Chicago on a Budget

We've selected some of the best bargains in Chicago-area Dining, Accommodations,  Sightseeing, Entertainment and Cultural Events at Budget-pleasing Prices

"Francesca's North opened in May and instantly became the hottest spot on The North Shore - for good reason. Scott Harris has mastered the art of serving generous portions of good food at low prices in stylish simple surroundings with friendly service - a winning formula that eludes so many." Chicago Magazine – Dennis Ray Wheaton and Anne Spiselman

Billy Goat Tavern and Grill  
"Ordering at the Billy Goat may go something like this: "Cheezborger! Cheezborger! You want doublecheez?!? Who's next!?! WHO'S NEXT!?!" If you take more than one second to answer: "Don't look at the menu, look at ME! I order for you - DOUBLECHEEZ!" If you only feel like a single: "No. DOUBLECHEEZ!!!" If it's the end of the week: "It's Friday, doublecheez for everybody! It's payday! Triplecheez for the big guy!" Want French fries with that? "No fries - CHEEPS!" Thirsty? "No Pepsi - COKE!" To drink: "Coke or Diet?!" 

Earwax
1561 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, (773) 772-4019.
Vegetarian, Eclectic. Breakfast, lunch, dinner: seven days

Trattoria No 10
10 N. Dearborn, Chicago (312) 984-1718  Monday-Friday, $12 all-you-can-eat buffet special. Reservations suggested.

List of vegan restaurants in Chicago

Chicago Wine Tastings

Complimentary Randolph Wine Cellars Saturday Wine Tasting 
"enjoy a complimentary tasting at randolph wine cellars each saturday between noon and six. we'll pop open some wines for you to try while you shop. focused, themed tastings of carefully selected wines. "

Chicago Coffee Houses

Bourgeois Pig  
738 W. Fullerton Pky., Lincoln Park near DePaul  (773) 883-5282. Breakfast, lunch, dinner til 11 weekdays, midnight Fri and Sat.   "Located in an old brownstone, it's true to 60s-coffeehouse form, with creaky hardwood floors, hundreds of newspapers and books lining the shelves, and a menu of homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and baked goods posted on four huge blackboards."

Ennui Cafe  
Coffee, Art, Live Music
6981 N. Sheridan Rd.  773.973.2231

"  a haven for neighborhood regulars for years. An outdoor patio open in warmer months affords patrons a view of the lake, and interesting people-watching along Sheridan. ... an ideal hangout for Loyola and Northwestern students who get tanked on coffee and study. Its proximity to a chess club next door also makes it an ideal location for chess fiends looking for a good match. The live bands featured on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights are always free, but small donations are actively and strongly encouraged...."

Ennui Cafe sponsors the annual Rogers Park Jazz Series,

Chicago Discount Grocers

Aldi
Click on "Store Locator" for 20 Chicago area locations

"Aldi is an international retailer specializing in a limited assortment of private label, high-quality products at the lowest possible prices."

Big Lots
Bedford Park 7440 S Cicero Ave (708) 496-9927
Franklin Park 10492 Grand Ave,  (847) 288-1184
Chicago 4628 West Diversey Avenue  773-283-3241
Markham 2925C West 159th Street 708-331-4079
Orland Park 15032-38 La Grange Rd (708) 873-0675
Calumet City 1699 River Oaks Dr 708-868-4743
Homewood 3055 183rd St. (708) 798-9511
Lombard  441 E. Roosevelt Rd. (630) 953-9420
Woodridge  7340 Woodward Ave  (630) 852-6639
Des Plaines 785 W. Golf Road  (847) 228-1254
See website for additional stores.

Cub Foods
2627 N Elston Ave (773) 252-6400 
7200 S Cicero Ave (708) 496-0095
112 W 87th St  (773) 874-9592 

Food 4 Less
3039 S Cicero Ave, Cicero, 60804 - (708) 652-4257
7770 S Cicero Ave, Burbank, 60459 - (708) 499-7950
12150 S Pulaski Rd, Alsip, 60803 - (708) 385-3046

Sav-a-Lot
"... provides high quality foods and everyday items at savings up to 40% less than conventional chains."

710 West 43rd Street (773) 254-3026
4701 S. Cottage Grove 773-548-1634
420 South Pulaski 773-533-1690
Deal$ 4738 N. Western Ave. 773-271-1923
3939 West Ogden

Chicago Co-op Food Markets

Co-op Express
1226 E. 53th Street Chicago, IL 60615
773.363.2175 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

55th Street Co-op Market
1526 E. 55th Street  Chicago, IL 60615
773.667.1444  7:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.

