Chicago Style

Think there aren't any great cities in the Midwest? Think again: On the shores of Lake Michigan, you'll find Chicago, an urban oasis with culture, great food, extravagant shopping and some of the friendliest natives you'll find. Most of the city's attractions are easy reach and hard to miss. The Sears Tower is the secondtallest building in the world. Another building that brightens the skyline is the 1,000 foot tall John Hancock Center. Both skyscrapers charge admission for access to their observation decks. You can catch an equally commanding view of Chicago at the Signature Room restaurant on the 95th and 96th floors of the Hancock Center, if you don't mind the pricey food. After your trip to the upper atmosphere, return to sea level at the Navy Pier. Once a major naval dock, the pier has been renovated and is now an entertainment center; the only submarines come with mustard or mayo. The Skyline Stage features rockin' Friday night summer concerts; Aretha Franklin has played there. Storytellers and local musical acts take the other stages around the pier. You'll also find an IMAX theater, The Chicago Children's' Museum and dozens of restaurants from McDonald's to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. New York might be the museum capital of the world, but Chicago holds its own. Some of the best museums (most with student discounts) to visit include the Museum of Science and Industry (free Thursdays), The Art Institute of Chicago (free Tuesdays), The Chicago Historical Society (free Mondays), The Museum of Contemporary Art (free on the first Tuesday of the month), The Terra Museum of American Art (free with a student ID) and the free Museum of Broadcast Communications. Not far from the Navy Pier, the Museum Campus on the lakefront is home to three of Chicago's major museums, The Field Museum of Natural History, The John G. Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium and the Adler Planetarium. The Field Museum has an excellent collection of items from ancient Egypt and boasts the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever found. You can sneak a peek at seahorses at the Shedd and at Adler Planetarium find out how much you'd weigh on the moon. The average admission charge for these attractions is only $7, but there's no package deal. Avoid fees altogether by going on each museum's free admission day: Monday for the Shedd, Tuesday for Adler, and Wednesday for The Field Museum. Besides being home to the Museum Campus, Chicago's lakefront is also a center of social life. Beaches, bicycle trails and walking paths along Lake Michigan cross the city from one end to another. In warmer months, sailboats grace the waters for fishing or leisurely boating. Oak Street Beach hosts volleyball tournaments, while over in Grant Park, you can enjoy summer concerts in the shade of Buckingham Fountain. If you get a chance, catch a sunrise over Lake Michigan; you won't forget the experience. And don't leave without sampling the grub: Chicago's deepdish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches and Chicagostyle hot dogs. Gino's East, located at 160 E. Superior Street, is famous for deepdish, or Chicagostyle pizza, with a large crust around the sides and a thin crust at the bottom, filled with cheese and the other toppings. Bring a bottle of whiteout to Gino's East and leave your mark on one of the walls — it's a tradition. For Italian beef sandwiches — shredded beef on a big bun smothered in juice and hot or sweet peppers — take Jay Leno's advice and visit Mr. Beef, near Orleans and Erie Streets, for the best in Chicago. Chicagoans don't agree on the city's best hot dog. Not just an ordinary hot dog, the Chicagostyle hot dog is smothered in onions, pickles, tomatoes, sauerkraut, ketchup, peppers (hot or sweet) and mustard. The finishing touch is a long spear of a fresh pickle. My vote is for J's Dawg and Burger, on the corner of State and Pearson. If you're looking for familiar restaurants that also sell merchandise, head to Chicago's tourist district, River North. The Hard Rock Café, Rainforest Café and Planet Hollywood have found homes here in Chitown. Also located in River North are The Baja Beach club, Excalibur nightclub, Blue Chicago (a blues club), and the grandaddy of them all, Michael Jordan's Restaurant. Shopping is a great way to work off calories, and the place to start is downtown, on the Magnificent Mile (or Michigan Avenue). But sophisticated and expensive shops aren't the only attraction on Michigan Avenue; the street also showcases some of Chicago's architectural marvels. Since the city had to be entirely rebuilt after the famous fire of 1871, you'll see glass skyscrapers and baroque facades on the same street. Look out for the Tribune Tower, The Wrigley Building, and the limestone Water Tower. Once you're finished with the Mag Mile, there's more shopping on legendary State Street. Besides Marshall Field's, Old Navy, and Carson Pirie Scott flagship stores, State Street is also home to the Harold Washington Library, the Chicago Theater and the newly remodeled Ford Center for the Performing Arts' Oriental Theater. The Shubert Theater is also nearby, along with the construction of the new Goodman Theater. Once you experience the plenitude of sights and attractions in Chicago, you'll know there's at least one truly great Midwestern city.