WBEZ’s “Say More” asked listeners to describe their perfect day in Chicago if they had to leave the city. Host Mary Dixon and co-host Patrick Smith and midday news anchor Lisa Labuz shared their itineraries, and readers chimed in. Here’s what they said:
Mary Dixon
Sights and experiences: Sunrise at Navy Pier; skyline from Miller Beach; Montrose Harbor; Chagall windows and Nighthawks at the Art Institute of Chicago; Garfield Park Conservatory; movie at the Music Box Theater; show at Metro
Eats and drinks: Calumet Fisheries’ smoked salmon and trout; tacos at QuesaBirria Jalisco in Pilsen; coco loco sundae at Margie’s Candies; nightcap at G-Man Tavern; bánh mi at Nhu Lan
Patrick Smith
Sights and experiences: Swimming at North Avenue beach; Garfield Park Conservatory; Siskel Film Center for a screening of a foreign classic like “Millennium Mambo”; Art Institute; Sox game; Empty Bottle show
Eats and drinks: Mindy’s Bakery for a bagel, a pastry and a coffee; Omarcito’s for a catfish jibarito and a fresh juice; QXY Dumplings; Chicago-style hot dog at Jr’s Red Hots; Sundae at Margie’s Candies
Lisa Labuz
Sights and experiences: Art Institute, beach, sailboat, Cubs game, show at the Metro; Empty Bottle show, FitzGerald’s
Eats and drinks: Diner breakfast; shot at G-Man Tavern; Margie’s; Vito & Nick’s
WBEZ callers
Cindy from Burr Ridge: See Chicago from the lake on a boat
Flora from Norwood Park: DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Buckingham Fountain, Art Institute of Chicago, Cultural Center Tiffany Dome, Tiffany Dome at the former Marshall Field’s, eat in Greektown, jazz club (Andy’s, Fitzgerald, Kingston Mines), Chicago pizza at Colletti’s
Asan from Edgewater: Little Corner Cafe, bike down the lake, Montrose Harbor to read, Lawrence Fish Market, Italian beef in Little Italy, cake in Lincoln Square, blues night
Samuel: Al’s Beef, polish sausage on Maxwell Street, pizza downtown
Cream Sherry from Rogers Park: Visit parents’ grave, Water Tower, Akira, Gibson’s, Penelope’s, first set at Winter’s Jazz Club; second set at the Jazz Showcase
Jack from Oak Park: Breakfast at home, Lincoln Park Zoo, Italian beef at Portillo’s, beach or riverwalk, Cubs game, Chicago dog at the ballpark, cheeseburger from Billy Goat Tavern
Laura from South Shore: Obama library, Italian Fiesta pizza, Raymond’s tacos, Lem’s Bar-B-Q, Skyway Doghouse, Batter & Berries, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, picnic at the Point
Bob from Evanston: View the city from the lakefront
Chris from Blue Island: Breakfast at Diner Grill, architecture boat tour, báhn mi from Nhu Lan, gangster tour, Lula cafe, Metro show, dance at Smart Bar