Location: West Town
Top Things to do in West Town
10 Things to do in West Town That You Shouldn't Miss
The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy, and die-hard sports fans. Snap a photo of your reflection in the silver Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park before heading to Grant Park to get hit with the refreshing spray of Buckingham Fountain. There are dozens of museums and theater companies in Chicago, so a cultural experience is never hard to find. You’re sure to laugh your head off at the Second City Theater, the professional launch pad of many famous comedians.
Restaurants in Chicago
1. Ukrainian National Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
A collection of artifacts and archives relating to 1,000 years of Ukrainian culture.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Founded in 1952, the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago is home to thousands of artifacts, artwork, musical instruments, weavings, agricultural tools, folk arts, embroidered folk costumes, rare books, manuscripts, photographs, newspapers, periodicals, memorabilia and exhibits that focus on the history and heritage of the Ukrainian community. Located at 2249 West Superior Street in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, it also contains souvenir materials from the former Soviet Union, artwork by Ukrainian immigrants, Ukrainian embroidery and an exhibit dealing with Chicago's unique Ukrainian community. One of the most interesting displays highlights decorated Easter Eggs or "Pysanky," a Ukrainian staple folk art. The oldest designs are called ideograms but the painted eggs share a common theme--the sun, a rose and stars in various patterns. Also a fascinating and highly educational exhibit called "Ukrainian Genocide-Holodomor of 1932-1933," which showcases photographs, documents and newspaper articles dedicated to informing the public about the little known forced famine in Ukraine.
2. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art promotes public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of intuitive and outsider art through education,exhibition, collecting and publishing. Intuit defines ‘intuitive and outsider art’ as the work of artists who demonstrate little influence from the mainstream art world,and who instead are motivated by their unique personal vision. Thanks to our members, we are free and open to the public.
3. Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 46 reviews
Founded in 1892, Holy Trinity Cathedral is home to the oldest Orthodox parish in Chicago. This beautiful church was designed by the famous American architect, Louis Sullivan. It was consecrated by St. Tikhon of Moscow in 1903 and built under the leadership of St. John Kochurov of Chicago, who was martyred in the Bolshevik Revolution. Located in the heart of Chicago’s historic Ukrainian Village-Wicker Park neighborhood, Holy Trinity has been a vital part of the community for more than a century. It’s an official City of Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it’s the center of religious life for many Orthodox faithful and their families. We are dedicated to serving the people of God in the spirit of Christian love, and we invite you to come and worship with us whenever you are in the Ukrainian Village-Wicker Park area. Tours are available by appointment and on Saturdays as indicated on the website, or worship with us during services.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Chicago is a city of architecture, from Louis Sullivan to Daniel Burnham to Frank Lloyd Wright. The Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, the cathedral church of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the Midwest, is one of only two churches designed by Sullivan, one of the seminal architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Located at 1121 North Leavitt Street, in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, it was built in 1903, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1979. Curiously, construction was partly financed by a donation of 4,000 roubles (or $2,700) from Tsar St. Nicholas II of Russia and $1,250 from Sullivan, who also donated the priceless Healy & Millet manufactured chandelier that is one of the highlights of the interior. The church, which was elevated to a cathedral in 1923, retains many features of Russian provincial architecture, including an octagonal dome, frontal bell tower, cupolas, window and roof framing and Art Nouveau decorative design over the western entrance to the church.
4. Holy Trinity Polish Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By SusanK998 - Dayton, United States
This is a huge beautiful Catholic Church where we attended a beautiful mass. Many dressed in authentic homeland costumes wonderful celebration in a stunningly ornate church All liturgy and songs in Polish. After mass was a welcoming group cooking authentic polish foods and sharing all with us. Thank you and many blessings ????
5. Escape Artistry - The Railcar
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 917 reviews
Chicago's Original Escape Games are built by local artists and tell Chicago stories for all to enjoy. The Railcar is Escape Artistry's Flagship escape room game, built in 2015, it has garnered attention from across the world of escape game enthusiasts. Tucked into the maze of art that is the Flat Iron Arts Building, The Railcar itself is an art installation with a twist. Modeled after the EL cars you can see from the studio's windows, The Railcar is built out of recycled materials and is approximately 3/4 the size of a proper CTA train car. This puzzling adventure is a hit for corporate teams, families, bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, and rainy days. Can your team escape in time?
Reviewed By jcooney711
Our group of four managed to escape the railcar with just over two minutes to spare! None of us were first-timers, and this is my favorite escape room I've tried so far. The train car is a pretty unique setting with a cool story and theme. Big shoutout to our "conductor" Scooter for being welcoming, funny, helpful, and generally a great host. We love you Scooter! The puzzles were interesting and there was a lot of variety between them. I really like that they provide a dry-erase marker so your group can take notes on the train windows. (They ask that you don't bring your phone into the railcar.) The space is smaller than escape rooms I've done in the past, and I feel like it may feel crowded with a group larger than ~8 people, although there are plenty of puzzles for everyone to work on and they're well-distributed around the train car. We would definitely try another one of Escape Artistry's rooms!
6. Pizza City USA
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 84 reviews
Chicago is a pizza town, but there's so much more than deep-dish! Based on the book, "Pizza City USA," by 13-time James Beard Award-winning food journalist Steve Dolinsky, we offer four tours every weekend, each one getting you inside the kitchens, meeting the owners and tasting four different styles of pizzas in three hours. Fridays: Downtown Pizza Walk (5 pm); Saturdays: West Loop Pizza Crawl (11 am); Pizza Bus (11 am); Sundays: Bucktown/Wicker Park Pizza Crawl (11am)
7. National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
8. Shit Fountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
9. Wicker Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 120 reviews
Wicker Park is the former meca of the Chicago art community and location of the bi-annual "Around the Coyote" art festival. The area has experienced massive economic growth over the past few years and is now home to many boutiques, thrift stores, bars and restaurants and known for its “hipster” vibe.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Wicker Park is all things to all people. One of the fastest rising and trendy neighborhoods in Chicago, it has been recognized as one of the hippest hipster neighborhoods in the country and widely known for its local culture, art community, nightlife, high fashion boutiques, cutting-edge gourmet restaurants and bakeries, European-style cafes, upscale independent grocers and artsy businesses. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Chicago Landmark District, Wicker Park is a convenient place to live for downtown workers due to its proximity to public transportation and the Loop. The area stretches from Ashland Avenue on the east to Western Avenue on the west, from Division Street on the south to the Bloomingdale Trail (or the 606) on the north. Historically, Wicker Park was founded in 1868 by Chicago alderman Charles Wicker. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 spurred the first wave of development and homeless Chicagoans looked to build new homes. At the end of the 19th century, it became a destination for German and Norwegian immigrants. Many of Chicago's wealthiest brewers built mansions on Hoyne Street, which became known as Beer Baron Row. Today, Wicker Park is home to such trendy restaurants as Dove's Luncheonette, Small Cheval, Big Star, Schwa, Handlebar and Cafe Istanbul, from fine dining to tacos to Ramen to sushi to Cajun. Stay at the Robey Hotel or Wicker Park Inn or Ruby Room. Visit the 606, Farmers Market or Flat Iron Arts Building.
10. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
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