Beyond the mainstream concert and theatre circuit, Chicago has a range of distinctive experiences worth knowing about.
The Chicago Architecture Foundation's river and lake architecture boat tours offer a well-regarded way to see the city from the water. The Observatory at 360 Chicago (on Michigan Avenue) or the Skydeck at Willis Tower are often listed as landmark experiences for first-time visitors. The city's cemetery tours — Oak Woods Cemetery has a notable history — run seasonally. Blues jam sessions at Kingston Mines and Rosa's Lounge on the North Side allow a different kind of engagement with live music than a ticketed concert.
Short Notes covers these kinds of experiences alongside the main events calendar. See our days out guide for more.