Two years ago, I spent Thanksgiving weekend apartment hunting in Chicago.
On December 23, 2011, I became a part-time resident of Logan Square.
On April 2, 2012, I became a full-time resident of Pilsen.

In the two years since I first signed a lease in Chicago, I have covered much of the city on foot and by bike. I have gone to bars and shows and farmers markets and beaches. I have visited the sand cat a number of times. I have had a whole lot of Chicago-specific adventures, but feel like I have barely scratched the surface of what Chicago has to offer.

I am not planning on leaving my beloved city any time soon, but I expect I will leave eventually, and in anticipation of that day in the far off future, I have started a bucket list of Chicago sights and eats and scenes that I want to be sure not to miss. Some of the items on my list are things I have always wanted to do. Some are very unlikely to get done. Some I have done before, but want to repeat with someone who has not yet done them. Some might require winning the lottery or overcoming severe phobias. Some will likely be removed from the list, and others added.

Without further ado, and with a promise to tell you about each of these adventures as they happen, I present the first draft of my Chicago bucket list:

1. Adler Planetarium
2. Art Chicago at Merchandise Mart
3. Bike the Drive
4. Bike to Milwaukee
5. Bike to the Botanic Gardens
6. Bike to Three Floyds
7. Brunch or drinks at North Pond
8. Carillon tour with Mom
9. Chicago Architecture Foundation walking tour
10. Chicago History Museum
11. Chicago marathon
12. Complete tour of all Chicago beaches
13. Complete tour of all El lines
14. Cubs game with Nicolas
15. Deep dish pizza
16. Dinner at Bistronomic
17. Dinner at EL Ideas
18. Dinner at Elizabeth
19. Dinner at Next or Alinea
20. Donuts from Do-Rite
21. Drinks at a shitty Wrigleyville bar
22. Drinks at the Half Acre tap room
23. Drinks at the Signature Room
24. Ferris wheel at Navy Pier
25. Festival of Barrel Aged Beers
26. Field Museum
27. Frank Lloyd Wright walking tour in Oak Park
28. Hemingway birthplace tour in Oak Park
29. Hot Doug’s
30. Hot pot in Chinatown
31. Ice skating at Millennium Park
32. Kuma’s Corners
33. Last call at a shitty 4am bar
34. Live jazz on Rush St/River North
35. Lunch at Calumet Fisheries
36. Museum of Contemporary Art
37. National Museum of Mexican Art
38. Newberry Library
39. Oriental Institute
40. Pie at Hoosier Mama Pie Company
41. Polish food
42. Printers Row book fair
43. Rainbo with Nicolas
44. Robie House tour
45. Sailing on Lake Michigan
46. Sears Tower observation deck
47. See a race at Arlington Park
48. Shedd Aquarium with Nicolas
49. Show at the Double Door
50. Show at the Empty Bottle
51. Sushi at Kai Zan
52. Taste of Chicago
53. Tea at Allium
54. Tea at Pleasant House Bakery
55. Vegan Korean at the Dragon Lady Lounge with Karen
56. Visit one new street festival
57. Vosges with Nicolas
58. Walk or run the entire Lakefront Path
59. Water taxi
60. White Sox game