CHI: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Explore Chicago, Illinois, USA; A remarkable city for architecture, Chicago, Illinois was once known as "the second city." Today, Chicago has claimed its place as a major world city, with a diverse range of industry, culture and activities.

Welcome

This web helps you explore Chicago, Illinois, USA; here, you'll find organized and annotated links to Web sites about Chicago's current conditions, facts, activities, events, places, sports, civic life, media, education, commerce, and reference works. You can view and link to this information in a variety of ways, and your suggestions are welcome. Use the links at the top of this page to navigate and access this information

• Edited by: You can contact the editor of this information with your ideas and corrections; there are more pages like this covering other areas of the country
  • 
  • John December: Editor of this information since 1998
  • Suggestion?: Please send a correction of any information you find here or your suggestion to john@december.com via email with the subject line places-chi
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• Formats: You can view and link to this information in a variety of ways; find the level of detail that is right for you; pages are available for each section; you can link to and use the page that fits your needs
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  • Mobile users: use the index format.
    
  • CHI index: Outline of sections; shows the section names with a link on the section name to a file showing the entries and annotations for that section; put your cursor over the section name to see a popup describing it; this format is useful to quickly select and load only the section that you'd like to see; this is a good format to show someone new to this information so as not to overwhelm them with too many links on a page
  • CHI blue: Table; shows all entries with short labels in a table format; put your cursor over labels or section headings to see a popup description; links on section names take you to a file showing the entries and annotations for that section
  • CHI mini: Compressed table; shows all entries and section names with short labels and no linebreaks; no inline graphic boxes (weather, gas stickers); put your cursor over labels or section names to see a popup description; links on section names take you to a file showing all the entries and annotations for that section; useful if you are familiar with the information and want all the links in a smaller amount of space
  • CHI all: Everything in one big file; shows all entries and all annotations in one HTML file; useful if you want to see everything at once or search for a text string in this information; to search, use your Web browser's Find feature; in Microsoft Internet Explorer, do this by selecting from the titlebar menu "Edit," then "Find on this page"; or you can just hit Control/F keys; links on section names go to a file showing entries and annotations for that section
  • Updates: Link cleaning and maintenance, Lucas (Places Museums), I-GO (Services Transport), Christkindl Lincoln Sq (Events Periodic), MillerCoors (Commerce Notable)

Current

See live conditions and views of Chicago

• Weather: Current weather observations and forecasts
  • Graphic; shows current weather conditions for Chicago
    
    
  • Forecast: Weather Underground; a look ahead at the weather
  • Radar: Region radar; US National Weather Service
  • Satellite: Goestationary infrared image; satellite image for Eastern United States sector, infrared image; provided by National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Dept of Commerce
  • Water Temp: Map of Great Lakes Surface Water temperature; color-coded map shows water temperature (or ice as applicable) in the Great Lakes; National Oceanic and Atomospheric Administration
  • Buoys: Western Great Lakes Recent Marine Data; get readings from marine buoys about water and weather conditions through a clickable, graphical map of Western Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Superior)
  • Earthcam: Chicago Cam; shows views from the Field Museum of Natural History of the Chicago skyline, Lake Shore Drive, the Museum Campus, and the loop
• News: News and reports about what's going on in Chicago
  • AP News: tagged Chicago
  • Bing News: Bing news search
  • Media: Media - Chicago, Illinois, USA; newspapers, magazines, radio, and television covering the area
  • Traffic: real-time traffic map

Facts

Look up information about Chicago such as maps, facts, and census information

• Maps: Online mapping services; these allow you to zoom in and out and select specific features to view on the map
  • Open: OpenStreetMap of Chicago; zoom down to detailed street features
  • MapQuest: Chicago map; integration with digitalcity.com city Internet guide
  • -USA Maps-: More online mapping services; you can use this list of sites to get more maps of the area or specialized maps such as historical, topographic, or satellite imagery
• Info: Look up basic facts about Chicago from online reference works
  • Almanac: Information Please Almanac; entry for Chicago; gives a page of basic facts about the city, including a general description and current facts
  • Books: CHI Books; a page presenting books about the city of Chicago
  • Encyclopedia: Information Please Encyclopedia; article about Chicago giving a very brief overview of the city's neighborhoods, points of interest, history, and bibliography
  • Wikipedia: Chicago entry from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  • CHI Companies: List of companies in the Chicago metropolitan area; From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Census: Information from the United States Bureau of the Census
  • Metro Chicago: Chicago - Naperville - Elgin - Kenosha WI
  • Chicago city: City of Chicago; US Census Bureau information for people, business, and geography
  • Cook County: Cook County, Illinois; US Census Bureau information for people, business, and geography
  • Lake County: Lake County, Illinois; US Census Bureau information for people, business, and geography
  • DuPage County: DuPage County, Illinois; US Census Bureau information for people, business, and geography
  • Will County: Will County, Illinois; US Census Bureau information for people, business, and geography

Living

Find out about things to do and places to see in Chicago

Activities

Chicagoans take part in many clubs and organizations; activities include interest groups, clubs, hobbies, community centers, organizations, and groups

