One Day in Chicago

[astroyogi]

I'll be getting to Chicago one day before my prospective school's visiting days start to check out the place on my own. What would you recommend I do? I'm looking for low-key, everyday type activities just to feel out the vibes and see the people. Cool cafes? Campus or park spots to look at? Streets for window shopping? Thank you!

Edited March 3, 2014 by astroyogi

[thegirldetective]

Which school/part of Chicago?

[astroyogi]

I was trying to keep this semi-anonymous but I guess that's really not the best approach here. I'll be looking at UChicago, and will be staying a few blocks from campus. 

[thegirldetective]

There are some great cafes and bookstores on 57th St, to the east of the UChicago campus.

[astroyogi]

Thank you!

[themmases]

I'm not from that part of Chicago, but I would recommend that anyone new to the area go to one of the lakefront parks and also try to ride the bus/L and use Bus Tracker. Those are probably the two biggest Chicago-specific quality of life things, for me.

 

In general when I'm new to a campus I go see the library, then try to figure out where people there shop, go out, and use as their third place to study in. Wander around that to see what you're working with and start recognizing landmarks for when you move there.

[Etownenviro]

I second using the L since that is the main way to get around although uchi isn't directly serviced by the L. I would also check out other parts of Chicago if you have time like bucktown, Lincoln park, wrigglyville, etc.. They are on the other side of Chicago but my friends who went to Uchi said that is was nice to get out of the uchi bubble. There are so many universities troughout Chicago that there really is no shortage of cute/unique cafés and shops no matter what neighborhood you are in.

Full disclosure I'm from right outside Chicago and went to U of Chicago's Chicago-land area academic rival so I'm a little biased to Chicago's north side.

[jz19]

Check out the Oriental Institute on campus--it's free (though there's a suggested donation) and I used to go there when school got...unbearably unpleasant =)

[akaveha]

I'm thinking of doing the same thing in April for MAPH's Campus Days. I might just sneak off and visit the philosophy department at Northern Illinois.