Chicago -- tell me

Texanne

Texanne

5,000+ Posts
Shadowdancer and I are going to Chicago in July. We're staying in Lombard with my niece, and she lives two blocks from the train station.

We know some of the things that are musts: the Wrigley, museum, aquarium. But what else? And what about the food?
 
-- Michigan Avenue

-- Museum of Science and Industry

-- Rush Street (for partying) or one of many blues clubs or other live venues for music
 
If you want a nice little leisurely afternoon walk, try Lincoln Park Zoo It is one of the oldest zoos in the nation, and I remember the animals all being pretty active. In fact it is the only zoo I remember visiting as a kid and actually hearing the lions roaring one day. Must be the lake breeze or something. But I love LP Zoo. Wrigley and Wrigleyville is a must if the Cubs are in town.

There are several museums - Museum of Science and Industry is on the south side at 57th and LSD. The German sub, the coal mine, Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle and Yesterday's Main Street are fun. Field Museum of Natural History, home of Sue the tyrannosaurus, is right next door to Shedd Aquarium and is also near the Art Institute

That should take care of a couple days at least!

There is so much to do and see. If you are going up to the top of one of the skyscrapers, I like Hancock over Sears. But that is my opinion only. I have a soft spot for Pizzeria Uno and/or Dué on Ohio and Wabsh respectively (about 1 1/2 blocks apart) There are other pizza places that are as good or maybe better, but those two are my sentimental favorite.

If you are in the Grant Park area at lunch time, the Chicago Symphony often practices, and you can grab some lunch and sit and listen for free. Take a walk around Buckingham Fountain, too.

When my siblings and I were young, my parents would load us all into the station wagon and go downtown to Grant Park. Then we would get ice cream or something, get back in the car and drive Lake Shore Drive from downtown until it turned into Sheridan Rd, through Kenilworth and Glencoe, looking at all the mansions. It was twisty, turny, and through an area we called the ravines, but it was very pretty IIRC.

Not an expert on Chicago at all, but those have always been my favorite places.
 
Thanks, all, for the help. I'll wait a little while longer to see what others contribute, then print the thread and take it with us.

I've always wanted to go to Chicago. It just seems like a really great place.
 
I lived in Chicago during the summers of 1982 and 1984. It's an amazing city. In addition to the recommendations given above by myself and others, you might be able to catch

Taste of Chicago (June 27 - July 6)

Grant Park Music Festival (random nights from June 11 - August 16)

Ravinia Festival (north of Chicago -- take the Metra Rail)
 
Dear God, SA, I've got to get me some of that! That looks amazing.

utexas and SA, when are you going to be there? I'm going in late July.
 
i have a free flight i need to use by the end of july. i am trying to get it for the weekend of the 26th.

und du?
 
i was in chicago for a seminar in march. 4 days of fun. there arent many places ive been that i would leave texas for but chicago is a place i could live.

the field museum has the two lions from the movie with michael douglas and val kilmer. they killed alot of people in africa and are apparently some of the largest lions ever seen.

pizza and dogs are chicago staples and u cant come home without sampling. also, rick bayless' frontera grill is dowtown. excellent food and margaritas.

have fun. wish i was going too.
 
Everyone above has hit most of the high points. Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Go to the Hancock Tower over Sears. There is a bar, it is a better view.
2. Green Mill is the best jazz place, but it is pretty far north. It was Capones hang out.
3. You cant go wrong with pizza, but my favorites are Art of Pizza, Giordanos, and Lou Malnatis.
4. Murphys Bleachers or Sluggers are 2 of my favorites around Wrigley. As long as you avoid Moes Cantina, you should be fine
5. There are some bus and river tours that I heard are pretty good. They hit all the tourist spots and tell you about the history and architecture of Chicago.

I moved back to Texas last week and I already miss Chi. Great town in the summer.
 
Visited in laws there every year for a long time. Love that city.

Great recommendations already. I won't contest the pizza recommendation,though there are at least a couple of other great ones.

One thing we would do each year is go to a place way out Milwaukee Ave (west), through Northbrook and to near Palatine, a place called Bob Chinns Crabhouse. A huge place, specialzing in King Grab, and Mai Tai's. They are the largest Rum purchaser in the world. You can get a pitcher of Mai Tai's while standing in line. You get the idea.

And then to sit down to a couple pounds of king crab legs. This is not hoity toity Trulocks, but regular fat people chow down kind of place. It ain't cheap, but oh so worth it.

Take a cab, you will be lit.
 
Went last summer and had a blast. The best meal I have ever had in my life was there. Chicago Chop House. Amazing.

We went to Giordano's (sp?) our 1st night after our flight landed; took a cab straight there as it was walking distance to our hotel. We also went to Gino East a couple of days later. I preferred Gino East for the stuffed pizza over Giordano's but that's just my 2 cents.

We also went to a Cubs game and had a blast. Went to Murphys before the game. Afterwards, we walked about 3/4 mile to Sheffield's Beer Garden which reminded me a bit of Scholz. Spent about 2 hours there drinking beer.

link

Walk down Magnificent Mile.

Walk for miles (seriously) through downtown below the river. Tons of cool stuff. We had a walking tour of downtown that we followed and we likely walked 8 miles. But it was fun. Worked off the food I ate. Saw the public art they have (Picasso), the fountain from Married with Children, ... some other cool stuff.
 
Consider going to a show at Second City (improv where amongst others, Chris Farley got his start).
I went a few months ago and it was hysterical.
www.secondcity.com/

Show up a tad early so you can get your pick of seating. If I go back, i'll go for the row of bar stool seats over table seating.

(buy tickets ahead of time online)
 
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