Recommendations for Chicago

[Lotus]

Having lived in Chicago for many years, this is what I've got off the top of my head:

Pizzeria Uno is the originator of Chicago style pizza and thus a good place to go...although I think that Giordano's version is better due to a better sauce.

The Art Institute is great and the aquarium is really interesting, and since they are close together you can visit them both in one day easily.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park has some very fine and educational displays.

Polish Town on the west side has some terrific small Polish restaurants. Likewise for Indian food in India Town on Devon St. on the north side.

If you want something regarding religious culture, the Bahai temple in Evanston in the far north is an amazingly beautiful world-famous building and the Bahai community is very warm and welcoming.

The Abbey Pub has some very fine traditional Irish or Irish fusion music at night. The Old Town School of Folk Music gets some great indie acts.

The Steppenwolf always offers fine theater, if you are into that.

On Clark St. near Wrigley Field there are several good sushi restaurants which are in a perpetual price war, so you can get good eats at a good price.

And if you want to go low-brow and have a genuine taste of Chicago, check out one of the Harold's Chicken outlets.