Chicagoland
Around Chicagoland
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · Illinois · 9.9M people
Chicagoland
“Windy City”, “Chi-town”, “Second City”
The lakefront, the 'L', and the deep-dish.
Bulls redCubs blue
Welcome to Chicagoland! Whether you're here for the food, the lake, or the sports, you'll find a city with deep roots and a lively spirit. Grab a hot dog, hop on the L, and explore — there's always something happening.
Clubs for Chicagoland
No clubs for Chicagoland yet.
The room
Chicagoland is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Chicago's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Chicago. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Chicagoland. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Millennium Park Iconic downtown park with the Cloud Gate sculpture ('The Bean') and Crown Fountain.
- Navy Pier Lakefront pier with ferris wheel, theaters, and boat rides.
- Lakefront Trail 18-mile paved path along Lake Michigan, perfect for biking and walking.
- Wrigley Field Historic ballpark home of the Cubs, surrounded by lively bars and rooftops.
- Soldier Field NFL stadium on the lakefront, home of the Bears.
- Art Institute of Chicago World-renowned art museum with Grant Wood's 'American Gothic' and Impressionist works.
- Outdoors Bike the Lakefront Trail
- Outdoors Kayak the Chicago River
- With kids Visit Lincoln Park Zoo
- With kids Ride the Navy Pier Ferris wheel
- Evenings Catch live blues at Kingston Mines
- Evenings Rooftop bars in the Loop
- Locals love Deep-dish pizzerias
- Locals love Hot dog stands
Through the year
- Taste of Chicago July Huge outdoor food festival in Grant Park with restaurant booths and concerts.
- Lollapalooza August Major music festival in Grant Park drawing big-name acts.
- Chicago Blues Festival June Free blues festival in Millennium Park, the largest of its kind.
- Chicago Jazz Festival September Free jazz festival in Millennium Park featuring local and international artists.
- Chicago Air and Water Show August Thrilling aerial and water stunts along the lakefront.
Chicago has four distinct seasons: harsh winters, humid summers, and beautiful transitional springs and falls. The best time to be out is late spring and early autumn. Best: Spring (May-June) and fall (September-October) are ideal for being outside — mild temps and low humidity.
Talk like a local
- “the L”
- The elevated train system (the 'L' or 'El').
- “pop”
- Soda pop, as in 'a can of pop'.
- “dibs”
- Holding a shoveled parking spot with a chair or cone after a snowstorm.
- “gym shoes”
- Sneakers or athletic shoes.
Getaways
- Michigan City, IN Beach town on Lake Michigan with the Indiana Dunes National Park.
- Kenosha, WI Lakefront city with a historic downtown and the Kenosha Public Museum.
- Kankakee, IL River town with a charming downtown and Kankakee River State Park.
- Racine, WI Lake Michigan city known for its Danish heritage and the Racine Zoo.
Local flavour
Teams
- Chicago Bears NFL
- Chicago Bulls NBA
- Chicago Cubs MLB
- Chicago White Sox MLB
- Chicago Blackhawks NHL
- Chicago Fire FC MLS
- Chicago Sky WNBA
- Chicago Stars FC NWSL
- Northwestern Wildcats NCAA Division I
- DePaul Blue Demons NCAA Division I
- Loyola Ramblers NCAA Division I
- UIC Flames NCAA Division I
- Chicago Wolves AHL
- Chicago Dogs American Association
Eat and drink
- Deep-dish pizza Chicago-style, with a thick crust and inverted layers
- Chicago-style hot dog All-beef frank on a poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, tomato slices, pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt
- Italian beef sandwich Thinly sliced seasoned beef, often dipped in jus, served on a long roll
- Chicago-style popcorn A mix of cheese and caramel popcorn, often from Garrett Popcorn Shops
- Malört A bitter wormwood liqueur, a local drinking tradition
Where people go
- Deep-dish pizzerias Restaurants serving Chicago-style deep-dish pizza
- Hot dog stands Street vendors and shops serving Chicago-style hot dogs
- Italian beef joints Sandwich shops specializing in Italian beef
- Blues clubs Venues featuring live blues music
- Lakefront parks Public parks along Lake Michigan
- Neighborhood taverns Corner bars with a local feel
Heritage and traditions
Chicagoland is proud of its working-class grit, ethnic mosaic, and architectural innovation, from the world's first skyscrapers to the vibrant neighborhoods that have welcomed generations of immigrants.
