Walking around Chicago: Immerse yourself in the different city neighborhoods

By Patty Enrado, Editor

CHICAGO — HIMSS09 ends Wednesday, April 8, but you’re thinking of staying a day or two to check out Chicago. Wondering what to do in a day? Where do you go to get the most bang for your buck time-wise? Let the HIMSS staff be your guide with their enthusiastic recommendations for destination stops. In fact, you may end up staying until Sunday to explore the many neighborhoods. And come back again to see the ones you missed!

Quinn Gilmore, Service Desk analyst, encourages attendees to see the Chicago River walk (http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/attractions/tourism/chicago_riverwalk.html) and take one of the many river tours (http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Chicago+Riverwalk&entityNameEnumValue=199). One of your best choices for experiencing Chicago from the river, according to Gilmore, the tour lets you explore the lakefront, locks and along the river. ”A memorable river and lake architectural cruise featuring exciting views and descriptions of Chicago’s most famous architecture, landmarks and history is another great option,” he said.

Old Town (http://www.oldtownchicago.org/) is a great place to explore, says Tricia Spellman, director of Marketing. Home to Second City (www.secondcity.com), the famous improvisation and comedy venue, Old Town has a “great Chicago feel” with excellent shopping, dining and people watching, Spellman said.

Calling all fashionistas: Don’t go home without checking out the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood (http://www.seemoreshopping.com/Destination/BucktownWicker_Parkcity.html) for unique shopping opportunities, advised Tracy Jackson, senior manager of Marketing at HIMSS Analytics. Damen Avenue is chockfull of local boutiques as well as brand name outfits. Niche/City Soles (shoes), P. 45 (clothes and accessories) and SheBang (handbags and accessories) are among Jackson’s list of local boutiques to venture into. The area also boasts the well-known stores: Lululemon, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Intermix, BCBG and Le Sport Sac to name a few. There are plenty of unique places to eat or take a coffee break from shopping. The neighborhood where The Real World: Chicago (http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/realworld-season11/series.jhtml) was filmed, it’s filled with a mix of artists, rock ‘n rollers, hipsters, yuppies and young families, Jackson said.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Town,_Chicago

Christine Chung, associate of Market Research of HIMSS Analytics, seconded the neighborhood. “The Damen/North Milwaukee intersection any time of day is bustling with nightlifers, teenagers, artists, tourists, hairdressers, musicians on tour, minor TV personalities and more,” she said. The area is also known for the location of the film High Fidelity and an upcoming Patrick Swayze TV show.

Many HIMSS staffers, including Colleen Naliwajko, Meetings & Exhibit Services coordinator, say Lincoln Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Park,_Chicago), is another area you won’t want to miss with its concentration of shopping, restaurants, parks and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Holly Gaebel, coordinator of Healthcare Information Systems, suggests the Clark Street route from Armitage heading north. Within Lincoln Park, “Fullerton and Ashland areas have lots of beautiful old homes to see and eclectic shops to browse,” said Racquel Orenick, corporate counsel.

Lakeview on Southport (http://www.stylechicago.com/Category.asp?ID=10500), according to Joyce Sensmeier, vice president of Informatics, “can’t be beat” for its great shops, restaurants, pubs, and Julius Meinl (3601 N. Southport, 773.868.1857, http://www.meinl.com/northamerica/home.html) for tea, coffee and pastries. “It is a nice, friendly, neighborhood atmosphere,” she said.

Home of the Wells Street Art Festival, Wells Street is a great neighborhood to walk around, said Joyce Lofstrom, senior manager of Corporate Communications. She suggests starting at the corner of Wells and Halsted for lunch at Minnies (1969 N. Halsted, 312.943.9900, http://www.minnies.com/obama/), which is open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM, with a 24-hour takeout window on Friday and Saturday. “The portions are mini to be sure,” she said. A family place, too, Lofstrom warns that it doesn’t take reservations but it’s worth the wait. After a satisfying meal, hit Wells Street for shops, a bakery (cupcakes) and “just different flavors of what makes Chicago the city that it is,” she says.

Aside from the usual downtown hot spots, hang your hat in Hyde Park (http://www.hydeparksecc.com/community.html), Jearline Falkner, associate of Accounts Receivable, recommended. Home of the University of Chicago and former home of President Obama and numerous famous people, including poets Carl Sandburg and Gwendolyn Brooks, novelist Saul Bellow and Muhammad Ali, “the neighborhood provides a sense of nostalgic and romance, where you will interact with all races/creed/colors,” Falkner said. The compact, tree-lined community boasts museums, theaters, restaurants and live entertainment, just to name a few.

The downtown area, known as the Loop http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/chicago-loop-feature.htm, is home to famous skyscrapers and historic buildings, thanks to the architectural fervor of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Loops is also steps to shopping and the cultural and theater district, including the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave., 312.443.3600, www.artic.edu/aic/). The Loop, named after a streetcar’s route in the late 1800s, is also a favorite place to people watch, said Maggy Bobek, program manager of Quality Assurance at HIMSS Analytics.

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