The Chicago Traveler Articles
Cochon Volant Adds Full Service Sophistication to the Loop
Our recent list of the best Chicago burgers was not without its share of controversy. After its publication, I was told I had to go over immediately to Cochon Volant and try their Le Cheeseburger Royale. Translated as “Flying Pig,” Cochon Volant recently opened in the...
Top 10 Restaurants In Chicago
Chicago is full of great spots to eat, and when we sat down to make this list, we knew it could draw some controversy. In fact it did among the staff here – but we powered through and came up with these as a consortium. This is a general list of a variety of types of...
Experience the Amazing City of Chicago on a Boat Cruise!
Summer in Chicago means lots of boats on our big, beautiful lake and long, winding river. When I have company in from out of town, be it friends or family, we often head downtown so I can show off our awesome city on a boat tour. Here are the boat companies I’ve...
10 Affordably Fun Stops For St Patrick’s Day
Ahh, the green season is upon us once again. St Patrick’s Day is one of Chicago’s most dear holidays. Everyone becomes Irish for a week and enough whiskey is taken back to make John Jameson proud. The river flows green, as well as the beer. Corned-Beef is not in short...
Chicago Air and Water Show – Specials & the Best Seats
The Chicago Air and Water Show is a magnificent spectacle that takes to the skies and lake. I still remember being a young lad and looking up in amazement as planes seemed to perform impossible stunts. My infatuation with aircrafts has slightly lessened into my old...
Humana is Bringing Health and Nutrition to Taste of Chicago
Humana to present healthy mocktail challenge featuring WXRT DJ Mary Dixon and ‘Check, Please!’ host Catherine De Orio on July 9 Health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) will showcase its largest ever list of healthy food items through its signature Humana...
Wicker Park’s MAK Fuses Traditional Chinese and Modern Healthy Eating
Division Street in Wicker Park is rich in bar food, but if you just want a quick bite on your way home from work your options are pretty limited and pretty greasy. Thankfully, there’s MAK: Modern Asian Kitchen. MAK is a fast casual, counter-service restaurant...
5 Great Colleges|Universities In Chicago
If you’re looking to complete an undergraduate degree or you’d like to complete a Master’s or Ph.D., then here are 5 outstanding universities and colleges in Chicago you have to check out before you fill out an application. We know that we are all about the “Top Tens...
O’Hare Restaurants – Top 10 Places To Eat At The Airport
Airports can sometimes feel more like a prison than a gateway to the world. Time spent between flights should be well used rather than abused. This list compiles some of the best O’Hare restaurants to spend your time, indulge in some food, and refresh with a drink....
BYOB Chicago Restaurants – Top 10 In The City
Spending an evening dining out is an enjoyable way to pass the time – especially when in good company. On top of food prices, alcohol can quickly make the bill escalate. Fortunately there are numerous BYOB Chicago restaurants to choose from. Being able to indulge in...
15 Ways to Enjoy Chicago Beer & Coffee Simultaneously
When you combine the Chicago Beer scene with the equally phenomenal Coffee scene– great things happen to your mouth. Some coffee infused beers are served year ’round, such as Aquanaut Brewing, but most tend to be seasonal and available in the colder months of the...
Farmers Markets in Chicago Schedule
A sure sign of spring arriving and summer rapidly approaching is the kickoff of Farmers Markets in Chicago. Many people look forward to the opening of the market in Daley Plaza, which happens to be the'oldest farmers market in Chicago. It kicks off on May 12 and is...
Chicago Trivia Nights & Locations – Your Guide to Trivia in Chicago
I have a soft spot for live trivia. It’s something that my brother and I try to do on a weekly basis- sometimes as teammates, sometimes foes to see who has to buy the round. With busy schedules, it doesn’t always line up on the same day every week. Fortunately, every...
TOP 10 Chicago Sushi Restaurants
If you’ve got a taste for raw fish and the many ways it can be prepared, you may be interested to know which the top sushi places in Chicago are. Each has its own unique décor and personality. They’re about as different from each other as night from day, but Sushi...
