going to chicago,for one month. Want to see the real chicago.Not just the tourist places.so where is the best places in chicago .WHATS THE BEST THING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN OR DONE IN CHICAGO?

I like twin anchors for ribs, but haven't been in a few years.

Geja's Cafe for fondue. It is such a unique dining experience in a quiet, romantic atmosphere with a great wine list....I could go on and on.

You'll be there for a month, huh? See some shows! Check out the Metro, Park West, Old Town School, hang out in Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, run or rollerblade up and down the lake front, go shopping on Michigan Ave, eat some REAL pizza (Giordano's or Bacino's are my picks--you can skip Uno and Due), ride the EL, the list goes on and on!!

Have fun!

If you want to see the real Chicago and you're braver than most tourists, check out a show at the Fireside Bowl--Chicago's premiere punk venue--in the Logan Square area. You'll probably want to take a friend along for safety's sake in the neighborhood.

what time of year will you be there?

Catch a baseball game at Wrigley Field, before they tear it down as they are doing to Soldier Field. Bastards.

Real Chicago can get pretty rough. All the places mentioned are real Chicago too- but they some still sit on the tourist edge. To me the neighborhoods are the real Chicago and downtown is not a place where any Chicagoans that I know hang out.

Neighborhood restaurants and bars are a good start. Flat Top Grill by Oprah's studio Harpo, Shiskabob Palace near 63rd and Kedzie, Hyde Park and University of Chicago area Thai places etc. A Bulls or Blackhawks game at the United Center, or better yet both. Then you can see the suits and the workers.
Some of the great Italian places on the North and Northwest sides shouldn't be missed. I'd also see a candy factory and/or one of the other places like Holsum that are left. Tootsie Roll is gone now- but there still are a few hot dog manufacturers. Pullman and Chicago history tours, and especially the architectural walking ones that go through some of the neighborhoods.

Best time I've had is hard to say, too many. One very good time was on the Archer Ave. bus coming back from University of Illinois Chicago in about 1970. I also remember one great neighborhood wedding in a VFW hall that lasted two days and featured whole bottles of Vodka in the center of each table. Probably a very good way to see some real Chicago would be to crash a neighborhood wedding or ethnic summer festival. Some of the storefront church services might be a real education too.

The air and water show between Oak Street and North Avenue beaches

It should be pointed out that the Air and Water show is for one weekend in August - so if you're not here then, you miss it.

finn: Take boat tours - both on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Do the river cruise during the day for the architecture and the Michigan cruise at night for the skyline. AVOID Navy Pier like the plague.

Go see Second City comedy troupe perform. Eat deep-dish pizza at Giordano's or Gino's East. See George Seurat's "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grande Jatte" at the Art Institute. Drink champagne while listening to a jazz combo at Pops. Hear a great band at Kingston Mines. Sample flights of wine at Webster's Wine Bar. Shop on the Magnificent Mile. Drink a beer at any random sports bar in Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville and strike up a conversation with a local. Go for a walk or a run on the lakefront.

Definitely hit Wriggley for a baseball game. Sox games are fun too..just not as venerable. Hit some of the Wriggleyville bars too.
take the ell to some of the great neighborhoods, wicker park Logan square! Lincoln Park and others.
If it's during the summer head out to Ravenna for a picnic and a symphony.
Bergoffs for a little German food and great beer. Deep dish pizza at places listed above.
gold coast hot dogs..and some italian beef sandwiches offered at many locations..garrets popcorn (mix the carmel corn and cheese corn. Hit the art museum, field museum and Sci and industry. Real chicago people also do the planetarium and aquarium too!
Hit China town and greek town, not just to eat but to hang out and experience life.
2nd city, a boat tour and take the architectural tour.
If you're flush, do Charlie Trotters, or Ambria.
Shop Michigan ave and the big old marshall fields in the loop. Oak street beach, and the rest of the lakefront buckingham fountain...they're not just tourist places, but part of the real chicago.

What great responses thus far! As a Chicago resident, I'm proud of these posts!

One note for Workers - I have to disagree that real Chicagoans don't hang out downtown. I work in the Loop, live in the West Loop, and spend PLENTY of time downtown, as do many of my friends and colleagues who live in other neighborhoods. However, the spirit of your post (get past tourist traps and see more of the city) is dead-on.

To me (and friends who've since moved and make it their first stop), Real Chicago is Penny's Noodles - preferably the one in Wrigleyville which is still a BYOB. Thai like you've never craved before at $6 a meal.

Bacino's for pizza (but Giordano's will get lots of votes, too). Wrigley for a game. And any of 1000 local pubs for a beer afterwards.

Yes to the Art Institute and Museum of Science and Industry. If you like modern art, lunch at Puck's at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) just off Michigan Avenue overlooking a sculpture garden and the lake.

Drive around and around all the neighborhoods - from the Gold Coast and Lincoln Park to places like the before mentioned Logan Square. I've been here for years and can't believe everything I haven't yet seen. Have a cabbie take the scenic view.

The walking architecture tour is great, as is the boat tour and we also love gallery walks at 10:30 on Saturday mornings. Meet at the Starbucks in the River North gallery district and tour a few of the galleries.

Shopping in the boutiques at Armitage and Halsted (particularly Lori's for shoes for our female friends) is a nice counterpoint to the Mag Mile.

So much to see and do - can you tell we all love the city? Have fun choosing from a great list thus far!

Lincoln Park Zoo....also the Farm in the Zoo. From there, walk a little east and a little south through the park to the big bridge that crosses the Outer Dr. Once you cross the bridge, walk along the Lake towards downtown...great walk, great skyline, great city (Spent my first 50+ years there). Chicago Historical Society is also a favorite place.

Lincoln Park Zoo is so under renovation, most of the animals are missing, including the Farm in the Zoo. If you come back in 2003, it will be great!

Wicker Park/Bucktown is great. Damen Avenue b/w North and Webster has cool boutiques like Embelezar and my favorite: Tangerine as well as good restuarants (stay AWAY from the Northside Cafe). Great sushi and other new, hot restaurants can be found on Division; it's a little rough around the edges still, so definitely not tourist. A great way to see how the city/neighborhood is changing is to walk up Milwaukee from Ashland/Division to North Avenue.

Time of year for visit and children, if any, make a huge difference in what you want to do. Any more specifics?

Gwen

Thanks Gwen - I didn't know about the zoo work.

thanks
Worker/I am going to a candy factory that sounds cool.
Lorraine/going to chicago in april/may.But the show sounded cool.
pat/the cruises at night sound cool.would never have thought of it.
Lisa/I have never heard a jazz band,see you at webters and pops.
Gwen /the walk sounds lovely
SO THANKS EVERY ONE
I am going in march / april time

Uh, scratch the Archer Avenue bus.