Chicago in August? It could be... warm.
Here's the website that has the best Briar Street Theater information:
http://www.blueman.com/ticketinfo/chicago/
The thing to do in Chicago? Everyone has their favorite list, I think about seeing the amazing collection of outdoor art.
As you walk around "The Loop", you will easily find the Chagall, Picasso, the Bat Column, the Calder, Miro and more. See
http://www.halhigdon.com/picasso/walkingtour.htm
Revisit your favorite movie scenes
http://stumpedmagazine.com/reviews/set-in-chicago.shtml Take a quick look at the final outdoor scene of The "Blues Brothers" where the boys are driving through an outdoor crowd to pay the taxes. Look at Gene Hackman's "The Package" and check out the last "Batman" (the new one will also feature Chicago). The baby carriage scene in "The Untouchables"? Check out Union Station, South Entrance on the West side of Canal street.
Chicago fortuitously burned down at the precise moment in history that architecture and technology made the quantum leap into today's state of the art methods. A clean slate. That's why people rave about our architecture. If nothing else, see the "Water Tower" and as you walk by John Hancock, head towards the Wrigley Building and study with care the surprises nested into it's walls.
At that moment, you are within a stones throw to the Billy Goat Tavern, where Saturday Night Live based their famous Chee-burger sketch "Coke, no Pessi" "Cheeps, no fries".
http://www.billygoattavern.com/home.html Now we're talking my kind of Chicago tour!
Food. Everyone has their favorites, and Billy Goat isn't high cuisine, but there are other spots to hit. Every region has their own abberant way to eat a hot dog, in Chicago, they will dose your dog with Celery Salt. I find it particularly disgusting, but then again I won't eat celery even if its been soaking in Vodka tainted with Tomato squeezings.
What I "must insist" that you try is the
real and original
Pizza Uno. They have licensed this name all over, and even the poor saps in Houston have it, but there's something they didn't license. The original joint is the only place that has the type of sausage that made it famous. The miniature purveyor's complete production is 100% bought out by this one location- it is absolutely unique and different than the stuff the export to
"your" state.
Lawrence Fisheries is one of those "inside" joints.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/m6laILuYBniixf3qnwQA2A
If you come to Chicago and don't see the Museums including the Art Institute, that would be unfortunate. If you come to the Windy City and don't spend at least 6 hours at the
Museum of Science and Industry, well~ your life is diminished, and I'm not exaggerating. It is truly one-of-a-kind and typical of Chicago. Laugh hystericaly at Soldier Field (da Bears) as you go by.
Our sports teams? Most people have an opinion. They may be losers, but their games are all well attended. You may also remember the NBA which used to be located in Chicago, unsure as to if it still exists.
Got some time? See the best view of ChiTown... from the river tour and catch the fireworks from one of the cruise boats. Lake Michigan was rightfuly declared an "arm of the sea" during an America's Cup Sea Lawyer battle, and you will have no doubt when you're a'sea. It offers the most spectacular view of our city, especialy at night or early morning.
In terms of Chicago diving, there's lots to do off shore, but I'll leave that to others with more recent experience (I "dive" O'hare). Diving had a start, at least in terms of organized efforts right here as well. Many of us used the first civillian "manual" by Joe Strykowski. We stared longingly at the print ads in the back of Skin Diver from Chicago's
Berry SCUBA, one of the first big mail order retailers... back when. YMCA Instructors, the first and largest successful retail dive show (Our World Underwater
http://www.ourworldunderwater.com/ ), Elmer's Watersports (Evanston) is Dacor dealer #3, and many other highlights. One of the largest IDC's is headquartered in Chicagoland, Pat Hammer's
http://www.scubaemporium.com/
