From Wikitravel

The L rumbling down Lake Street

The Near West Side of Chicago has two of Chicago's premiere culinary strips, Little Italy and Greektown, and basketball legend Michael Jordan's old stomping grounds with the Chicago Bulls.

Understand

Near West Side created many of Chicago's most beloved cultural landmarks: among others, the Chicago-style hot dog, the deep dish pizza, the immigrant port of entry, the blues, the Blues Brothers, the labor movement, "Cheat You Fair," Jane Addams and the modern concept of social justice — all were born or have roots here. You wouldn't know it from the place today, though, which is dominated the charmless campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC); outside of those areas, seen from the L tracks, stray pieces of the old neighborhoods sit like the last few teeth in the mouth of a punch-drunk prizefighter.

Greektown is quite the popular hang-out

Close to the rail yards and factory jobs, this was Chicago's major port of entry throughout the 1800s and early 1900s. Central to everything was the Maxwell Street Market, which was founded by Jewish immigrants and joined by African-Americans during the Great Migration. Maxwell Street evolved from an open-air market of stalls and pushcarts to become the place where people from everywhere brought discount everything in the quest to make a fortune — and, as the saying went, Cheat You Fair. The deals, the scams, the cheap food and the street performances by future blues legends created a signature Chicago atmosphere for more than 120 years.

However, the desire of Chicago's business community to have a buffer zone between the Loop and the West Side housing projects led to severe changes: first, the new Eisenhower Expressway cut off a slice of the east side, and then the construction of UIC destroyed the homes of more than 5,000 people. The years since have seen the university continue its path of wanton destruction, enabled by the city in every urge. In 1994, they finally managed to raze the market, which was relocated a few blocks east in reduced form.

Still, there are a few prime attractions on the Near West Side. The Chicago Bulls play on without Michael Jordan at the United Center, but Oprah Winfrey is still in residence at Harpo Studios. The small restaurant strips of Little Italy on Taylor Street and Greektown on Halsted Street have good food and tourist-friendly charm. UIC's University Village is rather like Hyde Park re-cast by pod people, but the West Loop (sometimes known as the Warehouse District) features the city's most expensive restaurants, a thriving gallery scene, and several hot clubs-of-the-moment.

By train

There are several train stations on the Near West Side, but they're not very well-placed for destinations other than UIC. Buses are a more direct alternative from most of the city, including the Loop.

The Forest Park branch of the CTA Blue Line has stops near Maxwell Street, Little Italy and Greektown (UIC-Halsted, Racine), UIC (Illinois Medical District) and the Tri-Taylor area (Western). The CTA Green Line and Pink Line have stops within a hike of the West Loop (Clinton/Lake) and the United Center (Ashland/Lake), while the Pink Line branches off to the center of UIC and near the edge of Little Italy (Polk).

The city's two regional train hubs, Union Station and Ogilvie/Northwestern Station, are right on the edge of the West Loop. They're generally used by travelers going east over the river to the Loop, but there's no reason you can't walk west instead. See the Loop article for arrival and departure information.

By bus

The CTA runs several bus routes through the West Side:

• 8 Halsted can be caught as far north as Lakeview. It runs through Greektown and hits the old Maxwell Street.
• 9 Ashland also runs from far north and on to the south, passing within walking distance of Little Italy and the United Center. It's an all-night route.
• 12 Roosevelt runs from the Near South to walking distance of Little Italy (exit Halsted, walk south) and Greektown (exit Halsted, walk north).
• 19 United Center Express runs on game nights for the Bulls and Blackhawks from Michigan & Chicago in the Near North to Madison in the Loop, and express to the UC once it's west of the river. Service starts 90 minutes prior to game time and ends 15 minutes prior to game time, and buses will be waiting to travel the route in reverse after the game.
• 20 Madison runs all night from the Loop, passing through Greektown and by the United Center.
• 38 Ogden/Taylor reaches UIC, Maxwell Street, and Little Italy. It will soon become the 157 Streeterville/Taylor, extending into the Near North.
• 50 Damen runs from Ukrainian Village and passes by the United Center.

