There are many amazing things to do in Chicago from exploring our wonderful museums, to eating and drinking at our restaurants, to catching a Chicago Cubs, Blackhawks, or Bears game. Below are a few of Allie and Dan’s favorite places and things to check out while you're here.

Restaurants

Willow Room - Amazing food, great interior and ambiance, and awesome people. One of their most frequented establishments in Chicago. Chances are you will run into Allie and Dan on any given day, especially Monday nights. Beef Wellington. Easy choice.

Ada Street - Allie's #1 restaurant in Chicago. Dan's #3. Bring friends here, order the whole menu, and share everything. Allie and Dan had their first date after Dan returned from war. Get the crispy brussels.

Armitage Alehouse - Dan's go to spot at 4 o'clock on a weekday to bring a book, sit at the bar for a cocktail, and snack on some excellent charred naan and spread. Start with a 100-year-old cigar to drink and the English-cut prime rib sandwich to eat.

Small Cheval - There's a few locations, but the newest one by Allie and Dan in Lincoln Park is the one to go to. Simple menu of an excellent burger, life-changing fried chicken sandwich, and delightful fries.

Green Street Smoked Meats - No res required! Walk in, order from an extravagant list of meats, and take your tray to a picnic table. Great location to go from to a few bars in West Loop.

Club Lucky - A Chicago Italian staple in Bucktown. Their food is great, just don't miss out on their great martini list. Dan recommends the Sidecar. Allie will take whatever Sauvignon Blanc that's being served up.

Leavitt Street Inn - November could be 55 degrees and sunny or a polar vortex with a foot of snow. If the weather cooperates this is a great spot to catch Allie and Dan sitting outside at a picnic table with their friends. The smash burger and fried chicken sandwich are both great go to meals at this laid-back spot.

Wine Bar

John's Food & Wine - Dan's #1 spot in Chicago. Their small food menu is perfectly executed, their wine list is incredibly robust without breaking the bank, and the people are simply wonderful. Catch Allie and Dan here a few times a month. (The interior may look familiar from their engagement photos)

J9 Wine Bar - A great local spot that Allie and Dan frequent for a glass of wine, especially sitting in the window by the fire during the Winter. Great wine with very knowledgeable servers.

Cocktails

Sparrow - Probably the best cocktail spot in the city of Chicago. Allie loves the Art Deco interior and history, and Dan loves the wonderful mixologists. You can't go wrong with drinks on their menu or bartender's choice. With that being said, the monthly rum old fashioned is the recommendation here.

The Hoxton - A trendy hotel with well-designed restaurants and bars that speak to Allie's creative personality. Excellent cocktails and food that speak to Dan's love of Chicago's F&B. Choices of Cira, Cabra, and Lazy Bird.

Bisou - Sparrow's sister location. While Sparrow has the best rum selection of the city, Bisou is a 1960's Parisian-inspired cocktail bar that excels at martinis and taking you back in time.

Breweries

Off Color - A great spot for a couple beers and a board game (plenty to choose from). Apex Predator is the choice.

Maplewood - A Chicago staple with a long resume of excellent beer and a relaxed vibe. Son of Juice is the move.

Museums and Animals

Museum of Science and Industry - Dan's #1 museum in the world. Allie puts up with it. This museum has it all. A captured German U-boat, a working underground coal mine, a model trainset of the entire country, a severe weather exhibit, and most importantly a United 727 hanging from the ceiling that inspired Dan to become a pilot. You cannot go wrong with a visit.

Shedd Aquarium - A Chicago classic that you can never go wrong with. Sharks, belugas, dolphins, and penguins are some of Allie and Dan's favorites here. Make sure you get tickets with a time slot in advance. A great view of the city to snap a photo from.

Lincoln Park Zoo - An excellent walkable zoo not far from where Allie and Dan first met. It's free and offers plenty of excellent walking to local spots in the area. Check out the three young lion cubs!

Field Museum - An excellent natural history museum from anthropology to animals and dinosaurs, this is a great place to do deep-dive on the Earth's history. Check out Sue, the most complete and largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton discovered to date.

Adler Planetarium - If space exploration is your thing, a visit to Adler should be on your list. Check out their event schedule, sometimes you can catch an after-hours event with jazz bands, open exhibits, and talks from the likes of NASA and more.

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