Top 10 Things To See At The Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is a world-class art museum with some of the finest collections in the country. No matter what your tastes are ' or even if you don’t know a lick about art ' make sure to visit this amazing museum in the heart of downtown Chicago right...
Top 10 Chicago Food Tours – Foodies’ Heaven
Chicago is a city known for its culinary diversity, but trying to experience it all can be overwhelming and expensive. Food tours offer a great way to experience the city, and there are a lot of them available throughout our great city. Guided tours will take you...
Top 8 Steakhouses in Chicago
Known for some of the finest establishments when it comes to dining out, Chicago is one of the best restaurant cities in the world. Some may say Chicago's claim to fame is the deep-dish pizza, but make no mistake, when it comes to steak, the Windy City knows how to...
Top 5 Ways to Experience Chicago Sights Outside of a Car
The majority of us spend a good portion of our lives in a vehicle. The convenience factor is huge, but it can take so much away from our surroundings. Chicago is a city rich in culture and sights; many of which can be easily missed while stuck in traffic. Eliminate...
Chicago Hair Salons Open Christmas Eve & Day
There is just something about the holidays that make us want to look and feel our best. Last minute hair styles can make all the difference. These Chicago hair salons will be offering up their services on Christmas Eve, and a select couple will be open on Christmas...
Asado Coffee – A Look Into Pickwick Lane
It was a brisk winter morning when I found myself wandering down a sidewalk in River North on the way to meet up with a buddy that I hadn’t seen in years. I had been running on Starbucks drip-coffee for days because of the convenience factor, but I was starting to go...
Top 15 Chicken and Waffles in Chicago
Good ole’ Southern cooking has blessed our palates with many unique and favorite dishes? but one of the very most cherished dishes is the simple Chicken and Waffles combination. There is just something about the soft, yet crunchy experience of a waffle matched up with...
Top 10 Chicago Northern Suburbs
Chicago Fine Dining On A Budget– It Does Exist
There are a lot of secrets in the dining world, but one of the most well-kept secrets are culinary school restaurants. Since Chicago is a big dining town, there are many. If you are looking to have a Chicago fine dining experience on a budget, these places would fit...
10 Yoga Studios That Center Chicago – Find Your Place
Yoga has been growing in popularity immensely over the last handful of years, especially. With many people seeking it out solely as a form of exercise, there are many studios opening that also treat it as exercise, rather than the classical form of yoga which involves...
Top 10 Things to Do at Navy Pier
Most Chicagoans can tell you that you haven't experienced everything that the Windy City has to offer if you haven't spent some serious time at Navy Pier. It's earned its place as the top tourist and leisure destination in the entire Midwest, with more than 8 million...
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Chicago with these Specials
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Chicago typically brings thoughts of satisfying tacos and gulping down margaritas, which is a great start. In addition to the traditional celebration dishes that many of us are accustom to, you can also indulge in American cuisine that has...
Top 10 Things To See At The Field Museum of Natural History
Get off the couch, gather up the family, and go explore the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. One of the many exciting institutions that makes up the city’s museum campus, the Field Museum offers great attractions for families and school groups. Here are...
Top 10 Pizza Places In Chicago
Chicago is known for many things: towering skyscrapers, gorgeous lakefront, Al Capone, sometimes questionable politicians, and of course, food. Chicago offers some of the best eats in the country, especially when it comes to pizza. There s no other place in the world...
Chicago Beard Tamers – Contain Your Mane
Winter is upon us, and natural masks have taken over many faces the last few months. While some just ain’t care and sport the rough, untamed look– others prepare to maintain their facial blanket. Chicago Beard Tamers are skilled with straight-razors to clean up the...
Rosebud Celebrates 40 Year Anniversary at Carmine’s
In 1975, following two years of success running a Loop luncheonette, Alex Dana took over a Little Italy Men’s Supper Club, reopening as Bocciola della Rosa. Soon rechristened in English as Rosebud, the restaurant became incredibly popular with locals, visiting...
Top Ten Tax Procrastination Cities
Are your taxes done? Or have you been scrambling these past few days (or hours) to meet the deadline? If you're among the latter, you're not alone. Intuit, the maker of TurboTax products, put together a list of American cities that are full of procrastinators when it...
