​Near the Hotel (Hillside/Westchester Area)

Dining Options

Casual Dining:

• Giordano's (290 Mannheim Rd) - Famous Chicago deep dish pizza

• Portillo's (170 North Mannheim Rd) - Classic Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef

• Chef Shangri-La (7930 W 26th St, North Riverside) - Vintage tiki bar with Polynesian cuisine

• Egg Harbor Café (7164 W Cermak Rd, Berwyn) - Popular breakfast and lunch spot

• Johnnie's Beef (7500 W North Ave, Elmwood Park) - Legendary Italian beef sandwiches

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Upscale Options:

• Topaz Café (780 Village Center Dr, Burr Ridge) - Contemporary American cuisine

• Lucca Osteria & Bar (100 S Marion St, Oak Park) - Italian dining with craft cocktails

• Maya Del Sol (144 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park) - Latin fusion restaurant with patio dining

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Shopping

• Oakbrook Center (100 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook) - Upscale outdoor shopping mall

• North Riverside Park Mall (7501 W Cermak Rd) - Large shopping center with over 130 stores

• Hillside Shopping Center (200 S Mannheim Rd) - Convenient shopping near the hotel

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Entertainment

• Cinemark Melrose Park (1001 W North Ave) - Movie theater complex

• Kings Dining & Entertainment (1500 N Clybourn Ave) - Bowling, games, and dining

• Lucky Strike Lanes (322 E Illinois St) - Upscale bowling in a stylish environment

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Downtown Chicago Attractions (25-30 minutes from hotel)

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Must-See Chicago Icons

• Willis Tower Skydeck (233 S Wacker Dr) - 103rd-floor glass viewing platform

• Navy Pier (600 E Grand Ave) - Entertainment district with rides, restaurants, and cruise departures

• Cloud Gate "The Bean" (Millennium Park) - Iconic mirrored sculpture

• Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave) - World-renowned art museum

• Chicago Riverwalk - Scenic walkway with dining, boat tours, and urban recreation

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Sports & Entertainment

• Wrigley Field (1060 W Addison St) - Historic home of the Chicago Cubs

• United Center (1901 W Madison St) - Home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks

• Soldier Field (1410 Special Olympics Dr) - Home to the Chicago Bears

• SeatGeek Stadium (7000 S Harlem Ave, Bridgeview) - Home of the Chicago Red Stars soccer team

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Dining Experiences

• The Berghoff (17 W Adams St) - Historic German restaurant (since 1898)

• Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (Multiple locations) - Famous deep dish pizza

• Frontera Grill (445 N Clark St) - Celebrity chef Rick Bayless's acclaimed Mexican restaurant

• Girl & the Goat (809 W Randolph St) - Award-winning Chef Stephanie Izard's flagship restaurant

• Monteverde (1020 W Madison St) - Award-winning Italian cuisine

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Museum Campus

• Field Museum (1400 S Lake Shore Dr) - Natural history museum

• Shedd Aquarium (1200 S Lake Shore Dr) - One of the world's largest indoor aquariums

• Adler Planetarium (1300 S Lake Shore Dr) - America's first planetarium

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Family-Friendly Activities

• Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N Clark St) - Free zoo in the heart of Chicago

• Brookfield Zoo (8400 W 31st St, Brookfield) - Large suburban zoo close to the event hotel

• Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S Lake Shore Dr) - Interactive science exhibits

• LEGOLAND Discovery Center (601 N Martingale Rd, Schaumburg) - Indoor LEGO playground

• Chicago Children's Museum (700 E Grand Ave) - Interactive exhibits for kids at Navy Pier

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Soccer-Related Attractions

• SeatGeek Stadium Tour (7000 S Harlem Ave, Bridgeview) - Home of the Chicago Red Stars

• Soldier Field Tour (1410 Special Olympics Dr) - Site of major international soccer matches

• Chicago Fire FC Store (Soldier Field) - Official team merchandise

• AO Chicago Chapter Bar (The Globe Pub, 1934 W Irving Park Rd) - American Outlaws soccer supporters' bar

• Soccer 2000 (3933 N Harlem Ave) - Soccer specialty shop

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Chicago's Diverse Neighborhoods

• Pilsen - Vibrant Mexican-American neighborhood with colorful murals and authentic cuisine

• Chinatown - Rich cultural experience with authentic dining and unique shops

• Little Italy - Historic Italian neighborhood with traditional restaurants

• Greektown - Authentic Greek restaurants and cultural attractions

• Wicker Park/Bucktown - Trendy area with independent boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife

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Evening Entertainment

• Kingston Mines (2548 N Halsted St) - Legendary Chicago blues club

• The Second City (1616 N Wells St) - Famous comedy club that launched many SNL careers

• Chicago Theatre (175 N State St) - Historic performance venue

• Buddy Guy's Legends (700 S Wabash Ave) - Iconic blues club

• Green Mill Cocktail Lounge (4802 N Broadway) - Historic jazz club with Prohibition-era atmosphere

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Scenic Views & Photo Opportunities

• 360 CHICAGO (875 N Michigan Ave) - Observation deck at former John Hancock Center

• Lakefront Trail - 18-mile path along Lake Michigan

• Chicago Riverwalk - Scenic waterfront promenade

• Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N Central Park Ave) - One of the largest plant conservatories in the US

• Maggie Daley Park - 20-acre public park with unique playground and climbing walls

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Day Trip Options

• Oak Park - Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio tours

• Lake Geneva, WI (90 minutes from Chicago) - Lakeside resort town with beaches and boat tours

• Indiana Dunes National Park (60 minutes from Chicago) - Beautiful beaches and dunes

• Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL) - Major theme park with thrilling rides

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Transportation Tips for Exploring

• Ventra Card - Reloadable fare card for CTA trains and buses

• Metra Trains - Commuter rail service connecting suburbs to downtown

• Water Taxi - Scenic river transport between major Chicago attractions

• Divvy Bikes - Bike sharing program with stations throughout the city

• Uber/Lyft - Readily available throughout Chicagoland

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Special Events During SoCo Expo Weekend

(July 31-August 2, 2025)

• Lollapalooza Music Festival - Major music festival in Grant Park

• Fiesta del Sol - Large Latino festival in the Pilsen neighborhood

• Taste of Lincoln Avenue - Food and music festival

• Jeff Fest Arts & Music Festival - Community festival in Jefferson Park

• Chicago Cubs Home Games - Check the schedule for games at Wrigley Field

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Chicago Card Show Week Activities

• National Sports Collectors Convention - Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont

• Local Card Shop Specials - Many Chicago-area shops run promotions during this week

• Collector Meet-ups - Various informal gatherings at local establishments

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All information is subject to change.

 

Check venue websites for current hours, prices, and availability before visiting.