Guidebook for Chicago
Entertainment & Activities
If you stay at our place Maren is happy to hook you up with discount tickets.
The room escape is modeled after a CTA train (Chicago's subway trains), suddenly you and other guests discover a genius maniac has tampered with the train. It's flying down the tracks and there are clues and puzzles hidden all around the train. It's now a race against time to find all the clues, solve the puzzles, stop the train, and save Chicago.
It's also a great opportunity to check out the Flat Iron Arts Building and Wicker Park.
7 abantu bendawo batusa
Escape Artistry - Time Gallery
If you stay at our place Maren is happy to hook you up with discount tickets.
The room escape is modeled after a CTA train (Chicago's subway trains), suddenly you and other guests discover a genius maniac has tampered with the train. It's flying down the tracks and there are clues and puzzles hidden all around the train. It's now a race against time to find all the clues, solve the puzzles, stop the train, and save Chicago.
It's also a great opportunity to check out the Flat Iron Arts Building and Wicker Park.
Not cheap, but a super fun, super weird way to spend your time. You are give a bumper car, a stick that isn't a lacross or jai ala stick but close. You are on a team and you try to get the ball to hit the other persons score board, which is kind of similar to a basket ball back board.
If you are interested, check out the website -- http://www.whirlyball.com/what/
30 abantu bendawo batusa
WhirlyBall Chicago
1825 W Webster AveNot cheap, but a super fun, super weird way to spend your time. You are give a bumper car, a stick that isn't a lacross or jai ala stick but close. You are on a team and you try to get the ball to hit the other persons score board, which is kind of similar to a basket ball back board.
If you are interested, check out the website -- http://www.whirlyball.com/what/
$15 all access, unlimited play, to hundreds of retro and new arcade games. You can come and go, so bring some drinks and food to munch in the parking lot.
8 abantu bendawo batusa
Galloping Ghost Arcade
9415 Ogden Ave$15 all access, unlimited play, to hundreds of retro and new arcade games. You can come and go, so bring some drinks and food to munch in the parking lot.
Food Scene
Just around the corner from our home. Cash only. You will always find real people, great service, and really good food.
34 abantu bendawo batusa
Grandma J’s Local Kitchen
1552 North Kedzie AvenueJust around the corner from our home. Cash only. You will always find real people, great service, and really good food.
Cash only. Great Costa Rican food! Pura Vida!
109 abantu bendawo batusa
Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant & Catering
1865 N Milwaukee AveCash only. Great Costa Rican food! Pura Vida!
For the meat eaters. Cash only! GREAT fried chicken, Maren's favorite biscuts in the city.
51 abantu bendawo batusa
Leghorn Chicken
For the meat eaters. Cash only! GREAT fried chicken, Maren's favorite biscuts in the city.
Great, sit down restaurant and bar. Awesome cocktails. All vegetarian food. It's not all relying on fake meat, it's mostly just good, delicious food that doesn't have meat in it. Small plates for sharing.
57 abantu bendawo batusa
Mana Food Bar
Great, sit down restaurant and bar. Awesome cocktails. All vegetarian food. It's not all relying on fake meat, it's mostly just good, delicious food that doesn't have meat in it. Small plates for sharing.
Native Foods
1484 N Milwaukee AveGreat place to get all vegetarian eats for lunch or dinner
If you must try deep dish, you should try this deep dish. BYOB.
29 abantu bendawo batusa
The Art of Pizza
3033 N Ashland AveIf you must try deep dish, you should try this deep dish. BYOB.
If you want some fine dining, this is one of our favorite places. Not cheap but worth the money. Some of the very best meals I've ever had.
62 abantu bendawo batusa
Ruxbin
851 North Ashland AvenueIf you want some fine dining, this is one of our favorite places. Not cheap but worth the money. Some of the very best meals I've ever had.
Drinks & Nightlife
Best Intentions
3281 W Armitage AveA few blocks from our home. Good vibes. Great drinks.
One of our favorite places in Chicago. Home of House music. Small club with great vibes, come as yourself. The crowd is respectful. The music is great. We often have admission passes, or can get people on the door list. Open until 4am or 5am.
44 abantu bendawo batusa
Smartbar
3730 N Clark StOne of our favorite places in Chicago. Home of House music. Small club with great vibes, come as yourself. The crowd is respectful. The music is great. We often have admission passes, or can get people on the door list. Open until 4am or 5am.
The Whistler
2421 N Milwaukee AveOne of our very favorite cocktail bars in the city.
Three Aces
1321 W Taylor StA great place to grab food and drink
Grab some BBQ, grab a drink, ask to try the Bourbon soaked cherrys, listen to some good tunes. Located in Pilsen which is a very cool neighborhood.
141 abantu bendawo batusa
Honky Tonk BBQ
1213 W 18th StGrab some BBQ, grab a drink, ask to try the Bourbon soaked cherrys, listen to some good tunes. Located in Pilsen which is a very cool neighborhood.
