Comedienne Patti Vazquez has been cracking us up for over a decade. Our favorite Latina funny woman, who was born and raised in Chicago, took a little break to talk about her favorite city. Here she invites you to follow in her footsteps the next time you’re in her hometown:

My favorite places to eat: I love Nuevo Leon. My mother has been taking me to this Chicago institution for as long as I can remember. Located in the heart of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, this brightly decorated restaurant serves fresh authentic Mexican food. I love the carne asada and chile rellenos, but everything on the menu is terrific and very affordable.

Near Chicago’s Old Town, Cafe Iberico serves wonderful Spanish Tapas. I have dreams about their Queso de Cabra. No conversation about Chicago food can be complete without mentioning hot dogs. I grew up near Superdawg and I think it has become part of my DNA. If you order “with everything” you will be served an all beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun covered with onions, relish, pickled green tomatoes and sport peppers. Your hot dog is then nested in a box of crispy French fries.

My favorite places to stay: I live in Chicago, and, when friends visit, I recommend the Hotel Indigo in the Gold Coast neighborhood. This funky boutique hotel is surrounded by a pulsing nightlife and world class restaurants. It is also walking distance to my favorite Chicago spots. In the summertime Oak Street Beach is the perfect place for people watching, while sports lovers should head to North Avenue Beach for volleyball, biking, running, roller blading and outdoor fitness classes. Just north of the hotel is Lincoln Park Zoo, the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum, and the Chicago History Museum.

My favorite places to go: One of my favorite places to spend an afternoon is Millenium Park. The park is filled with spectacular artwork such as the imposing and mesmerizing Cloud Gate (which Chicagoans refer to as “The Bean”), Buckingham Fountain, Crown Fountain and the 925 foot winding BP Bridge. The park hosts outdoor concerts, dance performances and live theater.

Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood is home to my favorite art museum, The National Museum of Mexican Art. The collection is dazzling, the energy is inspiring and admission is free! The museum regularly host live performances and the Sor Juana festival is not to be missed. I also adore the Museum of Science and Industry located on the city’s south side near the lake. In addition to the incredible array of hands on exhibits, there is a World War II German submarine inside a wing of the museum. The exhibit is a breathtaking tribute to the armed forces.

My favorite night spots: I have been performing at Zanies Comedy Club for twelve years now, so I may sound biased, but it is one of the best places in the country to see live comedy. The club seats only 150 people, so every performance has an intimate feel. The list of comedians who have performed in the club’s 30-year history include Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, George Carlin, and Wanda Sykes. Every night, the club features nationally known headliners as well as up and coming talent. On the nights when I get to cut loose and enjoy live music and dancing, I head to Joe’s on Weed Street or Rumba.

About the author: Patti Vasquez, a Chicago native, has starred in two hit one-woman shows: “Pregnant Party Girl: From Stoli’s to Stirrups” and “Mamacita: Tales of a Diaper Diva.” Look for her on TBS’s new comedy The Very Funny Show.

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