This grand, art-filled building with free internet terminals and wi-fi is Chicago's whopping main library. Major authors give readings here and exhibits constantly show in the galleries. The light-drenched, 9th-floor Winter Garden is a sweet hideaway for reading, writing or just taking a load off, though it's a bit of a hike to get there.
Take the escalators to the 3rd floor (home of the browsable newspapers and computer commons), then transfer to the elevator to go up six more floors. And those green-copper creatures staring down from the exterior roof? They're wise old owls.
