Your Wildcard (student ID) will get you discounts at some area businesses, including local theaters and museums. Check the list on Northwestern's website to see which businesses are included.

Block Club is a local, nonprofit news organization that covers Chicago news, from the big, city-wide stories to local neighborhood-based coverage. They also publish a weekly roundup of things to do in Chicago each weekend.

The Chicago Reader is a nonprofit newspaper that offers local news, arts and culture event listings, and restaurant reviews.

Curious City is a podcast/radio segment through WBEZ, the local NPR station. Curious City episodes do deep-dive answers into listener questions about Chicago.

"Leave Streeterville. Don't stay stuck in the NLaw bubble! Take the intercampus, take the L, take the metra, take a divvy-- just get out some while the weather's nice!" - NLaw student, fall 2024.

Around the law school, students recommended eating at Cafecito and Gotham Bagels.

For entertainment, students go to Smartbar, the Laugh Factory, A Red Orchid Theatre, the Chicago Symphony, and Argyle Night Market. Students also go to the Art institute, the Logan Square Comfort Station, and events hosted by Gertie.

Students enjoy being outdoors in the Japanese Gardens, on the Chicago Riverwalk, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Friends of the Chicago River organizes canoe trips to explore the city by water and has a yearly volunteer workday in the spring. There are beaches all along the lakefront.

Want to add to this list? Email Leah Whitesel, Student Services Librarian with your ideas.

Museums

Check the museums' website for information about free admission days or special events:

• Art Institute of Chicago
• Chicago History Museum
• DuSable Black History Museum
• Field Museum
• Heritage Museum of Asian Art
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
• National Museum of Mexican Art
• The Newberry Library

You can also explore smaller museums:

• American Writer's Museum
• Bridgehouse Museum 
• Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
• Institute for the Studies of Ancient Cultures
• International Museum of Surgical Science
• Jane Addams Hull House Museum
• The Money Museum
• Museum of Contemporary Photography

Performing Arts

The Chicago Reader's Theater section has short reviews of shows in the Chicago area.

Students can get discounted or rush tickets at the following locations:

• Broadway in Chicago has a lottery
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater
• Chicago Symphony
• The Goodman Theatre
• Lyric Opera
• Steppenwolf

Chicago has many professional sports teams. They are listed in alphabetical order her to avoid any appearance of bias.

• Bears (American football)
• Blackhawks (hockey)
• Bulls (men's baseketball)
• Chicago CC (men's cricket)
• Cubs (baseball)
• Fire (men's soccer)
• Hounds (men's rugby)
• Red Stars (women's soccer)
• Sky (women's basketball)
• White Sox (baseball)

The Forest Preserves of Cook County offer outdoor programming, trails for hiking and biking, and campgrounds - as well as a zipline course and swimming pools.

The Chicago Park District includes 614 parks. The Park District also offers low-cost athletic and artistic classes and team sports. You can search activities on the Park District's website.

From Prof. Paul Gowder, a website on navigating Chicago winters.

For people willing to brave the cold, there are several ice rinks in the city. The Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon is close to the law school, Wrigley Field hosts an ice rink during the winter, and the Chicago Park District has free ice rinks with a low cost to rent skates. Check the ice rink's hours before making plans.

The Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park Conservatory have free admission and can be a warm respite from Chicago winters.