Headed to Chicago, tell me what to do
09-09-2014, 10:43 AM
#1
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Headed to Chicago, tell me what to do
You guys have been full of good suggestions when I've asked in the past about other areas, so in this volume of the MT.net Travel Guide, tell me what and where about Chicago.
Taking my gf there for her birthday the first weekend of October, staying downtown, not renting a car. We plan on biking around as much as possible with the Divvy bike rental system and using public transit the rest of the time. We typically like to get a feel for the city when we go some place new, not just hit all the touristy crap in our stars-and-stripes jumpers. I'm a Frank Lloyd Wright fanboi so we'll be seeing as much of his work as possible, we'll hit a couple of museums because culture, etc.
What else?
Taking my gf there for her birthday the first weekend of October, staying downtown, not renting a car. We plan on biking around as much as possible with the Divvy bike rental system and using public transit the rest of the time. We typically like to get a feel for the city when we go some place new, not just hit all the touristy crap in our stars-and-stripes jumpers. I'm a Frank Lloyd Wright fanboi so we'll be seeing as much of his work as possible, we'll hit a couple of museums because culture, etc.
What else?
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09-09-2014, 12:59 PM
#3
hit up the bean.. Always a good spot to see. then head down to navy pier. lots of cool little shops. you can take a taxi between the two. after that head over to soldier field and walk down to the planetarium. even if it's closed. the view from the planetarium of the skyline is epic.
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09-09-2014, 02:37 PM
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Walking around by the planetarium and aquarium around dusk is great. City skyline is very nice at night time. The museum and solider field are all within walk-able distance as well.
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc...cflt=breweries
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc...cflt=breweries
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09-09-2014, 04:02 PM
#8
Walking around by the planetarium and aquarium around dusk is great. City skyline is very nice at night time. The museum and solider field are all within walk-able distance as well.
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
Brewery Chicago, IL
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
Brewery Chicago, IL
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WWW.OGRACING.COM
800.934.9112
703.430.3303
info@ogracing.com
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09-09-2014, 04:43 PM
#9
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Walking around by the planetarium and aquarium around dusk is great. City skyline is very nice at night time. The museum and solider field are all within walk-able distance as well.
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
Brewery Chicago, IL
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
Brewery Chicago, IL
I have a different take on food though... Normally the plan is to just walk around until something that looks like a tiny little hole in the wall and eat there. Eat at the little not well labeled place next to the place that has all the people in it. Shockingly this has always brought me luck. I found the worlds greatest Italian restaurant this way. I would never be able to find it again if i tried.
Oh, and stay off the Mile unless you have an unlimited credit card.
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09-10-2014, 09:30 PM
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Thanks for all the responses so far!
This is the reflective sculpture, yes? That's on the list for sure.
Yep, gonna be there Oct2-7. Never seen any of his work in person, sounds like a plan.
Thanks for taking the time to spell that all out! Everything sounds great. We are staying at Wacker and Michigan, so that bike ride will be close by. Not sure 4 days is going to be enough time though lol.
Nope, so good to know.
Perfect, sounds like a great place to have a birthday drink with the gf at sunset.
More questions:
Somebody had mentioned doing a boat tour, is that worthwhile? Seems kinda meh on paper.
Also, how's the downtown area/Loop for being out on foot at night? We've been to NYC and stayed out till the early hours walking around lower Manhattan and the East Village with no problem finding plenty to do. Is Chicago as "night friendly" downtown, or is most of the nightlife in the outlying 'hoods?
This is the reflective sculpture, yes? That's on the list for sure.
Walking around by the planetarium and aquarium around dusk is great. City skyline is very nice at night time. The museum and solider field are all within walk-able distance as well.
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
Brewery Chicago, IL
You absolutely need to bike-ride around wacker and if your feeling frisky, lower wacker. Such cool architecture. Key streets to remember with interesting stuff, roosevelt, congress, michigan, lakeshore, and randolph. Kinda the bigger surrounding streets for downtown.
