Off-Peak Travel: Going out on a Sunday Night in Chicago

If you are going out on a Sunday night, then one of two things may have happened: You are passing through a city at an inopportune time, or you are someone who likes to go out when everyone else stays in. There is a certain kind of pleasure in everyday, off-peak travel that is easy to revel in. Your options are a little more limited, but the crowds have dispersed and you have the city to yourself, even in the waning summer months.

If you are in downtown Chicago on a Sunday night, take a walk through Millennium Park when the crowds have thinned out a little bit. Instead of dining downtown, take advantage of the light traffic and jump in the car service of your choice and drive up scenic Lake Shore Drive to Andersonville. This neighborhood is home to the Hop Leaf Bar, where you can enjoy a selection of artisanal beers while eating a great burger.

From here, a short car ride or a 20-minute walk south on Broadway gets you to the legendary Green Mill Cocktail Lounge. On a Sunday night, things may just have quieted down by 10 p.m., so sit and nurse a drink for the rest of the night while listening to that evening’s house band.