Welcome to Chicago!
The Windy City, Second City, the City in a Garden — no matter what you choose to call it, we extend a warm welcome to our magnificent city! Whether it’s your first visit to Chicago or your fiftieth, we’ve curated an event-specific guide to help you make the most of your time here.
Note: This guide is a work-in-progress. Please check back for updates!
Getting Around
The Great Lace takes place in the downtown area known as “The Loop,” a name derived from the city’s circular train system that traverses the area.
By Transit
The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) operates trains and buses to help you get to, from, and around the event.
The closest train stations to the venue are: Adams/Wabash (Orange, Green, Pink, Brown, and Purple lines) and Monroe (Red).
Bus lines that stop near the venue: 1, 146, 21, 127, 26
By Foot
Chicago is extremely walkable. The streets within the city are arranged in a grid system.
Estimated walking time to some nearby tourist attractions:
Navy Pier: 20 min
Cloud Gate/”The Bean”: 10 min
The Art Institute of Chicago: 8 min
Look below for more attractions and eat spots.
Eats
| Russian Tea Time | 77 E Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603 | Russian Food, Drinks and High Tea | Luxuriate in a richly decorated dining room in the Chicago comm’s favorite place to get high tea. |
| Poke Poke’ | 118 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 | Japanese Restaurant | A place serving fun, fresh Japanese food, including poke bowls and ramen. |
| Nando’s PERi-PERi | 22 S Wabash Ave Ste B1, Chicago, IL 60603 | Grilled Chicken | A cozy chain restaurant serving peri-peri chicken and other savory sides. |
| Venteux | 224 N Michigan Ave, Chicago IL, 60601 | French Restaurant | A French restaurant with a modern menu with an art deco inspired interior setting. |
| Momento Cantina | 36 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603 | Mexican Restaurant | An artsy Mexican restaurant with fresh, creative dishes. |
| Giordano’s | 130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 | Pizzeria | Come here to try our city’s famous pizza! |
| Goddess and The Baker | 33 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 | Bakery and Sandwich Shop | A spacious, atmospheric place to get pastries, sandwiches, and drinks. |
| Kong Dog/ Cotti Coffee | 77 E Adams St, Chicago, IL 60603 | Korean Style Corn Dogs/ Coffee and Tea | A sunny stop for crunchy Korean corn dogs and refreshing drinks. |
| Sugar Bliss | 118 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 | Bakery | A bakery that serves macarons and cupcakes. Plus, you don’t have to leave the Palmer House! |
| Amorino | 38 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 | Ice Cream and Desserts | A cafe serving gelato and rich, fruity Italian desserts and drinks |
| Verzênay | 2507 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614 | Bakery | Sunny French bakery that serves sweet and savory pastries. |
| Cafe Deko | 715 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL, 60605 | Coffee and Tea | Elegant Art Deco cafe with artfully crafted coffee blends. |
| TE’AMO Boba & Desserts | 36 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 | Boba/Bubble Tea | A grab n go place for customizable boba drinks and a small selection of desserts. |
Attractions
| Art Institute of Chicago | 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 | Art Museum | Chicago’s premiere art museum, which houses iconic works by Van Gogh, Monet, and many other fan favorites. Has an extensive miniature rooms gallery in the basement and a breathtaking collection of medieval armor. |
| Millennium Park | 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602 | Park | Downtown park that is home to The Bean/Cloud Gate and face fountains. |
| The Field Museum | 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 | Museum of Natural History | Chicago’s premiere natural history museum, home to many dinosaur fossils. |
| The Richard H. Driehaus Museum | 50 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611 | Museum | A restored Gilded Age mansion full of art and design from the 19th and 20th centuries. |
| Chicago History Museum | 1601 North Clark St, Chicago, IL, 60614 | Museum | Come here to learn about our city: its origins, wildest moments, and what makes us…Chicago! |
| Shedd Aquarium | 1200 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 | Aquarium | Aquarium in the Museum Campus that has the world’s largest indoor marine mammal exhibit. |
| Water Tower Place | 835 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 | Shopping Mall | Home of the American Girl Place! |
| Navy Pier | 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 | Park | Located on Lake Michigan; the pier is home to rides, restaurants, the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and the Children’s Museum. |
| The Chicago Cultural Center | 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 | Architecture | A free public landmark venue featuring the world’s largest Tiffany dome. |
| Chinatown Square Plaza | 2133 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616 | Food and Shopping | A historic landmark lined with shops and restaurants. |
| Chicago Fabric Yarn & Button Sales | 208 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60604 | Fabric Store | Small store packed with textiles and notions. A great place to treasure hunt! |
| Textile Discount Outlet | 2121 W 21st St, Chicago, IL, 60608 | Fabric Store | Vast fabric warehouse with 3 never-ending floors of even more textiles, trims, and notions for low prices. Also a great place to treasure hunt. Note: Not open on Saturdays |
| Osaka Ebisu | 1325 Wells St, Chicago, IL, 60610 | Cosmetics and Skincare | A bright Asian makeup and skincare shop with brands such as Canmake and Flower Knows. |
| POP MART | 540 N Michigan Ave STE 210, Chicago, IL 60611 | Collectibles | Toys, blind boxes, figurines and other cute collectibles. |