Fun activities for less in Chicago?

Question

My friends and I havent had the time to hang out, and whenever we do its always the same old boring dinner party. I live in Chicago and many times ask them to come up with ideas that involves going out. The thing is, all my friends are different: One likes to explore a lot, the other likes to go out in the daytime, and the other doesn't want to spend too much...Now, I need ideas about things to see and places to have fun in the Chicagoland area? Any ideas, fascinating restaurants, cultural centers, outdoor activities? Thanks!

Answer 1

Lincoln Park Zoo is always free. The local museums have free days. Check out the websites for the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, The Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago History Museum and the Mexican Museum of Art.

Other than that, just go people watching. Walk around Wicker Park or Andersonville or Wrigleyville or Lincoln Park, etc. Lots of shops and stuff to see, etc. And it doesn't cost a dime.

Answer 2

Lincoln park zoo is free, the mexican fine arts center is free and its awesome, the chicago cultural center always has free stuff going on http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Cultural+Center&entityNameEnumValue=128
As far as restaurants go, try going to the neighborhoods, the indian restaurants(ghandi) on devon are good, the Korean places on lawrence are good, the mexican places in pilsen are good (nuevo leon) the turkish restuarant a la turka on lincoln has belly dancers on fridays,
Try going to the annoyance to see a play like, love is dead, a necromantic musical, or gulch, a lesbian western
http://www.annoyanceproductions.com/indexflash.html
Go see a movie at the Music Box, or Facets or the Siskel Center, those places always have interesting movies.

Answer 3

try:
metromix.com
newcity.com
chicagoreader.com
chicagomagazine.com
cityofchicago.com