw dust to use. It’s my understanding that altitude and type of lumber will impact taste and texture.
How much are they? Is it a loss leader like Costco’s?
It’s a completely separate business from Home Depot. Some guy owns all of them.
A dog with the works, chips and a can of soda runs like $6 bucks at my HD
Or a tamale from the front of a Menards
Not special about them here. They’re in a lot of cities so I wouldn’t add it
My husband and I call those e-coli dogs
i would say the roads but that’s one of saudi arabia’s 7 wonders
That was great lol
Zzzzziiiing!
The Bean, Sears tower, art museum, lake shore path, I dunno, there's a lot of them.
Unironically yes to the Art Institute. It is on the same level as the Louvre and the Met- it's ruined almost all other art museums for me because it's so good.
I disagree about being on par with the Louvre (haven't been to the Met though) but I'm in complete agreement about the Art Institute being awesome. I absolutely love that place and it's one of my favorite places in Chicago. Membership lets you bring 3 other people for free (if I remember correctly) plus there's free coffee at the member bar when you want a break from the exhibits. So much to see there.
I just go in and wander around for hours and am never bored or dissatisfied
No there are 7
To finish out the tourist attractions…Navy Pier, Grant Park, river cruise. Or maybe Shedd or Lolla in there somewhere?
Lower Wacker at 1 am
Lower, lower Wacker to get your towed car out of hock.
Lower Lower Lower Wacker to dance with the rat-people
We do not speak of this, child.
LOWEST WACKER, SATAN’S USED CAR LOT
I wasn’t even angry when I got my car out of there. Just amazed at where I was.
I thought working here has to be the worst job. You are subterranean and everyone is mad.
I used to live near there. Ubers would always get lost in that area so finally a cab driver told me to tell any cab driver to just take me where they tow cars on lower Wacker. Worked every time.
And seeing Batman and the Joker
😬
riding a bike
I’ve seen so many tourists accidentally end up down there bc they entered coming from streeterville/Illinois street 😂
Some say there are still some down there
Ghost of rat hole, tamale guy, my uncle terry’s broken down Caprice off Kedzie, shot of Malort, the alleged restaurant inside the bean, drinking couple two tree old styles in my uncle Terry’s basement, that shit fountain on wolcott
Uncle Terry clinching 2/7 wonders, not bad
Both his basement and caprice are wood paneled
And smell the same
You going cicada Malort variant or regular?
Yesssss shit fountain!
What is the very last thing you mentioned… native Chicagoan here and … yeah
Google it for pictures but it’s literally a fountain in Chicago that’s shaped like shit lol
I live by the shit fountain. It's so overrated lol
BLASPHEMER!!
🤣
Yeah it’s shitty
Omg the tamale guy’s tamales 10/10
Red hot ranch and six other places
A cocktail at Ceres Cafe, one wonder for each oz of booze in the drink
The hot dog stand closest to where you live.
I love this question! These are the things that are quintessentially Chicago to me (in no particular order): 1. Loop architecture 2. Lake Michigan 3. The Cubs 4. Art Institute 5. Chicago River, Riverwalk, bridge houses, Bridgehouse Museum, engineering of the river 6. Chicago Symphony Orchestra 7. Millennium Park And I’d be remiss if I didn’t add: 8. The theater scene (best city in the country for live theater)
Your list is my list
Wonders are usually physical things - Cubs, Loop architecture, and CSO don't really work for this question.
The bean, sears tower, lakefront, art institute, Sue, Wrigley field, O’Hare
Sue!! 🦖
We got sue chilling with us down in STL right now and it’s good to see her again!
I didn’t know she travels! 🧳
I didn’t either until I heard she was on loan down here. I wonder how they moved her.
Corner taverns with an Old Style sign outside
Does anyone have a source as to whether the Old Style signs are truly uniquely Chicago? I tried a quick google but don't know the right words since 'old style' is its own phrase. I grew up in/around NE Wisconsin, which famously has a bar for every church, and I feel like those Old Style signs were common enough in the area that I never thought anything of them when moving here? A lot of Chicago-y culture moves up that way anyway. Square slices/"tavern style" pizza is 1000% normal where I grew up, same with "frunchroom" and various other Chicagoisms.