By car

For Greektown, exit I-90/94 east at Adams, or west at Monroe. From the Eisenhower Expressway, exit at Racine, and turn left. Halsted & Adams is three blocks north and six blocks east. If driving in the area in the evening, avoid the blocks around United Center at all costs, as the event traffic is horrendous.

• Harpo Studios, 1058 W Washington Ave (20 Madison bus), ☎ +1 312 633-0808, [2]. Morning taping 7AM-11AM, Afternoon taping 11AM-3PM. 'Harpo' is backward for the first name of she who tapes her shows here, Oprah Winfrey. The only way to enter the court of Her Majesty is to be in an audience; reservations are necessary and tickets are hot, so call well in advance of your visit, ideally more than a month before, and be prepared to be flexible. Audience members must be over the age of 18. Programs are taped on weekdays from August through November and then January through May, generally two shows a day. Last-minute reservations may be possible; check the website [3].  edit

• Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, 801 W Adams Ave, 4th Floor (UIC-Halsted Blue Line), ☎ +1 312 655-1234, [4]. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 11AM-4PM. Programs and galleries celebrating Hellenic culture in the heart of Greektown. Admission $5.  edit

• Jane Addams Hull House Museum, 800 S Halsted St (UIC-Halsted Blue Line), ☎ +1 312 413-5353, [5]. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Su 12-4PM, M,Sa closed. UIC was built on top of the original Hull House, where the prolific writer and reformer Jane Addams lived and worked to help people in need. This museum is dedicated to her memory in two surviving buildings from the complex, now absorbed into the UIC campus, and features exhibits on local history and social justice throughout the world. Free.  edit

• Museum of Holography, 1134 W Washington Ave (20 Madison bus), ☎ +1 312 226-1007, [6]. W-Su 12:30-5PM. "America's only museum of holography," at least according to the curator. It'll only take you 20 minutes to visit, but it's kind of interesting. (It's more like 25 minutes if you pet the cat.) Make sure to check out the holographic projection of a three-foot-long, crawling tarantula. Officially, it's $4 for adults, and $3 for children, but the cat has a habit of appearing at the donation box, so you might find yourself giving more than you counted on.  edit

• National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, 1431 W Taylor St, ☎ +1 312 226-5566, [7]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa-Su 11AM-4PM. Exactly what the name says; this is a glittering, big-budget facility, moved here from the suburbs a few years ago. The collection pays tribute to more than 200 inductees from many professional sports, with Joe DiMaggio held in highest esteem. Space for event rentals (like fundraisers for Italian-American politicians) outstrips the space for exhibits, though. $5.   edit

• Saint Ignatius College Prep, 1076 W Roosevelt Rd, ☎ +1 312 421-5900, [8]. Opened in 1869, two years prior to the Chicago Fire, this impressive building is still a working high school. No tours are offered of the interior, but pieces of famous Chicago buildings from the past have been installed around the campus, including murals from the old Chicago Stadium and intriguing ornament from lost Adler & Sullivan and Burnham & Root masterworks. (Next door, Holy Family Church dates from 1857.) Free, though you might call ahead if school is in session.  edit

Galleries

The West Loop has a thriving contemporary art gallery scene that's easy to explore on foot. Start at the corner of Peoria and Washington. The two most prominent galleries are the Donald Young and Kavi Gupta galleries, but the adventurous will be rewarded here — there is a wealth of smaller gallery spaces to be explored even beyond this list.

