When Jane’s Addiction launched Lollapalooza as their farewell tour in 1991, there was no way of knowing the lasting success the tour would have.  After its inception, the festival grew to encapsulate the alternative rock scene of the 1990s, including subgenres like grunge.  The cancellation of the show in 1998 was seen as a major indicator that alt rock was past its prime.  In 2003, a new iteration of the show toured before being cancelled again the next year.   Then, in 2005, Chicago provided the birthing place for the new era of the festival.  No longer a touring show, the festival is now scheduled to be held at Grant Park until 2018.

Headliners for Friday night include Lady Gaga, The Strokes, the Black Keys, and Hot Chip.  Classic post-punk group Devo will also be going on at 4 P.M. at the Parkways stage.  Overall, there are 8 different stages, with artists from all across the popularity scale.  Festival-goers are sure to find someone new during their visit.  For those who can’t make it, there’s a Live Webcast available at the official website from 2 P.M. – 10 P.M. each day.

Festival goers are encouraged to go green as they rock out, by using public transportation or riding a bike.  For food, they can visit Chow Town, consisting of booths from Big Star, Bleeding Heart Bakery, Kuma’s Corner, and more, all overseen by chef Graham Eliot.  Alternatively, there’s the Green Street Farmer’s Market, featuring plenty of fresh fruit, smoothies, and organic espressos.  And if you have a young rock star you want to bring along, you’re in luck—children 10 and under get in free with an adult.

If you’re in the Lake View area, be sure to check the times of home games and get a piece of the action. After the game, head on over to The Cubby Bear, a festive bar across from Wrigley Field.  If Cubby’s is too packed, try Sluggers—a double-decker bar with an impressive game room. If you’re looking for food near the field, try Salt and Pepper, Heaven on Seven, the Kit Kat Lounge, or Bar Louie. If you’re not ready to head back home, there are cute coffee shops nearby including Fly Me to the Moon, the Pick Me Up Café, or Julius Meinl where live music is usually playing for your entertainment. If the music scene interests you, Wrigleyville can provide you with hopping music venues like the Wild Hare who hosts Reggae bands 7 nights a week.

Once you’ve tried the all-American classics, it’s safe to move on to some of the diverse dining options Chicago has to offer. Restaurants in Chicago’s 77 diverse neighborhoods range from African, Asian, Caribbean, Chinese, Mediterranean, Mexican, Moroccan, Thai, Vietnamese, and everything in between. The best Italian can be found in the Little Italy neighborhood, the west side is famous for its Greektown restaurants and cuisine, and Devon Avenue in the northwest is the place for Indian and Pakistani food.

In terms of fine dining, Chicago’s fancy restaurants are definitely chart toppers. We recommend heading to Everest Restaurant—an internationally recognized dining room located on the 40^th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. If you’re a fan of French, try Les Nomades where you can experience new French tastes in a private club atmosphere. Charlie Trotter’s is another must-try while in Chicago. Chef Trotter has written 11 cookbooks, been the subject of two management books, and hosts the award winning PBS series ‘The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter’. Accordingly, the chefs at Charlie Trotter’s create excellent dishes with innovative styles and scrumptious taste.

With so many options available, the hardest part about dining in Chicago is choosing where to feast.  When the time comes to decide, you can use this complete dining guide to help point you in the direction your mouth desires.

In terms of things to do at the pier, your possibilities are endless. At Pier Park, you can choose between the Ferris wheel, an 18-hole mini golf course, a musical carousel, an old fashioned wave swinger, remote control boat driving, or a 13 foot light tower ride. There’s also a children’s museum your kids will love and a 4000 square foot Funhouse maze with distorting mirrors and dizzying spin tunnels. For a panoramic view of the bustling streets of Chicago and the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan, take a ride 35 stories into the air in the Navy Pier AeroBalloon. The only view that might rival the AeroBalloon’s is the collection of gorgeous stained glass windows in the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows.

If you travel to the Navy Pier between May 28 and September 6, you’ll definitely want to get tickets for Cirque Shanghai at Cloud 9. The talented performers put on a beautifully extravagant show that will make your eyes pop, your heart stop, and your jaw drop. Check out another show of equal proportions at the 440-seat Navy Pier IMAX Theater that is currently playing the Twilight Saga Eclipse in 3D and will soon be playing Inception in 3D.

After you work up an appetite riding the rides and seeing the sights, stop by the food court in the Family Pavilion for a delicious variety of tastes. If you’d rather sit down and enjoy some of the best seafood Chicago has to offer, take the classier route and dine at Riva’s Crab House where meals are cooked fresh by expert chefs.

If music is your scene, head over to the popular Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago on July 10^th and 11^th for the Rock Around the Block music festival. The festival features thirty of Chicago’s most talented bands performing on three stages throughout the day. Of course, delicious culinary stands and artisan vendors will be set up along the streets for your enjoyment.

On August 7^th and 8^th, head over to Retro on Roscoe—a fun-filled street festival held annually. The festival consists of live music entertainment, the Windy City Chili Cook-off, and Retro’s Antique Car Show which showcases over 50 antique classic and muscle cars.

In addition to outdoor festivals, Chicago also offers a phenomenal Broadway scene. This summer, Broadway in Chicago is featuring Billy Elliot the Musical—a funny yet serious tale of a boxer turned dancer. The musical has been nationally recognized on many occasions: Time Magazine recognized Billy Elliot as the ‘Best musical of the decade’ and it won Best Musical at the 2009 Tony Awards and the NY Drama Critic’s Circle.  Be sure to catch the show at the Ford Center for the Performing arts before it goes offstage on October 24^th.