• Groups: Interest, community, and business groups; activities include clubs, hobbies, community centers, and organizations
  • CADO Directory: Chicago Area Directory of Organizations; lists clubs, groups, and other organizations throughout the metropolitan region; compiled by the librarians of Chicago Public Library's General Information Services Division Information Center
  • -USA Directories-: Search organization directories; there are hundreds of thousands of organizations, associations, societies, and nonprofits in the US covering many interests; some of these are based in Chicago; these directories help you locate an organization
  • AA: Chicago Area Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Animal Shelter: The Anti-Cruelty Society; animal shelter for dogs and cats
  • Architects: American Institute of Architects Chicago; professional association of licensed architects, architectural interns, and allied professionals in Illinois
  • Architecture: Chicago Architecture Foundation; advances public interest and education in architecture and related design; operates ArchiCenters for tours, a gift shop, and lectures
  • Arts: Friends Of The Arts; a support group for emerging art & artists
  • Beer: Chicago Beer Society; educational association dedicated to the appreciation of beer and craft of brewing
  • Big Bro&Sis: Big Brothers Big Sisters Metropolitan Chicago; provides friendship, emotional support, and guidance to youth through positive adult role models
  • Boys & Girls: Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
  • Chicago Cares: Volunteerism; provides individuals and businesses with volunteer programs designed to address Chicago's needs
  • Computing ACM: Chicago Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery; advances the skills of information technology professionals and students
  • Computer Society: Chicago Computer Society; educational computer user group
  • Goodwill: Goodwill Industries; work opportunities and skill development for people with barriers to employment
  • Greens: Chicago Greens; works on ecological ideas and political advocacy to influence public policy
  • Harley: Chicago Chapter Harley Owners Group
  • Humane PACT: People and Animals in Community Together Humane Society
  • Facets: national media arts organization; works to preserve, present, distribute, and educate about film
  • Food Tours: Chicago Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tours; food tours through Chicago's historic, delicious neighborhoods
  • Hyde Park Hist: Hyde Park Historical Society
  • Jaycees: Chicago Jaycees; professionals who develop leadership skills through community service projects and professional development seminars
  • Journalists SPJ: Chicago Headline Club; chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
  • Latino Cultural Ctr: International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago; promotes Latino culture and understanding
  • Poetry Ctr: regular poetry reading series
  • Park Friends: Friends of the Parks; works to protect, preserve and improve Chicago's parks for all of its citizens
  • PrideTime: PrideTime.com; entertainment and resource guide for gays and lesbians living in or visiting Chicago
  • Red Cross: American Red Cross of Greater Chicago; provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies
  • Robots: ChiBots, Chicago Area Robotics Group; hobby robotics, maze solvers, BEAM robotics, robotic combat, or any other kind of robotics
  • Singles: CHI Personals; find your match in Chicago
  • Treasury Mgt Assoc: Treasury Management Association of Chicago; professional organization dedicated to cash/treasury management
  • Urban League: Chicago Urban League; works to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation and advocates equal opportunity and parity for African Americans, other minorities and the poor
  • YMCA: YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; provides exercise and fitness programs to the community as well as programs for families, mentoring, teens, children, and young women
  • YWCA: YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago; services to meet the needs of women and families
• Commerce: Organizations promoting business and business opportunities in the Chicago area
  • Chamber: Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; representing business interests at the city, county, regional and state levels
  • Chinatown: Chicago Chinatown Chamber Of Commerce
  • World Trade: World Trade Center Chicago; supports international business development; facilitates international trade
  • Greater O'Hare: Greater O'Hare Regional Business Association; regional chamber of commerce and business association focusing on networking, education and business advocacy
  • Mercantile: Chicago Mercantile Exchange; futures exchange; trading of futures and options on futures on interest rates, stock indexes, foreign exchange and commodities; derivatives products, trading floor, GLOBEX electronic trading platform
  • Board of Trade: Chicago Board of Trade; open auction and electronic forum for futures exchange in which contracts are bought and sold; these contracts are to accept or deliver a commodity, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, or US Treasury bonds
  • Options: Chicago Board Options Exchange; lists options on stocks, interest rates, broad-based stock indexes
• Listings: Connect to online calendars and databases; show what's going on and where
  • City: City of Chicago Special Events; official city site listing of special events including special festivals, parades, celebrations
  • Upcoming: Collaborative event calendar; shows upcoming events of all kinds: concerts, lectures, trade shows, community events, etc. as submitted by registered users; can view by date, venue, tag, submit group, or popularity
  • Bedno's Events: Events calendar; rundown on happenings in Chicago in a variety of categories; formerly known as Andrew's fun list; edited by Andrew Bedno
  • Events Mgt: Chicago Special Events Management; producer of special events in the Midwest; listings include festivals, music, sports
  • Scene: Nightlife; information on what's happening around Chicago's nightclub, bar, restaurant, music and party scenes
  • Theater: ChicagoPlays.com; guide to live theater in Chicago
  • Footlights: Guide to theatre in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Madison
• Performing: Chicago is home to many performing arts and cultural groups
  • Goodman: Goodman Theatre Company
  • Opera Lyric: Lyric Opera of Chicago
  • Opera Th: Chicago Opera Theater
  • Oprah: Oprah Winfrey; National talkshow taped in Chicago
  • Second City: Improvisational comedy
  • Shakespeare: Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Springer: Jerry Springer; National talkshow taped in Chicago
  • Steppenwolf: Steppenwolf Theater Company
  • Symphony: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  • Theater: Chicago theater guide; directory of theater companies and venues downtown and in the burbs
• Periodic: Chicago has many annual or one-day special events, ongoing summer concert series, and recurring trade shows
  • 57th St Art: Chicago's 57th Street Art Fair; exhibits artists work in painting, sculpture, photography, and ceramics
  • Auto Show: Chicago Autoshow; largest autoshow in the United States; all kinds of cars, auto-related exhibits
  • Art Chicago: International art show; galleries from around the world exhibit and sell works of thousands of artists
  • Christkindl Chicago: Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza; holiday market set as a European village in winter; timber houses, Christmas trees, lighting; booths selling holiday crafts and products; located on Daley Plaza between Washington, Clark & Dearborn Street
  • Dog Show: International Kennel Club of Chicago; annual show of dogs
  • Fests and Shows: City of Chicago Special Events; official city site listing of events including festivals, parades, celebrations which do not have their own official Web site but have information in the City of Chicago's web site; major ones include Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago, Boat and RV show, SummerDance, Venetian Night, Air and Water Show, Latin Music Festival, Mexican Independence Day Parade, World Music Festival, Celtic Fest
  • Fests Assoc: Chicago Festivals Association; community festivals; State Street Thanksgiving Parade
  • Film Fest Intl: Chicago International Film Festival
  • Film Fest Underground: Chicago Underground Film Festival
  • Flower Show: Chicago Flower and Garden Show
  • Hyde Pk Garden Fair: Hyde Park Garden Fair; plants and flowers for city gardens
  • Jazz fest: Chicago Jazz Festival
  • Lollapalooza: music in Grant Park
  • Late Ride: Long After Twilight Ends bicycle ride; tens of thousands of bicycle riders set off in the middle of the night for a 40 km ride through Chicago neighborhoods and lakefront
  • Open House: Open House Chicago; a free, city-wide, behind-the-scenes look at many of the city’s great places and spaces; presented by Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF)
  • Polar Plunge: Chicago Polar Plunge; jump into icy Lake Michigan for charity
  • Ravinia: Summer music festival
  • St Patrick's Parade: Annual parade downtown
  • SOFA Expo: International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art; exhibits of one-of-a-kind three-dimensional works bridging the decorative and fine arts; artwork is for sale
  • World Music: World Music Festival; multi-venue, eleven-day festival