Top Five Chicago Bars to Watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Unless you’re living under a rock, if you’re in Chicago, you know the Stanley Cup Playoffs are going on. And if you want to head out to cheer your Blackhawks on, check out one (or more) of our favorite places to watch the hockey games. 1. Emerald Loop. This downtown...
Chicago Photography Guide – Galleries / Shops / Classes
In this large city, there are plenty of opportunities for Chicago photography. You may be an enthusiast, professional, or maybe you just really enjoy looking at photographs. Keep in mind, there are a handful of great options for galleries, shops, and schools – but the...
Oktoberfest Chicago Area Activities – Prost!
The spirit of Oktoberfest can be summed up into a single word– Gemütlichkeit. It essentially means being in a place that makes you happy, relaxed, social, and feel accepted. This must be why Oktoberfest revolves around beer and friends. There is no shortage of...
The Commonwealth Tavern Brings Fine Dining to the Sports Bar
Have you ever wanted to go out and watch the game without having to eat the same old sports bar food? Sports bars are a dime a dozen in Chicago, but the Commonwealth Tavern (2000 Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village) stands out from the pack by merging your favorite bar...
26 Unexpected Foods For Grilling Other Than Burgers
I most certainly would not consider myself to be a master when it comes to grilling– but I do know a thing or two about cooking in the kitchen. This easily translates to cooking on the grill. Essentially everything that you can fry or bake can also be grilled– even...
Top 5 Chicago Basketball Courts
Chicago basketball courts are in abundance outside of the Chicago Bulls’ United Center home court. With so many options, it is sometime hard to narrow it down to one. Many of the courts are located in fantastic parks that provide activities to do when not on the...
Love Is In The Air or Maybe It’s Roses? Chicago Florists Work Magic
Valentines Day is right around the corner. If your loved one goes crazy over red roses but you are tired of the same boring arrangement, there are so many creative and unique ways to present her with these flowers. Create a beautiful arrangement that is a combination...
Bars With Outdoor Games in Chicago – Do More Than Just Drink
There seems to be more and more bars catching onto the notion that sometimes it’s nice to do more at a bar than just drink. Below, we have listed a number of bars with outdoor games in Chicago. Pretty much all of these options are only available spring through fall–...
Parts and Labor is Logan Square’s Hippest Burger Joint
Burgers are one of America’s favorite comfort foods. Many of us have fond memories of going to the local burger joint with our parents and friends and enjoying some greasy goodness. For a lot of Chicago’s Southside residents, that burger joint was Grant’s Wonderburger...
Top 10 Beaches In And Around Chicago
Summer is almost over and after Labor Day, Chicago beach season officially ends – however, we often get an extended summer so it’s never a bad time to take a jog down by the waterside. There are several different beaches in Chicago – and here are some recommendations...
Top 5 Minor League Baseball Teams In And Around Chicago
Sure, Chicago has the Cubs and the Sox, but there are plenty of minor league teams spread out across the Chicagoland area. Going to see a minor league game is a cheap way to spend a summer day, and doesn't involve the hassle of commuting downtown. Minor league teams...
Sampling the Spirit of Italy at Quartino – High Quality Italian Liquors
The Spirit of Italy is a group of Italian liquor producers made up of Amaro Lucano, Cocchi, Luxardo, Distillerie Moccia, Distilleria Nardini, Pallini, Toschi and Distilleria Varnelli. They feature a diverse selection of high quality Italian liquors, some of which have...
Pizzeria Serio’s New Breakfast Pizza Gives You an Excuse to Eat Pizza Three Times a Day
Chicagoans love brunch so much that more and more restaurants decide to get into the brunch game. However, the results can often be kind of surreal when you wind up at the local dive that’s trying their hardest to deliver an extravagant Lobster Eggs Benedict in the...
Top 21 Monday Specials Chicago Can Look Forward To
Mondays seem to be one of the most hated things that have ever existed. Rather than despised, they should be celebrated. Set the mood for the rest of the work week by going out and enjoying these Monday specials Chicago provides to its good patrons. From here on out...
