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Streeterville

Overview

Home of Chicago's glittering retail district, the Magnificent Mile and the Midwest's most popular tourist attraction, Navy Pier, there is no shortage of action in Streeterville. A neighborhood bounded by the mighty Michigan Avenue to the west and the equally awe-inspiring Lake Michigan to the east, it's hard to believe that a mere 150 years ago Streeterville was no more than a sandbar in the great lake. In the late 1880's circus owner and steamboat operator George "Cap" Streeter ran his vessel aground in this sandbar. Unable to dislodge the boat, he made it his home, and encouraged contractors rebuilding from the Great Chicago Fire to dump backfill and rubble into the lake around him. Ten years later, the sandbar had become solid land, connected to the city. Today, vibrant Streeterville is home to some of the most expensive residential and retail properties in the city, and the world-famous John Hancock Center sits on the same spot where Streeter's steamboat once did.

Shopping

The mile-long stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street Beach isn't called "Magnificent" for nothing. Take a stroll down the "Mag Mile," as locals call it, and you'll find no shortage of retail eye-candy amid high-end stores such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Or pop into the massive flagship stores hosted by national brands Disney, Nike, and Burton, all located Michigan Avenue. The retail strip is anchored by four shopping centers - Water Tower Place, 900 North Michigan Shops, The Shops at North Bridge, and Chicago Place. Getting tired of the crowds of shoppers? Leave the beaten path behind for locally-owned boutiques located just off Michigan Avenue, such as the fun and funky shoe store Alternatives.

Dining/Nightlife

A true Chicago institution, the Billy Goat Tavern was famous long 1970's Saturday Night Live "Cheezeborger" skit. Located on Lower Michigan Avenue, right by the Tribune Building, this burger-and-a-beer-and-a-shot joint has been a journalists' hangout for more than 50 years and is full of local flavor. Neighborhood favorite P.J. Clarke's serves up hearty helpings of comfort food and cold beer to crowds of faithful locals. And Charlie's Ale House on Navy Pier, with 15 tap lines and 40 bottle selections, offers up the best beer selection in downtown. Newcomers to the Streeterville scene include the 1970's-themed Reagle Beagle, named after the Three's Company Hangout, the trendy Neuvo-Latino hot spot DeLaCosta, and the traditional-but-upscale D4 Irish Pub & Cafe. Looking for a little more action? The posh bowling alley Lucky Strike Lanes boasts both 18 bowling lanes and three wine bars, as an eclectic selection of small plate dishes.

Culture and Attractions

Located in the Water Tower Water Works Building, one of but a few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, The Lookingglass Theatre performs a wide variety of productions in its one-of-a-kind space, often utilizing the Water Works Buildings' high ceilings for circus stunts and unique stagecraft. With more than 600 performances each year, The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre is the single largest employer of working actors in the city. Here, The Bard's works are performed in a uniquely intimate theatre, where 510 audience members are seated in three levels around a thrust stage - with no more than nine rows separating the furthest audience member from the stage.

The Low Down

Streeterville is the place to be for summer in the city. A warm stroll on the Mag Mile is great for both window-shopping and people-watching. Oak Street Beach - one of the prettiest and most popular beaches in the city - is located right off Michigan Avenue, and a great spot to soak up some rays. Streeterville is unabashedly posh, and perhaps a little short on local flavor. But Chicago has worked hard to make the area uniquely inviting to tourists. Even Chicagoans come to Streeterville on weekends and in warm weather, becoming tourists-for-a-day in their own city. There's plenty to do in Streeterville, which makes it a great destination for all trips to the city - but absolutely perfect for short stays, when there's no time to explore the city's outlying areas.