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Mp3 Placelists

 

People often associate cities with special songs or styles of music. On Broadway in New York, try show tunes; in New Orleans' French Quarter, go for jazz. This list shares the best spots for listening, either as an activity in itself or as a backdrop to something else. People-watch at a coffee shop, browse fantastic art at a museum, and while away commuter time on public transportation. Plug into your favorites, or make a "placelist" based on our suggestions.

 

Belmont Harbor

Address: 3600 Recreation Dr, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL 60613

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A serene setting for watching boats float by also makes an optimum destination for transcending into a zen state. Great views of the city are a mainstay daily and nightly, so you can listen to classical music while watching the sunrise or drown your sorrows with more pensive music at night. During wintertime, the spot...

DMV

Address: 100 W Randolph, concourse level, Chicago, IL 60601

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Waiting, waiting, waiting. Getting a driver's license renewed is an annoying yet necessary task, and standing for hours invariably leads to boredom and frustration, especially if you have to be back at work. Plug in, tune out, and let your shuffle dictate your mood and lower your blood pressure. Listening to rockin'...

Garfield Park Conservatory

Address: 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

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With the daily hustle and bustle, sometimes the immense amount of natural beauty in Chicago goes unnoticed. Let music connect you to the power of nature. Instead of relaxing in a crowded park, head south to where flowers and plants bloom year-round in an interior space covering 4.5 acres. Experience sculpture...

Harold Washington Library

Address: 400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605

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On the ninth floor of the main Harold Washington Library rests the Winter Garden, a spacious atrium with a glass dome reaching toward the sky and marble floors adding sleek elegance. Potted trees contribute natural beauty amid the created grandeur. Ample tables and chairs grace the quiet location, inviting visitors to...

Lincoln Park Athletic Club

Address: 1019 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614

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Let's face it: working out sucks. You can't get the blood pumping without music. Whether it's late at night or early in the morning, heavy dance music is required. Create your own playlist integrating the exuberance of The New Pornographers and the hip-hopness of Kanye West. Slow down to Yo La Tengo and Imogen Heap....

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Address: 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

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Many museums offer iPod audio tours, but creating your own soundtrack is more fun. MCA exhibits everything from Warhol to photography shows, and tuning in helps you to focus on art intently and study it harder. Remember the scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off when he visited the Art Institute and music played over the...

Oak Street Beach

Address: 1000 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611

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The lakefront is one of the best locations for folks to ruminate about life and to people-watch. Many spots on the sand or walkways are ideal for staring into the waters and viewing illuminated buildings. Lie on the beach and drift off to popular summer songs, or visit during the evening to aimlessly wander about,...

Soleil

Address: 1018 W Madison, Chicago, IL 60607

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Sometimes we have to make our bodies sweat to acquire the physical results we want. Going to a tanning salon is safer than lying on the beach, but sweating in an incubator for half an hour needs extra discipline. Soft, instrumental tunes are affable for fading away and counting down to a healthy glow. Be coherent...

Student Union

Address: DePaul University, Loop Campus, 11th floor, 1 E Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604

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Trying to motivate yourself for a big exam can be difficult, and while some people need absolute quiet to concentrate, others rely on music pumping into their head to enhance study skills. Learning, and especially cramming, doesn't have to be a drag. Use songs to help you commit a term to memory through word or music...

The Brown Line

Address: Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL

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Commuting in Chicago these days can be mindnumbing, especially with recent train construction. Some people kill time reading trashy novels; others listen to music during their back-and-forth times. Since the Brown Line never goes underground, ride it through the landscape of Lincoln Park and check out the Loop...

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