Top 10 Buffets In Chicago – All You Can Eat
Sometimes being unrestricted is much needed. The buffets in Chicago aim to lift limitations and let you choose your own boundaries. Buffets do not always have to be traditional style, as you will see, some of the buffets in Chicago are quite exquisite with their...
Easter in Chicago – 33 Restaurant Specials
Easter in Chicago is a phenomenal time of the year. Not only is the weather warming, but there are also an abundant amount of restaurants in Chicago and the surrounding area offering food and drink specials to warm you on the inside. Have a relaxing brunch with...
10 Great Chicago Suburbs
When looking for a new place to live, there s no doubt that Chicago with all of its diversity and urban splendor remains among the most sought after living spaces in the U.S. :: however as a city that is surrounded by six counties, there are many gorgeous Chicago...
Top 10 Nightclubs In Chicago
Chicago, of course, is renowned for its night life, offering chic hangout spaces, trendy dive bars, great dance clubs, and everything in between. The options are often overwhelming, though. Are you looking for a great night out over the weekend? Here are our choices...
Municipal Bar + Dining Co. – River North’s Affordable Sports Bar
Open since 2012, Municipal Bar + Dining Co is a sports bar and restaurant located in Chicago’s River North, not far from Merchandise Mart. While the area already has its share of sports bars, Municipal is a bit more upscale than its rivals, quite spacious, and does...
Breakfast Pizza in Chicago – Forget About Deep Dish
Eating breakfast pizza in Chicago does not have to mean cold deep dish from the night before or even ordering a deep dish before noon. Eating pizza for breakfast means that you’ll be taking in a deliciousness of ingredients that are reminiscent of a hearty,...
The 8 Best Vegan Restaurants Chicago Has To Offer
The lifestyle choice of eating vegan is not always the easiest to commit to, especially if you find yourself eating out a lot. Fortunately, Chicago is a very vegan-promoting city, even amidst the sidewalk vendors and pizza parlors. There is an extensive list of...
Dog Friendly Chicago Establishments– Plan a Date with your Best Friend
There is no denying that Chicago is an almost continuous expansion of concrete. While you may have the ability of venturing wherever you please, your furry companion is much more limited. Rather than just taking them to visit the patch of astroturf a couple blocks...
Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya Brings Authentic Japanese Cuisine to Wicker Park
A few years ago, most Chicagoans probably thought of ramen as the cheap microwave noodles they ate in college, but now the city is obsessed with the Japanese noodle-soup dish. The latest contender for best ramen bowl in the city is Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya in Wicker...
Get Your Hands Dirty With the Seafood Boil at the Mad Boiler
As if Restaurant Row wasn’t already a foodies dream come true, the West Loop’s dining scene continues to grow and expand beyond the confines of Randolph. Head just a little bit south of Randolph to 1045 W. Madison Street and you’ll find the Mad Boiler, a Cajun seafood...
River North’s Dough Bros Tips the Scales in Favor of NY Style Pizza
The battle between deep dish and NY style pizza will likely rage on till the end of time, but there’s one thing you’ve got to give to New York City: you can grab a quality slice pretty much anywhere. In Chicago, it takes a little more effort to get an easy pizza fix....
Bike Chicago – Your 2-Wheel Guide
Are you the type of person that likes to enjoy life on just two-wheels? Chicago is becoming a model city as far as being bicycle friendly. This guide covers all of the essential to pedaling around the city and surrounding areas. We also provide you will other great...
5411 Empanadas is Taking Over Chicago, One Pastry at a Time
5411 Empanadas is one of the fastest growing restaurant groups in the city. Named after the international dialing code for Buenos Aires, the group first opened in 2009 with a quality product and making deliveries to local Chicago businesses. That led to an incredibly...
Top 3 Culinary Arts Schools in Chicago
Culinary arts schools are a great way to master the fine arts involved in preparing and cooking great dishes. Chicago has a wide variety of culinary arts schools that can help teach you about the different aspects of professional cooking. Not all of them focus on the...
