Illinois

It would help to know its general location to suggest neighborhoods convenient to direct transportation. I live in the city, and when we moved here 10 years ago, we explored almost every neighborhood before settling on one! Here's a good clickable list, with descriptions of each.

http://www.choosechicago.com/neighborhoods-and-communities/list/

You'll have no shortage of history, music, and art here. Suggestions to begin with:

(1) History: Chicago History Museum (sounds narrow, but top-notch exhibitions on all subjects, from Lincoln, to 60s pop culture, to fashion; right now the exhibition "Chicago Authored" http://www.chicagohistory.org/portlet-content/CHMFall2015Calendar.pdf), DuSable Museum of African American History, Field Museum of Natural History, Newberry Library, and many lectures etc.

(2) Music: The CSO. The CSO is a must--really, one of the premier symphony orchestras in the world. Go at least once, especially when Maestro Muti is conducting. So much jazz and blues ... all over town.

(3) Art: Of course the Art Institute of Chicago and the MCA. But also the Smart Museum at the University of Chicago, The Renaissance Society (also at U of C), the Block Art Museum at Northwestern, and dozens and dozens of galleries.

(4): Architecture: You forgot architecture. If you get a nice day, take the Architecture Foundation's boat tour to get started. And visit the (first ever) Architecture Biennial's exhibition at the Cultural Center at Randolph and Michigan.

Have you thought of the Hyde Park neighborhood as a possibility? It's very diverse--from University faculty and students to the African American community. It's getting lots of new restaurants, and there are always lectures and performances there. It seems far away, but it's like a 12-minute ride to the Loop on the Metra line. (My son lives there and commutes to work by taking the Metra and then hopping on a Divvy bike in most weather to get the mile or so west.)

Anyway, ask me anything.

ON EDIT: Oops! I see you said above your job is at the Aon Center. So my Hyde Park suggestion is pretty spot on. The Metra Electric stops right across from it. We live just west of the Aon Center ... if you follow the river to where it splits north and south. My area is called Fulton River District, and there's also the West Loop. It's walkable to Aon or a quick El or bus ride. Prices here have kind of gone way up lately, due mostly to Google coming into the neighborhood. But check it out.