Pay attention, kids (read: freshmen). The bustling Wildcat Welcome Week is over, classes are starting and I don't want you to forget that there's a huge city to the south of us. Chicago is something you should take full advantage of before winter hits and you won't want to leave your dorm room. Even if you're from the area, there is a smorgasbord of cultural offerings and there's bound to be some pockets you've yet to discover. To help you keep tabs on everything, here are 15 Twitter handles that you should follow pronto (aside from our very own @nbn_tweets, of course).
Rahm Eyes Free Wi-Fi For Chicago Parks, Public Spaces sns.mx/oKmRy8
— Chicago Watch (@ChicagoWatch) September 24, 2012
Kind of like one-stop shopping for all your Chicago updates, @ChicagoWatch is a news aggregator. Pulling clips from bigger sources like the Tribune, Sun-Times and NBC Chicago, as well as smaller publications like the Reader and Chicago Magazine, anything from sports to politics is covered. Occasionally there are stories from non-local sources, and @ChicagoWatch does a good job of retweeting relevant information from other accounts.
Click to Win Tickets to LAGER JAM II & sample of the best craft brews 9/29 ow.ly/dVJvl
— Do312 (@Do312) September 24, 2012
There's always something to do in Chicago and after scrolling through @Do312's feed, it seems like there are dozens of things to do each day. There's everything from announcements of events to concert listings to local parties. Another perk is the huge amount of ticket giveaways. Be forewarned: This is a heavily updated account so it might clog up your feed. @Do312 also has no shortage of handles and hashtags in each of its tweets, which, if not slightly annoying, can be useful when you're trying to find out more about what they're tweeting about.
If you like this week's story about Andy's Thai Kitchen, check out these other authentic Thai spots tmoutchi.us/QlsMr0
— Time Out Chicago (@TimeOutChicago) September 24, 2012
This is sort of a no-brainer. Time Out Chicago is a go-to for event listings and its Twitter account is frequently updated to accompany the publication. There are a ton of reviews and previews for movies (wide-release and independent), concerts (national acts and some local), restaurants and art exhibits. Time Out does a great job with short and concise slideshows for things like best-of lists. The site also has an event finder and calendar so you can quickly scout out something to do and narrow it down based on price and neighborhood.
The World Music Festival continues through Thursday. Here are the acts you won't want to miss t.co/02RBtXs7
— Chicago Reader (@Chicago_Reader) September 24, 2012
Another no-brainer to keep up with, the Reader is like a wordier version of Time Out with more breadth. If you're new to the city, the Reader is a great way to delve into the smaller nooks of town. More than just event listings, there are often interviews with interesting Chicagoans, features on local issues and lots of commentary to bring it all together.
The full schedule for the 48th annual @chifilmfest is up, and it's a doozy bit.ly/UrUj8u
— Chicagoist.com (@Chicagoist) September 24, 2012
Once you've got the basics down on what's happening at the Metro and Lincoln Hall, head deeper into the weirder stuff with updates from Chicagoist, one of the biggest local blogs. The @Chicagoist Twitter feed has everything from serious news updates to event announcements, all with the quirky Chicagoist snark to spice things up. The feed also has various daily features, like the "Around Town" gallery, which pulls reader-submitted photos from its Flickr pool of Chicago scenes from that day or week, and "Afternoon Diversion", which always hands you a laugh during the last plug-and-chug hour of your day. You can even get your daily weather update accompanied by a pretty picture and casual commentary.
Attention shoppers: There is good news about summer ending. (Hint: it's for your wallet) chi.mg/Poxbrv
— Chicago Magazine (@ChicagoMag) September 22, 2012
Another pillar of Chicago media, Chicago Magazine does a thorough job of covering local culture and news. Keep up with new restaurants, theater productions and intriguing profiles on spotlighted locals, all within a feed that's sprinkled with good dose of daily news updates. If you want to check in on the latest local music news, though, it's best to stick with some of the other music and entertainment-focused handles instead.
Email "BFF" to tickets@chirpradio.org for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see Ben Folds Five this Sunday night at @chicagotheatre!
— CHIRPRadio (@CHIRPRadio) September 24, 2012
Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) is an online-only radio station run entirely by volunteers from the Chicago area. Usually a promoter or sponsor for lots of concerts and shows at local venues, CHIRP holds many ticket giveaways to shows both big and small via its Twitter feed .
