Curator’s statement
House heads! Follow me to the ultra-hip Windy City, aka Chicago! Settled on Lake Michigan with the Chicago River flowing through, Chicago is a renaissance city that truly has it all: sports teams — Bulls, White Sox, Cubs, Blackhawks and Bears — luxury accommodations, upscale shopping, Michelin-starred dining and hole-in-the-wall foodie delights. Music aficionados around the world also know Chicago for its alluring, soul-stirring house music. It’s the birthplace of house music and where the legendary house music creator Frankie Knuckles called home. With many events and locales in the city centered around this genre, let me guide you through a phenomenal long weekend with family, friends or your house music travel crew. DJs Mike Dunn, Terry Hunter, Adorio and others will have you vibrating higher and higher!
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Things to do in Chicago
The beloved summertime Chi
Summer weekends in Chicago are spectacular and ideal for rooftop parties, lakefront events, outdoor festivals and high energy. This is the time of the year when the magic happens!
I would highly recommend planning your trip around one of these legendary house music events:
The Chosen Few Picnic & Festival (July): In Jackson Park on the south side of Chicago, thousands of house heads gather for the ultimate house music gathering with pioneers such as Wayne Williams, Terry Hunter and Alan King, plus a massive outdoor dance floor. It truly feels like a family reunion with so much love and positive energy.
Chicago House Music Festival (June): This city-sponsored festival celebrating house legends is the prime reason why so many fall in love with Chicago. The venues are perfect settings to groove and percolate to the four decades of house music.
ARC Music Festival (Labor Day weekend): With a stacked lineup, over 50,000 house heads migrate to Union Park to experience a mix of house, techno and electronic sounds.
Saturday day parties
Settle into the perfect city spots for skyline sips, day trips and bouncing hips throughout the year:
Cherise Rooftop - On the 26th floor of Virgin Hotels
SkyAffair - 22nd floor Vu Rooftop
Nightcap: house music all night long
Late night at The Bassment - Speakeasy lounge with craft cocktails. Check out House Calls, which offers an intimate house music experience located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago.
Slow Sunday vinyl digging & music culture
Gramaphone Records (Lakeview): A must-visit for house heads. This funky record store with a clubby vibe stocks a selection of dance music and underground tunes. Spend a couple hours vinyl digging. There are several listening stations and friendly and knowledgeable staff.
The Silver Room (Hyde Park): A community shop for house music culture, art and fashion.
Visit Frankie Knuckles Way and the site of the original Warehouse (where house music was born).
Places to eat & drink in Chicago
Brunch
Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe - Across from Millenium Park, this popular breakfast spot boasts engaging staff and amazing food. Order the white chocolate raspberry mocha pancakes and cinnamon honey latte to get ready for a day of dancing and vibing.
Batter & Berries (Lincoln Park) - A vibrant spot known for its delicious French toast flight. The eatery is BYOB, so bring your own bubbles to celebrate the weekend!
Lunch
Virtue (Hyde Park)- A James Beard-winning restaurant with elevated Southern comfort food. Ask for the fish and grits.
Honey butter fried chicken (Avondale) - Chicago comfort food with a DJ-curated vibe.
Bronzeville Soul - Housed in historic Bronzeville, enjoy exploring the community while walking off the pound cake or peach cobbler!
Cocktails
14 Parish (Hyde Park) - For happy vibes and feels, spend a slow Sunday grooving at this Caribbean eatery that serves up innovative cocktails, island cuisine and live DJs.
Toast to an unforgettable Chicago house music weekend with rooftop cocktails at LondonHouse.
Dinner
Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf - Chicago has many steakhouses, but this is my go-to for a genuine retro meal. I am obsessed with their Lion's Tail cocktail.
Girl & the Goat - Try the goat empanadas and wood-fired mussels.
Au Cheval - Plan ahead as the lines get long, but the burgers are worth the wait!
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Latonya Humphrey
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Chicago page.