Chicago Entertainment Options

            Welcome back to our tour through Chicago. Last week we looked at some cultural landmarks in Chicago. This week we’ll focus on some entertainment options.  

Wrigley Field 

Wrigley Field: Opened in 1914, Wrigley Field has housed the Chicago Cubs since 1916. Nestled in the Wrigleyville neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago, Wrigley is in the middle of a residential area. There are no obnoxious parking lots and the other amenities that make so many modern stadiums joyless deserts. Wrigley features its famous Ivy covered outfield walls and hand turned scoreboard. The stadium retains much of the charm of the old ballpark while offering modern amenities. The Cubs were the last team to install lights for night games. At present, they still play many of their home games during the day. In 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the time since 1908, ending a championship draught longer than that of the Boston Red Sox. 

Guaranteed Rate Field: While not as famous or successful as the Cubs, the Chicago White Sox are the Second City’s second major league baseball team. Playing in Guaranteed Rate Field on Chicago’s South Side, good seats are cheap and plentiful. While lacking the charm and history of Wrigley, Guaranteed Rate Field has easy access to public transit. Guaranteed Rate lacks the neighborhood feel of Wrigley and the crowd can be a bit rougher—we witnessed a lot of drinking, smoking, and cursing fans—but the stadium is worth a visit. Even if it is just to take advantage of some cheap seats. 

Guaranteed Rate Field 

Second City Chicago: Besides being known for the Cubs, hot dogs, those guys from SNL, and the Blues Brothers, Chicago is famous for improv. Second City is the city’s premier improv troupe. Throughout the years, Second City has nutured the comedy talents of Billy Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Steve Carrell, Stephen Colbert and many, many others. Second City offers two recurring comedy shows, one on the main stage and the other in a secondary theater. They also have improv classes, stand-up comedians, comedy workshops, and a host of other activities. The recurring shows feature Second City’s famous “Third Act” where the performers engage in improv based on audience suggestions. They even had table-side service where you can a beer to go along with the show. 

Chicago Architecture Foundation Tour: Okay, this is a little bit of a cheat. The Chicago Architecture Foundation actually has 7 tours: River Cruise, Must-See Chicago, Historic Treasures, Elevated Architecture, Art Deco Skyline, Bus, and Chicago Modern. We recommend the River Cruise. Starting out on the Chicago River, the boat tour lasts 90 minutes. The trained docents tell the history of the city through its architecture. There’s discussions of the 1871 Fire, the Great Depression, the evolution of Art Deco to Modernist styles, the rise and fall of Chicago’s big businesses, and the city’s requirement that the public must have access to the entire length of the river. Find a seat on the top deck and bring a coat. 

The stage for Hamilton 

Broadway in Chicago: Chicago has a number of theaters that host touring and permanent productions of Broadway musicals. This year, Broadway in Chicago will feature The Book of Mormon, Fiddler on the Roof, Kinky Boots, Dear Evan Hansen, Hello Dolly, and Charlie and Chocolate Factory. Chicago’s CDIC Theater is also the permanent home of a production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, the smash musical. While not cheap, Chicago’s Hamilton has tickets more tickets available than at the musical’s home at New York’s Richard Rogers Theater or for any of the touring productions. The cast is similarly impressive, stocked with Broadway veterans. Chicago will also soon be the host of a new historical exhibition based on the musical. 

            Next week we’ll take a look at some of Chicago’s best dining options.