Places

Chicago has many neighborhoods, entertainment venues, museums, and other places with Web sites

• Sites: Places such as parks, buildings, public gardens and zoos, notable buildings, libraries, interesting places
  • 606, The: elevated park; 4.3 km route for biking and walking
  • Album: CHI Album; a collection of images of Chicago's sites, skyline, and street scenes
  • Antique Market: Chicago Antique Market; Randolph Street Market, Indie Designer Market, Modern Vintage Chicago, Holiday Market
  • Aquarium Shedd: John G. Shedd Aquarium; world's largest indoor aquarium; on Lake Michigan shore; see photo
  • Architecture Buildings: Emporis.com entry for Chicago; shows information about Chicago's major office and other buildings
  • Big Marsh: 112-hectare eco-recreation park in-development
  • Board of Trade: Chicago Board of Trade; open auction and electronic forum for futures exchange in which contracts are bought and sold; these contracts are to accept or deliver a commodity, such as corn, soybeans, wheat, or US Treasury bonds; see photo
  • Botanic Garden: Chicago Botanic Garden; gardens showcase Midwest plants in woodland, prairie, and river habitat; School of the Chicago Botanic Garden offers classes and educational programs; owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County
  • Cultural Ctr: Chicago Cultural Center; Houses official Visitor's Center at North Michigan Avenue and Washington; visual arts displays; Claudia Cassidy Theater; Preston Bradley Hall; Sidney R. Yates Gallery
  • Garfield Cons: Garfield Park Conservatory; 1.8 hectares of greenhouses and exhibition halls in Garfield Park on Chicago's Westside
  • Goethe Inst: Goethe-Institut Chicago; works for the teaching and dissemination of German language and culture worldwide
  • Graveyards: Graveyards of Chicago; support site for the book of the same name by Matt Hucke and Ursula Bielski; presents many images of headstones and monuments in cemeteries
  • 360 Observatory: Observatory atop a skyscraper; views of the city from the 94th floor of 360 Chicago, 300 meters above Michigan Avenue; formerly the John Hancock Center
  • Historic: National Register of Historic Places; Chicago travel itinerary; introduces the city's history and architecture through looks at early skyscrapers and homes
  • Hyde Pk-Kenwood: Community Conference; community organization; promotes participation of its residents, businesses, institutions, and organizations
  • Images: Chicago Imagebase; developed by the University of Illinois at Chicago to present a variety of images and information about Chicago's built environment
  • Lake Michigan: Great Lakes Information; Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake located entirely within the United States
  • Landmarks: Buildings, sites of note in Chicago; comprehensive list of notable buildings and historic districts provided by the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development, Landmarks Division; includes brief description of each and photos
  • Libraries: List of area libraries; provided by Libweb; gives link to official Web site and information link; includes academic, public, and special libraries
  • Library CPL: Chicago Public Library; branch libraries all over the metro area; Harold Washington Library Center is the largest public library building in the world (7 hectares floor space, over 100 km of shelving); see photo
  • Library Newberry: Independent library; research and reference in the humanities; extensive non-circulating collection of rare books, maps, and manuscripts; see photo
  • Magnificent Mile: (1.6 km) Shopping area; information about stores, restaurants, hotels on North Michigan Avenue; provided by the Chicago Magnificent Mile Association
  • Maxwell St Mkt: The New Maxwell Street Market; bargains and bargaining; near W Polk St and S Desplaines St
  • Merchandise Mart: Wholesale showrooms and design center; host of trade shows, conferences; world's largest commercial building; largest wholesale design center; 40 hectares, 25 stories; see photo
  • Millennium Pk: Multiuse parkland; downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets; 10 hectare park is center for art, music, architecture and landscape design; Jay Pritzker Pavilion, outdoor concert venue designed by Frank Gehry
  • Navy Pier: Entertainment complex; restaurants, shops, entertainment, attractions, conventions; opened in 1916, once used as a military training site
  • NBC Tower: office building; one block from North Michigan Ave with dining, retail, and entertainment
  • Neighborhoods: Chicago: The City of Neighborhoods; presents a map of neighborhoods; tours available; sponsored by the Chicago Office of Tourism, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
  • Neighborhood Link: Neighborhood Link; neighborhood and nonprofit group information
  • Old Town: Old Town Merchants and Residents Association
  • Parking-Spot Hero: Parking spots around town; rent by the day or longer
  • Parks: Chicago Park District; 3,000 hectares, 552 parks, 33 beaches, 16 lagoons, 10 wildlife gardens
  • Planetarium Adler: Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum; Chicago planetarium and museum; solar observatory and interactive astronomy exhibits
  • Pullman: Historic planned town; first planned industrial town in America, 1880's; southeast Chicago
  • River: Friends of the Chicago River
