Green City Guide: Chicago

In green circles, Chicago gets cachet for its municipal campaign to slap a green roof on everything from City Hall to Wal-Mart. Then there's the world's first voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas reduction and trading systems for emission sources, the Chicago Climate Exchange, which also launched here. (Find out more on these and other green projects in Chicago by digging into TreeHugger's Chicago archives).

But believe it or not, dear visitor, green roofs are just the cream on the cake. The Windy City is abuzz with eco-friendly hotels, organic eateries, and green architecture -- all accessible sans car. Before embracing the huge list of cultural offerings, check out our tips for downsizing your footprint on the biggest city in the Midwest.

1. Take the EL, Chicago's Public Transit Train System
   To get around greenly, take Chicago's public transit train system -- also known as the El or the L -- from the airport (and just about everywhere else). Chicago's rail lines rank up there with the best transit systems in North America, so take advantage of them! If coming by air, take the Blue Line from O'Hare Airport to downtown. Once downtown, the El train lines are your best bet to traverse the city quickly. Find a map at Chicago Transit Authority.


2. Stay at the Green Kimpton's Hotel Allegro Chicago
   At Kimpton's Hotel Allegro Chicago, everything from the lobby coffee (it's organic, shade grown, and/or fair trade, and served in mugs instead of disposable cups) to the use of non-toxic cleaning supplies to an optional green meeting package for business events has been explored. Situated next to Chicago City Hall -- which touts the mandatory green roof, of course -- the hotel’s location in the Loop means you can easily get just about anywhere in town by hopping on one of the L lines.


3. Or, Stay at the Green Kimpton's Hotel Burnham
   Can't get a room at the Allegro? Try Hotel Burnham, another Kimpton Hotel in location Chicago. All of Hotel Allegro's eco-points, noted above, still apply here, but Hotel Burnham gets an extra green star for moving into and renovating a historic structure, Daniel Burnham's Reliance Building. Like the Allegro it is situated in the Loop, eliminating the need for most guests to rent cars.


4. Rent a Bike at Bike Chicago
   With nice weather, traveling and sightseeing is best done on two wheels. Check out Bike Chicago for a list of rental stations, which include locations in both Millennium Park and Navy Pier. Nothing beats an invigorating ride along the lakefront to get you acquainted with the city -- or to that meeting on time.


5. Treat Yourself with a Pastry from Bleeding Heart Bakery
   Indulge in some buttery organic pastries with a punk rock twist. Bleeding Heart Bakery is, according to their website, "the end result of Michelle and Valentine Garcia's love affair with pastry, savory, punk rock and all things organic." Catch them at 1955 West Belmont Avenue.


6. Shop for Produce at Chicago Green City Market
   From late spring through early winter, the Green City Market is your link to the area's local food producers. Discover seasonal, local, and organic foodstuffs every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., May through December at 1750 North Clark.


7. Dine at Vegetarian Restaurant Green Zebra
   Although the menu at Green Zebra does include one or two non-vegetarian options, even the meat-eating crowd will enjoy creative dishes like Curried Potato Pot-stickers with Cilantro Lime Sauce or Crispy Potato Tots with Horseradish Crepes and Red Onion Jam. The menu changes according to whatever is fresh and in season. Green Zebra is located at 1460 West Chicago Avenue.


8. Take a Walking Tour with the Chicago Architecture Foundation
   The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers walking tours of both downtown Chicago and the surrounding neighborhoods. However, the one that really gets us excited is a brand new tour focusing exclusively on Chicago's green architecture. "Green Inside Out" shows you how Chicago architecture has attempted to account for the environment in design. The tour covers mid-century modernist buildings and recent developments -- and even gives the scoop on upcoming projects. Dates and times are available online.


9. Grab a Casual Organic Meal at Hannah's Bretzel
   Touted as "Chicago's first organic carry-out eatery," Hannah's Bretzel makes a tasty lunch stop for organic, whole grain bretzels (a.k.a. pretzels), sandwiches, or even a good bar of chocolate. All are served in 100 percent biodegradable containers. Hannah's Bretzel has two central locations: 180 West Washington in the Loop and 233 North Michigan Avenue in the Illinois Center Concourse.


10. Shop at Eco Boutiques Like Pivot and Verde Design
    Every guidebook tells you to spend your dough on the Magnificent Mile, but how about supporting eco boutiques such as Pivot clothing and Verde Design furniture? Pivot features sustainable designers such as Linda Loudermilk, Del Forte, and Sameunderneath, while Verde locally produces a line of their own sustainable and reclaimed furniture by hand. Pivot is located at 1101 West Fulton Market. Verde Design is at 2100 West Armitage Avenue.

Like this? Check out more of Planet Green's Green City Guides.

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