shedd aquarium: I've been to Chicago a few times in my life; it's only a three-hour drive from where I live. A couple of my cousins and I are planning to go to Chicago this August, but I don't want to end up visiting the same places again. What are some places in Chicago that are interesting and, perhaps, not on every tourist's checklist of sites to visit? For example, are there any ideal places to check out public art? I would really like to visit Chicago and experience what unique things the city has to offer. I remember going to Times Square in NYC and seeing an Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and an Applebees. If I wanted to go to a national chain restaurant/business, I could stay at home. Also, what are some restaurants that are unique to Chicago that we should check out? (Nothing too pricey!) (A few places we've already been to: Sears Tower, Field Museum, Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science & Industry)|||If you're looking for non-touristy, I'd pick a few neighborhoods and hang out with the locals. There are tons of summer festivals in August too. You can go to the Time Out Chicago Website or Chicago MetroMix to see the schedule. Some of my favorite neighborhoods are as follows: -Bucktown/Wicker Park -- Trendy hipsters, nice boutiques, good restaurants -Andersonville -- Former Swedish hood with tasty bakeries, sprinkling of Middle Eastern restaurants, lots of home furnishing shops, good restaurants, cute boutiques -Lincoln Park -- Popular with young professionals and recent grads, lots of shops and restaurants -Lakeview -- Also popular with the young people, Wrigleyville, Boystown, shops and restaurants -Lincoln Square -- Former German hood, shops, restaurants -Pilsen -- Gallery district (not sure if that's the official name) has open studios from time to time when you can see real live artists and the places where they work I could go on forever . . . there are too many to list!|||As a person who actually lives in the city one thing that I think people that visit find fascinating is taking the train. Get on somewhere downtown and ride to the end of the Red Line and cross to the other side and ride back. An interesting stop would be Addison where there is Wrigley Field and the next stop is Belmont which is a very interesting area. If you go South on the train you'll see US Cellular Field so you've covered 2 ballparks. Also, the train ride can be very interesting.....|||Chicago has a very nice art museum and the shopping is great at Water Tower Place. Oprah Winfrey tapes her show in Chicago and it's pretty easy to get free tickets to be in the audience. Lawreys Restaurant is a great steak house downtown and I never go to Chicago without bar hopping on Rush St....|||Donley's wild west town|||Ride the Famous "L" some parts are over 100 years old and we are updating things to make it better. it's only $2 All Aboard.|||Get tacos from La Pasadita in the corner of Division and Ashland. It's my favorite restaurant in the city. Make sure you go to the one on the east side for the true Chicago experience. Try to start a conversation with an amigo sitting next to you. Ask him how his day goes. You can get ice cream from Margie's Candies in the corner of Armitage and Western. But expect to wait for a seat. There are a lot of restaurants in the west side (and probably south side as well) that has unique barriers between customers and cashier. For example, there's a KFC in the corner of Madison and Laramie that has a 4" glass panel between customers and workers. I know KFC is another chain, but this place has to be unique to Chicago. Instead of visiting Lincoln Park or Navy Pier, try Douglas Park in the corner of California and Ogden. It's a beautiful park. South of Ogden, you will see Mexicans playing soccer, and others pushing ice cream carts around. North of Ogden, you will hear black people's loud music, and they will be dancing and fishing. Ogden is the unspoken divide between blacks and Mexicans in that park. Go to both sides. It'll be a surreal experience for anyone. You may learn a thing or two that you can't find in a museum.|||Hang out at Millenium Park and enjoy the spitting fountains and the bean. Chicago Culture Center across from the Millenium Park is free and shows some cool authentic Chicago history/culture. Try the Holographic Art museum dedicated to holographic art. Eating anywhere where hot dog is spelled with dawg is going to be authentic Chicago and cheap. We also quite enjoy the quirkiness of the Siskel and Ebert Theater where you can watch strange and unique films for pretty cheap. I don't know.... all you have to do is walk around a bit and you just seem to find instant adventure in Chicago. I love this city. Have fun.|||Hi, I'm from Ohio but have been to Chicago. A unique art place is Millenium Park. There is a giant bean there a also has concerts once and a while. There are not usally a lot of people there. Adler Planetarium is also amazing but has a few tourists. The Field Meseum is unique but also has some tourisits. Now for places to eat. Giordano's is a fantastic pizza place if you like deep dish pizza. ESPN Zone is only in Chicago but is somwhat pricey. The last place to eat is Medevil Times. This features a dinner show and costs the most out of the 3.|||Well, in terms of the museums, I think the least known museum, but one of the most interesting, is the Museum of Surgical Science at 1516 N. Lake Shore Drive. It goes into the history of surgery - pretty cool. The best public art is at Millenium Park, but there's sculptural tours of the Loop - you can look on-line for those - that will take you past less known sculptures like the Miro at Financial Plaza and the Chagall sculpture at the Chase Building. The best unique Chicago restaurant, in my opinion, is the tiny Italian restaurant RoseAngelis just west of Wrightwood and Racine. But there are lots of others - Timo is superb, for example, and there's the deep dish pizza places that Chicagoans tend to swear by like Lou Malnati's. And although it's on every tourist list, I really do think the best museum in Chicago is the Art Institute.|||check out the chicago reader for art I am clueless unless you count the picasso and new sculptures downtown Museum of Contemporary Art My favorite restaurants valois in hyde Park for Breakfast-french toast (imagine soup nazi)-Breakfast only served till 4 Cafe Iberico-downtown Spanish tapas- Cafe ba bab reeba-spanish tapas Manny's Cafe closed Sundays Early Sat. famous-west loop Chicago's Bronzeville-Chicken n Waffles (prepare to wait) Dixie Kitchen Hyde Park-southern- Maxines-Jamaican -south Macarthurs West side-soul Medicis-italian Hyde park Cafe Florian Hyde Park BYOB-cheap and good food Roditys-Greek Town Restaurant South Loop offers new trendy restaurants