The Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) is the largest organization of Location Managers and Location Scouts in the motion picture, television, commercial and print production industries. Their membership plays a vital role in the creativ
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26 • LMGI COMPASS | Winter 2021 MUST‹SEE PLACE: Twice a year, the city has its "Chica- gohenge" moment where the sun sets perfectly between all of the central bu- siness district skyscrapers. The timing falls between the fall and spring months. FAVORITE SHOP: Reckless Records sells new and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and more. Perman Wine is a wine boutique and tasting room that stocks a range of bottles and spirits. Wayward is a great shop for adventure enthusiasts that sells curated clothing, luggage, accessories and cool household items. FAVORITE RESTAURANT: This is a very hard question, so many to choose from, but I will have to go with my neighborhood favorite, Via Carducci La Sorella. Traditional Southern Italian fare, thin-crust pizza & a full bar in a rustic room or on the patio. It represents everything you want in a neighborhood spot. Sushi Dukku and the River North neighborhood's Gilt Bar with its great food, craft cocktails and classic library décor round it out. PLACE TO SEE BY NIGHT: The London House Hotel rooftop lounge sits right on the Chicago River and gives unprecedented views of what I call the "Urban Grand Canyon"— Chicago's Magnificent Mile commercial district. BEST DAY TRIP: New Buffalo, Michigan, is the perfect "getaway" from the city life of Chicago. A short 1½-hour drive, New Buffalo is situated right on the southern end of Lake Michigan. Over the years, it's developed into a perfect weekend destination and a place where many Chicagoans have second homes. It has a quaint downtown setting and small- town vibe where breweries, distilleries and wineries are popular attractions. My wife and I have celebrated birthdays and planned many trips with friends and family in New Buffalo. FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD: Chicago has so many great neighbor- hoods but Wicker Park is by far my fa- vorite. Not only is it the neighborhood I call home, but it's got some of the best shopping, bars/restaurants and coffee shops in the city. The proximity to the central business district is phenomenal and the ability to get to most freeways and main city routes is ideal when you're scouting all over town. The architecture ranges from early 19th century up to modern builds. Easily walkable and in the summer, you'll find street festivals and tons of sidewalk dining … and yes you can film here! FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST: Photographer Matt Weitz, known for his stunning Chicago cityscapes. BEST BAR/CLUB: Chicago has many great places but here are two "faves." Phyllis' Musical Inn is a laid-back pub with great live music, open mike night and a beer garden with hoops. A former Prohibition Era speakeasy, the landmark Green Door Tavern is Chicago's oldest surviving drinking establishment. Built in 1921, a year after the great Chicago Fire, it's a comfortable space with great "pub grub," classic cocktails and craft beers. BEST PLACE TO HEAR MUSIC: Chicago has amazing live music for everyone! The Green Mill Cocktail Stuart's Private Tour Lounge is known for its jazz and poetry performances, along with its connections to Chicago mob history. Housed in a historic gothic brick and masonary Schlitz brewery building, Schubas Tavern has a reputation as one of the best small music venues in the country and showcases a diverse lineup of bands, from indie to jazz. Lincoln Hall, occupying a former 1912 nickelodeon, is Schubas' sister venue. Founded in 1982, Kingston Mines is the oldest, continuously operating blues club in Chicago. And The Empty Bottle is popular intimate indie music venue and bar that hosts alternative bands. BEST VANTAGE POINT/SCENIC VIEW: Chicago's famed Architecture Boat Tour, which runs several times a day. The best vantage point to admire the distinct city skyline and architecture while cruising down the Chicago River guided by an architecture expert. Watch the iconic skyline glide by, and see more than 40 notable buildings designed by world-famous architects, including Mies van der Rohe, Helmut Jahn, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, including Navy Pier, the John Hancock Building, the Wrigley Building, East Bank Club, the old Post Office Building and the Willis (Sears) Tower. Billy Goat Tavern