Things to Do in Chicago

A blazing neon bowling-pin sign calls passersby into the crimson-and-cream façade of Fireside Bowl, drawing them back through time into the ’40s, when the alley was opened. Gleaming spheres devastate their wooden foes beneath brilliant wall murals and vintage accents, and a pool table and selection of turn-of-the-century video games captivate between frames aided by electronic scoring systems and pins set upright by very strong squirrels. Revelry revives itself in the low light of a vintage-style lounge, where suds flow smoothly into pints that glide along a gleaming bar. The guttural roar of stressed guitar strings sings out during occasional rock and punk shows at the alley, where league rollers build prowess alongside casual players on the shining hardwood.

One hundred fitness tones muscles and increases endurance with Pilates, personal training, and group dance classes. The accredited staff includes such versatile instructors as Kyle Seguin, an ACE-certified personal trainer who spent eight years in the Alabama Ballet and teaches ballet, Pilates, and anatomy at Columbia College Chicago. One hundred fitness aims to improve various body functions, including core strength, posture, flexibility, and lung capacity—just in time for fall leaf-blowing activities.

Bike and Roll Chicago's staff dispatches clients on wheel-based expeditions throughout Chicago. Guides—several of whom are Chicagoland natives—can lead informative and entertaining tours in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and semaphores.

The high-flying acrobats of Cirque du Soleil set their microscopes on the insect world with Ovo, a family-friendly circus spectacle that exposes the beauty of the lowest levels of our ecosphere. Like the lost Disney adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, the show bridges the gap between humans and their minuscular counterparts with the help of whimsical costumes and set designs. As the first act begins, a monolithic egg lands in the midst of a bustling insect community, raising a commotion among the many-legged residents. Ants and crickets creep across the stage’s webby backdrop, extending their antennae for a peek at the mysterious object. By the time a gawky blue insect arrives onstage and a ladybug sets his heart aflutter, audiences are cocooned to their seats in awe of the stylized habitat. Creature-themed stunts and dance routines fill the show’s nine acts, which include a juggling firefly, a trapeze troupe of scarabs, and a pair of Spanish butterflies engaged in a rousing thumb-wrestling bout.

In the Corridor of Confusion, one of Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze’s brain-teasing attractions, decoy doorways send participants in loops around the true path to the maze’s next stage. The entire maze totals 4,000 square feet of strobe lights, puzzles, and minor scares. Meanwhile, narration and interactive games give navigators a peek into unusual corners of Chicago’s history, such as its system of underground tunnels built between the home of every mayor and City Hall.

At their own pace, guests navigate through a classic mirror maze and down tunnels of spinning and dancing lights. Elsewhere, they step into a plunging elevator and brave the Big Squeeze, an intensely narrow hallway whose walls are all desperately trying to hug you. A recreation of the Great Chicago Fire gives visitors the opportunity to stomp out the flames themselves, while a simulated fireworks show concludes the journey with a bang. Located on Navy Pier, the critically-acclaimed indoor maze is open year-round.

A 7,100-square-foot sculpture garden is only the tip of the iceberg at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. In fact, the garden is also the tip of the museum—it’s on the facility’s roof. Designed by Cesar Pelli, the sprawling building encompasses an eclectic array of modern works, including a 5,000-item permanent collection that incorporates pieces ranging from Frida Kahlo’s works to John Coplans’ black-and-white self portrait, which shows only his feet.

A rotating lineup of temporary exhibits complements the permanent core, and a regular event schedule features films, talks, and performance by masters of their craft. Visitors can browse art books and craft jewelry in the museum store, where all purchases support artists and designers more simply than training to become a muse.