  • River North: Shopping and art gallery area; north of the Chicago river in downtown; River North Association
  • Streeterville: Streeterville Chamber of Commerce; neighborhood north of the Chicago River and along Lake Michigan, bordered North Michigan Avenue, Lake Michigan, and the beach; includes Lake Shore Drive, John Hancock Center, Navy Pier, and the Water Tower
  • Union Station: Transportation hub; Amtrak, Metra trains, buses; Great Hall
  • Wicker Pk & Bucktown: Eclectic neighborhoods; 3 km north of downtown
  • Willis Tower: Skyscraper; office building; formerly called The Sears Tower; 110 stories, 442 meters tall; observation deck; see photo
  • Wrigley Bldg: Wrigley Building
  • Zoo Brookfield: Animal park; 80 hectares in Brookfield, Illinois
  • Zoo Lincoln Pk: Animal park; in lakefront Lincoln Park
• Venues: Places for performances, concerts, athletics, conventions, tradeshows, gatherings
  • Allstate Arena: Multi-use arena; seats 18,500; music, sports; Rosemont, Illinois (just east of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport)
  • Auditorium Theatre: Performing center; built in 1889; music, dance, education programs; seats up to 3,929
  • Chicago Theatre: historic theater; opened in 1921; National Register of Historic Places
  • Civic Opera: Civic Opera House; Art Nouveau / Art Deco building from 1929; seating for up to 3,600
  • Hawthorne: Horse and auto racing; Cicero, IL; formerly Sportsman's Park
  • McCormick Pl: Convention facility; 20 hectares of exhibit halls; managed by the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority; three buildings--South and North buildings and the Lakeside Center; 14 hectares on one level, largest US convention center; complex includes Lakeside Ctr and Arie Crown Theater; CTA bus #3 and the Metra Electric Line stop at McCormick Place
  • Sears Centre: Multipurpose arena; 11,000 seats; Hoffman Estates
  • Soldier Field: Sports stadium; home of the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Fire
  • Tinley Park Amp: Performance center; located near the intersection of I-80 and Harlem Avenue in South Suburban Tinley Park, Illinois; formerly the Tweeter Center, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, etc.; check Web site for current name
  • United Ctr: Sports and entertainment arena; home of the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks; seats 20,500 (hockey) and up to 25,000 (boxing)
  • US Cellular Field: baseball stadium; home of Chicago White Sox; formerly site of New Comiskey Park, Comiskey Park
  • Wrigley Field: Baseball stadium; home of the Chicago Cubs; built in 1914
• Housing: Find a place to stay or live in Chicago
  • CCTB Hotels: Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau list of hotels; map and list helps you find a hotel
  • Chi Real Estate: Free multiple listing service property search engine
  • Hostel HI: Hostelling International J. Ira & Nicki Harris Family Hostel Chicago; downtown hostel offering a place to stay to travelers as well as programs for international understanding
  • HotRooms: Discount hotel rooms in Chicago
  • Live by Transit: Transit-oriented real estate; choose where to live based on its location near transit
  • -USA Housing-: National lodging and housing directories; there are national directories you can use to locate area lodging or housing
• Dining: Find a place to eat in Chicago
  • Reader: Chicago Reader Restaurant Finder; restaurant and dining guide
  • GrubHub: Restaurant delivery guide; click on a map to find which restaurants deliver to that area
  • -USA Dining-: National Dining directories; you can use this link to locate restaurants in the area that may not be listed in the local guides
• Museums: Displays of objects; includes planned educational activities related to art, history, culture, or science
  • African DuSable: DuSable Museum of African American History; dedicated to the history and culture of Americans of African descent
  • Art Institute: Art Institute of Chicago; major art museum displaying art from many centuries in all media; notable impressionist collection
  • Art Block: Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art; visual arts for the Northwestern University community and public; notable 20th-century sculpture collection
  • Art Darcy: Loyola University Museum of Art; Loyola University Chicago's museum of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque art; formerly Martin D'Arcy Museum of Art
  • Art Galleries: Directory of Art Galleries; schedules, artists, exhibits
  • Art Intuit: Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art; displays the art of outside artists (untrained or self-trained artists, eccentrics, isolates, compulsive visionaries, or the mentally disabled) which established art institutions have traditionally eschewed
  • Art Mexican: The National Museum of Mexican Art; Mexican art and culture
  • Art MCA: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; "art of our time"; contemporary visual culture through painting, sculpture, photography, video, film, and performance
  • Art Smart: David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art; The University of Chicago; permanent collection of over 7000 objects, spanning five centuries of both Western and Eastern civilizations
  • Art Terra: Terra Museum of American Art; includes works by John Singleton Copley, James A. McNeill Whistler, Mary Cassatt, Winslow Homer, and Georgia O'Keeffe
