There was a lot of great stuff that happened in 2015, but 2016 has the potential to be Chicago's most epic year to date. Within the next 12 months, Chicago will host the biggest Lollapalooza to date, the smash-hit hip-hop musical Hamilton will debut and the city's first (and long-awaited) cider bar will open its doors. Take a look at the 10 openings and events that will make 2016 a great year to be in Chicago.
Why 2016 will be an epic year in Chicago
An expanded Lollapalooza, a Broadway debut, the city's first cider bar and more reasons why 2016 in Chicago will be epic
Why 2016 will be an epic year in Chicago
2. Hamilton is coming to town
3. We'll get an extra day of Lollapalooza
4. Chicago's first cider bar
5. Navy Pier will become far less tacky
6. Argyle will become the city's first shared street
The stretch of Argyle Street between Broadway and Sheridan in Uptown is about to become the ideal place to take a leisurely stroll (after a big bowl of pho). The area is being turned into Chicago's first “shared street," transforming the roadway into a plaza-like setting (think Market Square in Pittsburgh or Exhibition Road in London). Construction on the project is scheduled to wrap up in June and should attract even more visitors to some of Uptown's best restaurants. —CG
7. A brand new Washington/Wabash station
Construction on the Loop’s Washington/Wabash El station began in March, closing down the dilapidated Madison/Wabash station as well as a stretch of Wabash Avenue. Along with the launch of the Loop Link bus system in December, the new station is poised to be a big part of an overall facelift to public transit in the downtown area. Renderings of the completed project look pretty great—the entire El track along Wabash Avenue will be enclosed in a series of wavy ribs that resembles the Aqua Tower. If the Wabash Lights program comes together as planned in January, the street could become one of the hottest places for Instagram selfies in the entire city. —CG
8. Korean-Polish fusion in Bridgeport
9. There will be more places to live in the Loop
10. We'll enjoy a new music festival
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