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To the newest member of the MB Real Estate Family, Welcome to Chicago. We hope you will fall in love with your new home just as we have. This brochure has been put together with you in mind. We hope to make your transition into a new city and a new job as simple as possible. Chicago is a magnificent city with so much to discover; let us help you find the way. MB Real Estate
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TABLE OF CONTENTS The Loop 5 Chicago Neighborhoods 10 Chicago Suburbs 12 Transportation 14 What to do 16 Contact Information 18
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THE LOOP The Loop is home to MB Real Estate’s corporate office at 181 W. Madison Street. One of 77 officially designated community areas located in Chicago, it is the commercial center of Downtown. The Loop is also home to the historic theater and shopping district, including State Street, located just a few blocks from the office. Within the Loop you will also find Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Goodman Theatre, the Harold Washington Library, and Chicago Cultural Center. A quick walk around the Loop and it’s hard not to be amazed by the architecture. Most notably, the Chicago Board of Trade Building, a national historic landmark, and Willis Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the western hemisphere. The Loop also contains a wealth of outdoor sculptures including works by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, and Jean Dubuffet. 5
SHOPPING Macy’s on State, 111 N. State It’s the second largest department store in the world. Spend as much or as little time as you like exploring eight floors of home goods, apparel, and accessories. Don’t miss the Tiffany Ceiling on the 5th floor, the largest unbroken example of Tiffany Favrile glass in the world. Block 37, 108 N. State Across the street from Macy’s you will find an eclectic mix of retail stores and dining in a five story shopping mall. Browse shops including Michelle Tan, Anthropologie, PUMA, Sephora, and Disney Store. Stop by Magnolia Bakery for a delicious cupcake or two to refuel. Keep up with the latest looks at other stores located on State Street, including Akira, American Apparel, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Old Navy, H&M, DSW, Nordstrom Rack, and T.J. Maxx. You will also find an assortment of general stores, like Target and Walgreens. Are you a sports fan? Don’t miss the two-level New Era Chicago flagship and the House of Hoops by FootLocker, offering you everything from hats, sneakers, clothing, and sporting goods. 6
DINING 312 Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle Authentic Italian-American cuisine that recalls the intimate dining clubs of the ‘30’s. Aria, 200 N. Columbus A contemporary twist on conventional dining, offering a menu of new-world cuisine. Catch 35, 35 W. Wacker An upscale restaurant featuring seafood with an Asian flair and premium steaks. Berghoff Restaurant, 17 W. Adams A Chicago classic that serves German-American style cuisine; tradition with a twist. The Gage, 24 S. Michigan Offering upscale yet casual dining in a vintage atmosphere. South Branch Tavern & Grille, 100 S. Wacker A beautiful riverside tavern located in the heart of the Loop; ideal for leisure visits. IPO, 172 W. Adams Showcasing new urban cuisine, offering small plates and elegant energy.
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CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS
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CHICAGO SUBURBS
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NEIGHBORHOODS OF Bucktown Bucktown is a trendy, urban area that is primarily residential, with a mix of older, single family homes and converted industrial space. It has a significant shopping district, extending north from North Avenue to Webster Avenue. Chinatown Chicago’s Chinatown is the second oldest in the States. It is located on the southern side of Chicago, easily accessible by the Red Line, CermakChinatown stop. It’s a cultural hub for Asian-Americans. Gold Coast In the late 1980’s, this neighborhood was the second-most affluent behind Manhattan’s Upper EastSide. Today, it includes a mixture of mansions, row houses, and high-rise apartments. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Hyde Park Located near the South Side, Hyde Park is home to the University of Chicago and Museum of Science and Industry. It is a treasure of cultural riches and once home to Barack Obama. 10
Lakeview In 2010, Lakeview was home to 94,368 residents, making it the second largest neighborhood in Chicago. Lakeview offers diverse dining, shopping, and entertainment options that will appeal to residents of all ages, especially young professionals. Lincoln Park Lincoln Park, located near the north side, contains a large number of upscale national retailers and boutiques, bookstores, restaurants, and coffee shops. DePaul University is located in Lincoln Park, as well as the Lincoln Park Zoo and Chicago History Museum. Lincoln Square / Ravenswood These north side neighborhoods combine the old world charm of German village architecture with plenty of dining and shopping. Old Town A picturesque neighborhood, people are drawn to its cobblestone streets, boutique shopping and thriving entertainment district. If you’re looking for a good laugh, visit the Second City, a well known improv comedy club.