  • Art Ukranian Modern: Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art; galleries plus ongoing programs of cultural exhibitions, literary events, film screenings and music recitals
  • Art Veterans: National Veterans Art Museum; art reflecting war experience of infantry, naval, air crew, nurses, doctors, and prisoners of war
  • ArtWorld: Online gallery for Chicago; Web site exhibits works of Chicago artists; includes directory of local artists with links to their Web sites where available
  • Astronomy Adler: Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum; Chicago planetarium and museum; solar observatory and interactive astronomy exhibits
  • Bridgehouse: McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum; tells the story of the Chicago River; located inside the southwest bridge tower on the Michigan Avenue Bridge
  • Broadcast Communications: Museum of Broadcast Communications; public archive collection of over 13,000 television programs, 4,000 radio programs, 11,000 television commercials, and 4,500 newscasts
  • Charnley House: Charnley-Persky House Museum; architects Louis Henry Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright; James Charnley House on North Astor Street, built 1891-1892
  • Design Athenauem: Chicago Athenaeum; International Museum of Architecture and Design; dedicated to the Art of Design in all areas: architecture, industrial, and product design, graphics, and urban planning
  • Children's: Chicago Children's Museum; a community of play and learning; primary audience is children up through the fifth grade including their families
  • Driehaus: Richard H. Driehaus Museum; residential building from 19th-century Chicago; Gilded Age home of banker Samuel Mayo Nickerson; Richard H. Driehaus founded the museum on April 1, 2003
  • Glessner House: Glessner House Museum; Henry Hobson Richardson designed this house completed in 1887; decorative arts; Aesthetic and English Arts and Crafts movements
  • Historical Society: Chicago Historical Society; presents the multicultural history of Chicago and Illinois
  • Hellenic: Hellenic Museum & Cultural Center; the Greek immigrant experience in America; culture of contemporary Greek-American; Hellenic culture through the visual, literary and performing arts
  • Hull House: Jane Addams Hull-House Museum; owned and operated by the University of Illinois at Chicago; a historic site and memorial to Jane Addams' settlement house programs; housed in two original Hull-House buildings
  • Jewish Spertus: Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies; museum presents Jewish history, religion, art and culture through its exhibitions and programs
  • Law: American Bar Association Museum of Law; presents the role of law and the legal profession in shaping the course of our nation
  • Lithuanian: Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture; cultural artifacts and arts of Lithuania and Lithuanian immigrants to the United States
  • Natural History Field: Field Museum of Natural History; extensive collection of natural history in over 36,000 square meters of floor space; dioramas; notable Sue, the world's largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex; see photo
  • Nature Notebaert: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum; Chicago Academy of Sciences; helps urban dwellers connect to the natural world through scientific learning and environmental programs
  • Oriental Institute: Oriental Institute, University of Chicago; museum and research organization devoted to the study of the ancient Near East
  • Photography MOCP: Museum of Contemporary Photography; dedicated to the creation, collection, and examination of photographically related images, objects, and ideas
  • Polish: Polish Museum of America; promotes Polish history and culture, Polish and Polish American art in paintings, sculptures, drawings and lithographs
  • Pullman Porter: Asa Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum; contributions of Asa Philip Randolph who was the chief organizer and founder the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters who worked on Pullman Rail Car Company trains
  • Radio Hall of Fame: Radio Hall of Fame; recognizes and talent from today's radio and the pioneers who shaped the media; located at the Museum of Broadcast Communications
  • Robie House: Frederick C. Robie House; Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house; 1909 Prarie style house; in the Hyde Park neighborhood
  • Science & Industry: Museum of Science and Industry; wide range of science displays including submarine, coal mine, human heart
  • Stained Glass: Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows; on the Navy Pier; a display of stained glass windows housed in a series of galleries along the lower level terraces of Festival Hall
  • Surgical Science: International Museum of Surgical Science; 4,000 years of surgical history
  • Swedish-Amercan: Swedish American Museum; educational activity center dedicated to Swedish American history and culture
  • Ukrainian: Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago; details the heritage, culture and people of Ukraine
  • Vietnam War: Viet Nam War Museum; presents the history of the Vietnam conflict through artifacts, photographs, documents, artwork
  • Wright Home: Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio; in Oak Park

