Chicago Like a Local blog

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

Latest Posts

Blog, Tours & attractions

Accessible Chicago attractions for deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors

As an architectural photographer, tour guide, and storyteller, I spend most of my days crisscrossing Chicago with my camera in hand and a curious eye…

Tours & attractions

Top experiences for solo travelers in Chicago

You’ve got to make Chicago your next solo travel destination! It’s so easy to find something you love from outdoorsy bike trails to award-winning museums…

Blog, Special events

How to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month in Chicago

Chicago is a city renowned for its rich cultural diversity, and there’s no better time to experience this than during National Hispanic Heritage Month. From…

Blog, Special events

Your guide to Chicago Live! 2025 at Navy Pier: the largest free performing arts fest in the Midwest

Chicago’s summer festival season may be winding down, but there’s still another stand-out event on the city’s cultural calendar — Chicago Live! at Navy Pier.…

Dining

A guide to Chicago’s iconic pizza scene: must-try local spots from deep dish to tavern style

Home to some of the world’s most iconic pies, the pizza scene in Chicago rises to the occasion no matter how you slice it. The…

Blog, Neighborhoods

Things to eat, see, and do in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood

Welcome to Bucktown, a tree-lined neighborhood just northwest of downtown Chicago. Once a hub for Polish immigrants and bohemian artists, Bucktown today is an eclectic…

Architecture & history, Blog, Neighborhoods

The history of Pullman in Chicago: the birth of a National Monument and the country’s first Black labor union

Head to the historic Pullman neighborhood to explore the first National Park Service site in Chicago. This historic area on the city’s South Side was…

Blog, Neighborhoods

How to spend a day in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood

The Bridgeport neighborhood began as a working-class area of Chicago with deep ties to the city’s political history. Over the years, the area has evolved…

Arts, culture & entertainment, Blog, Dining, Special events

50+ Chicago spots to check out for National Black Business Month

August is National Black Business Month, the perfect time to put a spotlight on Chicago’s wealth of Black-owned businesses. Chicago’s Black entrepreneurs are an integral…

Dining, Festivals, Special events

What new at Chicago Gourmet 2025

For the last 17 years, Chicago Gourmet has brought luxurious food tastings, top-tier wine pairings, intimate experiences with acclaimed chefs, and the camaraderie of standing…