If you don't mind taking a short ride (~15 minutes) to get downtown, then I highly recommend staying at Casa Corazón. Nestled in the humble and quiet Pilsen neoghborhood, this gem of a home felt like both a retreat from the busy city center and an invitation to experience the slower paced family life of not-quite-the-suburbs. I tend to prefer a lot of alone time, so I didn't mind Amanda's low-key hosting style. We only chatted once (partly because of my schedule), but it was enough. Her warmth is reflected in the comfort of the furnishings and her passion for art is evident in the attention to detail. Chicago grew on me quickly as a city, and I'm sure my stay at Casa Corazón played a significant part.