"I like Ditka's, especially during the holidays. You know Mike Ditka, former coach of the Chicago Bears? He's got a restaurant that's full of sports memorabilia from his football days and other sports figures who come in and donate things. It's got a real lively atmosphere, and you'll often find Mike there, roaming around shaking hands. He's just a bigger-than-life figure. I have a friend who owns The Grill on the Alley. They serve hearty meals. They love for you to be full when you walk out. You don't have to wear a suit and tie. I'm not big on getting dressed up for dinner or anything. The Grill's decor reminds you of being back in the '20s or '30s. It has ceiling fans and large rooms with cozy booths. It almost has an art deco feel."

Theater
"Every year around the holidays, the Goodman Theatre puts on a production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The famous Joffrey Ballet's production of The Nutcracker Suite is not to be missed either. The theater scene in Chicago is great. Second City, the famous comedy theater where people like Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner began, is an evening in itself. You'll spend hours just laughing. Second City, the Goodman Theatre, and the Steppenwolf Theatre are probably the three most well-known theaters in the Chicago area, not forgetting the Organic Theater which is where Joey Mantegna and I came from. It's still there, but it's no longer a theater. They do plays in the [new] Organic Theater [space in Evanston]."

SATURDAY

Breakfast
"The Golden Cup is a typical corner restaurant bustling with activity in the morning. You sit at either booths or tables and coffee is served nonstop, along with your egg breakfast and pancakes or whatever. A lot of people go there every single day. That's the way they start their morning."

Shopping