Chicago locals and even transplants have a lot of city pride and the folks at Municipal Bar + Dining Co. know it. Step inside this River North bar and eatery and immerse yourself in the industrial atmosphere. The decor is Chicago and CTA-inspired. Paired with over-sized booths and tables, it will make locals and visitors alike feel right at home. Many cocktails are named after Chicago neighborhoods and the menu is separated into sections by city departments, for example, "Department of Environment" lists all of the salads offered. 

Vodka drinkers will enjoy the "River North" one of the most popular drinks. It falls on the sweeter side of the spectrum with strawberry puree, sparkling rose, St. Germain and a blend of other flavors. Whiskey drinkers should indulge in the "Bridgeport."

The fried calamari is a good option under the "Department of Fire: Hot Apps." Order it grilled or fried, with three savory dipping sauces. The marinara sauce is garlicky and the aioli sauce has the perfect blend of flavors. Those with more traditional taste buds will enjoy the squid with cocktail sauce. 

"The Department of Buildings" boasts a number of great sandwiches. Some favorites include the Steak, which includes 6oz. of filet beef, caramelized onions, bib lettuce and whole grain mustard. Seafood lovers will enjoy the scrumptious Lobster Roll. The brioche bun is stuffed with lobster tail, lemon aioli, herbs and shallots.

If guests are still hungry, they can check out the "Department of Recreation: Desserts." The Chocolate Chip Cookie is gooey and paired with ice cream, caramel and chocolate sauce. Had Municipal been established in 1893 during The Columbian Exposition, this cookie would have won a prize.

Municipal Bar + Dining Co. is offering a number of new menu items for the upcoming warmer months. Try the decadent duck sliders with lettuce, bacon and guacamole. The combination of crispy lettuce and bacon pairs well with the tender duck. The creamy guacamole adds just a enough bite to the mini sandwiches giving them a little something extra. Try those or the Pork Belly Tacos beginning May 1. 

Whether guests are visiting from the north side, the south side or flew in from Timbuktu, all are certain to enjoy the delicious fare, superb drinks, attentive service and welcoming atmosphere. 


Municipal Bar + Dining Co. is open Mon.–Fri., 11am–2pm; Sat., 10am–3am; Sun., 10am–2am. 216 W. Ohio, 312.951.2125. MunicipalBar.com

Ever wonder what this marvelous city looks like from a birds-eye view? Wonder no more after going to Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (233 S. Wacker, 875.9447). The Ledge is on the 103rd floor and offers guests a unique view of Wacker Driver and the Chicago River. The Ledge is a balcony with a glass floor extending four feet outside of the tower and the ability to see 50 miles away over four states. Guests can challenge themselves with the interactive Chicago trivia game, and marvel at the scale of the city. Guests are also invited to explore Chicago with the interactive touch screen activities and exhibits and experience a nine–minute movie telling the story of Chicago’s rise to the top of the architectural world.

Skydeck is open everyday from 9am–10pm. General admission for Adults, $18; Kids (3-11), $12.


(Image courtesy of travelmint.com)

Pops for Champagne has been helping Chicago locals and visitors celebrate milestones for more than 30 years. Conveniently located in the River North entertainment district, this landmark offers exquisite food and beverage offerings and genuine professional staff. This upscale champagne bar offers nearly 200 champagnes and sparkling wines. Selections change weekly and sometimes even daily. Their chef offers a seasonal menu of champagne–friendly small plates and sharable items including oysters, caviar, a cheese and charcuterie selection and desserts. The Dan Effland Trio performs live jazz at 9pm every Sunday through Tuesday. Pops is the perfect place to gather for social events or a night on the town when visiting Chicago for business or leisure travel. 

Open Sun.–Fri., 3pm–2am; Sat., 1pm–2am. Reservations are available for parties of 8 or more. 601 N. State, 312.266.7677. 

Gilt Bar (230 W. Kinzie, 312.464.9544) is a place one can feel guilt-free when eating at. This popular River North eatery and bar offers cocktails, beer, wine and delicious fare. The cocktail menu boasts a large selection of gins and wine drinkers especially will revel in the solid selection available. When going for dinner, be sure to bring a friend with the same tastes. The portions are large but all of the food is delicious, so it's nice to try several different dishes. The Classic Caesar salad with perfectly smoked salmon is a great starter and pairs well the with Garlic Aioli French Fries. The Truffle Pecorino Pasta and Pork Belly with persimmon and spiced farro are two other winners. 

Gilt Bar is great place for a night out with a group or for a date. The ambience is busy, there is a lot going on, but the music isn't overly loud and the lighting is flattering, but not too dark. As part of the HOGSALT group, Gilt Bar works with only the finest ingredients and their team of chefs expertly combine them to create decadent combinations that stand out.

Gilt Bar is open Mon.–Thurs., 4:45pm–11:30pm; Fri.–Sat., 4:45–12:30am; Sun., 4:45pm–10:30pm. Kitchen closes 30 minutes early each day. 

Hershey Felder’s The Pianist of Willesden Lane is the story of a young Jewish pianist, Lisa Jura, who grew up in Vienna and dreamed of playing in Musikverein concert hall. When Lisa is sent to London to avoid the Nazis, her world is turned upside down and she turns to her love of music for comfort and pursues her dream.

The play is based on a true story and stars Lisa Jura’s daughter, Mona Golabek. The production is adopted from the book The Children of Willesden Lane, written by Golabek and Lee Cohen. The Chicago production follows successful runs in Los Angeles and Boston.

