Secret Chicago

Ah, the thrill of discovery. It's exhilarating to unearth new favorite haunts. But how do you discover them if you never stray from the pack? There are thousands of tourist guides but it's no secret that they'll steer you towards safe, predictable, well-trodden places. Secret? Chicago is all about leaving the herd behind and making the Windy City your own. It's a treasure map to the arcane, the cool, and the hushhush hot spots that the locals love. Beautifully illustrated with original photos, Secret? Chicago celebrates Chicago's diverse ethnic population. Sam Weller will take you to a rowdy beer garden, a Persian bakery, and a Vietnamese grocery. And he'll be your guide to the city's many traditions and quirky oddities. Go to downtown blues and comedy clubs, participate in Chicago's annual "smelt season," and visit the country's only holograph museum. It's all here, written by a no-nonsense local from the city renowned for telling it like it is.  Ditch the crowds and discover your Secret? Chicago - completely revised and updated for 2002.