You'd better get started if you're going to search for Chicago's
best pizza, which everyone in this city has an opinion on. Here's a
short locals'-favorites list:
Nino's Pizza (4835 West 111th Street, Alsip, 708-423-9100)
Palermo's Pizza (3751 West 63rd Street, 773-585-5002)
Home Run Inn (4254 West 31st Street, 773-247-9696)
Arrenello's Pizza (325 East Glenwood Lansing Road, Glenwood,
708-758-6160)
Phil's Pizza (8932 Ridgeland Avenue, Oak Lawn, 708-599-4747)
Joe's Italian Villa (8807 South Harlem Avenue, Bridgeview,
708-599-1431)
Louisa's Restaurant (14025 Cicero Avenue, Crestwood,
708-371-0950)
For working off all that pizza sampling,
Foster Avenue Beach
(5200 North Foster Avenue, 312-742-5121) is tops for its typically
uncrowded bike and in-line skating paths, free parking, and a beach
house - not to mention an indescribable view of downtown.
Northerly Island (1400 South Lynn White Drive,
312-745-2910), a 91-acre park, is also a haven for bikers and
walkers. In the warm months, the park's outdoor Charter One concert
pavilion is one of the best concert venues in the city.
Chicago also boasts some great one-of-a-kind boutiques, perfect for
browsing or for finding little homecoming gifts. Stroll and shop
along the
Magnificent Mile (on and around North Michigan
Avenue from the
Chicago River north to Oak Street), the Rodeo Drive
of the Midwest. Ladies can set their own fashion trends after a
visit to
Jade (1557 North Milwaukee Avenue, 773-342-5233),
and men will find upscale denim to suit any style at
Jake
(3740 North Southport Avenue, 773-929-5253).
Other city secrets include
Valhalla Wine Shop (3317 North
Broadway, 773-296-6800) on the lakefront. The shop looks like it
could be an art gallery, with bare walls and a huge wood
table-setting with bottles of wine taking center stage. The best
part is that many of the wines are well within reach (price and
palate) of most wine drinkers. And with more author readings than
just about any other bookstore in the city,
Barbara's
Bookstore (1218 South Halsted, 312-413-2665) is a locals'
favorite that'll make you feel like one of the literati.