This past fall marked ten years living in Chicago. I moved here for college, right out of high school, thinking I’d stay for four years before moving on. But something about the city just got its hooks in me, and while it can be downright frustrating at times, I still love it. I love the neighborhoods, the museums, the art, the history…I’ve spent the last ten years exploring as much as I possibly could (though please keep in mind, I was broke for the majority of the decade). Among other things, I’ve laughed my butt off at iO and Second City, seen movies in more parks than I can count, listened to the Chicago Symphony at the Pritzger Pavillion, visited (and even worked at) several of Chicago’s well-known museums, and taken in many awesome shows at the Green Mill.

Nonetheless, there is still so much I want to see and do! And since this is my year of goals, what better goal to achieve than to round out my must have Chicago experiences? Here we go!

//Dinner at Community Tavern in Portage Park
//Face my fear of heights on the Sears Tower Skydeck
//Chicago Architecture River Cruise
//See a taping of Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me
//Take a water taxi to Chinatown and have a picnic
//Go on a Chicago Gangster Tour
//Stand inside the Uptown Theater
//See a show at Buddy Guys Legends (While I did visit the original on 8th and Wabash, I’ve yet to see the new venue.)
//Dinner at Girl and the Goat
//Have a drink at the Signature Room in the John Hancock Center
//Tea at the Russian Tea Room
//See a hockey game
//Visit the Oriental Museum
//Take the Metra to a suburb I’ve never been to and explore
//Visit Jane Addams Hull House Museum
//See a show at City Winery
//See stand up at a comedy club
//Adler Planetarium After Dark
//Explore a cemetery I’ve never been to before
//Date night at the Drake Hotel
//Trivia at the Logan Theater
//Gospel Brunch at HOB

What’s on your Chicago Bucket List? Let me know in the comments below!