Sports

Chicago is home to major-league basketball and baseball, pro hockey and soccer, and NCAA sports

• Pro: Professional sports in Chicago
  • Bears: Chicago Bears National Football League team
  • Bulls: Chicago Bulls National Basketball Association team
  • Cubs: Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team
  • Sox: Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball team
  • Blackhawks: Chicago Blackhawks National Hockey League team
  • Fire: Chicago Fire Major League Soccer team
  • Rush: Chicago Rush Arena Football League team
  • Sky: Chicago Sky Women's National Basketball Association
  • Wolves: Chicago Wolves American Hockey League team
  • Lions: Chicago Lions Rugby Football Club Rugby Super League team
  • Red Stars: Chicago Red Stars National Women's Soccer League team
  • Rollers: Windy City Rollers
  • Bandits: Chicago Bandits National Pro Fastpitch team
  • Muscle: Chicago Muscle Premier Basketball League team
• College: Area colleges with athletic activities
  • Blue Demons: DePaul University
  • Cougars CSU: Chicago State University
  • Cougars SX: Saint Xavier University
  • Flames: University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Illini: University of Illinois
  • Maroons: University of Chicago
  • Phantoms: East-West University
  • Ramblers: Loyola University Chicago
  • Vikings: North Park University
  • Wildcats: Northwestern University, Evanston
• Community: Amateur, organized sports clubs, and special community sporting events
  • Athelete: Chicago Athlete Magazine site; covers amateur sports scene: running, triathlons, cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding
  • Bicycle Federation: Chicagoland Bicycle Federation
  • Bowling: Chicago Metropolitan Bowling Association
  • Cycling: Chicago Cycling Club; social club dedicated to promoting safe group cycling while highlighting the city of Chicago
  • Fishing Guide: Chicago Area Fishing Guide; rundown on the lowdown where to the fish are
  • Fishing Sport: Chicago Sportfishing Association; an affiliation of Coast Guard licensed Charter Boat operators whose primary goal is to promote the highest standards of Lake Michigan sport fishing for the Chicago area angler
  • Golf: Chicago Golf Report; includes a directory of courses; includes events, photos, resources, and information for the Chicagoland golfer
  • Marathon: LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon
  • Paddling Guide: Chicago Area Paddling; information on places to paddle, fish, sail, row, or just relax in the Chicagoland Area
  • Running CARA: Chicago Area Runners Association
  • Sailing Club: Chicago Sailing Club; makes yachting accessible, affordable, and fun without having to own a boat
  • Special Olympics: Special Children's Charities
  • Yacht Club: Chicago Yacht Club; works to advance community's knowledge and participation in boating and the nautical arts

Civic

Chicago's civic life

Government

Chicago's government and representatives at all levels

• Local: City and county government
  • City: City of Chicago; elected city government portal
  • Fire: City of Chicago Fire Department
  • Police: Chicago Police Department
  • Cook Co: Cook County government portal; Chicago is county seat
  • DuPage Co: DuPage County government portal
  • Lake Co: Lake County government portal
  • Will Co: Will County government portal
• State: State of Illinois access
  • Illinois: State of Illinois government portal
• Federal: The United State's government has a presence in Chicago through elected representatives and some facilities
  • US Senate: United States Senators
  • US House: United States Representatives
  • Argonne Lab: Argonne National Laboratory; research in mathematics, computing, physics, environmental management; US Department of Energy laboratory operated by the University of Chicago; Argonne
  • FBI: Chicago Division Federal Bureau of Investigation; serves northern Illinois; headquarters office in downtown Chicago and four satellite offices
  • FEB: Chicago Federal Executive Board; exchanges information between Washington and the local area; coordinates Federal programs
  • FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency Region V; a regional, all-hazards, emergency management system of preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery through close working relationships with the community; serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin
  • Fermilab: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; high energy physics research; 2,700 hectare site
  • Soc Sec: Chicago Region of the Social Security Administration; serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin
  • -USA Federal-: USA Federal Government links; links to major top-level Web sites related to the United States government; you can use these to locate federal services available in the area

