{"id":4365,"date":"2016-11-07T12:29:20","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T17:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=4365"},"modified":"2016-11-07T12:30:12","modified_gmt":"2016-11-07T17:30:12","slug":"new-to-chicago-here-are-5-underrated-things-you-should-check-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/new-to-chicago-here-are-5-underrated-things-you-should-check-out\/","title":{"rendered":"New to Chicago? Here Are 5 Underrated Things You Should Check Out"},"content":{"rendered":"
Chicago<\/a> is among the premier cities in America. It has the third highest population in the country and one of the most diverse and successful economies in the United States. In addition to the economy, Chicago also has a bustling arts and culture scene as well as sports teams in every league. Each year, millions and millions of people visit and move to Chicago. While everyone knows about checking out the Bean, getting some deep dish pizza, and seeing a game at Wrigley, there is much more to do and see in Chicago. Here are five underrated and often overlooked things to check out if you’re new to Chicago.<\/p>\n Chicago view from Milton Lee Olive Park. Photo by\u00a0Steve Browne & John Verkleir\u00a0(CC BY 2.0)<\/em><\/p>\n Chicago has a bustling scene when it comes to live music, art, theater, and comedy. While places like the Chicago Theatre and Second City get the most attention, there are a ton of other options to check out. One of the best and most unique is called \u201cBring Your Own Theater Productions.\u201d This new type of performance involves going from a brand new concept to a performance in a mere 24 hours. On Fridays, there is a pre-show meeting in which a theme (voted on by show attendees) is revealed to actors, writers, and directors. They then need to create an entire performance off of that theme and then perform it on Saturday night. This place is a melting pot for creative minds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Chi-Town is home to a ton of different museums that each attract thousands and thousands of visitors each year. However, one museum that doesn\u2019t get enough credit and is definitely a place to check out is the International Museum of Surgical Science. The museum captures the history of medical practices, including surgery techniques. This museum features numerous exhibits that cover various aspects of medicine. They have paintings, sculptures, drawings, specimens, and other historic artifacts. A little tip, Tuesdays are free.<\/p>\n Like any other city, Chicago has a number of parks too. There is no doubt that places like Millennium and Lincoln Park are legendary, but are often completely full of tourists and pedestrians. If you want to check out a park with less people (and arguably a better atmosphere), check out Milton Lee Olive Park. This park offers up some of the best views of the Chicago skyline and is simply a great place to take a walk or have a picnic. Despite being right near the constantly busy downtown area of Chicago, this park is surprisingly calm and serene, and is a must-visit for anyone needing to be in Chicago.<\/p>\n This is an unorthodox addition to the list. However, it is definitely something that deserves a spot. No, it is not a museum, park, theater, or any type of building at all, in fact. The Puppet Bike is just that, it is a completely mobile stage that is built on a bike. This little mobile theater was created by artist Jason Trusty and can often be seen throughout downtown Chicago. He and a few other people ride around the town and then set up shop at various destinations to put on shows for the public. This is a completely one-of-a-kind experience and one that everyone from children to adults can enjoy. <\/span><\/p>\n Those who fear butterflies can avoid this activity. While the entire Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is fantastic, there is a show-stopper. The Judy Istock Butterfly Haven is a 2,700 square-foot greenhouse that features dozens of different species of butterflies. In total, you will walk among pools of water and tropical trees as you interact with the 1,000 butterflies that call this haven home. Species rotate regularly, so every time you visit this exhibit, it is just a little bit different from the last time.<\/span><\/p>\n Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chicago is among the premier cities in America. It has the third highest population in the country and one of the most diverse and successful economies in the United States. In addition to the economy, Chicago also has a bustling arts and culture scene as well as sports teams in every league. Each year, millions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"yes","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[152],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-chicago-living"],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/p>\n1. Bring Your Own Theater<\/h2>\n
2. International Museum of Surgical Science<\/h2>\n
3. Milton Lee Olive Park<\/h2>\n
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4. The Puppet Bike<\/h2>\n
5. Judy Istock Butterfly Haven<\/h2>\n