Best Chicago

Lou Malnati's remains the gold standard for Chicago deep dish. Their buttery, flaky crust, generous portions of Wisconsin mozzarella, and signature sweet tomato sauce create a consistently delicious and satisfying experience. The lean sausage is a defining characteristic, and the crust's ability to...

Wrigley Field is a historic baseball stadium located in Chicago, Illinois. Opened in 1914, it’s renowned for its distinctive features including ivy-covered outfield walls and a manually operated scoreboard. The ballpark serves as the home of the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team and remains a...

Sue, catalogued as FMNH PR 2081, is a large and unusually complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota in 1990. The Field Museum in Chicago acquired the specimen at auction in 1997 for $8.36 million and placed it on public display after preparation. Sue preserves...

Smashing Pumpkins’ Siamese Dream, released in 1993, is a landmark alternative rock album. The Chicago-based band created a dense, layered sound blending grunge with psychedelic influences. Tracks like “Cherub Rock” and “Today” achieved significant commercial success and critical acclaim. It remains...

The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They compete in the National Basketball Association’s Eastern Division. The team gained prominence through significant success during the 1990s, culminating in six NBA championships with star player Michael Jordan and u...

Kanye West is an artist primarily known for his contributions to hip-hop music since the 2000s. Emerging from Chicago and rooted in Midwest sounds, he began as a producer before establishing himself as a solo rapper. His innovative approach shaped popular music and continues to influence artists and...

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) remains the most trusted, comprehensive, and perpetually free resource for writing mechanics. It provides definitive, detailed guides on nearly every style guide imaginable, from MLA to Chicago. While it lacks automated checking features, its authoritative, curate...

Orchestra Hall, located at 220 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, opened on December 14, 1904 as the permanent home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The hall was designed by architect Daniel H. Burnham in a neoclassical style and originally seated approximately 2,500 people. It was designated a Nat...

Pequod's distinguishes itself with its caramelized crust, a unique and intensely flavorful characteristic. The crust edges are browned and crispy, providing a delightful textural contrast to the gooey cheese and chunky tomato sauce. While the sauce is less sweet than Lou Malnati's, the overall flavo...

Erik Larson's 'The Devil in the White City' masterfully intertwines the story of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with the chilling tale of H.H. Holmes, America's first documented serial killer. Larsons meticulous research and vivid prose create a captivating narrative that transports readers to a pivo...

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is a major American theater ensemble based in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1976 by Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry, and Gary Sinise. It was established with a focus on an ensemble-based acting model and quickly gained a reputation for performing gritty, contemporary plays with...

Second City Chicago is an improvisational comedy theater founded in 1959, recognized as a pioneering force in the development of modern improv and sketch comedy. Located in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, the theater has established a structured training system and performance method that has influ...

Alinea is a celebrated Chicago fine-dining establishment led by Chef Grant Achatz. It’s notable for its innovative American cuisine employing advanced culinary methods like molecular gastronomy. The restaurant offers immersive dining experiences primarily catering to adventurous diners seeking uniqu...

Cloud Gate is a large-scale public sculpture by British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor, installed in 2006 in AT&T Plaza at Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. The work consists of 168 stainless steel plates welded and polished to a seamless mirror finish, forming an ellipsoidal form weighing approxima...

The John G. Shedd Aquarium is a prominent public aquarium located in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1930, it showcases diverse aquatic life including freshwater and marine species from around the globe. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, the aquarium serves as an educational resourc...

The John G. Shedd Aquarium is a public aquarium located on the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. Constructed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, it opened in 1930 through funding provided by philanthropist John G. Shedd. The facility was the first inland aquarium to permanently house s...

Curtis Mayfield was an American soul, funk, and rhythm and blues singer-songwriter who began his career as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the vocal group The Impressions. He transitioned to a highly successful solo career in 1970, releasing records that incorporated strong themes of social just...

Graceland Cemetery is a historic cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1860. Designed in the landscape-lawn style, its grounds were shaped by landscape architect O.C. Simonds in the late 19th century. Notable burials include architects Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe...

Bix Beiderbecke was an American jazz musician primarily known for his innovative cornet playing during the 1920s. His distinctive melodic style and improvisational techniques profoundly impacted early jazz development. He is particularly significant for musicians interested in exploring the nuances...

The Pullman Historic District preserves a unique company town established by the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago. Built between 1880 and 1890, it features distinctive Victorian-era architecture designed for its workforce. Today, the district offers insight into late 19th-century industrial lab...

The Dinner Party is a large-scale installation artwork created by artist Judy Chicago between 1974 and 1979, with assistance from numerous volunteers. It consists of a triangular banquet table with 39 place settings, each commemorating a specific woman from history or mythology, from the Primordial...

The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball franchise with a history dating back to 1876. Based in Chicago and playing at Wrigley Field, they represent one of baseball’s oldest and most storied organizations. The team gained significant attention for breaking an eighty-six-year World Series drought...

Cloud Gate, commonly referred to as "The Bean," is a large public sculpture created by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor. Located in the AT&T Plaza of Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, the artwork consists of 168 stainless steel plates welded together and polished to a seamless mirror fini...

FMNH P25107 is the holotype specimen of Brachiosaurus altithorax, a large sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of Colorado. Elmer Riggs and his field team collected the partial skeleton in 1900, and Riggs named the species in 1903. The specimen, held by Chicago's Field Museum,...

Northside College Preparatory High School is a public, urban high school located in Chicago. It’s notable for its rigorous academic environment preparing students for selective colleges through a comprehensive college-prep curriculum including Advanced Placement courses. The school serves highly mot...

The John Hancock Center, formerly known as the Willis Tower, is an iconic skyscraper in Chicago’s downtown area. Constructed in 1969, its notable X-braced design represents a significant achievement in modernist architecture and was once the tallest building in the world. The observation deck, 360 C...

The Field Museum in Chicago houses an extensive collection of artifacts spanning natural history and anthropology. Founded in 1893, it is particularly renowned for its remarkably preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil nicknamed “Sue,” representing a significant scientific discovery. The museum’s diverse...

The Chicago Theatre is a historic performance venue located at 175 North State Street in Chicago's Loop district. It opened in 1921 as a lavish movie palace and was designed in the French Baroque Revival style by the architectural firm Rapp and Rapp. Its six-story illuminated marquee has become a re...

Wilco is an American rock band originating in Chicago during the 1990s. The group’s notable innovation lies in blending alternative rock with elements of country, bluegrass, and electronic music creating a distinctive sound. Their work appeals to listeners interested in experimental music and divers...