The Chicago Traveler

• Meet other cyclists at the Daley Plaza for the Bike to Work Rally, which includes live music, free t-shirts, and raffle prizes. (June 13)
• Celebrate Puerto Rican culture at the Fiesta Puertorriquenas in Humboldt Park, featuring crafts, food, live music, and dancing. The festival’s high point is the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Saturday along Columbus Drive, from Balbo Drive to Monroe Street. (June 12-15)
• Festa Pasta Vino is an annual celebration of Italian food, family, and culture, featuring authentic cuisine from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, parades, and live music. (June 12-15)
• Meet paranormal radio show host Edward Shanahan, …read more

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This season of the Bravo Network’s Top Chef was filmed here in Chicago, exposing competing chefs from all over the country to all the culinary treats the Windy City has to offer.
The competition is almost over, down to the final four contestants. In the first part of the finale, the four chefs actually left Chicago to visit the beautiful country commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
If you want to enjoy the flavors and culture of La Isla del Encanto (“the Island of Enchantment”) but can’t make the 2,000-mile (3300-km) trip, visit Humboldt Park on the northwest side of Chicago. This neighborhood, where …read more

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Don’t let the bright, neon, this-close-to-tacky colors on the outside of May St Café fool you. Inside, you’ll find upscale chic, incredible art pieces, and a warm, inviting atmosphere that you won’t want to leave.
Chefs and owners Mario Santiago and Guadalupe Aguilar often come out to check on their guests to see how they’re enjoying the Mexican and Puerto Rican menu. Many of the dishes are made with organically grown vegetables, so most of the selection is seasonal. However, first-timers absolutely must try the French double cream brie and pear quesadillas. Even patrons who stick to the basics like chips …read more

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One of the largest tourist attractions in Illinois begins this weekend: the Taste of Chicago. For ten days, over 70 restaurants from all over Chicago set up tents on a half-mile strip near Grant Park, allowing millions of people to sample an incredible amount of food from several cultures. Whether you like fast food or elegant entrees, you can find it at the Taste, along with cooking demonstrations, live music, and kids’ entertainment.
It is definitely the place to be when it comes to summer in Chicago, and I try to go every year. Located right behind the Art Institute, admission …read more

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Happy Flag Day folks! The city of Chicago actually has its own flag, made up of two horizontal blue stripes on a white background. Between the stripes are four six-pointed, red stars. The top blue stripe represents the North Branch of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, while the bottom stripe symbolizes the River’s South Branch and the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Each of the four stars represents a significant event in Chicago history: the first, the Fort Dearborn Massacre of 1812; the second, the Great Chicago Fire in 1871; the third, the World’s Fair in 1893; and the fourth, …read more

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