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This converted movie theater (and former burlesque hall) has some of the best acoustics in the U.S., and it's surprisingly intimate considering it can seat up to a thousand. None other than Ringo Starr has said that Park West is second only to London's Royal Albert Hall. Fans will crowd the stage, but the best seats are toward the back, near the main bar and in the balconies... or call in advance to reserve a booth.
Park West is a concert venue located in Chicago, Illinois. The theater opened in 1916 as a vaudeville and movie theater by the Ascher Brothers. Currently, it can house up to 1,000 guests in a general admission setting.
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Few things in Chicago are finer than the Lincoln Park Zoo. It's world-class, yet admission is free; its winding, expansive grounds have the charm of age, yet its facilities are modern and the animals are healthy, happy, and personable. The brand new Great Ape House is one to see, and the Farm in the Zoo features plenty for kids to do, but everyone has their own favorites (penguins).
Several blocks of beautiful cottages and row houses, notably the five at 1826-34 N Lincoln Park West, which were designed by Louis Sullivan in 1885. The anchor of the district is St. Mike's (below).
Buddhist temple built by Japanese-Americans who settled in Chicago following their release from the concentration camps after World War II, and part of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism. The layout of the main prayer hall more closely resembles that of a church than a traditional Buddhist temple, which was done in an attempt to gain wider acceptance for Buddhism among the mostly-Christian general American society by Americanizing the religion. Best known for their annual Ginza Festival in the summer, when their famous teriyaki chicken is sold, and numerous Japanese cultural performances are staged.
Built 1890-1895, the conservatory is right next to the zoo. Even though they're overshadowed by the animals next door, the plants receive an equal amount of care, and there are usually some eye-popping floral displays in the spring. Volunteer-led tours are sometimes available at no cost.
Young children might enjoy this Wizard of Oz-themed park with statues and playlots.
Unveiled in 1869, the walls of St Mike's were all that remained after the Chicago Fire swept through Old Town, making it one of only six structures to survive — and the tallest in the city until 1885. A tower was added in 1887, and the current stained glass windows date from 1902. A Catholic church run by the Redemptorist congregation, it has seating for more than 1000 people.