• Bucket Rider Gallery, 835 W Washington Blvd, ☎ +1 312 421-6993 (info@bucketridergallery.com), [9]. Tu-F noon-6PM, Sa noon-5PM. Contemporary art (mostly painting and photography) by international artists (like Joe Sola).  edit

• Donald Young Gallery, 933 W Washington Blvd, ☎ +1 312 455-0100 (gallery@donaldyoung.com, fax: +1 312 455-0101), [10]. Tu-F 10AM-5:30PM, Sa 11AM-5:30PM. Donald Young's gallery is the place to experience video/film art in Chicago, and the member artists include such big-names as Sol Lewitt, Richard Serra, Jeff Koons, Don Flavin, and Bruce Nauman. Exhibits tend towards the very experimental and are often neither for the fainthearted nor the easily outraged, but keep in mind that they also often rival exhibits at the world's top contemporary art museums.  edit

• EC Gallery, 215 N Aberdeen, ☎ +1 312 850-0924 (info@ec-gallery.com, fax: +1 312 738-2998), [11]. Sat 11AM-4PM or by appointment. Contemporary art. The primary focus at EC Gallery is the introduction and representation of emerging and mid-career artists whose practices traverse painting, drawing, mixed media and photo media.  edit

• F2 Lab, 840 W Washington Blvd (2nd floor, above GARDENfresh), ☎ +1 312 371-1391 (f2@f2.cc), [12]. Sa noon-5PM, or by appointment. A contemporary art gallery focused (refreshingly) on mouth-blown glass sculpture in the service of quirky concept art.  edit

• GARDENfresh, 840 W Washington Blvd, ☎ +1 312 235-2246, [13]. Th-Sa noon-6PM, or by appointment. An artists' collective featuring contemporary art with a heavier-than-usual focus on concept art.  edit

• Kavi Gupta Gallery, 835 W Washington Blvd (2nd floor), ☎ +1 312 432-0708. Tu-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 11AM-5PM. Kavi Gupta's gallery is generally understood to have been the pioneer of the West Loop gallery phenomenon. Today his collection is still one of the area's most important and features new works from emerging international artists. If you're here, you might as well check out the Bucket Rider Gallery on the same floor or any of the other, smaller galleries in the building.  edit

• Primitive Art Works Gallery, 130 N Jefferson St, ☎ +1 312 575-9600 (fax: +1 312 575-9700), [14]. M-Sa 10AM-6PM. A large store/gallery packed with so-called "Primitive Art" from around the world. The selection is wide, including (among others): East African jewelry, Native American costumes, old-style Chinese beds, Eastern European stained glass, etc.  edit

• Supreme Frame & Art Gallery, 652 W Randolph St, ☎ +1 312 930-9056. M-Th 8AM-4PM, Sa 9AM-3PM. Several large-sized portraits of contemporary figures. It also sells some antique art and limited editions. Supreme has a large collection of art posters, serigraphs and prints, many with a distinctly Chicago flavor  edit

Michael Jordan locked in eternal dunk in front of United Center

• Johnny's Ice House, 1350 W Madison St, ☎ +1 312 226-5555 (kevin@johnnysicehouse.com, fax: +1 312 226-5588), [15]. If one of the local hockey teams inspires you to strap on skates, Johnny's Ice House offers ice skating year-round for people of all experience levels.  edit

• South Union Arts, 1352 S Union, [16]. This is a church that has been converted into a space for concerts and art exhibits — there's a big neon cross above the stage as a reminder. Shows are irregular, so check the website for schedules, but they're usually good, if a bit chaotic.  edit

• UIC Pavilion, 525 S Racine (Racine Blue Line), ☎ +1 312 413-5740, [17]. Box office Th-F 9AM-6PM, 2-3 hours before events. UIC's campus stadium is remarkably adaptable, hosting college sports like basketball and the school's stand-out ice hockey team (the Flames), Chicago's WNBA team (the Sky), and as concerts for mid-sized to major touring bands. Tickets usually $15-35.  edit

• United Center, 1901 W Madison Ave (20 Madison bus), ☎ +1 312 455-4500, [18]. Home of the NBA Chicago Bulls. The United Center is too big to get raucously loud, but the sightlines are great from anywhere in the house, and fans of Michael Jordan will enjoy seeing his jersey in the rafters and his statue outside (check the statue details — he's wearing stone Air Jordans!). Current Bulls rookie Derrick Rose has the city buzzing, but it's usually possible to find tickets at or near face value. The city's resurgent hockey team, the Blackhawks, also plays here. On off-nights, this is Chicago's second-largest concert venue for big touring bands, the circus (in November), and other random events. Most games start at $38 for upper level seats, concerts closer to $50.  edit

Buy

The New Maxwell Street Market still runs from 7AM-3PM every Sunday (☎ +1 312 922-3100), regardless of season. The much smaller size and higher vendor fees ensure that the original flavor of the world's greatest outdoor market is now only a piece of history, but the New Market has a truly awe-inspiring number of cheap Mexican food along with discount jewelry, t-shirts, random vintage items, suspicious electronics, and other flea market classics, and is a lot of fun.

