If you've ever wished there were an easier way to figure out which areas of the city are friendliest to those on foot, then you'll be excited about Walk Score's new walkability maps and neighborhood rankings. Walk Score today published rankings for the most walkable cities (Chicago is ranked fourth), as well as the most walkable neighborhoods in each city -- in Chicago: the Loop, Near North Side, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Uptown. They also have wonderful color-coded walkability maps for each city illustrating which areas are most walkable.

Got a free weekend? Like trains? Sick of unpredictable and overpriced air travel? Amtrak offers car-free Chicagoans plenty of chances to make a quick one- or two-day weekend escape with "red-eye" (overnight) trains from Chicago to several cities that are a few hundred miles away. I like traveling overnight, since it offers maximum sightseeing time at your destination and cuts back on expensive hotel stays.

Every summer I feel guilty for not going to enough shows at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, and this year I'm determined to take better advantage of having such an incredible place so close to home and work. While many Chicagoans still flock to Ravinia for an outdoor concert and picnic experience, I think our own little gem downtown beats Ravinia hands-down. Not only is the Pritzker Pavilion almost always free, but it has an incredible sound system, a spectacular view and sense of place, and a convenient location easily accessible by transit and bike. In other words, going to a show at the Pritzker Pavilion doesn't have to be a special event -- it can be a regular after-work treat.