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The Hoxton Hotel. Most of our customers stay here…and love it! Lively hotel with a great lobby…and a well-hidden speakeasy bar. Experience the chic in Chicago! It is just 2 blocks away and has great views.

Crowne Plaza has been providing accommodations to happy Axion customers for decades. It is just 2 blocks away and has great views.

Nobu Hotel. World-famous chef Nobu and actor Robert De Niro opened an incredible new hotel just a block from our lab…and we got a great corporate rate depending on the season.

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Green Street Smoked Meats – 112 N Green Street – It may look like a biker bar as you enter through an alley, but they serve outstanding house-smoked BBQ in a cool environment.

Little Goat Diner – 820 W Randolph – “Top Chef” winner Stephanie Izard’s more casual restaurant (across from her higher-end “Girl and the Goat”). It is a lively place with creative versions of traditional diner food.

Lone Wolf – 806 W Randolph – Swanky pub with casual bar fare: Chicago Style hot dogs, beer battered corn dogs, and spicy fries.

Haymarket Brew Pub – 737 W Randolph – Great beer and food…what else is there? They serve 4oz beer samplers, so you can create your own flight.

Kuma’s Corner West Loop – 852 W. Fulton Market – The West Loop location of this Chicago favorite features a menu full of BIG gourmet burgers all named after heavy metal bands. Beer, beef, and rock music galore.

Au Cheval – 800 W Randolph – An amazing burger that Food Network voted Best Burger in America! Make sure to order it with a fried egg and bacon. Also, draft root beer that goes excellently with the burger!

Greektown – 100 to 300 South Halsted – Authentic Greek food, bargain prices and very lively. Try Greek Islands for traditional Greek food or Artopolis for a modern Greek bakery experience.

Pizza – Let’s not forget what made Chicago famous. There is an endless list of world-class pizzas in Chicago. Here are my favorites: Giordono’s (which we will order for lunch one day during the course), Pizzeria Due, Gino’s East, Lou Malnati’s & Nancy’s.

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Sky deck in the Willis tower with views of the whole city -233 S Wacker St – Venture to the top of the Willis tower for an unbeatable view in a glass box overlooking the city.

The 96th floor of the John Hancock Building – Don’t miss this place on a clear night. This is the top floor of one of the world’s tallest buildings. The incredible views make this place a must for one drink. A surefire way to cure acrophobia.

HQ Beercade – 213 W Institute Pl – Imagine having all the great video games and pinball machines from the 80’s and 90’s…set on free play…in a cool bar serving craft brews and funky cocktails…while listening to music from cassette tapes. They call it a beercade, I call it my retirement home!

Second City – 1608 N. Wells The best place for sketch comedy (like Saturday Night Live). The list of alums from this place includes John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Steven Colbert, Tina Fey, Key and Peele, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, etc. Always great! Shows start around 8 PM.

Kingston Mines Blues Bar – 2548 N. Outstanding blues bar with 2 live bands every night! $15-20 cover. World-class performers in a casual setting 7 nights a week. The list of frequent visitors includes Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, and Mick Jagger! A must for music lovers.

Halsted – Outstanding blues bar with 2 live bands every night! $15-20 cover. World-class performers in a casual setting 7 nights a week. The list of frequent visitors includes Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, and Mick Jagger! A must for music lovers.

The Lakefront – A 20-mile stretch of beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline is within the City of Chicago! From anywhere in the city, just head east, and you’ll find miles of sandy beaches, running/biking paths, water fountains, parks, etc. Just about any time of the day or night, you’ll find people running, walking, skating, biking, and strolling on the lake front. North Ave Beach has a cool outdoor restaurant/bar, along with a snack shop, bike rentals, showers, and 45 volleyball nets on the beach!

Pop’s for Champagne – 601 N State – A real champagne bar with live jazz a few nights a week. They claim to have the largest selection of “drinkable” champagnes (over 200). They serve about 10 different champagnes by the glass. Not cheap, but a unique place.

Navy Pier on the lake – Giant Ferris wheel, IMAX Theater, lots of shops and restaurants, and general family fun including the Chicago Children’s Museum. They are not known for their food, but the location is hard to beat.

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