Mentioned by Oliver Krumes | Street Photographer
Your 2021 Street Photography Workshop Guide to Chicago
"Featuring the largest number of stores exclusive to Chicago, Water Tower Place changed the face of Windy City shopping when it opened in 1975. Shifting attention from State Street to North Michigan Avenue, Water Tower Place Mall is a unique high-energy urban shopping experience. The stunning eight-level atrium features Macy’s as its headline store, with more than a hundred other shops for your perusal."
"Water Tower Place is named after its neighbor, the historic Water Tower. Opened in 1975, this eight-level mall is located at the base of a 74-story skyscraper that includes condominiums, office space, and the Ritz-Carlton hotel. The mall is anchored by Macy’s and American Girl."
"900 North Michigan Shops is a visually stunning shopping destination stunning 465,000 square feet on 7 floors. With their massive shopping complex, they feature more than 70 luxury retailers and host a 22,000 square-foot food hall. Their food hall includes a wide range of cuisine from street tacos to sushi, coffee to cocktails, bread-bowl chowder to vegan bowls, and many more."
"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user TonyTheTiger used under CC BY-SA 3.0. Enjoy a quiet and elegant shopping experience in the busy heart of the city. The north end of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is where plenty (well, not 900 as the name suggests) of shops, restaurants, spas and fitness centres are found."
"This shopping center features more than 450,000 square feet of space and includes many well known, upscale stores like a massive Bloomingdale's, MaxMara, Gucci, Micheal Kors, Kate Spade New York, L'Occitane and J."
"It is actually the only nonprofit organisation in the USA that is fully devoted to ‘outsider’ art and self taught art. It’s more than just an art gallery or museum – it’s somewhere to come for inspiration, and it’s actually used a lot by art students in the city of Chicago. There are over 1000 works of art here, so plenty to see!"
"Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art features a large number of artworks presenting intuitive and outsider art. They have been featuring various artworks since 1991. Their world-class exhibitions give an opportunity for the public to explore this kind of art."
"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Daniel X. O'Neil used under CC BY 2.0. Another outdoor shopping centre on our list is located in Bronzeville, known for being the centre of African-American life and culture. If you are planning to visit this area in August, check out the annual Bud Billiken Parade."
"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Roman Boed used under CC BY 2.0. Bloomingdale’s needs little introduction. One of three such sites dotted around the city, the store at 900 North Michigan Avenue is well-placed in downtown Chicago for those looking to pop in while sightseeing or visiting the lake front."
"One of Chicago’s most popular breweries moved its operation to a new venue in 2019 and added a restaurant as well. Head to the Bar at Moody Tongue to try executive chef Jared Wentworth’s fine-dining-caliber dishes paired with brewmaster Jared Rouben’s beers. The German chocolate cake is a must-try that features 12 layers of rich chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, espresso cheesecake, and German chocolate filling with toasted pecans and coconut."
"Moody Tongue proves upscale dining doesn’t have to be pretentious. Both a brewery and a pub, the South Loop location contains an intimate 28-seat dining room. However, don’t be deceived by this minimalist decor."
"Logan Square With a hop-heavy lineup of IPAs including double, Belgian, black, and session IPAs, Pipeworks started out in a tiny Chicago space in 2012 which was originally geared towards brewing one-offs for beer nerds in the niche market. Now with a goal of releasing a new beer every week, the hyper prolific brewer is one of the more recognizable yet underappreciated Chicago craft brewers. With plans to open a brewpub in Logan Square in 2019 (where it will face stiff competition), knowing about Pipeworks still feels like being letting in on your cooler big brother’s secret."
"Merrit Lewis and Beejay Oslon didn’t follow the traditional route of attending brewing school before opening up their own brewery in Chicago. Instead, the two friends traveled to Belgium and worked for free at De Struise Brouwers. When the pair returned, they crowdsourced funds and opened Pipeworks Brewing Company in 2012."
"Get in the spring mood with a pint from Pipeworks (the artwork will get your juices creative flowing!). Place your contact-free Pipeworks Brewing Co. pick-up order ahead of time and don’t forget to tip!"
"In the heart of Chinatown, Joy Yee is one of the very tastiest restaurants to get all kinds of Chinese cuisine. Located in the Chi’s South Loop district, this place is very popular. Before you hit the bars, you can pre-game and start with some of their shrimp tempura or any of their popular bubble teas, jelly drinks, and freezes."
"But this is America, and if a Chinese restaurant wants to have sushi and kalbi, and it’s good, who are you to stop them?. Besides that mix, follow’s owner Dee Kang’s journey from a Chinese-Korean family to Japan and then Chicago. Dee’s is no secret to Lincoln Park locals, who have kept the place open since 1983."