Monday, April 14, 2014

My Kind of Town

 


I have been in Chicago for almost four months now.

The entire time I lived in Missouri I missed living near the city and experiencing all it had to offer. Want to know how much I've done since moving back?

NOTHING.

Granted - this was the most miserable winter ever and it has only been recently anyone has wanted to leave their homes. However, I still feel like this is pathetic. I forgot how easy it is to become complacent when you live here all of the time. You forget sometimes when you're bored, you can simply hop on the train into downtown and have a pluthera of things to do. I want this to change.

Now spring has finally arrived (although it doesn't feel like it today) I've decided I'm going to go out into the city more often. As a bonus - since I'm basically broke- I'm going to try and do as many free things as possible. In a city like Chicago, there are a ton of things to experience.

Who cares that I grew up here? I'm going to be a local tourist this spring and summer.


Here are some of my ideas so far:

- Go to a White Sox game (ok... more expensive, but it has to happen).

- Go to the Art Institute. They have free days on Thursdays and it's awesome.

- Visit a museum other than the Art Institute. That one is my favorite, so I easily just get into the habit of going there all of the time. But there are so many others in the city I haven't been to in years which are just as awesome.

- Listen to the Symphony Orchestra rehearse at Millennium Park

- Attend the outdoor classic film festival on Tuesday nights. (See classic movies for free in Grant Park!)

- Go to the Taste of Chicago. Can you believe I've never gone? It's usually so packed with people, my family and friends usually avoid downtown at all costs. However, I feel like I should go at least once in my life.

- Go to open mic night at the Comedy Bar

- See a play or musical. Because... have you met me?

- Research different festivals and events in some of the suburbs

- Visit a zoo (Lincoln Park is free, but Brookfeild is closer to where I live...)

Native Chicagoans, any other suggestions? Maybe some stuff that isn't quite as "touristy?" Or if you haven't been to Chicago, what's something you've always wanted to do and would like to see pictures of/read about?

Linking up with Meg for Mingle Monday!

7 comments:

  1. I love your plan! I need to do more local touristy things here. It is so easy to get stuck in a rut! Here's to a great summer!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeah, we do tend to get complacent. I like your list, though!

    I'd add:
    1) Visit the Chicago History Museum (though that's kind of your #3)
    2) Tour Graceland Cemetery (it's actually a really cool place)
    3) Go to Printer's Row Lit Fest in June
    4) German-American Fest in Lincoln Square (September)
    5) Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind at the NeoFuturist Theater
    6) Catch a concert at Lincoln Hall or Schuba's and have their mac n cheese (Trust me on this one)

    That's what I've got for now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooooo! I'll add all of these! Thanks! And you should totally join me sometimes. :)

      Delete
  3. Great list! I see soneone added Schubas to the list...my fav place ever :). Shopping on Michigan or State street is always fun too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll definitely have to add Schubas to the list then!

      Delete
  4. I second Printer's Row -- you would LOVE it. My library (DG) has passes to go to Brookfield Zoo for free, maybe yours does too? Or we could together on my DG passes...

    ReplyDelete

Share with me your thoughts! They make me smile.