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[quote=Anonymous]So. . . I'm in Chicago now. It's 27 with a windchill of 14. You may get lucky - or not. But it's not the ideal time for charming neighborhood exploration - of which there are many.

I wouldn't typically recommend Streeterville, but given that it's likely going to be cold, it's not a terrible choice. Options for reasonably-priced or smaller, independent restaurants are going to be limited in that neighborhood with its high rents.

The Art Institute is a must. Plan the day there and perhaps see about joining a tour.

If you get decent weather, you could head to Pilsen to visit the Mexican art museum and try a Mexican restaurant or two. Pilsen has a good bit of grit, but it worthy of a stop if you don't have solid Mexican food near you. And Thalia Hall often has good concerts, but you'll want to plan in advance.

I also really like the Museum of Contemporary Art, which should be close to you.

I like PP's suggestion of the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Though I far prefer the Garfield Park Conservatory, LPC is easier to get to and has many food options - including Wiener Circle - nearby. If the weather's nice, you can also hop over to the zoo, which is free and has loads of indoor exhibits. The lion cubs are particularly adorable, though I haven't seen them in winter. From the LPC, hop a quick cab over to Clark and Armitage. From there you can walk west and do a bit of poking your head into shops as you get cold. The streets north and south of there are rather charming, with many old homes.

You could see about doing high tea in a fancy hotel - several options near you most likely. Many of them will also have nice spas. Visit the Christmas market (Christkinlmarket) at Daley Plaza.

See what's going on for live music. Chicago has live blues and jazz seven nights a week. Do a bit of research and you'll surely find many options. As PP mentioned, there's the Green Mill and you can get there in about 30 minutes on the Red Line train. There are some good Asian food options (lots of Vietnamese + Sun Wah for Chinese) and Demera for Ethiopian up there. It's not a particularly charming neighborhood, though. Some of the residential streets are nice, but it's not a place to explore after dark.

And come back in the summer. Things are green and folks are outside and active. Many of us just hunker down with friends and family in the winter.[/quote]

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