Chicago Cigar Bars Have Not Been Extinguished
Over the last almost-decade, it has become increasingly more difficult to enjoy a cigar in the city of Chicago. With bans in bars, hotels, restaurants and virtually any other business that you could think of– cigar smokers were left to long walks on the beach and...
Aerial Sightseeing Chicago – Hot Air Balloons & Helicopter Tours
Going above and beyond to see sights is not necessarily just a figure of speech. Actually lifting off of the ground to experience aerial sightseeing Chicago, whether that be via hot air balloon or a helicopter– it will put the scale of Chicago into an entirely new...
Chicago’s Little Italy Restaurants – Italian on Taylor Street
Taylor Street is well known as the Chicago Little Italy (also University Village); however, over the years it has expanded from only having Italian influence. Fortunately, in the midst of barbecue and Mexican restaurants, some of the best Italian restaurants in...
191 North Wacker Fits Right In
The Chicago Lantern Building at 191 North Wacker may not be quite as famous as its next-door neighbor, 333 Wacker Drive, but it holds its own in the downtown neighborhood. This 516-foot tall (157 m) skyscraper with 37 floors borders the Chicago River, and the...
Top 6 Things To Do In Chicago During Christmas
If anyone knows how to celebrate the holidays, it's Midwesterners. More specifically, it's Chicagoans. Every year during Chicago's winter wonderland, visitors are drawn like magnets to the city's festive energy. It seems everyone wants to visit Chicago during...
Lent Specials – The Seafood & Veggies Run Strong
Growing up– I participated in Lent as a religious experience. Unfortunately, as a kiddo, I wasn’t the biggest fan of fish and any sort of plant was still foreign matter to me. I settled with a lot of cereal and pb&j’s (somewhat similar to my current meal plan). To...
15 Ooey Gooey Grilled Cheese Must Haves in Chicago
Grilled Cheese has come a long way since I was flipping them in a pan, or even worse, a microwave in my younger years. The big question may be, is grilled cheese really grilled cheese once you add vegetables and meat to it? The answer to that is yes, yes it is. The...
Mondo Meatball May Replace Your Grandma’s Recipe
During a recent trip to New York City, I walked by multiple meatball-focused restaurants and now Mondo Meatball has come to Chicago's Wicker Park. Are we in the midst of a meatball revolution? These are not just your classic Italian meatballs, either. Mondo Meatball...
Top 6 Six Flags Great America Thrill Rides
Most of us began our thrill seeking lives with bumper cars, teacups, and baby roller coasters. You don’t always grow out of that thrill-seeking mode; you may just progress to bigger and better rides. Massive drops, high-speed loops and corkscrews are just some of the...
A Manly Night at the spa at dana – Ultimate Relaxation
I’ve never been to a spa before. The closest I’ve been to a spa is the one I walk by nearly every day that has a picture of an older man hitting another man with a tree branch. Fortunately, my experience at the spa at dana was nothing like that unsettling image. As I...
Memorial Day Specials in Chicago
Memorial Day in Chicago is the perfect time to kick off summer. The weather is typically on the up and up, the beaches are open and the parks are freshly green. If you find yourself hungry, thirsty or in need of some entertainment this Memorial Day weekend, these...
Great Lakes Tattoo – 1st Annual Walk-Up Classic Tattoo Convention
Great Lakes Tattoo is taking everything that they’ve come to not fancy about mainstream tattoo conventions and proceeding to do the opposite. GLT’s owner Nick Colella commented: “I feel that present-day tattooing and standardized tattoo conventions have gotten so far...
Top 10 Chicago Riverside Restaurants – Pub to Posh
The most fitting way to enjoy summer is to spend as much time as possible outside. These riverside restaurants make it easy to enjoy a variety of cuisine and a multitude of beverages. Whether you are on your lunch break, scouring for happy hour specials, have a hot...
Best Family Friendly Restaurants in Chicago
Chicago may be known for its very high-end dining experiences– but that isn’t necessarily the best situation for everyone. In fact, some ritzy locations don’t even allow babies and/or children. Fortunately, for the ones that want to skip the babysitter and treat the...
