As winter in Chicago descends, most of us want to avoid doing anything outside. Months go by before we see friends again, and the events that bring us so much joy in the summer—like going to the city's best restaurants and concerts—seem all the more daunting when the perils of venturing outside in sub-zero temperatures are part of the equation. Fortunately, a decades-old project means that we can access much of the Loop without ever setting foot outdoors. Chicago's underground navigation system, the Pedway, makes it relatively easy—once you find your bearings—to travel between buildings. The subterranean pathway isn't just a means of getting from the El to the office. It is home—and provides easy sheltered access—to restaurants, bars and shops, and connects some of the Loop's best destinations. So make your way through the Pedway's paths this winter and avoid the great outdoors (at least until the last of the snow melts in March).
Okay, so technically this tour means you will eventually spend some time outside, but at least you can stay warm and toasty as long as possible. Head to Millennium Park and exit on Michigan Avenue for ice-skating under the Bean. Alternately, bring your own skates and jump the line at the Skating Ribbon at Maggie Daley Park for a few laps around the curvy rink. Once you’ve had enough of the cold, navigate your way south to the Game Room at the Chicago Athletic Association for a cocktail and a game of bocce.
Maintain your out-every-night summer lifestyle even in the blistering cold with access to great cultural institutions just off of the Pedway. The Harris Theater is accessible near the far east branch of the Pedway, while the Chicago Theatre and the Goodman Theatre are both a stone’s throw from multiple Pedway entrances off State and Dearborn Streets. All three offer a ton of great programming this winter. Before your show, grab dinner at the Dearborn (45 N Dearborn St), accessible through Block 37.
Take a long lunch break and start your four-course meal with french fries from hometown fast-food chain M Burger in the Thompson Center Atrium. Then take the Pedway east to Block 37 and grab a taco (or two) from Latinicity. Next, it’s on to Macy’s Seven on State food court for a bowl of shoyu ramen from Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi. If you have room for dessert—and have a taste for icy sweets in the cold weather—take the Pedway south (exit near Chase Tower) and grab Black Dog Gelato from Revival Food Hall.
Duck out of work for a happy-hour crawl that starts at Block 37’s Simply Thalia, where you can nosh on hand rolls over a cocktail or beer. Head east through Block 37 past the Red Line and into Macy’s for a glass of red at the Wine Bar at the Walnut Room, which is particularly stunning (and crazy busy) in the pre-holiday weeks, to gaze at the intricately decorated Christmas tree. If you started early and the Pedway is still open, trek back underground and northeast toward Millennium Station to finish at M Bar.
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