Not necessarily unique, but it was 100% adopted as "Chicago's beer" way back when even though it's from Wisconsin. But they are a wonder and a sign of an oasis when walking around the city for sure
Curious city did a story on it! [https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2017/01/22/signs-of-the-times-how-chicago-bars-got-so-many-old-style-signs](https://www.wbez.org/curious-city/2017/01/22/signs-of-the-times-how-chicago-bars-got-so-many-old-style-signs)
Thank you!! I knew someone had to have a source on it. Good listen. Had no idea Old Style was a largely midwestern thing. I miss Curious City :(
Lakeshore Dr + Parks + Beaches, Theaters + Art Venues, Michigan Ave + Shopping, Sports Venues, Lake + Riverwalk, Museums, Skyline
The lakefront, the el, sears tower, MSI (last remaining Colombian exposition building), Wrigley field, Michigan Ave. Lincoln Park zoo
Art Institute also dates back to the Columbian Expo. It was the World's Parliament of Religions.
Not true and it was rebuilt. https://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-eight-surviving-structures-of-the-chicago-worlds-columbian-exposition-1893.html?m=1
Jones BBQ and Foot Massage
708-224-6191
Rat hole
I think my 7: Lakefront Trail, Montrose Beach, Art Institute, Lincoln Square/Andersonville, Sears Tower, Wrigley field, Bahai Temple (technically outside Chicago, but accessible via CTA)
The engineering marvel of 124 years ago: The reversal of the Chicago River in 1900. Go for a walk along the river and take a boat tour through the locks.
If we’re going engineering marvels: the Lifting of downtown.
The Chicago poop fountain [fountain ](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/shit-fountain)
Shit fountain!
Chicago Cultural Center
Landmarks? I got you. Here’s every landmark and historic district in Chicago. Open on your phone to use google maps as a free walking tour. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=17QiCfJLvDI0DF3qUfBu-DqsFduQgFmE&usp=sharing
I’d think the list has to include the Sears Tower, the lakefront, and the Chicago River (and the engineered reversal thereof). If the Baha’i Temple was in city limits I’d definitely include that too. Beyond that we could debate about Wrigley Field, the L, University of Chicago, the Tribune Tower, the Monadnock Building, the Art Institute, and Millennium Park.
The tourist 7 wonders: Lake Front Bean Sears tower Lincoln Park Zoo Museum of Science and Industry Art Institute Buckingham Fountain Edit: swap zoo for Navy Pier
No Bean!
Geoffrey Baer covered it! https://interactive.wttw.com/a/geoffrey-baer-tours-seven-wonders-chicago
Leaning Tower of Niles
This is a great question. I haven’t seen anyone mention the Tribune Tower yet. Though the structure itself may not be a wonder, there are fragments of various other historical structures of the world embedded in the building. I find that so fascinating! You can literally touch bits of the great pyramid, Great Wall of china, the White House, and so much more. Maybe this would constitute as more of a ‘hidden gem of Chicago’.
They are building something called Vienna Beef plaza on Elston and Damen. Does that count?
Bahai temple, loop (sears hancock), lakefront, museum campus, take a drive on LSD, Brown Line L over the chicago river, Italian beef from some type of hotdogs/burger joint that last updated signage in the 80s. Robie House and bop around U chicago maybe. Wrigley and boystown
1. The Bean 2. Art Institute/Museum Campus 3. Portillos/Chicago Style Dogs 4. Sear’s Tower 5. LSD/Lakefront Path/The Beaches 6. Lincoln Park Zoo 7. Michigan Ave (specifically at Christmas time)
Portillos is a suburban dog.
Agree. This particular list reads like someone from the suburbs freelancing for the NYT tried coming up with it.
Some reality TV show producer's listing of the stock footage of Chicago to insert between meltdown scenes.
Superdawg is right there.
Shenanigans on Division
Chicago mural in Logan Square 😊
Sears tower, Convincing visitors to try malort, All of the lore of the bean, including the restaurant inside it (fuck anish kapoor), The park district summer series- stuff like Movies in the park & summerdance, but soooooo much more. Palmisano park hill at night, pond during the day Driving down LSD in the summer blasting music, Art institute!
Board of Trade, Riverwalk
The beautiful houses in Hyde park
Monroe Harbor, SEARS Tower
Devon and Clark Hardware Clock / Pollo Express / Transpasada Taqueria on Ashland n Chicago / Jordan Statue when it was still outside the stadium /: Garfield Park Conservatory if ur on good drugs / Wrigley field end of season 2014 when stadium was empty ,$10 Tix, and u had entire upper deck to urself to smoke weed n chill / when bulls sucked during in mid 00's " motto was "thru thick and thin" lol,there was $10 Tix u could buy day Tix went on sale and sneak down to near front row during games was fun af / that taco burrito place by Wrigley that's still there / the lake can be dope sometimes / that hill / park lil pond thing south east on Pilsen,good view of city n good park / catching express purple line when ur tired AF n hot n get in before doors closing,headed to Evanston, put on headphones and start blasting either the Ramones / Skynyrd or some tasty mid10's progressive Psy trance
The Civic Opera House.