How To Create An Apartment Garden – Be An Urban Gardener
When is comes to having your own urban garden – it seems like there are a lot of things standing in your way. One of the biggest hurdles that deter people from putting seeds into the dirt, is where are they going to put the dirt in the first place? With small...
The Top 6 Blowout Hair Salons in Chicago
Whether you’re looking to get your hair done for a special occasion or just want to bond with your best friend over a glass of champagne and fabulous hair, blowout hair salons are all the rage. Luckily, several of these salons have begun to pop-up around Chicago — and...
IVme Hydration Clinic Offers Energy & Hangover Cures
Generally my beat around The Chicago Traveler is restaurants and the occasional concert. The evening started off normally enough at Old Town’s Pomp & Circumstance for an open house at the nearby IVme Hydration Clinic– drinking an Old Fashioned and snacking on sliders....
Stay Cool and Caffeinated This Summer at Caffè Umbria
Whether headed to the office or coming into town for a day of sightseeing, most Chicagoans get by with a cup, or five, of coffee. With temperatures this summer regularly reaching 90 degrees, it’s definitely iced coffee season. However, if you’re in the River North...
West Town Bakery & Diner is a Fresh Addition to the Neighborhood
Part of the Fifty/50 Group— and located right next door to sibling restaurants Roots and Homestead— West Town Bakery & Diner looks like your favorite college town hangout. Walk in and you’ll notice the eye-popping street art and graffiti, colorful seats and stools,...
Chicago Winter Activities – Skating, Skiing, Touring
The colder months can force a lot of us into hibernation mode. We no longer have outdoor farmers markets and the beaches, but that does not mean that we must remain indoors. Chicago winter activities are some of the most enjoyable ways to spend your time in Chicago'...
Tapas Tour
There are numerous tapas restaurants throughout the city. How can one decide which one to pick? Well, who says we have to pick just one? Whether you prefer old-world or a modern twist, there’s something out there for you. sangriaHaro is a hot spot in the Little Italy...
Bike Shops Chicago – Top 10
Choosing one of the many bike shops Chicago houses can be a tough ordeal. Many of times, people choose what is closest to them. In a pinch this can be a good solution. When you have some spare time, building a relationship with a reputable shop can change your biking...
Top 10 Chicago Cubs Players Of All Time
For this post I decided I would go over the careers of those who have graced home plate at 1060 West Addison, as my exhaustive research and by that I mean my ability to keep track of a hundred open Google tabs has concluded. The criteria for making this list are...
Top 10 Magnificent Mile Attractions
Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is almost like the yellow-brick-road of downtown. The Michigan Avenue District boasts some of the best shopping, entertainment, dining, and lodging options in the entire city. It is a mecca for Chicago attractions. While the streets are...
Best Donuts In Chicago – Top 12
Chicago may be known for its famous deep dish pizza and Chicago style hot dogs – but now it is time for the donut world to receive its praise. From the traditional buttermilk, to maple bacon, and banana Nutella infused creations – your taste buds will dance with every...
The WingFest Winner Is In & It’s Not A Chicago Native
The search for the best chicken wing is a never ending journey for wing connoisseurs. Once you think, for that brief second, that you have found the best wings and your appetite is suddenly satisfied in each and every way you are wrong. With the sudden realization...
Chop Steakhouse Stakes Claim in the South Loop’s Roosevelt Collection
Chop Steakhouse is the First Restaurant at the South Loop’s Roosevelt Collection •Chop Steakhouse Opened July 15, 2015• The Roosevelt Collection is a combination of newer high-end apartments in the South Loop, along with a large shopping area. Despite the gorgeous...
Top 10 Chicago Comedy Clubs
It is truly hard to beat the feeling of genuine laughter; humor takes many forms and can happen at any moment throughout the day. Some days lack a lot more humor than others – the reason is that you are most likely missing out on these amazing Chicago comedy clubs....
Get The Most Out Of A Chicago Christmas Season
Experiencing a Chicago Christmas season can almost be a surreal experience. The city is swept with Christmas decorations and the sounds of the holiday. Plus, a white Christmas is almost always guaranteed. The spirit of the season takes many forms in Chicago. There are...