It's around the corner from our place. Put on your best pretentious hipster outfit and check it out. While it's not really our scene, we still make it there for a cocktails, delicious food, and because all things pretentious and hipster are forgiven at midnight when the fresh baked cookies are served. Yes, they give you cookies at midnight.
584 abantu bendawo batusa
Scofflaw
3201 W Armitage AveIt's around the corner from our place. Put on your best pretentious hipster outfit and check it out. While it's not really our scene, we still make it there for a cocktails, delicious food, and because all things pretentious and hipster are forgiven at midnight when the fresh baked cookies are served. Yes, they give you cookies at midnight.
Arts & Culture
Working artists studios, great gallery space, cool cafe, in a great neighborhood.
34 abantu bendawo batusa
Zhou B Art Center
1029 W 35th StWorking artists studios, great gallery space, cool cafe, in a great neighborhood.
Explore Chicagos famous store front theatre scene. Halcyon Theatre was formed in 2006 to connect people, transform our borders and ascend toward a more just union. Maren is a company member. Check out the website to see what is playing -- https://halcyontheatre.org
Radical Hospitality/FREE TICKETS to every show:
A core part of Halcyon's vision, mission and values and why we make our work is eradicating borders and building an inclusive, global audience that reflects our neighborhood and city. Economic barriers can create a very real border for many in our communities, so Halcyon provides no-cost access to all productions for any audience member.
There are two ways to see a performance:
1) First come, first served, no-cost admission: Halcyon holds a significant number of seats for no-cost admission on a first come, first served basis for each performance. To access these seats, provide your contact information at our box office. (The box office opens one hour prior to the show). Seating begins 30 minutes before show time and is open. There are no assigned seats.
2) Guaranteed admission: Audience members who want to guarantee entry to a performance can do so for a small fee paid in advance online on in person at our box office. ($20 for plays.) Seating begins 30 minutes before show time and is open. There are no assigned seats.
Halcyon Mission:
We are fiercely committed to making the stage as diverse as the city of Chicago--presenting new voices from inadequately represented communities and recasting classic works to showcase their contemporary relevance. Core Values: Diversity; Eradicating Borders; Connection and Honest Dialogue; Transparency and Openness; Playfulness; Mastery; and Beauty.
Halcyon Theater
North Spaulding AvenueExplore Chicagos famous store front theatre scene. Halcyon Theatre was formed in 2006 to connect people, transform our borders and ascend toward a more just union. Maren is a company member. Check out the website to see what is playing -- https://halcyontheatre.org
Radical Hospitality/FREE TICKETS to every show:
A core part of Halcyon's vision, mission and values and why we make our work is eradicating borders and building an inclusive, global audience that reflects our neighborhood and city. Economic barriers can create a very real border for many in our communities, so Halcyon provides no-cost access to all productions for any audience member.
There are two ways to see a performance:
1) First come, first served, no-cost admission: Halcyon holds a significant number of seats for no-cost admission on a first come, first served basis for each performance. To access these seats, provide your contact information at our box office. (The box office opens one hour prior to the show). Seating begins 30 minutes before show time and is open. There are no assigned seats.
2) Guaranteed admission: Audience members who want to guarantee entry to a performance can do so for a small fee paid in advance online on in person at our box office. ($20 for plays.) Seating begins 30 minutes before show time and is open. There are no assigned seats.
Halcyon Mission:
We are fiercely committed to making the stage as diverse as the city of Chicago--presenting new voices from inadequately represented communities and recasting classic works to showcase their contemporary relevance. Core Values: Diversity; Eradicating Borders; Connection and Honest Dialogue; Transparency and Openness; Playfulness; Mastery; and Beauty.
If you have a little time always good to check out a late night show of 'Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind'. A Chicago classic.
66 abantu bendawo batusa
Neo-Futurists
5153 North Ashland AvenueIf you have a little time always good to check out a late night show of 'Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind'. A Chicago classic.
Come check out Escape Artistrys home base. Three floors of galleries, theatres, live work artist studios in the heart of Wicker Park.
18 abantu bendawo batusa
The Flatiron Arts Building
1579 N Milwaukee AveCome check out Escape Artistrys home base. Three floors of galleries, theatres, live work artist studios in the heart of Wicker Park.
Essentials
Armitage Produce
3334 W Armitage AveA bustling produce shop and bodega.
Open 24 hours a day. There is a post office, health food, craft beer, vegan/organic options. Always clean and welcoming.
113 abantu bendawo batusa
Foodsmart
3415 W Diversey AveOpen 24 hours a day. There is a post office, health food, craft beer, vegan/organic options. Always clean and welcoming.
Everything Else
Come check out Escape Artistrys home base. Three floors of galleries, theatres, live work artist studios in the heart of Wicker Park.
18 abantu bendawo batusa
The Flatiron Arts Building
1579 N Milwaukee AveCome check out Escape Artistrys home base. Three floors of galleries, theatres, live work artist studios in the heart of Wicker Park.