Customer Reviews

Frommer's Irreverent Guide to Chicago (Irreverent Guides)

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I spent my first 18 years around and in Chicago, so I was very curious to see what the Irreverent people suggested about my hometown of sorts. A word of warning... there is the usual quibble that applies to all of the irreverent books: they are more designed for reading a whole section at once, as the organization scatters litle info-nuggets about one particular place across a number of different sections. With that being said, the index in the back can guide you to the relevant pages for a specific place you are looking for.

All in all, I found this an incredibly fun and informative book that covers a large range of establishments and attractions in the few hundred pages it was given. It seems aimed at the younger or more adventurous traveler. Let's face it, almost everyone knows the Field Museum, the Art Institute, Brookfield Zoo, Sears Tower, etc. What this guide will help you do is find a great nightclub buried in the industrial district (Crobar), the surreal summer sports customs (16-inch softball!), the famous Frank Lloyd Wright architecture that is spattered around the city (Roble House), alternative shopping complexes (Belmont and Clark), where to grab a drink before a Cubs game (Cubby Bear), and famous local theater (Steppenwolf).

So if you are traveling to Chicago, and want to get a feel for the city that isn't completely upper-middle class and whitewashed (which the traditional Frommer's and such can fall prey to quite often), this book would be a great travel guide to help you out. It's even an interesting read for people living *in* Chicago, as there were a number of places in the book I was not familiar with which sound like quite a good time.

What I love most about the irreverent guides (I own the ones for Boston and for SF) is that they're straight forward, quick-witted, and give you very interesting tidbits about local history. It's like getting the inside scoop from your best friend vs the information kiosk.

So the fact that the sharp wit is missing from the Chicago guide is a nuisance. In fact, I really can't say it's irreverent or funny at all. Almost as if someone from Frommer's traditional guide staff -- or perhaps, an attendant at the information kiosk -- wrote it. The recommendations are good enough, but if you're looking for humor to go along with it, you won't find it here.

disappointing to say the least - much of the book looked as if it had been recopied at kinko's. the maps were extremely hard to read - no color at all. i can't quite figure what's supposed to be irreverent in the book unless it's the fact that every so often the author says something less than favorable about a site or restaurant. save your money.

Like all Irreverent Guides, this title showcases all the highlights the city and surrounding area have to offer. Compact, easy to use and highly informative.