Chicago Open Air and Farmers Markets

Chicago's Green City Market   
Features the Highest Quality, Locally Farmed Sustainable / Organic Foods Wednesdays & Saturdays May 18th - October 29th  7am to 1:30pm  " The Chicago Green City Market is located north of LaSalle Street in Lincoln Park along the path between 1750 N. Clark and Stockton Drive. Discounted parking is available for $3.00 for the first hour with validation in the parking lot off of Stockton Drive...  Lincoln Park Trolley Service  Free Trolley service through Lincoln Park and along Michigan Avenue to Chicago's most popular sites. The trolley service stops directly in front of Chicago's Green City Market and runs every 20 minutes."

Oak Park Farmers Market
This Oak Park tradition is open every Saturday from June through October, from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. "The Market is a step back into simpler times . . . buying things from the farmers who grow them, surrounded by the sounds of live bluegrass music , the smell of freshly made donuts, and the profusion and variety of nature's bounty." Map of Market Free parking in garage until 1 p.m.

Chicago Poetry Slams  and Open Mic Nights

ChicagoPoetry.com

Ashbary Coffee House
8695 S. Archer, Willow Springs  Tel: (708) 839-6963
"Music meets poetry meets java at this West Suburbs coffeehouse. Wednesdays host an acoustic and spoken word open mic; Thursdays feature improv comedy open mic and Friday through Sundays present live shows with improv comedy by an in-house troupe. All shows begin at 9 p.m. No cover, but a one (coffee) drink minimum."

Pick a Cup Coffee
1813 Dempster, Evanston, IL.
Thursdays 7:00 Pm - 10:00 Pm
Open Mic every Thursday Musicians and Poets are especially welcome.

Uptown Poetry Slam  
$6 cover  held at The Green Mill

Chicago Comedy Spots

Bean Soup Times
Lists comedy venues and events

Chicago Bars and Music Venues

The Green Mill
4802 North Broadway (Lawrence & Broadway)
Chicago.IL.60640 773.UPT.5552

"The most famous bar in Uptown if not all of Chicago, the Green Mill is one of famous gangster Al Capone's ... former speakeasies form the Prohibition-era roaring 20's ...  it has also been a hangout of Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson. The oldest jazz club in the US ... it remains one of the city's liveliest jazz venues."

Bossman Blues Club
3500 W. Lake, Chicago Tel: (773) 722-8744  Suggested two drink minimum

Artis's Lounge
features Tre' and The Blueknights Blues Band
249 E. 87th St.  773-734-0491 Sunday's at 7.  Free.

Chicago Dances and Mixers

Ballroom Chicago
Weekly Calendar lists many dozens of free and inexpensive dance lessons. Sample Recent listing (refer to current week's list for actual events)

Tango Chicago
Cousin's Turkish Dining 3038 W. Irving Park Chicago IL 60622 8:00 - 9:00 pm Argentine Tango Lesson w/Tom Aksoy Dancing 9:00pm Until Midnight
$5.00 covers the whole night (optional $5 buffet also offered! For Info Call: (773) 968 0101

The Chicago Tango School
List of ongoing and one-of events.

Thunderbird Dance Parties
Hooking up Chicago's singles for free! List of week's events. Most in 30's, 40's, and 50's... but all ages welcome. Learn "speed dating".

Chicago Clubs, Organizations... and Social Groups

Chicago is a very social city... and it's not hard to find a group of kindred spirits with which to socialize and party.

Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council
Member groups host a variety of activities: bike rides, camping trips, cruises, etc.

Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century. 
Put yourself on their upcoming events list.  Recent event offered "Free Admission for up to 100 guests between 5-7pm First two drinks for $0.50 Free Pig Roast Buffet from 5-7pm"

Party Planning Committee (PPC)
Parties, Pub Crawls, Beach Volleyball, and other fun stuff since 1994. Chicago Is Our Playground!  "... The PPC is not-for-profit "organization" (we use this term loosely) of volunteers who organize and promote pub crawls, parties, and other fun events for ourselves and our friends such as our flagship event, The Chicago Fourth of July Party, and what has become another part of our storied tradition, The Twelve Bars of Christmas. Most of our events center around Chicago's historic Lincoln Park neighborhood. Incidentally, PPC used to stand for "Party Planning Committee", however we just simply call it "the PPC" these days. "

Chicago Jazz

Maxwell Street... Birth of the Blues

"Without Maxwell Street as a incubator and proving ground for Chicago Blues musicians, there would be no Chicago Blues Festival. Maxwell Street gave blues musicians a chance to hear each other jam and pick up extra money between jobs. Without Maxwell Street, many of the migrating blues musicians could not have stayed long in Chicago; they would have had to return to Memphis, St. Louis, or the Delta."

On Sundays, visit the New Maxwell Street Market at Canal and Roosevelt Road, from 7:00AM to 2:00PM. " Canal Street runs parallel to Halsted and is about a half/mile east of it. Gourmet Mexican street food abounds and in good weather the blues musicians still play. This is the biggest market in Chicago but it still is only a third the size of the old market. This market is definitely worth a visit."

