CHICAGO’S BEST NON-TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Created by: Jason Ticus

CHICAGO: THROUGH THE EYES OF A NON-TOURIST

You may seen Millennium Park, strolled down Michigan

Avenue and visited Museum Campus. Maybe you'll venture

out of downtown to the boutiques and bars of Bucktown and

Wicker Park.

These are all worth doing, of course. But for a little variety,

here are 5 places tourists — even some Chicagoans —

aren’t all that familiar with.

# 1: JUDY ISTOCK BUTTERFLY HAVEN

You'll will be surrounded by over 1,000

butterflies!

First, you’ll watch a quick video and

then enter into a room filled with

windows, a trellis strung with vines, a

rocky waterfall, and a curving path

lined with benches.

By taking a close look around, you will

realize how well the butterflies able to

camouflage themselves.

The museum regularly rotates species

of these winged beauties, featuring

about 80 different types at a time.

#2: NATIONAL VIETNAM VETERANS ART MUSEUM

This is the only art museum in the U.S.

dedicated to exhibiting work by Vietnam

vets and, most recently, Iraq War vets.

As you step into the main gallery, you're

met by a metal sculpture that mimics a

soldier about to "step off to dance with

death," portraying the romantic notion of

war.

On the second floor, you’ll find there’s a

tag for each of the more than 58,000

service men and women who died in the

Vietnam War.

Take the back stairs or the elevator to the

third floor to see the photos and

installations of the Iraq War exhibits.

#3: SIDEKICKS

Sidekicks was here before karaoke got

hip.

Once you open up the bright red door

and prepare for a time warp: you’ll half-

expect the Blues Brothers to bust in and

jump onstage with you for "Livin' on a

Prayer.”

If you want to celebrate a special event,

like a birthday, call ahead to give the bar

a heads-up, and they'll tape you and

your friends for free!

The bar also has a serious dart-playing

contingent; to check out their game

grounds, follow the wood-paneled walls

to the back room.

#4: BROWN ELEPHANT RESALE SHOP

The huge space, with its vaulted ceiling,

sloping tiled entryway, beautifully tattered

walls and decorative moldings, now boasts

the secondhand wares of the Brown Elephant

Resale Shop, whose proceeds go to AIDS

research and providing medical services

within the gay community.

This makes it one of the neatest shopping

locales in the city — plus it has a higher-

quality selection than other consignment

shops, including, say, a wallet (for $5) from

the Andy Warhol clothing-and-accessories

line and vintage Dunhill lighters.

If you're not a thrift-store junkie, grab an old

copy of Life magazine from the '60s and take

a seat on one of the comfy couches.

#5: PICK ME UP CAFÉ

If you're a hungry vegetarian and it's 4

a.m. on Saturday night, head to the

'50s vintage-style Pick Me Up Cafe in

Lakeview.

It's open 24 hours on weekends (until 3

a.m. on other nights), has colorfully

lacquered tables — and the food is

extremely healthy!

If you need a pick-me-up, try the

Zombie coffee drink: three shots of

espresso, two cups of coffee, steamed

milk, and whipped cream drizzled with

chocolate and caramel.

For more fun and unique things to do in Chicago,

take a look at Time Magazine’s top ten things to do

in Chicago here!