OUR CITY Pilsen Pilsen is the heart of the MexicanAmerican population here in Chicago. With an array of authentic Mexican restaurants, the cultural influence is easily felt on the streets of this iconic neighborhood. Wicker Park Spurred by the first wave of development after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and located within the West Town community area, Wicker Park offers boutiques, art galleries, theaters, and restaurants with a distinct Eastern European influence. Wrigleyville Home to the Chicago Cubs and officially known as Central Lakeview, this is the place to be if you want to watch every touchdown, homerun, or goal. This is an admittedly sports obsessed neighborhood with numerous dining and entertainment options.
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SUBURB SAMPLING S
Evanston Evanston is a suburban municipality located directly north of the city that sits along Lake Michigan. It’s home to Northwestern University, 61 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and six sandy beaches, nestled among beautiful homes and historic districts. Lake Bluff Lake Bluff resembles a quaint New England village with a population of 5,722. It features a public green, an old-time corner store and an assortment of stuccoed vintage homes in the heart of town. During the fall, it offers as pretty an autumn as you can find in Illinois. Lake Forest Lake Forest is an elegant lakefront community full of charm, set upon the North Shore about 30 miles north of Chicago. The downtown has a distinct European flair and boasts some nice restaurants and retail. A short ride through its neighborhoods and you may feel as if you’ve stepped into the pages of The Great Gatsby, which Fitzgerald mentioned in his classic. Naperville Naperville is a sprawling suburb with a notable downtown, home to 613 12
buildings, most listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Naperville is also home to a scenic riverside path, a man-made beach and pool, and North Central College. Oak Brook West of Chicago sits Oak Brook, 7,883 residents, and the world headquarters for McDonald’s Corporation. Other corporations located here include Ace Hardware, Blistex, and Lions Clubs International. Besides office buildings, you will find several upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment options await you. Oak Park Oak Park is a unique community west of Chicago, accessible via the CTA green or blue line and Metra. Frank Lloyd Wright started his career in Oak Park, spending the first 20 years of his 70 year career here. It is also the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway and the Hemingway Museum. This community has three distinct retail districts and several alluring side streets. Orland Park With large tracts of forest preserve and several golf courses, Orland Park provides lots of green space for the nature enthusiast. It also has a thriving commercial center.
Riverside Riverside is a splendid community that sits west of Chicago. It has a quaint downtown, an eye-catching water tower, and noteworthy architecture. The town itself is a National Historic Landmark, designed by Frederick Law Olmstead as one of the region’s first planned communities. Rosemont Between O’Hare International Airport and the Loop, you will find Rosemont. Due to its position, most of the village is occupied by large hotels and office buildings. If you’re looking to try something different, head to Allstate Arena, home to the Chicago Rush (arena football), Chicago Wolves (American hockey league), and countless concerts. Schaumburg Schaumburg is a large northwestern suburb of Chicago with approximately 74,227 residents. In Schaumburg you will also find the Motorola Solutions HQ , one of only two IKEA stores in Illinois, and the Woodfield Mall, the 11th largest mall in America. St. Charles St. Charles is a western suburb seated along Illinois Route 64. It is a part of the tricity area along with Geneva and Batavia.
