As I'm packing and whatnot, I just have to take a moment to tell you all about the NFT (Not For Tourists) Guide to Chicago.
Once I knew I was headed to the Windy City, I stopped by Barnes and Noble to get one of those touristy books to help me get acclimated to what will be my new surroundings. I was looking for something that would give me more insight into the day-to-day stuff... and not just information about "the Bean" and other tourist hot spots.
Well, NFT will be my new Bible (not really, just saying that for dramatic effect)... this book lives up to its name. Some of its features include:
- Neighborhood Maps (all of the Chicago neighborhoods mind you) with commentary on each neighborhood and listings (including address and phone numbers) of all Banks, Car Washes, Car Rental Places, Gas Stations, Landmarks, Pet Stores, Police and Fire, Farmer's Markets, Pharmacies, Pizza, Post Offices, Schools, Supermarkets, Parking, Coffee, Copy Shops, Gyms, Hardware Stores, Liquor Stores (that section is irrelevant), Nightlife (also irrelevant), Restaurants, Shopping, and Video Rental... check out my neighborhood.
- Parks & Places - maps, diagrams and information on all of the major parks including an Overview, information on Architecture, Culture & Events, Where to Eat, Where to Drink, and Where to Shop nearby the park and How to Get There (By the L or by car).
- Colleges & Universities - maps and information on all of the colleges and universities, tuition information, sports, culture on campus and department contact information.
- Sports - information on all of the recreational sports available, hours, times, phone numbers, where to get gear, golf courses, volleyball, pools, bowling alleys (including rates for everything), as well as info on all of the Chicago sports teams, diagrams of the fields and arenas, contact info for tickets, and directions.
- Transit Info - helping you navigate through the city with maps and info on the L, Metra, buses and info and maps of O'Hare and Midway.
- General Info - calendar of annual events and festivals in Chicago, info about Police, Fire and Hospitals, Fun Facts about Chicago, Libraries, Zip Codes, FedEx drop off sites, Landmarks, Dog Parks and Beaches, Hotels, Internet and WiFi locations, 24 Hour Services.
- Arts & Entertainment - info on all of the theaters, galleries, nightlife, bookstores, and and Restaurants (including a brief review, pricing and hours), shopping.
- Street Index
It comes compact for only $16.99! $16.99! I showed it to a friend of mine who has lived in Chicago for two years and she said she was going to get a copy for herself because there was so much useful info even she didn't know.
NFT Guides are also available for Atlanta, Boston, LA, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
In addition to the printed books, they also do a NFT site with updated information on events and information for each city in an RSS feed! CRAZY. Check out NFT online.
You should also try centerstagechicago.com Great resource.
Posted by: Bethany | 08 May 2007 at 02:03 AM