Services

Support for human needs and infrastructure

• Transport: Chicago offers a variety of transit options
  • Active: Active Transportation Alliance; supports bicycling, walking, and public transit so that these forms of transport are safe, convenient, and fun
  • Divvy: bike sharing system; bikes at a network of docking stations throughout Chicago; thousands of bikes available; program of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT),
  • Bike Station: McDonald's Cycle Center; in Millennium Park; membership gets you 24-hour a day secure bike parking, clean showers and lockers, bike sharing, 10% off bike repairs and items
  • Car Free: Possible in Chicago; with great walkability and extensive transit systems, you could easily live without a car in Chicago
  • Car Sharing: Avoid owning a car; be car-free as much as possible, but keep the idea that you can rent or borrow a car only when you need it--for a big project or trip to far-out areas, for example
  • CTA: Chicago Transit Authority; public transportation system; covers the City of Chicago and 40 surrounding suburbs; buses and trains; second largest transit system in the USA
  • Metra: Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation; trains covering Chicago and suburbs in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, McHenry and Kane counties; service north to Kenosha, Wisconsin
  • Pace: Suburban transit; Chicago's suburbs
  • RTA: Regional Transportation Authority; financial oversight and regional planning body for the three public transit operators in northeastern Illinois: the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban bus
  • CDOT: Chicago Department of Transportation; responsible for city street, alley and sidewalk reconstruction, bridge maintenance, public way inspections and permits, traffic services, and planter and median maintenance; look for details here about free summer trolleys in the downtown area
  • Complete Streets: Chicago Complete Streets; streets that meet the needs of pedestrians, transit users, bicyclists, and motorists
  • Port: Port of Chicago; Illinois International Port District
  • Amtrak: Amtrak passenger train service; from Chicago's Union Station at Canal and Adams; train service to destinations around the region and USA; see photo
  • Union St: Union Station; multi-modal transit station in downtown Chicago just west of the Chicago River and Sears Tower; includes rail Amtrak, Metra, as well as regional bus (Megabus, Van Galder) and local CTA bus
  • Greyhound: National, commercial bus transit company; offers connections from Chicago to the United States, Canada, and Mexico
  • GotoBus: Bus reservation system for tours; buses connecting many cities and tour buses in Chicago
  • Megabus: Bus system based in Chicago; Chicago Union Station to Minneapolis/St Paul, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Toledo, Cleveland, and Detroit; ticket sales are online and by reservations only on Web site
  • Van Galder: Van Galder Bus; commercial bus transit company offering scheduled service between Chicago downtown and O'Hare and Midway airports; service to suburbs as well as to Madison, Wisconsin
  • Tollway: Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
  • Airports: Chicago Department of Aviation; information on Chicago's major airports, Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport; links to other information sites
  • O'Hare: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD); "busiest airport in the world" (2002)
  • Midway: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
  • GYY: Gary/Chicago International Airport (Gary, Indiana)
  • MKE: General Mitchell International Airport (Milwaukee, Wisconsin); the largest airport in Wisconsin is less than 60 km north of Chicagoland's northern suburbs; there is Amtrak rail service direct from Chicago's downtown Union Station via a stop in Glenview, IL to a rail station at MKE airport; the MKE airport provides non-stop service on airlines to major cities
  • GCM Corridor: Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor; information about and near real-time graphics depicting traffic in the Chicago area and south to Chicago and Gary, Indiana. Provided as an effort of the Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Priority Corridor Partners: Illinois Department of Transportation, Indiana Department of Transportation, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation
• Facilities: Institutions, units, organizations, or systems that build, distribute, plan, or and keep area resources or infrastructure working
  • Ameren: Ameren Corporation; provides energy services to 2.2 million customers in Missouri and Illinois
  • Exelon: energy; units Commonwealth Edison, PECO Energy; 2003 sales $15.8 billion; Chicago
• Human: Health and human services
  • 311: Chicago's non-emergency services
  • -USA Human-: National Health and Human services; you can use these directories to find doctors, hospitals, dentists, and other health and human services

Media

Access information about and in many cases read (or listen to) Chicago's media outlets

• Periodicals: Chicago's many publications offer Web sites with online content
  • Tribune: Chicago Tribune daily newspaper; see photo
  • Sun Times: Chicago Sun-Times daily newspaper; see photo
  • Newcity: Free weekly newspaper; trendy pop culture
  • Chicago Reader: Free weekly newspaper
  • Chicago Mag: Chicago magazine; slick monthly
  • Chicago Parent: Chicago Parent magazine; monthly news magazine for parents in the Chicago metropolitan area
  • Chicago Business: business news
  • Windy City: Windy City Media; Windy City Times
  • Daily Southtown: Southland
  • Law Bulletin: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; daily courts newspaper; Law Bulletin Publishing Company
  • UR Chicago: UR Chicago Magazine; nightlife, fads, trendiness
  • Jewish News: Chicago Jewish News
  • La Raza: Spanish language
  • Pioneer Press: Pioneer Press Newspapers (burbs); based in Glenview, Illinois; serves the suburbs of Chicago with 49 community newspapers; a subsidiary of Hollinger International
  • Inside: Inside Publications (burbs); Chicago's north suburbs
  • Star: Star Newspapers (burbs); south and southwest suburbs
  • Hyde Pk: Hyde Park Herald; Hyde Park community newspaper
  • IL Entertainer: Music monthly
  • PerformInk: Chicago's entertainment trade paper; art, business, and industry
  • Screen: Screen Magazine; reports on the creative community in Chicago
• Broadcast: Broadcast communications; Chicago media broadcasters; directories give current listings of stations for radio and tv
  • Radio-locator: List of radio stations within listening range of Chicago; from radio-locator.com
  • Radio Streema: Web-based radio stations in Chicago; from streema.com
  • HD Radio: search for HD Radio Stations in Chicago, IL (ZIP code 60602); this form requires a zip code for searching; click the city name in upper right hand corner; then enter 60602 for Chicago (the zip code of Chicago City Hall)
  • TV Index: Television stations in the Chicago market
  • TV Streema: Web-based tv stations in Chicago; from streema.com
  • CANTV: Chicago Access Network Television; public access television; channels 19, 21, 27, 36, and 42