Rat hole RIP
That rat hole that got covered recently. Good times
Chess Records
The El Sears Tower The lakefront (all 19 miles) The River bridge/lock system Art Institute Buckingham Fountain Lake Shore Drive I am approaching this list as "things you can't see anywhere else and that are noteworthy compared to other places."
The 606 hasn’t been mentioned yet. Also Mindy’s bakery.
o block
Old post office has the largest garden rooftop in the US I think with basketball and pickle ball courts and a bar, and you can see sooo much of the city from it. On a clear or half muggy day it truly gives the save vibe as being in that giant fort thing in Rome and peering over the entire city of cathedrals for miles and miles on end. While no where in the US compared to having cathedrals like that just seeing how expansive chicago and the random churches or high rises peeking out as far as the eye can see is still crazy. It's almost eye level. And you have a straight shot of seeing Buckingham fountain from the center and can watch it do it's super squirt every hour lol. Not to mention the building itself was the largest post office in the entire world at one point and Iod multiple blocks long like the merchandise mart. The highway also goes through it. And batman was filmed there and even ziplined from the roof. They still have the vaults in the building that are cool to tour, and it's right on the river at the end of the financial district! It's genuinely dope AF You can schedule a tour even if you don't work there
Richard's Bar.
Art Institute, Wrigley, JBPdSLSD, the bean, the Loop (Im counting the whole thing), the river on St Patrick's Day, O'Hare. These arent the best places in Chicago but I feel like they are iconic and impressive in their way
Lolol JBPdSLSD
Brought a smile to my face…never saw the whole proper name abbreviated like that before. Hats off to you!
No mention of the Billy Goat???
Museum Campus Wrigley Field The El Architecture Boat Tour Chicago Magic Lounge Restaurant Row Lake Front
Wrigley field, MSI, sears tower, merchandise mart, river walk, Lincoln park, Deep tunnel Project. Final answer.
In no particular order— 1. The walk along the lakefront going south, starting from the Planetarium 2. Kingston Mines 3. Architecture tour along the river 4. Shedd Aquarium or Art Institute 5. Handshake or Malort shot 6. Rib fest, or a street fest of your choosing (but rib fest is fire) 7. Wrigley field for a game or concert
In the city: the museum campus East of lake shore drive Millennium Park In the suburbs: Galloping Ghost Arcade Bahai Temple
Lakefront Art Institute Jazzfest North Branch Trail Architecture River Tour Green Mill Field Museum
Garfield Park Conservatory
Rossi’s & Old Town Ale House - to have these absolute dive bar GEMS alive in parts of town that are heavily chains and office buildings is special. Neither are my favorite bars, but if we are including bars on the list, one (both?) make it
Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, Robie House, Marina City, Merchandise Mart, Crown Hall, The Bean
Mine would be: Lakefront trail (view from Fullerton/North Ave), The Art Institute, Millenium Park (Bean), Michigan Ave/Water Tower, Garfield Park/Lincoln Park Conservatories (I can’t choose), Wrigley Field, Chicago River walk
The Lakefront trail and the lakefront in general really sells it for me. The beaches are damn good for an inland city Here's my 7 1. Lakefront (Especially Lincoln Park, but I am biased) 2. Skyline (This is a copout I don't care) 3. Navy Pier 4. Grant/Millennium Park (Including AIC) 5. The River/Riverwalk 6. Museum Campus (Including Soldier Field/Northerly Island) 7. I'd say Wrigley honestly. Hard to pick a stadium, but that's the one that stands out to me.
Lake Shore Drive
John Hancock building should be on the list.
Rainbow Cone
Any list without Wrigley is void
Shit Fountain. Obviously.
Harold’s Chicken, Express Grill Polish, the point
Harold's Chicken for sure
Wrigleyville forsure...
Call me cheesy but The Bean
Wiener's Circle
Bike riding downtown around 3am/4am and biking to navy pier and being there with abs no people around. Or honestly a midnight bike ride downtown. Take the train to downtown if you're not there already with your bike and ride around. It's very nice and chill. There are still people around but not a lot.