Jim's Hot Dog Stand
1320 South Halsted (312-666-0533) - Hotdogs with grilled onions ... open 24 hours.

Preserve Maxwell Street

Blues Still Holdin On Maxwell Street  
"... Piano C. Red, who use to play in front of the Johnnie Dollar Thrift Shop on Old Maxwell Street, has returned to the New Maxwell Street Market with his Flat Foot Boogie Band. He plays there every Sunday, weather permitting, at the far southern end of the New Maxwell Street Market, on Canal Street, on the bridge, by 16th Street. The 400 vendor Market operates every Sunday. Piano C. Red is there from 10AM to 3PM. There is no admission to the market. There is usually available free parking on 16th Street, just west of Canal. "

Blues at Chicago's New Maxwell Street Market
"... They're keeping the tradition alive. In good weather, three blues bands regularly play at the New Maxwell Street Market. Visitors from all over the world still come to sit in with them. At this time, Willie James's Band plays at the far south end of the market; David Lindsey's Band plays in the middle of the market in front of the Terminal Tap; and Piano C. Red's Flat Foot Boogie Band plays at the northwest corner of Canal and Roosevelt Road, kitty corner to the Blues Bus... "

The OLD Maxwell Street Market Homepage

Chicago Area Bookstores

Booklegger's Used Books
2907 N. Broadway Chicago, IL , 60657
Phone: 773-404-8780 books@bookleggers.com 
Over 10,000 used books in stock on all subjects, plus CDs, cassettes, books on cassette and videos. Open 7 days a week, starting at noon.

The Book Stall at Chestnut Court
811 Elm Street Winnetka, IL 60093
Tel: (847)446-8880 books@thebookstall.com

Myopic Books    
 ".... is one of Chicago's Largest Used Bookstores- located in Wicker Park for 12 years. We offer a collection of over 80,000 used books on three floors."
Weekly series of readings and occasional poets' talks takes place Sundays at 7:00.  Experimental Music Mondays (and Special events) at 7:30 p.m.

Quimby's  
"Forgetting where we put things... since 1991" 1854 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60622  tel. 773/342-0910  Events Calendar Live Recordings
Monday - Friday: 12pm - 10pm
Saturday: 11am - 10pm
Sunday: 12pm - 6pm
Everything from an amazing collection of zine to The Energy Machine of T. Henry Moray: Zero Point Energy and Pulsed Plasma Physics

Chicago Volunteer Positions

Shedd Aquarium volunteer application

Art Institute of Chicago
"The benefits of volunteering are many. First and foremost is the wonderful environment of the Art Institute, where staff and volunteers work together to make positive contributions to an institution they love. Volunteers also take part in continuing education programs, including free lectures, presentations, and tours, so they can learn more about the extensive collection. There are also Museum Shop discounts, annual recognition events, and the chance to constantly meet new people and make new friends. Volunteers also receive the quarterly Volunteer Newsletter, with behind-the-scenes articles about the museum, essential volunteer information, and spotlights on special exhibitions."

Cheap and Free Chicago Transportation

Free Summertime Lincoln Park Trolley
"Take advantage of this fun and free means of getting around! The Lincoln Park Trolley provides everyone with an environmentally friendly way to visit the Lincoln Park neighborhood and area cultural institutions including the Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Historical Society and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The newly expanded trolley routes connect CTA and Metra riders to some of Chicago's favorite summer hot spots. "

"Trolley services begins Memorial Day weekend (May 29) and runs through Labor Day (September 6). All routes run from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Routes 1 & 2 run 7 days a week. Route 3 runs on weekends only, with the addition of Memorial Day and Labor Day."

Free Trolley between Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier.  "Chicago's Free Trolley System offers weekend service to some of the city's most popular museums, shopping destinations and visitor attractions. The free trolleys travel to and from Navy Pier, the Museum Campus, Lincoln Park Zoo, Michigan Avenue and State Street with many stops in between."  Information at 1-877-244-2246

Chicago Art Shows

SOFA
InternationalSculpture Objects & Functional
Art (SOFA) Expositions held in late October or early November at the Navy Pier.  A 4 day ticket is a bargain.

Architectural Digest's Architecture Days
early May.

Chicago Theatre

HotTix
Half price tickets to more than 125 Chicago area theaters. Available shows posted daily.  Tickets must be purchased in person at any Hot Tix location.

Theatre Thursdays 
"Thursdays are the perfect night to check out Chicago’s red-hot theater scene.  Each Thursday, we'll offer specially-priced tickets to one of the hottest shows in town, cocktails and appetizers before or after the show, PLUS the chance to schmooze with the artists or go behind-the-scenes."  Events sell out fast, so reserve 2-3 weeks in advance.

