things to do in Chicago for $20 or less

After coming back from my visit to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia & Maine (pretentiously named "my week-long wilderness camping trip") , travel posts for which will be subsequently posted in a month or so..(as i am a lazy ass , which is one of the very few Bengali qualities i have , apart from my enduring love for eating,sleeping and traveling :D..i.e..), i found my wallet almost empty and stuck in the gorgeous Chicago summer. A simple googling of "free things to do in Chicago" made me realize that even though i will be completing 4 years in this gorgeous city (even in winter :D ) this august, i have hardly taken the time to enjoy all the free and really cheap things ($20 is my maximum limit of expenditure for an event or an attraction, of course i am willing to dish out more if the event is something of a galactic proportion...like listening to Ozzy,Dylan,Iron Maiden,Ravi Shankar or a famous opera etc... ). The awareness of this simple fact lead me to make up my list of things to do in Chicago for the month of July-August. Which i present here for people's scrutiny, suggestion or possible accompany, all of which are highly unlikely as i know that me and a really small circle of close friend and family members (and these other people will be there only because it will be forcefully shoved down there throat by me.. :D) will be the only readers. This doesn't mean that i am unhappy in my lack of social contacts , on the contrary the purpose of this blog is not to reach people but to put down my travel details along with pictures and my accompanied thoughts. Of course any comment, suggestion or just plain casual reading of it by people unknown to me is, will be highly appreciated and will provide me with much morale boost .. :D.

THINGS TO DO IN CHICAGO THIS SUMMER(JULY-AUGUST)

1. Go to Art Institute of Chicago: its free Thursdays and Fridays 5PM-9PM (will take couple of visits to get it done properly).

2. Check out the Shanghai Cirque in navy pier. (Weekend).$15-$20

3. Venetian Night boat parade, July 26^thand then the fireworks

4. Checkout the fireworks from one of the boat rides.$20

5. Take the architectural boat ride.$20

6. Checkout the Turkish festival. August 16-17

7. Jazz Festival, August 28-31

8. Go to Lincoln Park Zoo. Free. Roam around the small parks and ponds and paddle the swan boat if somebody else is there.$10.

9. On a pleasant day bike along the lake northwards from Fullerton and southwards to navy pier. Will take couple of trips. Pack food and drink.

10. Go to Brookfield Zoo. Watch the dolphin show. Total ticket cost $20

11. Checkout the Museum of Science and History. Total ticket cost$30. Can defer to fall.

12. Checkout the Dolphin Show in Shedd Aquarium. $20

13. Visit the Holy name Cathedral and the church near PT

14. Watch a classic movie in the park if somebody gives company. Free. Pack food and drink. August

15. Go to Montrose beach and try to fish there.

16. Go to Wilmette and try sailing or kayaking if somebody else comes along. $50-60/hr for group of 3-4

17. Check out the McCormick Freedom Museum. Free every Wednesday after 6PM

18. Checkout Osaka Japanese Gardens in Hyde Park.

19. Checkout the fireworks couple of more time from different angles and the Buckingham light show.

20. Go to the air and water show. Free. August 15-17

21. Go to the Dearborn observatory. Free Friday nights 9-11PM.

22. Walk around Chicago’s underground pathways, Pedway. Free.

23. Attend Latin Music Festival, Grant Park, August 25-26

24. Go to Chicago Botanic Gardens and attend the free concerts

25. Go to the free concerts/shows in Millennium Park.

26. Chinatown festival, July 20^th, 10AM-8PM. Lion dance 12:30PM

27. Dragon Boat Race July 26^th, Ping Tom Memorial Park

28. Attend Lincoln Square Summer Concert. Free

29. Walk all the Famous Bridges on Chicago River.

30. Go to Museum of Contemporary Art. Free Tuesdays

31. Have a picnic/sunbathing/bar-b-q in Lincoln Park and checkout the different statues. Need a group though.

32. Alfred Caldwell hidden Lily Pool in 2000 N Racine in the middle of the city.

33. Get in a Cubs home game.

34. Spend a day in “L” different lines.

35. Walk around downtown.

Some of the things in the list are group activities and i need to find a group for that (luckily for me some friends have shown interest), otherwise things like number 31. will be a total ridicule. Of course some of them are just for photography purpose and i am not expecting anybody to give me company on those.
These days i have modified my motto to "i am going to ......(the name of the event/attraction) , if you are interested do come along!!" which in the words of Rabindranath Tagore 'Jodi tor daak shune kyo na ashe, tobe akla cholo re'( If no one comes to your call,then walk alone) which i have heard numerous times in the 27 odd years of my existence without ever realizing the importance of it.

In the same line of Chicago summer events i am making up a list of "must eat restaurants in Chicago for $25 or less" . Luckily a close friend of mine the one and only vinmoo, having the same kind of gluttonous nature as me(if not more), who happens to be an ex-Chicagoan himself and considered a connoisseur in his vast social network has extended his help in making up the list.