| My next big trip is to the windy city. I'll admit that other than a few choice tidbits like the Art Institute, Oprah and gangsters, I don't really know much about Chicago. However, with my ultimate planning skills and obsessive web use, I think I've got the basics covered.
Thanks to my travelling comrade Katie, if there is a band playing in Chicago, we'll know about it. Chicago.ohmyrocknesschicago.com "is your one-stop shop for indie rock show listings." In addition to providing a comprehensive list of shows and venues, you can purchase tickets online, listen to bands before you decide to see them, and read recommendations. Do not leave without signing up for the e-mail newsletter.
You can always judge a city's coolness by its independent bookstores. Quimby's founder Steven Svymbersky has set the bar high by stating, "I really want to carry every cool, bizarre, strange, dope, queer, surreal, weird publication ever written and published, and in time Quimby's will. Because I know you're out there and you just want something else, something other, something you never even knew could exist." The online store at quimbys.com is a drool-inducing list of books, comics, graphic novels and zines. The links section has an excellent compendium of comics, zines and publishers on the web.
Another good measure of a city is its art scene and gallery listings. My current all-around favourite is David van Alphen's Chicago-based gallery of accessible and affordable art at dvagallery.com. Past artists have included Glenn Barr, Eric Joyner and Tara McPherson. Future shows promise work from Tom Bagley, David Choe and Amanda Visell.
Something tells me one week in the big city is not going to be enough. |
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