Chicago Like a Local blog

Unique perspectives on the city from the people who live here.

Visitors at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park with Chicago’s skyline behind. A vibrant downtown hub surrounded by hotels, art, and culture.

Blog, Tours & attractions

See Chicago in 24 hours

In town for business? Meet the real Chicago. Tacking on some leisure time to your business trip allows you to plan for a fun extended…

Food & drink

International food in Chicago’s global neighborhoods

Embark on a global culinary journey, right here in Chicago. Within the city’s diverse neighborhoods lies a vibrant international food scene where you can taste…

Blog, Music, Nightlife

Where to hear house music in Chicago: top clubs and venues

Welcome to Chicago, the birthplace of house music. This genre, characterized by its repetitive beats and synthesized basslines, emerged from the city’s vibrant underground club…

Shopping and fashion

Chicago neighborhoods for boutique shopping

While Chicago is known for our world-famous shopping districts, like State Street and The Magnificent Mile, we’re also home to a vast array of amazing…

Blog, Nightlife

House music and the LGBTQ+ community: a Q&A with the founder of queer dance party series Slo ‘Mo

House music was born in Chicago. It evolved from disco and emerged from the city’s underground club scene to become a worldwide phenomenon that still…

Music, Nightlife

Explore Chicago blues

If you’re a blues fan, you need to add a trip to Chicago to our bucket list. No one sings the blues quite like Chicago,…

Visitors gather around Cloud Gate, known as “The Bean,” in Millennium Park. An iconic Chicago landmark perfect for group experiences.

Blog, Special events

The Bean is back! Your guide to The Bean’s reopening

“The Bean” is back! The construction to the area surrounding the iconic sculpture is now complete, just in time for Millennium Park’s 20th anniversary season.…