I'm travelling to Chicago for a convention and unfortunately my husband will be unable to join me. It's my first time in the city and I'm looking for ideas of what to see/do while I'm there for three days in May. I'll be occupied during the day but am looking for ideas for what to do in the evenings.

Any suggestions? I love museums, sports, art, and just general sightseeing...

Oh - I'll be staying at the Westin on Michigan Avenue if that helps with logistics....

Thanks!

I also went to Chicago alone and stayed at the Westin.

Go to the tourist office across the street from the John Hancock Tower. They can make suggestions and you can get 1/2 price tickets to many shows there. I suggest seeing whatever is at the Steppanwolf Theatre. You can also go and see Second City and perhaps Shakepeare at the Pier. OF course, you are right on Michigan Avenue, so you can check out all the stores as well.

Have a wonderful time!

Check out this Chicago Tribune website www.metromix.com

The Art Institute is open late on Tuesdays until 8 pm and is also free.

The Terra Museum (American art),664 N. Michigan Ave., is open until 8 pm also on Tuesday and is free every day. It's open until 6 pm Wed-Sat. It's right on the Mag Mile.

The Cultural Center, on the corner of Randolph and Michigan in the loop, is open late on Thursday. It's a beautiful building on the interior and also houses one of the tourism offices. There's a beautiful Tiffany stained glass ceiling on the third floor.

There are several hot tix booths in the city, you can try there for 1/2 price theatre tickets on the same day of the performance, www.hottix.org.

There are multiple movie theaters in Chicago, the Gene Siskel film center located in the loop shows out of the ordinary films (foreign, indie mostly)
http://www.artic.edu/webspaces/siskelfilmcenter/

Hello! I also just came back from a solo trip to Chicago and enjoyed the city immensely. I immersed my self under Chicago performing arts scene during my stay. Since it seems like your free time will be mostly on evenings, I suggest checking out performances on Goodman Theater, Broadway in Chicago theaters (Cadillac Palace etc.), and even the Civic Opera House. These venues are architecturally beautiful as well. Chicago I thought was very accessible so walking to these venues under the city lights at night was so much fun. Hope you enjoy your stay in Chicago.

You are staying in great location - very easy to get around. Check out the bar(or the observitory,but the bar is free to get in and less or no waiting) at the top of the John Hancock Building, best views in the city night or day. Most museums are open one day a week later than normal

here is a link to a bunch a other links
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/ThingsToDo/Museums.html

My favorites for your location:

The Field Museum
MCA - musuem of conteporary art
Art institutue

The Field Museum is not open any nights but if you get out early from your convention stop by - it is the only place in the world where a complete Tyrannasourus rex skeleton can be veiwed(SUE)

Sports!! - depending on when you are in town you can see a cubs game!!
check out the schedule at www.cubs.com
This would be very memorable experiance Wrigley field is 90 years old now and the ballpark is completely intergated into the neigborhood. Bars and resturants line the streets in all directions. before and after games is a contiual party. if you cant get tickets from www.cubs.com try www.ticketsnow.com - or just go up there to walk around the area , very fun place

Have fun