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What to do, where to stay, and where to eat in Chicago

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© Courtesy of Signature Room

In this midwestern metropolis, opposites have long thrived side by side: wannabe gangsters and windy politicians, artists and finance types, African American and Polish communities. Chicago feeds on its extremes, and on its uncanny knack for reinventing itself—a trait that likely began with the Great Fire of 1871, which devoured one-third of the city. Today, Chicago mixes innovative architecture (the 110-story Sears Tower) with green spaces (Millennium Park), cutting-edge cuisine (Alinea, Avec) with hot dogs and pizza, and world-class shopping (Magnificent Mile) with independent boutiques. Its cultural scene boasts great museums (the Art Institute of Chicago), celebrated blues joints (House of Blues Chicago), and a superb theater scene that includes Steppenwolf, Second City, and the Goodman—all of this in a prime location on the shores of shimmering (and often windy) Lake Michigan. So, grab a slice of deep-dish pizza, hop on the “L” train, and explore this city that’s always on the rise. See the slideshow.

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