Education

Chicago's educational opportunities

• Higher: The Chicago area's colleges and universities
  • ACTS: Association of Chicago Theological Schools; formed in 1984 by twelve theological schools located in the Chicago area
  • Adler: Adler School of Professional Psychology
  • AAArt: American Academy of Art; proprietary; undergraduate and graduate; art
  • Argosy: Argosy University Chicago; private graduate and undergraduate; emphasis in business, education and psychology; Argosy Education Group
  • Art Inst: School of the Art Institute of Chicago; independent; undergraduate, graduate; art
  • Art Institutes: system of more than 40 education institutions located throughout North America; offering master’s, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees programs as well as nondegree programs; culinary, design, fashion and media arts professionals
  • Chicago School: Chicago School of Professional Psychology; independent, graduate school
  • CSU: Chicago State University; public; undergraduate, graduate
  • CTS: Chicago Theological Seminary; trains religious leaders
  • City: City Colleges of Chicago; public undergraduate and trade technical; Harold Washington College, Harry S. Truman College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Richard J. Daley College, Wilbur Wright College; satellite campuses: The Military Program, Lakeview Learning Center, West Side Learning Center, Humboldt Park Vocational, Truman Technical Center, Dawson Technical Institute, Washburne Culinary Institute, French Pastry School, West Side Technical Institute, South Chicago Learning Center
  • Columbia: Columbia College Chicago; independent; undergraduate and graduate; visual, performing, media, and communication arts
  • Concordia: Concordia University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral; River Forest
  • DePaul: DePaul University; independent Roman Catholic; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
  • DeVry: Devry University; proprietary; undergraduate; career-oriented
  • East-West: East-West University; independent; undergraduate
  • IIT: Illinois Institute of Technology; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
  • Kent: Chicago-Kent College of Law; Illinois Intitute of Technology
  • Lake Forest: Lake Forest College; independent; undergraduate and graduate; Lake Forest
  • Lake Forest MBA: Lake Forest Graduate School of Management; Chicago MBA Business Program; MBA degree programs in downtown Chicago, Schaumburg, and Lake Forest and on-site at several Chicago area corporations
  • Loyola: Loyola University Chicago; independent Roman Catholic (Jesuit); undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
  • Marshall: John Marshall Law School
  • Moody: Moody Bible Institute; independent Christian; undergraduate and graduate
  • NLU: National-Louis University; offers undergraduate and graduate programs; has worldwide campuses; has Chicago unit
  • North Park: North Park University; independent, Evangelical Covenant Church; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
  • Northeastern: Northeastern Illinois University; public; undergraduate and graduate
  • Northwestern: Northwestern University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral; Evanston, Illinois
  • Roosevelt: Roosevelt University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
  • Rush: Rush University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral; medical; Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center
  • St Augustine: St. Augustine College; independent; undergraduate
  • St Xavier: Saint Xavier University; independent Roman Catholic; undergraduate, graduate;
  • Shimer: Shimer College; independent; Great Books core designed by former University of Chicago President Robert Maynard Hutchins; undergraduate
  • U of C: University of Chicago; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
  • U of IL: University of Illinois at Chicago; public; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
  • Vandercook: VanderCook College of Music; independent; undergraduate, graduate
• Schools: Chicago's primary, secondary, career, and trade schools
  • K12: Chicago Public Schools
  • NW College: Northwestern College; proprietary; 2-year
  • MacCormac: MacCormac College; independent; 2-year
  • Discovery Ctr: Chicago's Lifelong Learning Center; community
  • IES: Institute for the International Education of Students; study abroad programs
  • Music/MIC: Music Institute of Chicago; community music education

Reference

Works to help you find out more about Chicago

• Guides: Learn more about Chicago with online guides that describe area attractions
  • Metromix: City guide; attractions, events; online service of the Chicago Tribune
  • Concierge Preferred: Tips for exploring chicago; covers events, things to do, navy pier, dining, neighborhoods, themes, and Chicago information
  • Local Tourist: Online guide to downtown Chicago; covers restaurants, bars, nightclubs, things to do, shopping, events, and more
  • Choose Chicago: Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
  • Kidgrade: a community for those with kids; places where we could take our children, get recommendations from others and share these recommendations
  • Chicago Kids: Fun places and events for families
  • CitySearch: Entry for Chicago
  • View on Cities: Overview guide
  • Traveler: Chicago Traveler; city guide
• Indexes: Access online information about Chicago through general and specialized indexes
  • Yahoo: Entry for Chicago
  • Yellow Pages: Search form; find businesses and organizations using the SMARTpages.com directory
• General: Find more information related to Chicago
  • craigslist: Online community; classified ads, jobs, housing, personals, for sale, discussion
  • USA index: An index for the United States; resources to help you locate information about activities, events, places, sports, government, media, commerce, and reference information in the USA; You can use this page to locate information on other cities or information you couldn't find here
  • -USA General-: General reference section of USA Index; lookup information in national directories for classified ads, jobs, discussion, or lookup resources