-Flying into town? Take the ‘L’ trains to downtown/City Center. Faster, much cheaper, and I believe they are less hassle. Orange for Midway, Blue from O’Hare. Both airports do a decent job directing you to the platform.

- Try and get out of River North, Loop, or Streeterville and into the neighborhoods. Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Fulton Market (West Loop): are all great (and 100% safe) neighborhoods with a lot going for food and general revelry.

-See a concert in Chicago. Outstanding venues: Shubbas, Thalia Hall, The Vic, and Lincoln Hall all provide small to medium size crowds. They have a knack for booking established and upcoming artists.

- Every football team and college has a bar. A product of big city population that draws from different corners (and a deplorable Bears/local college team scene) but fun to see a watering hole with 50 Buffalo Bills fans outside sporting their Jim Kelly jerseys and Zubas.