5 things to do in Chicago that don't involve alcohol, food or art openings
I did a version of this when I lived in Bangalore because the city was becoming increasingly popular for its breweries and club culture. So after living in Chicago for a few years now and doing a lot that almost always involved a combination of the title, it felt like a fun challenge to take up in Chicago for a 2.0 version
1. Garfield Park Conservatory or Lincoln Park
Its free, its green and the temperatures inside are pleasant. It depends how much time you have on your hands and which part of the city you live in. Garfield Park is wayyyy on the West side so it works out if you live close to a Green line stop or a train that connects you to the green line easily. Lincoln Park is a little up north and much smaller. Its like the Small Cheval of conservatories that can be accessed using the red line and a bus or two.
2. Thrift Shopping
There are many places in the city and suburbs. I've been told the Salvation Army in Niles is THE best because of its size and the fact that everyone in the suburb donates there, so the collection is vast. Then there is the Buffalo Exchange in Evanston- you can take the purple line and walk/uber there for cute, sophisticated, non-hipster things. Alternatively for very hipster things you know where to go- Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads in Wicker Park. Then there is Village Discount, Brown Elephant and Family Thrift if you still need more options.
Extra extra: Take the purple line down to Linden and go to the Buffalo Exchange in Evanston for classier finds.
3. Go to a bookstore, there are so many!
Myopic or Volumes in Wicker Park, Quimby's if you want to look at some zines. Women & Children First in Edgewater, Brick a Brac near Logan can be fun but that has records and other vintage stuff but it's the same concept of physically browsing and exploring objects. There is Pilsen Books where you can buy books for as low as a dollar.
4. Take a walk downtown listening to Jazz Music
and occasionally stop to marvel at the architecture and how flat Chicagoland really is. Sometimes if you're lucky you can catch someone playing some blues and jazz on the corner of streets too. One time a friend and I were running to catch a light and we ran right past some saxophone music and it was an incredibly dramatic and Chicago moment.
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| Bonus ideas: Walk around the lake until you get tired |
Its free, its green and the temperatures inside are pleasant. It depends how much time you have on your hands and which part of the city you live in. Garfield Park is wayyyy on the West side so it works out if you live close to a Green line stop or a train that connects you to the green line easily. Lincoln Park is a little up north and much smaller. Its like the Small Cheval of conservatories that can be accessed using the red line and a bus or two.
2. Thrift Shopping
There are many places in the city and suburbs. I've been told the Salvation Army in Niles is THE best because of its size and the fact that everyone in the suburb donates there, so the collection is vast. Then there is the Buffalo Exchange in Evanston- you can take the purple line and walk/uber there for cute, sophisticated, non-hipster things. Alternatively for very hipster things you know where to go- Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads in Wicker Park. Then there is Village Discount, Brown Elephant and Family Thrift if you still need more options.
Extra extra: Take the purple line down to Linden and go to the Buffalo Exchange in Evanston for classier finds.
3. Go to a bookstore, there are so many!
Myopic or Volumes in Wicker Park, Quimby's if you want to look at some zines. Women & Children First in Edgewater, Brick a Brac near Logan can be fun but that has records and other vintage stuff but it's the same concept of physically browsing and exploring objects. There is Pilsen Books where you can buy books for as low as a dollar.
4. Take a walk downtown listening to Jazz Music
and occasionally stop to marvel at the architecture and how flat Chicagoland really is. Sometimes if you're lucky you can catch someone playing some blues and jazz on the corner of streets too. One time a friend and I were running to catch a light and we ran right past some saxophone music and it was an incredibly dramatic and Chicago moment.
5. The Bahá'í House of worship down in Wilmette
is also a train ride + uber ride away. Go on a serene or perhaps mentally chaotic day and need time to breathe deeply and enjoy silence. This is a half day trip best done when there is light out. You can also walk around the area and gawk at suburban yards.
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