Food. Chicago has the best food variety in the country. You need to go everywhere. Key things, points of interest. People will say get deepdish pizza from Giordanos. This is wrong, you need to go Lou Malnati's up in River north off well st. Best pizza you will eat ever.
Jim's Original Maxwell st. it's not amazing food, but you need to experience it. Go at 2 in the morning when people get out of the bars. It's right near the UIC college campus right off Roosevelt. Classic cheap polish with good fries and 24 hour service.
Same style of chicago hotdog and fries place, The Weiner's Circle. This is that place where they cuss out their customers and insult you as you order. Go in the evening, there will be a line out the door. It's in lincoln park.
Bars, ummm pretty much anything in the Gold Coast and check out breweries. Lots of cool breweries to look.
Brewery Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by Erat
Oh, and stay off the Mile unless you have an unlimited credit card.
More questions:
Somebody had mentioned doing a boat tour, is that worthwhile? Seems kinda meh on paper.
Also, how's the downtown area/Loop for being out on foot at night? We've been to NYC and stayed out till the early hours walking around lower Manhattan and the East Village with no problem finding plenty to do. Is Chicago as "night friendly" downtown, or is most of the nightlife in the outlying 'hoods?
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09-10-2014, 10:53 PM
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At night it depends on the neighborhood. If your like downtown/downtown theres not a whole bunch to do that's not super expensive. You have to hit up like goldcoast or oldtown. But those are north of where you'll be staying. Only like a mile or so, you could walk there pretty easy. Or just ask someone how to get to oldtown/goldcoast. You pretty much can just walk north on michigan and you'll end up in goldcoast. You'll be able to tell when you get there because the streets will be lined with bars etc.
Also, because this is a miata forum. Over by Wrigley field is boys town, which honestly has some awesome bars over there too. But that's more then likely out of walking distance.
The only thing to remember is anything south of Roosevelt is considered southside, north of it is downtown. In my opinion, you don't really want to be too far south of roosevelt when it gets dark out. UIC campus are is nice but it gets sketchy pretty quickly.Anything downtown or north/west of downtown you're fine.
I'd also suggest you try to check out all the little different ethnic areas like chinatown, greektown, little italy, little mexico etc. You can pretty much google those names and find directions.
Also, because this is a miata forum. Over by Wrigley field is boys town, which honestly has some awesome bars over there too. But that's more then likely out of walking distance.
The only thing to remember is anything south of Roosevelt is considered southside, north of it is downtown. In my opinion, you don't really want to be too far south of roosevelt when it gets dark out. UIC campus are is nice but it gets sketchy pretty quickly.Anything downtown or north/west of downtown you're fine.
I'd also suggest you try to check out all the little different ethnic areas like chinatown, greektown, little italy, little mexico etc. You can pretty much google those names and find directions.
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09-11-2014, 05:59 AM
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I also went out on the lake in a diesel powered jet boat or something when i was younger with my parents. That was something that i won't do again.
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09-11-2014, 10:09 AM
#18
On Michigan Ave we ate at a place called the Grande Lux Cafe. We got lucky and got a window seat because some people had just canceled their reservations when we walked in. Awesome food, nice elegant atmosphere.
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09-11-2014, 10:19 AM
#20
Last time I was in Chicago, I was still in college. I was an art major. We spent 3hrs there and I don't think we even saw 1/4 the place. People I were with were ready to go. I wanted to stop and stare at every piece.
On Michigan Ave we ate at a place called the Grande Lux Cafe. We got lucky and got a window seat because some people had just canceled their reservations when we walked in. Awesome food, nice elegant atmosphere.
On Michigan Ave we ate at a place called the Grande Lux Cafe. We got lucky and got a window seat because some people had just canceled their reservations when we walked in. Awesome food, nice elegant atmosphere.
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