More traditional retail has been slow to develop for the rest of the Near West Side, with college students being the only relatively affluent consumer group in the area. Even after the spate of expensive residential developments in the West Loop and University Village, it's still under-served for shopping purposes. However, there are a few places worthy of note:

• Athenian Candle Co, 300 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 332-6988. M,T,Th,F 9:30AM-6PM, Sa 9:30AM-5PM. It's worth a visit just to gawk at their wall of candles, but the fun in browsing begins with their extensive and eclectic collection of religious/spiritual items, from the Christian to the arcane. Ponder to which category the "Pope holograms" belong.  edit

• Barbara's Bookstore, 1218 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 413-2665, [19]. M-F 9AM-10PM, Sa 10AM-10PM, Su 10AM-8PM. UIC students couldn't ask for better from their campus bookstore. Barbara's is run by book lovers who keep the big, comfortable store well-stocked with titles of all sorts, and this store sees an impressive list of author appearances.  edit

• Bennett Wine Studio, 802 W Washington Blvd, ☎ +1 312 666-4417. T-F noon-7PM, Sa noon-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Bennett has a strong and established reputation in Chicago for stocking her store with only the most tasteful wines, most of them from small estates and with very reasonable price tags. $10-15.  edit

• Erin Gallagher, 1017 W Lake St, ☎ +1 312 492-7548, [20]. M-F 11AM-7PM, Sa noon-7PM, Su noon-5PM. Boutique and custom jewelry by one of Chicago's most reputable designers, although you have a chance to compete a bit by designing your own pieces.  edit

• Greektown Gift & Music Shop, 330 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 263-6342. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su noon-4PM. One stop shop for everything Greek, from kitsch to language instruction to a big collection of CDs.  edit

• Lissa on Maxwell, 729 W Maxwell St, ☎ +1 312 563-9470, [21]. M-F 11AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 11AM-5PM. $250 for a dress on Maxwell Street? If you can get over that historical incongruity, you'll discover that this is a pretty cool operation, with talented designers not yet featured in places like Michigan Avenue, and biographies provided for each so you can investigate further.  edit

• Pivot, 1101 W Fulton Market, ☎ +1 312 243-4754, [22]. M noon-6, Tu-F 11AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Perhaps the world's first purveyor of hemp clothing that can honestly claim the title of stylish, Pivot's mission is to introduce the word eco-smart to the world of high fashion, be it in the form of bamboo skirts or sweaters made of cashmere bought straight from Mongolian nomadic herders.  edit

Eat

Cuisine is a major attraction for the West Side, with two of the city's most celebrated strips: Little Italy (Racine Blue Line) and Greektown (UIC-Halsted Blue Line). Restaurants are almost all that remain of the communities that were there before the bulldozers and redevelopment of the 1960s. Culinary preferences will presumably guide your decision, but all things being equal, Greektown is the better choice, because UIC has more of a presence in the Little Italy area.

Budget

Greek

Also see Drink — the bars in Greektown can be good dinner options, too, unless you're looking for family dining.

