About The Local Tourist
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
"I love The Local Tourist and recommend it often!" M. Sullivan, Friends of the Parks, Chicago
There's a plethora of information on Chicago as a whole. Magazines, newspapers and websites cover the city, but finding information on a particular neighborhood is time-consuming and frustrating.
It's an adventure trying to figure out where the local grocery store is, where you can eat beyond the chain restaurants/tourist traps, hear live local music, where you can catch a movie, get your clothes dry-cleaned, get your car serviced. Then there are the galleries, shops, and museums that stretch beyond the Magnificent Mile and the famous museums. And don't forget getting from point A to point B. Transportation is a learning experience all on its own!
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. When I moved to Chicago in October of 2001, from Indianapolis, Indiana, I heard that statement over and over again. I learned quickly that I hadn't moved to Chicago, I'd moved to River North.
After an extensive Internet search to get to know my neighborhood, I realized there weren't ANY comprehensive neighborhood-based websites. And none that would encompass everything residents and visitors would need to know. So, with a journalist's eye to detail and a new resident's curiosity, I created this site in February of 2002. I realized I couldn't be the only person who wanted a central location to put me in touch with my neighborhood.
For the first three years, the business portal aspect of the site was focused on River North. It now includes other downtown neighborhoods (Loop, Mag Mile/Streeterville, Gold Coast) and will concentrically expand. Soon each neighborhood will have its own “Local Tourist” portal.
To this day, there are no sites that offer everything The Local Tourist does: restaurants, things to do, nightlife, shopping; and links to government, transportation, and media sites. The free weekly events newsletter provides a featured article and highlights upcoming events for downtown Chicago. Concierges are part of the loyal subscriber base who know they can count on The Local Tourist to provide accurate, up-to-date details on events and openings and closings.
I've created this site because I wished I had something like it when I moved here. And, since The Local Tourist's inception I've heard that desire repeated by residents and visitors alike and received thanks for addressing that need.
The Local Tourist helps site visitors experience what the locals see while savoring the enchantment of the tourist. If you live here, it will help you to never become immune to its unique character; if you're visiting, you'll never forget it.
Sincerely,
©2007 The Local Tourist |