The Pianist of Willesden Lane opens Fri., April 19 at The Royal George Theatre (1641 N. Halstead) and runs through Sun., May 12.  Performance times are: Wed. and Thurs., 7:30pm; Fri., 8pm; Sat., 2pm and 8pm; Sun., 3pm. Tickets are $44 on Wed. and Thurs., and $49 on Fri., Sat., and Sun. Call 312.988.9000 or visit theroyalgeorgetheatre.com for tickets.

Back in the 1950s Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producers. The two collaborated with a third partner and their careers took off when they formed Spark Records in 1953, which is when they recorded Smokey Joe’s Café. The show, Smokey Joe’s Café is an award-winning musical revue now playing at Royal George Theatre (1641 N. Halstead, 312.988.9000). It originally opened in Los Angeles for a trial run and then moved to Broadway in 1995. It ran for 2,036 performances making it the longest running musical revue in Broadway history. The revue features 39 pop standards including rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm and blues. Some hi-lights include “Stand By Me,” “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock.” The original Broadway cast won a Grammy award in 1996.

Performances for Smokey Joe’s Café are Thurs. and Fri., 7:30pm; Sat., 5pm and 8pm; Sun., 2pm and 6pm; Wed., 2pm. Tickets range from $38–$46. Visit smokeyjoescafechicago.com for more information.

After the show, be sure to stop by Weber Grill (539 N. State, 312.467.9696). The restaurant and bar won’t have the same free-wielding music, but it will have great steaks, barbecue, burgers and a large selection of craft beer.

April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Day and Chicago makes sure no one is too old to celebrate the delightful sandwiches while pretending to be a kid again. Any grilled cheese connoisseur will want to try Cheesie's Pub & Grub (958 W. Belmont, 773.388.1574). They have a number of different sandwiches including "The Caprese" (similar to caprese salad served on sourdough with pesto mayo dipping sause), "The Mac" (homemade mac and cheese on texas toast with tomato dipping sause) and "The Popper" (cheddar slices, cream cheese, cheddar sause, fresh jalapeno slices and bacon served on sour dough bread with chipotle mayo dipping sause). Cheesie's also offers a number of beers in bottles and on tap. Open Sun.–Wed., 11am–3am; Thurs.–Sat., 11am–5am to satisfy your late night cravings. 

Not looking to go too far out of your comfort zone? Try the Pretzel Bread Grilled Cheese at Rudy's (69 E. Madison, 312.332.8111). Customers can select their choice of cheese and add tomato and bacon if they desire. Rudy's sandwiches are grilled to perfection and the pretzel bread adds a nice twist to the classic sandwich. Add one of their famous milkshake martinis and you have yourself an adult meal with a hint of nostalgia. Sun.–Fri., 11am–2am; Sat., 11am–3am. 

No trip to Chicago is complete without a cruise on Lake Michigan or the Chicago River. Admire the magnificent Chicago skyline in one of Chicago Line Cruises (465 N. McClurg, 312.527.1977) liners. The Architectural Cruise explores the birth of the skyscraper after the Great Chicago Fire devastated the area. The tour also touches on Grant Park; Merchandise Mart, which holds more office space than any place in the world except for the Pentagon; and the reversal of the flow of the Chicago River. On the Historical Cruise, guests learn about the ambitious people who helped build Chicago despite many challenges. From Jefferson Davis’s explanation of how a channel could cut through a sandbar, making it easier to get freight in the area through the lake; to fur trader, Jean Baptiste DuSable’s impact on the city, Chicago has a rich history. 

Not all NCAA Basketball fans that can’t make it to Atlanta for the NCAA National Championship game tonight at 8:23pm. Chicago offers a number of bars to watch the games. Michigan fans will want to cheer their team on at Moe’s Cantina (155 W. Kinzie, 312.245.2000). More neutral bars to watch the games at are John Barleycorn River North (149 W. Kinzie, 773.348.8899) and Gino’s East Sports Bar (521 S. Dearborn, 312.939.1818). John Barleycorn River North has a 73 60–inch HD televisions and four six–panel video walls and one giant 12–panel video wall. Their chicken philly pizza gameday special runs through April 8 and is sure to be a hit for only $17. Gino’s East Sports Bar offers several flat screens for viewing, deep–dish pizza, Gastropub fare and an extensive craft beer list including 12 Chicagoland beers on tap.

John Barleycorn River North is open today 11am–2am; Gino’s East Sports Bar is open today 11am–11pm; Moe’s Cantina is open today 11am–2am.

Opening day at Wrigley Field (1060 N. Clark) is today and the Chicago Cubs are committed to making this year a good one. Wrigley Field has a lot of unique elements. While most ballparks have massive parking lots for tailgating, the easiest way to the stadium is to take public transportation. The redline stops at Addison, just outside the field and several buses have extended routes and schedules on game days. The game starts at 1:20pm, but make sure to get there early, so you can visit one of the many bars on Clark Street. Most have massive windows in the front that they open during warm weather seasons. The rowdy fans will have a good time in the bleacher seats while the stadium fans are generally more reserved. Experience the celebration after the game at Goose Island (3535 N. Clark, 773.832.9040), John Barleycorn (3524 N. Clark, 773.549.6000) or Moe’s Cantina (3518 N. Clark, 773.248.0002).

For tickets to any Cubs game, call 773.404.2827 or visit chicago.cubs.mlb.com.