TicketMaster: Chicago

Chicago Theater Jobs

Blue Man Group Jobs

Chicago Summer Festivals

Chicago Folk & Roots Festival "... For two days in Welles Park (in the Lincoln Square neighborhood), The Old Town School of Folk Music's commitment to educate, honor, and present American and International artistic traditions and styles is on display in a multi-staged open-air festival environment celebrating artistic diversity and cultural harmony." Early July.

Chicago Blues Festival  
".... For four days in late spring each year, the lakefront in Grant Park is packed with blues bands and enthusiasts from all over the world for the Chicago Blues Festival, the largest free blues festival in the world.... The main attractions of the festival for many are the sideshows alongside Grant Park, where you might see a big name stop by for an impromptu performance, or a future star giving a jaw-dropping set on a makeshift stage.... At night, the festival carries on in clubs all around the city, from the more well-known and well-heeled venues to the downtown spit-and-sawdust bars where you find the real Chicago blues experience."

Chicago for Seniors

Senior Celebrations: Art Institute of Chicago
First week in September. Reservations required.
(312) 857-7602 or e-mail: seniorprograms@artic.edu
Senior Celebrations is free. An optional lunch in the Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room offered at $10.

"Senior Celebrations is an annual kick-off day held in September for the Art Insights program. Senior Celebrations offers a variety of programs throughout the day, such as small informal talks in the galleries, live music, and sketch classes. See School of the Art Institute artists painting in the galleries. More than 70 volunteers help make Senior Celebrations possible each year.  Senior Celebrations is generously funded by the Hulda B. and Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation."

Chicago for Art Students

University Nights
"Twice a year, the Art Institute opens its special exhibitions exclusively to university students and faculty. These free, evening events allow you to avoid the normal crowds, enjoy gallery talks by curators and area scholars, and socialize with other art-loving students and faculty at a coffee-bar reception." 

"Free, but you must register to attend. Individuals are welcome, or instructors can arrange to bring a class. Space is limited and once capacity is reached, registration will close."

"To register, send an e-mail to unight@artic.edu or leave a message at (312) 857-7182 with your name, e-mail address, and school that you attend.
2. On the evening of the event, enter the museum at the Michigan Avenue entrance.
3. Bring your school ID to gain entrance. Only current students and faculty may attend."

Internships at the Art Institute of Chicago are available in many areas.

Chicago Youth Activities

About Face Theatre
About Face Youth Theatre is hosting a theatre lab in the summer of 2005 investigating home and homelessness with a diverse ensemble of Chicago's LGBTQ youth and their allies. Youth ages 14-20 years old are eligible to join us. No experience necessary. Participation is free of charge.  This is your chance to join a diverse ensemble of amazing youth activists and artists, listen to incredible life stories, raise your voice by telling your own story and become an agent for change in the community.
 

Chicago Accommodations

Chicago Area Thrift Stores

Goodwill stores:

Recycle It
1474 N. Milwaukee (Bucktown) Chicago (773) 642-1900

Chicago Flea Markets

5 Star Indoor Swap Mart
300 West North Ave. Villa Park, IL 60181
North Avenue & Addison Road  630-835-2800
2 for 1 admission coupon. Friday's are Free Admission Days.

Buyer's Flea Market   
4545 W Division St. 8 to 5 Sat and Sun  Indoor and outdoor (protected) markets. Free parking.

Chicago Vintage and Antique Markets and Stores

Chicago Antique Market  
"An indoor and outdoor European-style urban antique market located along the historic and distinctive Randolph Street Market District."  Also includes the Indie Designer Fashion Market List of Dealers

Wow and Zen
18th and 19th century furnishings, accessories from rural China and Tibet, or wire and wood accent pieces from Europe ... at prices that are uniquely affordable.

For directions use Mapquest

Chicago Area Discount Stores

DSW Shoe Warehouse
3131 N Clark St Chicago, IL 60657 (773) 975-7182
This large national chain offers 30,000 pairs of designer shoes at 25% to 50% discount. Clearance at additional 30% to 70% discount.

Filene's Basement
830 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 482-8918

TJ Maxx Stores
2840 North Broadway Chicago, IL 60657  773-975-2347
1745 West Fullerton Chicago, IL 60614 773-327-1124
11 North State St Chicago, IL 60602  312-553-0515
6456 West Irving Park Rd Chicago, IL 60634 773-725-9400
3337 Golf Road Skokie (Evanston), IL 60203 847-982-9890

Chicago Area Outlet Malls

Chicago Premium Outlets
1650 Premium Outlets Boulevard
Aurora, IL 60504 (630) 585-2200

Everything and Anything for Free

Chicago Oodle Free

Chicago Jazz News