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Tag: Old Town

Secret Buddhist garden in Chicago
Chicago

Secret Chicago Printable Calendar – April 2021

by Jessica Mlinaric / April 1, 2021April 6, 2021

Download a free printable calendar for April 2021 featuring one of Chicago’s hidden gems.

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Jessica Mlinaric walks down Chicago's wood block alley
Architecture, Chicago, Secret Spot

Secret Spot: Chicago’s Wood Block Alley

by Jessica Mlinaric / March 16, 2021January 5, 2024

Chicago’s Gold Coast is hiding some unlikely history.

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Chicago's Wrigley Building by Jessica Mlinaric
Architecture, Chicago, Culture

Behind the Scenes at 10 Unique Chicago Architecture Sites

by Jessica Mlinaric / October 28, 2019January 26, 2020

Check out some of our favorite Chicago architecture finds from Open House Chicago.

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Secret Buddhist garden in Chicago
Chicago, Culture, Secret Spot

Secret Spot: A Secret Garden in Chicago’s Old Town

by Jessica Mlinaric / July 25, 2019March 21, 2021

If you’re looking for peace in the city, Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood has a serene garden in hiding.

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Chicago, Culture

Chicago Craft Beer Festival

by Jessica Mlinaric / June 30, 2012January 6, 2025

Sample from over 50 Chicago breweries this weekend.

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Chicago, Culture

My Four Favorite Things: Restaurant Week 2012 Recap

by Jessica Mlinaric / March 22, 2012January 6, 2025

Digesting my four favorite bites of Restaurant Week.

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Chicago, Culture

Chicago’s Best of the Fests – June 2011

by Jessica Mlinaric / July 9, 2011January 5, 2017

There are over 400 street festivals to choose from in Chicago this summer.

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About Me

Urban Explorer is a travel blog highlighting history, culture, and hidden gems to inspire curious travelers by Jessica Mlinaric, author of 'Secret Chicago' and 'Chicago Scavenger.'
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Secret Spots

  • How Chicago Became the Birthplace of Gospel Music: Inside Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
    January 14, 2025
  • Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville
    A Hidden Elevator and More Secrets at Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn
    January 8, 2025
  • Charlie Chaplin mural in Chicago
    Where to Find Hollywood History in Chicago
    November 20, 2024

Media Appearances

  • Jessica Mlinaric and Geoffrey Baer with bicycles at the Illinois-Indiana State Line Boundary Marker
    Exploring Chicago Mysteries with WTTW
    April 23, 2024
  • Downtown Chicago view from Bank of America Tower
    Swapping Chicago Favorites with Peter Greenberg
    February 26, 2022
  • Author Jessica Mlinaric at Oak Woods Cemetery
    Touring Chicago’s Mass Grave with WGN Morning News
    November 16, 2020

Travel Guides

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  • Walls of Ston, Croatia
    How to Spend One Day in Ston, Croatia
    February 11, 2025
  • Sheep at Black Thorn Farms in Asheville
    Two Days in Asheville, North Carolina: Experience Arts, Brews, and Mountain Views
    January 10, 2025
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  • About
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