This time of year in Chicagoland
- Fall colors October Leaf peeping in the forest preserves and parks.
Say it like a local: “Pop” — Soda or soft drink.
Festivals
- St. Patrick's Day Parade and River Dyeing March The Chicago River is dyed green, and the parade is one of the largest in the country.
- Bud Billiken Parade August Largest African American parade in the U.S., celebrating youth and education.
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival June Free festival in Millennium Park showcasing gospel's roots and evolution.
- Chicago House Music Festival June Celebrates the genre that was born in Chicago's underground clubs.
- Pilsen's Mole de Mayo May Mexican food festival with mole contests and live music in Pilsen.
- Chinatown's Chinese New Year Parade January/February Lion dances, fireworks, and a parade through Chicago's Chinatown.
Landmarks with a story
- Pullman National Monument First model industrial town in the U.S., a National Monument preserving labor history.
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Wright's Oak Park home where he developed the Prairie School style.
- Robie House A UNESCO World Heritage Site, a masterpiece of Prairie School architecture.
- Bahá'í House of Worship The only Bahá'í temple in North America, in Wilmette, with its striking nine-sided dome.
- Chicago Water Tower One of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
- DuSable Museum of African American History Founded in 1961, the first museum of African American history in the U.S.
Food traditions
- Jibarito Invented in Chicago's Humboldt Park, a crispy fried plantain sandwich with garlic mayo and steak.
- Chicago-style tamale A unique street food, often sold by vendors, a tamale on a stick with mustard.
- Maxwell Street Polish Born at the Maxwell Street Market, now a staple at hot dog stands.
- Saganaki Greek dish of fried cheese flamed tableside, popularized in Chicago's Greektown.
- Friday fish fry during Lent Catholic and Orthodox neighborhoods host fish fries, a Lenten tradition.
Music and arts
- Chicago Blues Electric blues developed in Chicago's South Side, with legends like Muddy Waters.
- House Music Born in Chicago's underground clubs in the 1980s, a genre that shaped global dance music.
- Chicago Jazz A vibrant jazz scene with venues like the Green Mill, and a rich history from the 1920s.
- The Second City A comedy troupe that pioneered improvisational theater, launching many famous comedians.
A little history
- 1871 Great Chicago Fire
- 1893 World's Columbian Exposition
- 1865-1971 Union Stock Yards
- 1886 Haymarket Affair
- 1894 Pullman Strike
Rivalries
- Cubs vs. White Sox The crosstown baseball rivalry splits the city into North and South.
- Bears vs. Packers Historic NFL rivalry with Green Bay, a true grudge match.
- Blackhawks vs. Blues Central Division hockey rivalry with St. Louis, often intense.
- Bulls vs. Pistons Old NBA rivalry from the late 80s, still talked about.
- Game day Cubs' 7th inning stretch
- Game day Bulls' intro with 'Sirius'
- Outdoors Swim at Oak Street Beach
- Outdoors Sail on Lake Michigan
- With kids Ride the 'L' train
- With kids Visit the Field Museum
The Chicago accent features the Northern Cities Vowel Shift, with 'a' sounds tensed and 'o' sounds shifted. Locals say 'pop' for soda, 'gym shoes' for sneakers, and 'the L' for the elevated train.
Only here
- The Chicago River is dyed green every St. Patrick's Day.
- Chicago is the birthplace of the skyscraper, with the Home Insurance Building in 1885.
- The world's first Ferris wheel debuted at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
- The city has an underground pedestrian tunnel system connecting buildings in the Loop.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to use the 'L' – it's the fastest way around the city.
- Don't put ketchup on a hot dog – locals consider it a cardinal sin.
- Be prepared for weather extremes: hot summers, cold winters, and sudden changes.
- Understand the grid system: streets are numbered, with Madison and State as the zero point.
- In winter, 'dibs' means you can save a parking spot with a chair after shoveling.
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Areas in Chicagoland
Nearby
Every areaRacineWisconsinWhere the lake meets Danish warmth.Iroquois CountyIllinoisHeart of the Grand PrairieMilwaukeeWisconsinWhere every Friday is a fish fry and every beer tastes like home.South BendIndianaWhere the Golden Dome meets the MidwestNilesMichiganWhere the lake meets the orchard.PontiacIllinoisPrairie roots, Route 66 spiritPlymouthIndianaLakeside living, small-town spirit.RochelleIllinoisWhere the heartland meets the rails.
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.