Looking for offbeat things to do in Chicago. Going in May.

[bif]

Been there tons of times. Done all the usual touristy stuff, plus weird things like the Museum of Surgery. The Pullman district. The Oriental Museum. Al Capones grave. Any unusual things you can recommend?

[Itchinjim]

1. Been to the Pedway yet?

[kysrsoze]

2. Not sure what your inclinations are, but a few suggestions...

1. Ethnic restaurants - Ethiopian, Indian restaurants on Devon Ave, Little Korea, etc. There are lots of good BBQ places too.
2. Get a CTA pass or rent a bike and head to a neighborhood like Andersonville, Uptown, Logan Square, Lincoln Square or Clark/Broadway/Diversey area and walk around. You can ride up or down the lakeshore.
3. See a concert. There are dozens of live music venues.
4. Lakeshore near the Planetarium is a great area to hang out and there’s an open prairie just south of it., and it feels sort of remote from the rest of the city.
5. Graceland cemetery
6. French Market at Ogilvie train station
7. Humbolt Park - the park itself
8. Pilsen arts district

[frazzled]

3. If you're into architecture

One thing we always find that architecture-loving visitors like —and it's off the beaten path—are several structures on the IIT (Illinois Institute of Technology) campus, in Bronzeville. One is the famous Mies van der Rohe Crown Hall (Mies designed all of the original buildings, though this is the breakthrough one). Make sure to see the library in the lower level. The other is the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas's Student Center. It has ingenious use of cheap materials to create fascinating effects. Also, the El runs straight through it, in an interesting way. And don't miss the bathrooms!

REI just opened a new building in Lincoln Park, on the river, and they'll be renting kayaks from there (possibly starting in May). Might be fun to do your own river tour.

Eat dumplings at QXY (Qing Xiang Yuan) in Chinatown. http://qxydumplings.com

Visit the bookstores in Hyde Park: Seminary Co-Op, 57th Street Books, Powell's. Then have lunch at one of the old funky (try Valois cafeteria, and hang a while) or new swish (Mesler Kitchen in the Sophy Hotel, also on 53rd St.). Then get coffee/tea and a beautiful pastry at Vanille Patisserie in Harper Court. They've also just remodeled Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House on Woodland between 56th and 57th Streets.

Get some authentic Polish food at Smak Tak, way up on the north side. Or have a Ukrainian bite for lunch at Shokolad Pastry and Cafe, on West Chicago Avenue.


I dunno: tell me your interests and tastes and I might think of some specific things.

[smirkymonkey]

4. I really enjoyed the architectural boat tour in Chicago!

It's not what I would call "offbeat", but it was definitely one of my favorite things in the city.

[mopinko]

5. boy wouldnt a little meet up be fun?

been too long.

failing that, happy to buy you a beer, and give you the nickel tour of my urban farm. (you could meet my bulldog, biff)
the people's republic of rogers park is a fine place to spend the day, and i could point you to a couple kookie places.

but the big museums are always changing, and always worth a visit. dont know how long since you were here last, but some newer stuff at the shedd. always something good traveling through the field.

any particular ethnic food you like? great indian up here in ropa, better than most of the tourista joints in mumbai.
pretty much every state in mexico, too.

may should be pretty nice. very warm spring so far.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Re museums changing.

I had to laugh at myself when invited the Field Museum of Natural History a couple years ago.

I was like, this is the same stuff they had here when I was a kid. Doh. I guess that makes since because my 40 years since I was there as a kid is just a blip.

[Niagara]

6. List and link for you, Bif

Chicago freight tunnels
Obama kissing rock
Ride Brown Line El from the Loop to Kimball
Ride Red Line El to Chinatown
Graceland and Rosehill Cemeteries
Lincoln Park Zoo- always free admission
Garfield Park Conservatory
Navy Pier
Adler Planetarium
McCormick Bridgehouse River Museum- free on Sundays
Loyola University Museum of Art- free on Tuesdays
Glessner House- free on Wednesdays


There's museums who give Illinois residents free admission. If you're not from Illinois you can purchase:
1. City Pass Chicago
2. Go Chicago Card


Here's a link for you to check out. link: https://chicagoonthecheap.com/free-chicago-museum-days/

[bif]

7. Thanks all! Some great suggestions!

If you guys think of anything else, post away!

[Tobin S.]

8. If you are the spiritual type, you could check out what's going on at the Infinity Foundation.

http://www.infinityfoundation.org/

[Harker]

9. You could look up my brother. n/t

[Niagara]

10. Here is a helpful video

The Do Not's of visiting Chicago:

I can agree with avoiding driving and parking in Chicago as much as possible. The last time I visited was in 98 and I took taxi's when I wasn't walking. The taxi's got expensive and at that time I didn't know about the CTA. You can get a 3-day CTA pass for about $40.

[mucifer]

12. You could bike or walk the 606:

https://www.the606.org/

You can rent a bike or hike. It's 2.7 miles long above street level on old railroad tracks so no stop signs and no traffic lights and it goes through some neighborhoods in Chicago. It's 3 miles north of downtown and you can get there on the L or bus. I think more residents than tourist go there.

Divvy bikes to rent: [link:https://www.divvybikes.com/rides/the-606|