Best Zoo in 31st Street Harbor

"In 37 acres and dating back to 1868, this zoo deserves extra credit as one of the last remaining free admission animal parks in the United States. There are more than 1,100 animals here, in habitats that are constantly being revamped. The polar bear and African penguin enclosures for instance have just been reopened, while a recent arrival in 2014 is the Regenstein Macaque Forest where you can see Japanese macaques bathing in a hot spring as they do in the wild."

"Not only is Brookfield Zoo a wonderful place to visit the animals, it’s also a world leader in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Admission is free for zoo members and all active, reservist, and retired members of the military."

"However, for the admission, they should include some sort of souvenir or discount gift for next visit. On another note, the Zoo is pretty big and the parking lot is conveniently close by. Admissions process on a weekend was pretty quick."

"Lincoln Park Zoo is a renowned 35-acre zoo in Lincoln Park and a hotspot for tourists. It’s the zoo’s pavilion, designed to provide shelter for open-air on-site classes, that offers such a fantastically picturesque snap. With the design drawing inspiration from the appearance of a tortoise’s shell, the stunning curved wooden pavilion elegantly frames the Chicago skyline."

"The Regenstein Center for African Apes is also part or rather an extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo, where the visitors can come close to the apes, chimpanzees and the gorillas that have found their home there. It is home to some of the endangered species of western lowland gorillas as well as chimpanzees and exists to provide with the most realistic looking environment for them to live in comfortably. Location: 2058-2156 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614, USATimings: 10 AM to 5 PMEntry Fees : –"

"The Helen Brach Primate House is yet another extension of the Lincoln Park Zoo and is home to primates of varying shapes, sizes and colour. The area is made in a way to imitate the natural habitat for the primates to make them feel safe and familiar at the place that they are residing in. It was opened back in 1927 which finally underwent an extensive renovation in the year 1992."

"This vintage sports bar in Logan Square, once an expansive garage, has a huge outdoor space, filled with patio umbrellas, firepits, tons of tables, and even bocce ball courts. If you’re looking for an outdoor space for a fun corporate summer event, this could be it. The menu is filled with both glorified bar food favorites (Buffalo Chicken Nuggets, Skirt Steak Chili, Burgers) and some more ambitious items (Salmon Risotto, Stuffed Squash, and a beautiful Beet Salad with oranges and house-made ricotta. Open Wednesday and Thursday for dinner, and for lunch/brunch/dinner Friday — Sunday."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Alpha used under CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo is only for illustrative purposes. Depending on the time of year and the chef’s whims, Saturday & Sunday Brunch at Park & Field offer dishes that change weekly."

"Downtown Park Ridge got lucky with this new spot, a farm-to-table New American cuisine restaurant with a lovely outdoor patio. Kung Pao Cauliflower drizzled with hot honey, Chipotle and Agave-Glazed Salmon with cauliflower rice, Grilled Salmon Burger with Sweet Basil Mayonnaise, and Pan-Seared Lake Superior Whitefish with Sweet Pea Risotto are a few of the items you could delight in while dining al fresco. The outdoor Bar Car is a fun new addition to the space."

"This Michael Mina-run brasserie may be inside the luxe Waldorf Astoria hotel, but that doesn’t make it a stuffy affair. Just keep an eye out for the “Chariot de Rosé”—a roving bar cart of rosé hand-picked by the somms. Diners are a mix of done-up travelers and foodies looking for a quiet, civilized meal (though they’re as amped as twenty-somethings at a taco truck to tuck into Michael Mina's classic French preparations)."

"Celebrity chef Michael Mina made his Chicago debut over the summer inside the Waldorf Astoria. His sultry brasserie combines 1920s glam with traditional fare for lavish dining experience. Nibble on duck wings à l'orange and escargots à la bordelaise or indulge in a pristine shellfish tower."

"Restaurants Chinese Armour Square. Kenny Yang of Strings Ramen Shops has taken the reins at this classic Chinatown restaurant, renovating the space and adding neon accents and artwork inspired by the streets and markets of 1950s Hong Kong. Spanning two stories, Ken Kee Restaurant diners can order from a traditional menu packed with familiar Chinese dishes or a new Noodle Cart menu, served out of a dedicated kitchen."

"Though not technically new, Chinatown classic Ken Kee has taken on new life from new ownership. Eater reports that Kenny Yang—owner of the popular local ramen chain Strings—has taken one of his favorite childhood restaurants under his wings and revitalized the space and the menu with a focus on Hong Kong cart noodles and other regional street food favorites. The menu, which had dwindled in recent years, is back to a robust state giving old fans new opportunities to keep coming back."

"The menu at Ken Kee's does have some familiar items, like pepper beef in black bean sauce and fruit smoothies. But what makes this restaurant stand out among the others in Chinatown is its unusual menu items. That might mean fried spaghetti and sliced lotus root, pork intestine and duck tongue, or duck chins and goose intestines."

"American , Bar Food"

"One of my friends claims that their fried chicken is the best in the city. But my real reason to go would be to enjoy their massive patio and drink a beer. If fried chicken isn’t your thing, they also feature a bunch of other tasty treats…that you can wash down with delicious frozen alcoholic slushies."