Here are a few of our favorite things to help you get around your neighborhood:
Coffee Shops
1. Hero Coffee Bar: 439 S Dearborn
What we love: the honey nut latte
2. Dollop Coffee Company: 343 S Dearborn
What we love: the iced Mexican mocha
3. Asado Coffee Pickwick Lane: 22 E Jackson
What we love: it’s hidden in an ally way; blink and you’ll miss it. Try their asado.
Dog Parks
1. The Park at Lakeshore East: 411 E Benton
2. Grant Bark Park in the South Loop: 900 S Columbus
Farmers Markets
1. Daley Plaza Farmers Market: 50 W Washington St
Thursday 7 am – 2 pm / mid May to end of October
2. Federal Plaza Farmers Market: 50 W Adams
Tuesday 7 am – 3 pm / mid May to end of October
3. Willis Tower Farmers Market: 233 S Wacker Dr
Thursday 7 am – 3 pm / end of June to end of October
Festivals
1. Lollapalooza: usually held in July
What we love: 3 full days of great music
2. Taste of Chicago: usually held in July
What we love: 5 days of good food, live music, and children activities
3. Chicago Blues Festival: usually held in June
What we love: Chicago is known for it’s blues music; blues artists from all over come to perform at this FREE festival
4. Chicago Jazz Festival: usually held in September
What we love: live Jazz music under the beautiful Pritzker Pavillon
Grocery Stores
1. Mariano’s: 333 E Benton
2. Bockwinkel’s 222 N Columbus
3. Walmart Neighborhood Market: 570 W Monroe
Gyms
1. Equinox: 200 W Monroe
2. LA Fitness: 55 E Randolph
3. FFC: 619 W Jackson
Movie Theaters
*these aren’t in the Loop but are relatively close
1. ShowPlace ICON: 1011 S Delano Ct
2. AMC River East 21: 322 E Illinois
3. Navy Pier IMAX: 700 E Grand
Parks/Playgrounds
1. Millenium Park: 201 E Randolph
What we love: it’s one of Chicago’s most popular destinations – go see The Bean, watch movies in the park during the summer, or ice skating in the winter
2. Grant Park: 331 E Randolph
What we love: there is so much space and lots to do: baseball, tennis, relaxing, etc.
3. Maggie Daley Park: 337 E Randolph
What we love: it’s the biggest playground for the kids in the city
Public Libraries
1. CPL Harold Washington Library: 400 S State
Restaurants
1. Pierogi Heaven: 169 N Wells
What we love: it may be a hole in the wall but they are the best pierogis
2. Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe: 130 E Randolph
What we love: pretty much everything is good here but we especially love the Mexican skillet and cinnamon roll pancakes
3. Russian Tea Time: 77 E Adams
What we love: beef stroganoff
Things to do
1. Art Institute: 111 S Michigan
What we love: there is a huge collection of art and it’s free on Thursday nights for City of Chicago residents
2. Millenium Park
What we love: concerts or movies in the park, ice skating, taking pictures at The Bean
3. Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E Washington
What we love: it is breathtakingly beautiful inside
Vets
*there are no vets in the Loop but here are the closest:
1. Burnham Park Animal Hospital: 1025 S State
2. Chicago in Home Veterinarian Care: 312.780.9310
3. City Veterinarians: 600 N Lake Shore Drive