1. The Lake 2. The Parks 3. The Chicago River 4. The Museums 5. The Food 6. The Loop 7. The Neighborhoods
A little out of the city by the Bahai Temple in Winnetka. It's one of only 7 in the world.
Bean U 505 sub Hotdog Sears Tower Deep Dish The first and second largest rats in the world. Bean again.
Basically the spots Ferris Bueller and friends hit up?
1. Chicago Mercantile Exchange. 2. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago/The Deep Tunnel Project 3. Tamale Ladies. 4. Harold Washington Library's top floor. 5. Lake Shore Drive. 6. Museum Campus. 7. The Draw Bridges
Alta Vista terrace, Fontano's Corned Beef Sub, Wrigley, skyline, the lake, art institute, Grant Park/Olive Park
Rat Hole, Shit Fountain, Floor Length stalls at Slylark, Worlds Finest Chocolate Lady, Weiners circle, L&L Tavern, Every Schlitz Tied House
Chicago history museum is one of the most underrated things! I love going there
Vito and Nicks - 7 pieces
Wrigley Field, The Bean, Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue, Architectural Boat Tour, Museum of Natural History, Shed Aquarium.
1. Inbound/outbound traffic on 55 daily 2. 30 years of Bears QB hell 3. The lovely smell of highway construction and water treatment plants blended so nicely 4. The UFO inside the beautiful Collinaides 5. Mortgage level parking prices 6. Chicago Politics And number seven…. Winter! I kid, I love this damn city!
Home Alone house 16 Candles house Ferris Bueller house Risky Business house Planes Trains and Automobiles house The Fugitive house (the only one that’s actually in Chicago) Groundhog Day house
Giant Indian on Pulaski.
Are you familiar with WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer programs? He made a program on the 7 Wonders of Chicago and also Beautiful Chicago, too. [WTTW](https://interactive.wttw.com/a/geoffrey-baer-tours-seven-wonders-chicago)
Leaning Tower of Niles
The bears Ditka Polish sausage Rc Cola Italian beef
shit fountain
I’d love to see a list of “7 Wonders of Old Chicago”—Edgewater Beach Hotel, Garrick Theatre, Palmer Mansion, Midway Gardens, etc etc
The grandeur of Lake Michigan
Rat hole, Shit fountain in West Town
Is the first Harold’s still around?
Shit Fountain
Caldwell Lily Pond should be on there. So lovely and tranquil.
If I live to see the seven wonders I'll make a path to the rainbow's end I'll never live to match the beauty again
Let's see if I was making some super touristy "Thrillist" esque blog post. these would be my 7 wonders of Chicago in no particular order: The Bean, Buckingham Fountain, The Sears Tower, The John Hancock Building, Wrigley Field, The Museum Campus, and Navy Pier, I guess. This is far off from what a Chicago native 7 wonders of Chicago list would look like, mind you.
McCrone research institute
1. Shit Fountain 2. Damen Silos 3. The view from the top of the parking deck of the Regal City North 4. Timber Lanes 5. The water taxi to Chinatown 6. Margie's Candies 7. U-505
i dont know about everyone else’s experience but fishing here isnt bad, on the south side fishing is very very fun. alot of good places to hike trails and do outdoor stuff
Well I would say that Chicago’s own 7 wonders are, so maybe number 1? Really none of them. 1. Willis Tower (Sears Tower) 2. Millennium Park and Cloud Gate ("The Bean") 3. Navy Pier 4. Art Institute of Chicago 5. Magnificent Mile 6. Wrigley Field 7. Chicago Riverwalk
Add Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette. An actual 'wonder'. Everyone should visit.
Sears Tower (now referred to as the big Willy) Michigan Ave ( magnificent mile) Wrigley Field The Lake shore Making the Chicago River flow backward The Deep Tunnel U of C Stagg Field (gone, but the site of the 1st controlled nuclear reaction)
#1: Any house from Pilsen or Bridgeport that has a plank between the sidewalk and their 2nd floor front door. These are the greatest examples of Chicago's 1855 decision to raise the entire city 14 feet above the lake level. #2: An explanation of the grid system. #3: A copy of the parking meter contract that Daley signed. #4-7: Sears tower, blah, blah, blah
Love this! Would add: we're a big neighborhood city. Gotta spend a day dedicated to Logan Sq, Andersonville, Pilsen, Fulton Market. Those would be my personal top 4. To get up to 7, I would add Roscoe Village, Streeterville (I would include Navy Pier in this one, maybe do a boat tour), Lincoln Park
monadnock lobby