Image via Complex Original
Chicago is home to some 2.7 million people, and is the third most populous city in the United States. You can rightfully call it the capital of the American Midwest. Many artists and musicians have called this city home, and our current president was once a senator there—not to mention Ms. Oprah Winfrey. Chicago is a beautiful metropolis with varying sides to her. Here are our 10 apps to help you make the most out of the Windy City.
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SpotHero
Platform: iOS, Android; Free
Chicago is a big city, and big cities never come with enough parking spots. The SpotHero app lets you reserve parking spots straight from the app, saving you time--and money--if you plan ahead the next time you go downtown. Just put in an address and the app will pull up parking lots and garages around the area. When you find the most convenient spot, make a reservation and checkout straight from your phone; it's as easy as deep dish pizza.
Festival Finder
Platform: iOS; Free
One of the best things about living in a large community is the amount of diversity that comes with it. Nothing is better than being exposed to different cultures while being able to share your own. Festival Finder helps you check out the different festivals that are going on around the city, whether it's centered around food, music, or Cinco de Mayo, this app has all the schedules covered. Now get out there and have some fun.
iTrans Chicago CTA
Platform: iOS; $.99
As we mentioned, cars become a problem while living in a big city. So if you're in a city like Chicago that has a good public transportation system, you'd be crazy for not taking advantage of it. The iTrans Chicago CTA app lets you search 'L' system stations, see train schedules, live train departure times, push alerts for service disruptions, and a street map mode that displays lines and station locations on a street map, along with entrances and exits to station buildings.
FOX Chicago
Platform: iOS, Android; Free
Don't worry, this is the "cool" FOX, and not the "other" one. The FOX Chicago News app is a solid place to get the latest local news and updates within the Windy City. With that, you can also keep up on the weather, entertainment and national news. They even go as far as including contact options that let you send in video or photographs straight to the FOX team, as well as an option to call the newsroom. If you find something funny, or a pressing issue is at hand that needs to be shared, you can tweet out article links straight from the app.
GrubHub
Platform: iOS, Android; Free
GrubHub, the food delivery service that has sprouted up everywhere around the country, was founded right in Chicago. The company is currently joining up with former rival Seamless, which means things are only going to get better from here. If you've never used GrubHub before, it's easy: download the app, type in your address, and you'll have a list of all the nearby delivery or pickup options within the GrubHub network. Pick a place, then order straight from the app. Just a warning: this app is so convenient you may have to set an alarm to remind yourself to leave the house and get some actual sunlight.
Free & Frugal
Platform: iOS, Android; $2.99
Written by Karla Zimmerman, a travel guidebook author who has lived in Chicago for more than 20 years, Free & Frugal lists the best deals and bargains around town. With more than 200 money-saving tips, you'll never have to feel like you have to stay home in order to save a buck. You'll find out when free days for museums come up, or when there are cheap tickets available for sporting events-just to name a few of the deals. With the app just priced at about three bucks, it is bound to give you back a lot more for your money.
Chicago Way
Platform: iOS; Free
Chicago Way has a bit of everything, from dining to shopping, to the little things you never think you'd need until you need them, like Wi-Fi spots. There are a ton of different categories to choose from, and each category will give you ten other options to explore. The app packs a lot of punch, especially for being free.
Taxi Share
Platform: Android; Free
This Android only app is a great idea for your wallet and the environment. Taxi Share Chicago lets you find someone who is going to a popular destination in Chicago and share a taxi with them. Just pick a spot, look for others who are going to the same place on the app's map (the app organizes people by color coded dots, which lets you know if a traveler is going to the same spot as you or not) and a chat window will pop up so you can coordinate with them. Whoever gets a cab first picks up the other person, and you're off. Save money and meet new people all at the same time.
CSN Chicago Sports
Platform: iOS, Android; Free
Chicago has a ton of sports teams, and it's a city deserving of them. From the Cubs to the Blackhawks, and the Bulls to the Bears, it may be hard keeping up with news happening along all fronts. Download the CSN Chicago Sports app to have everything you need in one place: breaking news, scores, columns and schedules, all in a single app. If you're a high school or college fan, they got you covered there, too. The app can sync the schedule of upcoming games straight to your phone's calendar-convenience doesn't get much easier than that.
Prairie Architect Around Chicago
Platform: iOS;$2.99
The legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright practically built himself into the DNA of Chicago. The Prairie Architect Around Chicago app was built to introduce people to Wright and help those who are already fans of his discover things they may have missed. The app guides users to 30 Wright sites, including museum exhibits, houses, artifacts and commercial buildings that are open to the public-most in Chicago and some within a three hour drive. It even goes as far as letting you know where photography is permitted, and what places let you rent a room for the night. It's time to explore the city; as Wright said himself: "Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world."