• Artopolis Bakery & Cafe, 306 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 559-9000, [23]. Cafe M-Th 9AM-midnight, F-Sa 9AM-1AM, Su 10AM-11PM; Kitchen Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-midnight. Greek artisan breads provide the foundation for bakery treats, sandwiches, and wood-fired pizzas. There's a full bar and wine list as well. $8-$16.  edit

• Greektown Gyros, 239 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 236-9310. 24 hours. There's the dinner scene in Greektown, and then there's the long-after-dinner scene. Few places in Chicago will treat you better after you leave a bar at 2AM. $6.  edit

• Meli Cafe & Juice Bar, 301 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 454-0748, [24]. M-Sa 6AM-4PM. A bright and relaxed brunch option, with cage-free eggs and Mediterranean-influenced soups and sandwiches. $9.  edit

• Mr. Greek Gyros, 234 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 906-8731. 24 hours. Another solid option for greasy late-night gyros. $5.  edit

• Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop, 322 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 454-1886. M-Th 9AM-8PM, F-Sa 9AM-9PM, Su 12-6PM. Confront, if you dare, the incredible power of fresh baklava. This is a true family institution in Greektown.  edit

• Zeus Inc., 806 W Jackson Blvd, ☎ +1 312 258-8789. M-Th 7:30AM-9PM, F-Sa 11AM-9PM. A popular lunch joint.  edit

Other

The new University Village, near Little Italy, has a plenty of sandwich shops and pleasant, undistinguished Thai, sushi, and other fast food restaurants catering to UIC students.

• Harold's Chicken Shack #39, 518 W Harrison St, ☎ +1 312 662-9000. Harold's is here to give UIC students a graduate seminar in the art of cheap, delicious chicken. $2-5.  edit

• Jim's Original Hot Dog, 1250 S Union St (UIC-Halsted Blue Line), ☎ +1 312 733-7820, [25]. 24 hours. Established in 1939, this long-time purveyor of the Maxwell Street Polish was able to move a few blocks away when the last hold-outs were evicted in 2001. Whether it's as good as it used to be is purely academic; it's an original, and it's good. $3-5.  edit

• Mario's Italian Lemonade, 1068 W Taylor St (Racine Blue Line). Open May to September only; 11 AM-midnight. If you're dining in Little Italy in the summer, skip dessert at your restaurant and come here instead. Mario's has been selling delicious Italian ice all over Chicago for more than 50 years. There are several flavors, but lemon is the staple. $1-3.  edit

• The Patio, 1503 W Taylor St, ☎ +1 312 829-0454. Su-Th 10:30AM-11PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-midnight. Another one of the few places serving the fast food classics like Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches here, in the area where they were born. $4-6.  edit

• The Soupbox, 500 W Madison Ave, ☎ +1 312 993-1019, [26]. M-F 10AM-9PM, Sa-Su 10:30AM-7PM. Ten soups of the day, listed in advance on their website, ranging from original creations to old standbys like Clam Chowder and Cream of Mushroom; sizes include 16oz breadbowls. $5-6.  edit

• White Palace Grill, 1159 S Canal St, ☎ +1 312 939-7167. 24 hours. A good and reliable all-night diner near Little Italy and the university. Since 1939, and fortunate enough to have avoided displacement.  edit

Mid-range

Greek

Most of the restaurants in Greektown offer free valet parking. You should be able to enjoy a meal for less than $25 at any of these restaurants, although if you'd like to splurge, most of the menus have seafood or lamb options to make that possible.

• Athena Restaurant, 212 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 655-0000, [27]. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. Lots of hot and cold appetizers to accompany the entrees, which are a little cheaper and a little less plentiful than the other Greektown restaurants. Nice indoor and outdoor seating. $10-18, family dinners $20 per person.  edit

• Costa's, 340 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 263-9700, [28]. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su closed. Casual, welcoming Greektown restaurant. Note the coupons on their website.  edit

• Greek Islands, 200 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 782-9855, [29]. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. One of the best and probably the biggest Greek restaurant in the city, with about 400 seats. Good standard Greek food: seafood, lamb, and chicken.  edit

• The Parthenon, 314 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 726-2407, [30]. 11AM-midnight. The saganaki burns brightest at the mighty Parthenon. Great family-style dinners with Greek classics are offered, and vegetarians will eat better here than anywhere else in Greektown (or almost anywhere else in Chicago). Multi-course family-style dinners $20-22 per person.  edit