Weekend! So where's the music at? Great shows happenin' @subtchicago @hideoutchicago @theemptybottle + more! Get some: ow.ly/dU0pu
— loudlooppress.com (@loudlooppress) September 21, 2012
When you really want to get into the gritty local music scene, Loud Loop Press is the way to go. The site is chock-full of handpicked shows, album reviews and multimedia. While there aren't as many updates as other bigger publications, Loud Loop focuses more on curation than aggregation. The "Monday Afternoon Quick Fix" is also a quick way to read up on the latest happenings if you're in a rush. And if you're looking for more in-depth local coverage, Loud Loop has a useful blogroll on its site for reference.
NOW OPEN—The first exhibition devoted to Studio Gang Architects, the award-winning firm that built the Aqua Tower ow.ly/dWT2e
— Art Institute (@artinstitutechi) September 24, 2012
One of the best art collections in the world, the Art Institute of Chicago hosts a mind-blowing number of exhibits and pieces year round. With a constantly changing roster as well as special events ranging from concerts to talks and book signings, the Institute does a great job updating its Twitter account to keep visitors in the loop. The feed is also useful for last-minute reminders of exhibits that are about to close.
In A/C, @britticisms' top three exhibitors at @expochicagog-b.co/OlPn8j
— Gapers Block (@gapersblock) September 24, 2012
Yet another handle to keep tabs on for general cultural happenings. While some of the other sources may be better for arts and entertainment coverage, Gapers Block is great for general events, politics and news. Additionally, the site features a pretty jam-packed calendar with many cool events happening each day.
Free general admission to the Shedd Aquarium, and extended hours today > brokehipster.com/?e=8345 @shedd_aquarium
— Broke Hipster (@BrokeHipster) June 19, 2012
Being poor is part of the definition of being a college student. If you find yourself breaking your bank account at Beck's on a quarterly basis, check out @BrokeHipster for updates on fun things you can do for cheap or free in the city. The account has everything from tips about free museum days in Chicago to coupon codes for online purchases nationwide.
RT and you might win tix to see @theraveonettes with @mdyechochamber and @cold_showers on 9.27 at9PM (21+) bit.ly/QqmhDn
— Lincoln Hall (@LincolnHall) September 24, 2012
One of the better music venues in Chicago, Lincoln Hall hosts a plethora of acts (from a range of Pitchfork's Best New Music to lesser known acts that you can bet will be BNM'd the week after to smaller local acts as well). Its Twitter includes show updates, ticket giveaways as well as useful announcements for when tickets go on sale. Another bonus is that @LincolnHall usually retweets announcements and giveaways from its sister venue, @Schubas, which hosts similar acts siding slightly more on the local side.
Multiple grape varieties for sale at the local farmers market this morning. #lincolnsquaretwitter.com/ChicagoBites/s…
— Chicago Bites (@ChicagoBites) September 11, 2012
@ChicagoBites has a picture-filled feed with tweets that are more like tiny spotlights on restaurants rather than a frequent events updater. The account also has heavy interaction with followers, so if you're wondering where you should head to in a specific neighborhood, you can tweet it at @ChicagoBites and they'll probably give you some helpful hints.
Chicago's own ORWELLS will play a free in-store on Thurs. Sept. 20th at our Milwaukee Ave. location. 7PM All ages! on.fb.me/T0GNgO
— Reckless Records (@RecklessRecords) September 18, 2012
With three locations throughout the city, Reckless Records is the biggest record shop in Chicago. Each store features a different selection of stacks on stacks of vinyl from new to used to special edition, most at a reasonable price. Reckless' Twitter feed has announcements of in-store performances from musicians coming through town and ticket giveaways to said shows and other performances. The only complaint is that it's not updated as frequently as the other handles.
Sold out for today. Catch us at Madison and Wells between 4-6. Thanks!
— 5411empanadas (@5411empanadas) September 26, 2012
If you really want to be in your friends' good graces, stay up to date with 5411 Empanadas, a hidden gem of the Chicago food scene. One of the more well-known food trucks around town, 5411 Empanadas dishes out portable packets of baked Argentine empanadas. A franchise that now includes a brick-and-mortar store, it's debatable that the trucks are still the favorite among loyal fans. Follow the Twitter account to find out where they're parked with up-to-the-minute updates.