Chicago Bingo: Spot 30 Typically Chicago Things
Walk the Magnificent Mile, tick off the card, snap a photo of every typically Chicago thing you can find. From a deep-dish slice to the Bean reflecting the skyline, this is a 30-item Chicago bingo that turns any walk into a treasure hunt. No fixed route. Just keep your eyes open.
Challenges (30)
Spot a Chicago deep-dish pizza
Find a Chicago deep-dish pizza at Lou Malnati's, Giordano's, Pequod's or any deep-dish parlor. Photograph the cross-section.
Spot a Chicago hot dog
Find a Chicago-style hot dog (poppy-seed bun, neon-green relish, sport peppers, no ketchup). Photograph the loaded dog.
Spot an Italian beef sandwich
Find an Italian beef sandwich (Al's, Portillo's, Mr. Beef). Photograph the dipped roll.
Spot a Cubs or White Sox kit
Find a Cubs (red C, blue) or White Sox (black) jersey on someone or in a shop. Photograph the kit.
Spot an American flag in Chicago
Find a US flag on a Chicago building. Photograph it.
Spot the Chicago city flag
Find the Chicago flag (white with two blue bars and four red stars). Photograph it.
Spot a Chicago L train (elevated)
Find a Chicago L train on the elevated tracks of the Loop. Photograph the train above the street.
Spot a Garrett popcorn bag
Find a Garrett Popcorn shop or souvenir bag with the iconic caramel-cheese mix. Photograph the orange bag.
Spot a Chicago skyline view
Find a view of the Chicago skyline from the river, Lake Michigan or a viewpoint. Photograph the silhouette.
Spot a Chicago manhole cover
Find a Chicago cast-iron manhole cover with the city flag stars or "CITY OF CHICAGO" lettering. Photograph the cover.
Spot the Cloud Gate (the Bean)
Walk to Millennium Park and find Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate. Photograph the team reflected in the silver bean.
Spot the Crown Fountain video face
In Millennium Park find the Crown Fountain with a video face spitting water. Photograph the face.
Spot the Willis Tower (Sears)
Find a view of the Willis Tower (the former Sears Tower) skyscraper. Photograph the silhouette.
Spot the Chicago Riverwalk
Walk along the Chicago Riverwalk and find a vantage with bridges and skyscrapers. Photograph the river.
Spot the Chicago River green (St. Patrick's only) or normal blue
Find a vantage of the Chicago River. Bonus points if it's St. Patrick's Day and the river is dyed green. Photograph the water.
Spot a Chicago bridge house
Find a Chicago bascule bridge with the brick bridge-house. Photograph the bridge.
Spot Buckingham Fountain
Walk to Grant Park and find Buckingham Fountain with the central jet. Photograph the spray.
Spot the Chicago Theatre marquee
Find the Chicago Theatre marquee on State Street (the giant red CHICAGO sign). Photograph the marquee.
Spot Wrigley Field facade
Find Wrigley Field exterior, with the marquee saying "Wrigley Field Home of Chicago Cubs". Photograph the marquee.
Spot a Magnificent Mile flagship
Walk Michigan Avenue and find a Magnificent Mile flagship store (Apple, Nike, Disney). Photograph the storefront.
Spot a Chicago blues poster
Find a blues-club poster or venue (Buddy Guy's Legends, Kingston Mines). Photograph the poster.
Spot the Picasso (Untitled) sculpture
Find Picasso's untitled sculpture on Daley Plaza. Photograph the bronze figure.
Spot a Chicago Art Institute lion
Find one of the two bronze lions outside the Art Institute on Michigan Avenue. Photograph a lion.
Spot a Chicago Polish or German bakery
Find a Polish (paczki) or German (pretzel) bakery in Chicago (Avondale, Lincoln Square). Photograph the storefront.
Spot a Chicago Navy Pier Ferris wheel
Find Navy Pier with its Centennial Wheel. Photograph the wheel.
Spot a Wicker Park mural
Walk into Wicker Park and find a mural on Damen Avenue or a side street. Photograph the wall.
Spot a Chicago bagel or knish
Find a Chicago Jewish deli with a bagel or knish on display. Photograph the bagel.
Spot a Chicago Marina City corncob
Find Marina City's twin corncob towers from the river or city. Photograph the round towers.
Spot the Tribune Tower stone embed
At the Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue find an embedded stone from a famous building (Acropolis, Great Wall). Photograph one.
Spot a Chicago "Make Big Plans" Daniel Burnham reference
Find a Daniel Burnham reference (the Plan of Chicago, a Burnham fountain). Photograph the reference.
Frequently asked questions
The duration is up to the organizer when they set up the adventure. As a guideline, a focused day across the Loop, Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile and Wicker Park ticks off most of the easy items, and stretching across a weekend lets a determined group complete all 30.
Each of the 30 items is a camera challenge. When you spot the thing, take a photo and submit it; the bingo card tracks progress. Play solo, with friends or split into teams and race to tick off the most items.
Some items (a Cubs/Sox game day, an L train angle) need timing. Sweep the Loop for the easy items, Millennium Park for the Bean and Pritzker, Lincoln Park for the zoo, Wicker Park for murals.
The Loop, Millennium Park, Riverwalk and Magnificent Mile hit the most items in a walking loop. Add Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and the Art Institute for the harder items.
Yes. Kids love spotting the Bean, the L train, hot dogs and pizza; adults enjoy hunting Chicago architecture, blues posters and skyline views. No alcohol stops are required.