• Pegasus Restaurant, 130 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 226-3377, [31]. Su 12-11PM, M-Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-1AM, Sa 12-1AM. Sister restaurant to the Artopolis Bakery (above). They're also at the Midway food court. Entrees $14-22, family dinners $22 per person.  edit

• Roditys, 222 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 454-0800, [32]. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. A long-standing Greektown restaurant (since 1973), with the braised, broiled, and roasted classics and a few more besides. $10-17.  edit

• Santorini, 800 W Adams St, ☎ +1 312 829-8820, [33]. Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Sa 11AM-1AM. Santorini specializes in seafood. Excellent for the real Chicago Greek experience. Reservations usually not necessary. Family-style dinners $20-30 per person.  edit

• Venus, 820 W Jackson Blvd, ☎ +1 312 714-1001, [34]. M-Th 4-11PM, F 4PM-1AM, Sa 4PM-2AM, Su noon-11PM. Greek-Cypriot cuisine, including mezas, the Mediterranean version of tapas. There's an extensive meat and seafood menu, but vegetarians can manage. Free valet parking. $14-$20.  edit

Italian

Valet parking is usually available at sit-down Little Italy restaurants for a nominal fee ($2-6).

• Conte Di Savoia European Specialties, 1438 W Taylor St (Racine Blue Line), ☎ +1 312 666-3471. M-F 9AM-7PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 9AM-4PM. Cheap, good Italian deli sandwiches amidst an enormous range of imported wine and groceries.  edit

• Francesca's on Taylor, 1400 W Taylor St, ☎ +1 312 829-2828, [35]. M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM; M 5-9PM, Tu-Th 5-10PM, F-Sa 5-11PM, Su 4-9PM. Excellent Italian restaurant, and probably the busiest in Little Italy — reservations are a good idea on weekends. Moderately priced and normally provides excellent service for large parties. $18-28.  edit

• La Vita, 1349 W Taylor St, ☎ +1 312 491–1414, [36]. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 5-11PM, Su 4-10PM. Colorful, modern Italian restaurant celebrating "The Life." The decor suggests they'd like patrons to dress nicely, but a look around the dining area will reveal plenty of hooded sweatshirts. $14-26.  edit

• RoSal's Italian Cucina, 1154 W Taylor St, ☎ +1 312 243-2357, [37]. M-Th 4-9PM, F-Sa 4-11PM, Su closed. For the "Family" atmosphere in Italian food.  edit

• Tufano's, 1073 Vernon Park Pl, ☎ +1 312 733-3393. Tu-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 4-11PM, Su 3-9PM. Tricky to find on a residential block behind Taylor Street, but Tufano's is a nice, relaxed Italian place to eat before a night at the United Center.  edit

• Tuscany, 1014 W Taylor St, ☎ +1 312 829-1990, [38]. A mainstay of the Little Italy scene. $12-20.  edit

Other

• Dine, 733 W Madison St (20 Madison bus), ☎ +1 312 602-2100, [39]. Su-Th 6AM-10PM, F-Sa 6AM-11PM. West Loop restaurant designed to be a really nice 1940s diner. It's next to the Crowne Plaza Hotel (see Sleep). Sandwiches $8-10, Other entrees $12-28.  edit

• Wishbone, 1001 W Washington Blvd, ☎ +1 312 850-2663, [40]. "Southern Reconstruction Cooking." Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Some nice vegetarian options, seafood, chicken, burgers, and a large variety of great Southern sides. $7-15.  edit

Splurge

The city's most trendy and expensive restaurants are to be found in the West Loop.

• Carnivale, 702 W Fulton Market (Clinton/Lake Green/Pink Line), ☎ +1 312 850-5005, [41]. M-Th 11:30AM-10:30PM (bar to midnight), F 11:30AM-11:30PM (bar to 1:30AM), Sa 5PM-11:30PM (bar to 1:30AM), Su 5PM-10PM. This chic Nuevo-Latino club has a great wait-staff and nice, colorful yet understated decor. Needless to say, they're always ready with a margarita, but only the (delicious) appetizers are available in the afternoon hours.  edit

• one sixtyblue, 1400 W Randolph/160 N Loomis St, ☎ +1 312 850-0303, [42]. M-Th 5:30-10PM, 5:30-11PM. Elegant surroundings with experienced French chefs, and highly acclaimed in Chicago; gentlemen are asked to leave their capital letters at the door, though. Cheese fans will delight in the cheese menu. Entrees $29-38.  edit

Drink

Oh Maxwell Street, what have you become? A few generic, upscale sports bars catering to university students and owners of new townhomes oozed in once the blues were gone.

