St. Patricks Day in Chicago for Airbnb Travelers

St. Patrick's Day draws locals and visitors across the Midwest to the Chicago Loop every year to watch as the Chicago River turn green and the St. Patrick's Day Parade marches through Grant Park. If you're at an Airbnb on the South Side, Chicago even has the South Side Irish Parade just south of Hyde Park.

Regardless of the Chicago neighborhood of your Airbnb stay, Chicago neighborhoods have their fair share of goings-on at Irish pubs, Chicago restaurants, and even your local porch parties (lol). 

When is St. Patrick's Day in Chicago?

St. Patrick's Day is always on March 17, which this year falls on a Saturday. 

What is St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick's Day occurs annually on March 17, the date marked by the death of Saint Patrick, Ireland's most celebrated patron saint. The festivities surrounding this date specifically commemorate Saint Patrick and the subsequent arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

Where is Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade?

Chicago's downtown parade occurs on St. Patrick's Day (March 17) this year, beginning with the dyeing of the Chicago River at 9am. The parade itself steps off at noon at the corner of Balbo Avenue and Columbus Drive, then travels north on Columbus Drive. The South Side Irish Parade occurs the Sunday prior (March 11), stepping off from 103rd Street and Western Avenue at noon.

What to do on St. Patrick's Day as an Airbnb guest in Chicago?

Dyeing of the Chicago River

The Journeymen Plumber’s Local Union 130 dyes the Chicago River before the downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade. The dye is fish-friendly, and the river returns to its usual murky shade by nightfall. Arrive early to get a good view of the Green River, and all of the people decked in GREEN. Find the best views along the Michigan Avenue bridge's east side, the Columbus Drive bridge's west side or Wacker Drive (upper or lower) between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive.

Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade

After the Chicago river is dyed a murky shade of green, the city's big, noisy, fun-filled homage to the Irish makes its way through Grant Park on Columbus Drive, with plenty of bagpipes, drum corps, Irish dancers and other merrymakers in tow. Find the viewing stand filled with local dignitaries in front of Buckingham Fountain.

South Side Irish Parade at Western Ave from 103rd St to 115th St

The city's southernmost Irish celebration returns with another liquor-less procession along Western Avenue between 103rd and 115th street. For a truly local-experience, we invite Airbnb travelers here! 

Northwest Side Irish Parade

The city's Northwest Side Irish Parade Foundation hosts this family-friendly celebration with a pre-parade party and Irish music and dancing starting at 10am. The parade kicks off at noon in front of Onahan School, and processes to Harlem Avenue. 

St. Patrick's Festival at Irish American Heritage Center

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend in a traditional way with Irish food, dances and live traditional music. If you are seeking a local experience, this is the place for you! The event follows Chicago's downtown celebrations, so make a day of it at this family-friendly event featuring Irish gift vendors, an arts and crafts fair and children's activities.

Forever Green at the Chicago Cultural Center

The Young Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago hosts its 43rd annual Forever Green party, one of the longest-running St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the city. Traditional Irish music and dancing (not to mention the four-hour open bar) highlight the festivities, and part of the ticket proceeds go to two local Irish charities.

Chicago Shamrock Crawl

For the fun-seekers, this Wrigleyville bar crawl is your best bet for the luck of the Irish. That is, in the form of green beer and whiskey beginning at 8am. The day-drinking festivities feature a variety of Wrigleyville bars, including John Barleycorn, Country Club and Deuce's. Your ticket includes a T-shirt, a breakfast buffet and a gift card to use on the crawl.

For our fun, lovable Airbnb guests coming to Chicago, if you can fit all of these events into one weekend - you win! Enjoy your stay in Chicago and stay safe for St. Patrick's day. 

What are the best neighborhoods in Chicago for Airbnb travelers?

Lincoln Park for a family day, Bucktown+Wicker Park for hip shopping and fun, Gold Coast for the best of the best, Wrigleyville for group fun, and the South Loop for business travelers.

In addition to the above, neighborhoods like Lakeview, Lincoln Square, and Andersonville. In these neighborhoods, you will be further out from the center of the city, but you will have more of a taste for the local feel. Lakeview is great because it is close to the Lake Michigan. Lincoln Square has one of the cutest retail strips along Lincoln Ave for Airbnb foodies and shoppers. Andersonville is in close proximity to a number of colleges on the North Side.

Most of the North side neighborhoods are not convenient from O'Hare airport on the "L" because you have to go downtown and then back out again. To go to a North side neighborhood, like Lincoln Park, you are better off getting a cab, Uber, or taking the Blue line "L" to Western and then taking the bus due East.

One of the most up and coming neighborhoods is Logan Square. For business travelers, this area is a bonus because it is almost equal distance from O'Hare and Downtown. 

For the neighborhood feel go with Old Town, Lincoln Park or Wicker Park (off Division Ave or Milwaukee Ave between Division and North). Those area have a lot of shops and restaurants to check out. A lot of good restaurants are in Logan Square.

Checking Compliance of Neighborhoods/Buildings

In addition to doing your research on which Chicago neighborhood the Airbnb is in, be sure the rental is city-compliant. Hosts have to be registered, and the building itself cannot be on the "prohibited" list (many condominium buildings do not allow short term rentals). This is important, since if the rental isn't valid, there is a chance you will be prevented from staying in it when you show up.
Airbnb is not welcome in most downtown Chicago high rises. You should stay with the neighborhoods outside of the Loop. Be sure to ask your potential Hosts and have them verify the compliance of their units. Better this, than getting kicked out mid-stay.

The Best Bars for Airbnb Travelers: Along The Red Line "L"

So you've arrived in Chicago and booked an Airbnb. You ask the host where and what the nearest public transportation is to check out some of the great nightlife around Chicago. They tell you that a short few blocks away is the "red" train line.