Downtown St. Charles was named one of the region’s “Top 10” by the Chicago Tribune for fine dining, arts and entertainment, recreational opportunities, unique shopping, and nighttime personality. It was also named #1 in Family Circle’s Annual Survey of Best Cities for Families. Wilmette Wilmette is a scenic lakeside community with a terrific vintage cinema and endearing downtown. The walkable community offers many shops and restaurants and Eden’s Plaza shopping center is nearby. Downtown also offers such varied diversions as an excellent summer farmers market, an old movie theater, and a bike path that stretches south into Chicago and north nearly to Wisconsin. It is also home to Gillson Park, a suburban dreamland with pretty green space and beaches. Winnetka Winnetka is one of the poshest communities in the Midwest. It has a beautiful downtown area filled with interesting, independent shops and restaurants. Winnetka’s flagship bookstore, The Book Stall, was voted the best independent bookshop in the country by Publisher’s Weekly. 13
TRANSPORTATION Chicago Transit Authority The CTA operates the nation’s second largest public transportation system and covers the City of Chicago and 40 neighboring communities. On an average weekday, approximately 1.7 million rides are taken on the CTA. Presently, CTA service is provided by two modes: bus and rail. In addition to CTA, regional transit services are also provided through sister agencies, Metra and Pace. The “L” Chicago’s rail system consists of train lines spanning the city and neighboring communities. It is known locally as “The L”. The system has eight rapid transit routes and 144 stations over approximately 242 miles of track. Parts of the “L” run above ground, in subway tunnels, and tubes. There are eight total lines: Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, and Yellow. Two routes, Red and Blue, operate 24 hours every day. The “L” stops closest to MB Real Estate offices are Monroe Red, Washington Blue, and Washington & Wells Brown. The Bus CTA’s bus system consists of 140 routes. Buses make over 25,000 trips daily and serve nearly 12,000 bus stops throughout the region. CTA bus routes serve communities locally, move people across town, and a number of express services are provided. Several routes also provide 24-hour service, known as “owl service.” Buses that run near the MB Real Estate office include 10, 37, 56, 60, 124, 134, 135, 136, 156, and 157 among many others. Metra The Metra provides service from surrounding Chicago neighborhoods into the City. There are several Downtown Stations, including Ogilvie Transportation Center (Madison & Canal), Chicago Union Station (Canal between Adams & Jackson), Millennium Station (Michigan Ave. between South Wacker & Randolph), LaSalle Street Station (414 S. LaSalle), and Van Buren Station (Michigan Ave. between Jackson & Van Buren). 14
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WHAT TO DO? Chicago Architectural Boat Tours There’s no better way to learn about Chicago and its skyline than by taking a Chicago Architectural Boat Tour. The lively tour guides on each boat know incredible amounts of knowledge about the Windy City. From Catherine O’Leary’s cow to the filming of “The Dark Knight,” Chicago architecture is not only stunningly beautiful, it tells the story of the city’s history and astonishing growth. Lake Michigan On Chicago’s waterfront, you will find parks, benches, harbors, and marinas. Most beaches are free to the public where you can go to tan, run, swim, fish, and much more. You can also try your hand at paddle surfing or jet skiing. Boating and fishing are also popular year round as the harbors freeze over to ice fish in the winter. Lincoln Park Zoo Located in Lincoln Park on North Clark Street, Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the oldest in the nation. It boasts around 1,200 animals and 320 species. During the holidays there are a variety of events including ice carving, crafts, special food, Zoo Lights, and of course a visit from Santa. Even better, it’s free! The Magnificent Mile The Magnificent Mile is your go-to for shopping here in Chicago. On this long stretch of road you will find over 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 51 hotels, and a host of sightseeing opportunities and entertainment attractions. Nearly 22 million people visit the Mag Mile annually. Millennium Park One of Chicago’s largest tourist attractions, Millennium Park is a public patch of green located near the city’s shoreline and heart of downtown. There are many popular attractions within the park: The Cloud Gate (also known as “The Bean”), The Crown Fountain, and the Lurie Garden. If you’re looking to get the most out of the park during warmer months, don’t miss “Family Fun” summer programs hosted by MB Real Estate every year. 16
Navy Pier Navy Pier is a 3,300 foot long pier on Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline and one of Chicago’s top tourist attractions. The pier was built in 1916 and is located in Streeterville of the Near North Side community area. Its attractions include sightseeing tours and dinner cruises as well as fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday nights during the summer. Navy Pier is also home to Pier Park and the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel which has 40 gondolas and spans a diameter of 140 feet. Shedd Aquarium The Shedd contains over 25,000 fish and is one of the largest indoor aquariums in the world with over 5,000,000 gallons of water. It is surrounded by the Museum Campus Chicago, which includes the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. It contains 1,500 species of fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects. Signature Lounge on the 95th Floor of the Hancock Building If you’re looking to grab a drink, the Signature Lounge is the perfect place to do so while watching the city lights below. You can see four states and 80 miles from the top.
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MB R EAL ESTATE I N FO R M ATI O N 181 West Madison, Suite 4700 Chicago, Illinois, 60602 P. 312.726.1700 F. 312.807.3853 Chairman & CEO Peter Ricker President John Murphy LinkedIn Twitter Wordpress
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Welcome.
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