• 9 Muses, 315 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 902-9922, [43]. M-F 11AM-2AM, Sa 12PM-3AM, Su 12PM-2AM. More of a modern style than the other Greektown bars and restaurants, but with plentiful portions of food, good outdoor seating, and an enthusiastic late-night dance scene. $13.  edit

• Byzantium, 232 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 454-1227. 6PM-4AM. Another popular bar in Greektown, with plenty of Greek bar food. Scores points for great live music, which may incur a cover of $5-7.  edit

• Gennaro's, 1352 W Taylor St, ☎ +1 312 243-1035. Th 5-9PM, F-Sa 5-10PM, Su 4-9PM. This is about the only place to drink on Taylor Street that looks like it's more than ten years old. Gennaro's has a full menu of sauce-heavy dishes, but it's best enjoyed for a beer in the great atmosphere of the old, wood-paneled bar.  edit

• Jaks Tap, 901 W Jackson Blvd, ☎ +1 312 666-1700, [44]. M-W 11AM-midnight, Th-F 11AM-2AM, Sa noon-2AM, Su noon-11PM. A good stop after a game at the United Center. Jaks takes pride in their baby-back BBQ ribs and has more than 40 beers on tap.  edit

• Spectrum Bar & Grill, 233 S Halsted St, ☎ +1 312 715-0770. M-F 11AM-4AM, Sa 5PM-5AM, Su 5PM-4AM. The Greektown location means that ouzo and saganaki have a place among the usual bar & grill fare.  edit

Sleep

There are many more hotels in the Loop, close to the Blue Line, and a few places in the Near South will also be fine if you'd like quick access to the West Side.

• Chicago Marriott at Medical District/UIC, 625 S Ashland Ave, ☎ +1 312 491-1234, [45]. As the name implies, this hotel is close to UIC and Rush University Medical Center, and also to Little Italy. A free shuttle service to the Loop and the usual business amenities are available. Rooms from $209.  edit

• Crowne Plaza Metro, 733 W Madison St (20 Madison bus), ☎ +1 312 829-5000, [46]. Just west of the Loop. Rooms from $175.  edit

• Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Downtown Chicago, 506 W Harrison St, ☎ ''+1 312'' 957-9100, [47]. Very close to the Near South and the Loop as well. Rooms from $269.   edit

Contact

The following libraries offer free public internet access:

• Mabel Manning Branch, 6 S Hoyne Ave (20 Madison bus), ☎ +1 312 746-6800, [48]. M-Th 9AM-7PM, F-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su closed. Two blocks east of the United Center.  edit

• Theodore Roosevelt Branch, 1101 W Taylor St (UIC-Halsted Blue Line), ☎ +1 312 746-5656, [49]. M-Tu,Th 9AM-8PM, W,F-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su closed. Close to UIC.  edit

Stay safe

Know where you're going, especially at night. Aside from the few major thoroughfares, the Near West Side has long, deserted stretches where help will be difficult to find. On the UIC campus, keep an eye out for kiosks with help phones. Also, while eating in Little Italy, don't fill up on bread; you will be unable to properly enjoy your main dish. (The same risk applies to making pre-emptive grabs for saganaki in Greektown.)

• If you were here for the Blues legacy of Maxwell Street, carry on to Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven in the Near South and the Black Metropolis of Bronzeville, then consider moving on further south to today's home of the Chicago Blues in Chatham-South Shore.
• If you prefer a Northern Italian take on pasta or you still aren't full, head to the smaller but more atmospheric "Heart of Italy" near Pilsen.