Huh?

Have no fear! If you’re looking for a good night out on the town, and  a way to get around at the same time, you're in luck.  Welcome to our 4 part series of “The Best Bars Around the Chicago L”.

We’re going to go over the 5 best bars around the various stops on the Pink, Red, Blue and Brown L lines. This piece will be about the Red Line.

Let's hop on this train and get going!

Holiday Club

Neighborhood: Uptown

L Stop: Sheridan

The Holiday Club has been a staple of Uptown for a long time. When a bar is open for over 20 years, you know there’s a reason why. Enter this swanky venue past the glittering awning and step back to a time where the infamous “Rat Pack” use to to let loose. This place is old school and that is its treasure. Vince Vaughn among many other celebrities have been known to party here but don’t let that deter you because the Uptown crowd is friendly and unpretentious.

2 separate spaces have been carved out: a traditional bar area and a dance floor. The bar area has walls lined with pictures of celebrities and memorabilia from a time long gone, cocktail tables alongside a pool table. Have a conversation here and enjoy some out of this world food. Then take a breath and get ready to have a time of your life on the dance floor. Hits from the 80’s and 90’s aren’t uncommon, as is the electric atmosphere. If you love old school - music, decor, ambiance - you’ll fit right in.

On any given night, everyone’s having fun at The Holiday Club either dancing the night away, playing a game of pool, enjoying the scrumptious dinner available until 10 PM or partaking in shenanigans inside the retro 1950’s photo booth. Jump in and say cheese.

Sheffield's Beer & Wine Garden

Neighborhood: Lakeview

L Stop: Belmont

Chicago isn’t known for its barbecue...but Sheffield’s is. This neighborhood bar doubles as a BBQ enthusiasts’ dream and also possibly the best beer garden in Chicago. Located in Chicago’s popular northside neighborhood of Lakeview, Sheffield’s combination of select microbrews and scrumptious smoked BBQ food will have you coming back. Or possibly staying once you take a seat in their sprawling beer garden enjoying a beer with your friends on a summer afternoon.

Don’t get too comfy though, once the sun goes down, this place lights up and starts filling up with people looking to have a great time. BBQ enthusiasts, beer snobs and partygoers are the 3 main type of people you’ll find at Sheffields. The chefs do a great job to really bring Memphis inspired BBQ to Chicago, the beer pro bartenders do their part in getting you up to par on beer basics and well the partiers...they party. Can’t mess that one up too bad, can ya?

So which of the three are you? If you’re all three, welcome to your new home!

Matilda

Neighborhood: Wrigleyville

L Stop: Belmont

This is the most interesting hidden corner tavern on Sheffield. I almost feel bad letting out the secret that is Matilda. Low key and intimate, this hidden secret will definitely be a new spot you’d want to take a small group or a date out to. Take a seat inside the cozy leather booths and order one of their signature cocktails. The chill hip-hop music at Matilda definitely adds to the vibe, as does the celestial walls on around by the back bar.

And that’s only the upstairs. That’s right, head downstairs to babyATLAS and it’s like you’ve entered a whole different venue. In fact, there’s a dream-like, lit up sunset colored map showing a long wavy line from Matilda to its downstairs counterpart. It looks and feels like a mile of difference. A dance floor, DJ and a party that wraps you in. Don’t be surprised to find yourself joining the party and letting loose.

Enjoy sustenance and ethanol at Matilda and take in the vibes at babyATLAS, just don’t go telling everyone about this hidden gem.

Streeter’s Tavern

Neighborhood: River North

L Stop: Chicago

You know why I like dive bars? Because they’re inconspicuous so an average tourist won’t notice, and because it’s simple. A dive bar does its job. No frills, no snootiness, just simple and plain fun. Streeter’s Tavern isn’t just a dive bar though, it’s a GOOD dive bar. I can’t say that about many dive bars, but man, Streeter’s does it right. Games like jenga, pool, pong and foosball. A diverse crowd consisting of students, workers and industry veterans. Underground and out of sight, this is a classic diamond in the rough. And ironically, it’s right by the embodiment of the word “opulence”, the Magnificent Mile.

“The World’s Greatest Underground Bar” lives up to it’s name. Next time you’re near Chicago and Rush, take a look by your feet and see if you can spot the awning welcoming you underground.

Hopsmith Tavern

Neighborhood: Gold Coast

L Stop: Clark/Division

Named after underground heroes who provided man’s greatest invention, alcohol, during the Prohibition era, Hopsmith brings you party with a touch of class. The bottom floor is reminiscent of a library: Dark oak wooden shelves, plush leather booths, office study lighting and a fireplace that definitely goes well with Scotch. But drop your books if you’re headed to the second floor. Walk up the stairs past the glass enclosed kegs and catch a football game on Sunday’s with avid sports fans cheering their teams on to win or come on a weekend night and bust a move on the dance floor.

Hopsmith is always hopping with a lively crowd, but energy is just one aspect of this awesome blend of sports bar and upscale venue. Being named after brewers, of course you have to try their list of craft beers. It's extensive and some of the best sourced craft beers in the city. I’ve yet to meet any of my beer snob friends complain and that’s saying something! To complete the triad of awesomeness, the food here is very very satisfying. Although the food isn’t anything out of the ordinary from other bars menus, the taste is. Hopsmith’s chefs really know how to make the ordinary wrap or steak sandwich and launch it into the stratosphere, out of this world.

This Division street hero is sure to be a winner if you’re around the Clark/Division L stop.

Five great spots on the Red line for you to check out. There are plenty of more bars along this route but since we cannot make them all, check out these five first.