A nice little spot for some coffee and custom made bagel sandwiches where neighbourhood people hang out with their laptops. Awesome beet juice not to be missed!

The South Gardens at the AIC are magical––go in the middle of the summer when the whole gardens are lush, the flower pots are overflowing, and the leaves have came in on all the trees to form a sun-dappled canopy. Make sure to look at the Fountain of the Great Lakes––each woman in it personifies one of the Great Lakes of the region, and when the water is turned on, their seashell basins flow into one another in the same direction of the real lakes.

This is my favorite music venue in the city. It's on a unassuming strange corner, has the perfect amount of dirty-ness, good beer, and great music. I've spent many nights here watching some of my favorite bands.

Lost Eras has easily become one of my favorite shops to explore; hidden just outside of Chicago, it stretches far and narrow, crowded with lost treasures. Walking through it, it's hard not to begin imagining the stories of the objects that turn up in its walls, and the people that once held them. Not to mention the building itself is a piece of history, as in the 1920's it was home of the night club the "Club Detour" which had many artists play in it's halls such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basey and Ella Fitzgerald.

The best new/used bookstore in Chicago––and with every sale, they put money towards buying books for classrooms in the neighborhood schools. Great selection, well organized, helpful staff, and they hold occasional events where they'll stay open late.