Chicago (the city) suggestions needed- Page 2

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 4:18pm

Portillo's for great Chicago style hotdogs! I had a bad experience at India House so I'd say grab a cab and go up to Devon if you want great cheap Indian- your cab driver will probably have a favorite place.

Trotters is an experience- unlike any restaurant in the world. Expect to spend 125-150 a person minimum- especially if you want wine. But it really is something. If you want a smaller scale gourmet night with a great view, try Everest. Really really wonderful.

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 5:48pm

When I go to Chicago, I always stay at The Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue. It's a grand, old hotel that is rich with history and is gorgeous. If you ever saw "The Fugitive" with Harrison Ford, the climax of the movie takes place in the hotel. In all my years of staying there, the most I've ever paid was $120 a night, which is a great price.

The hotel is right off the Orange L Train. You take the L from Midway airport, get off at Roosevelt, and it's a 5 minute walk to the hotel.

Everything is within walking distance to hotel - the theatre district, musuems, theatres, Macy's (original Marshall Fields), State Street, Buckingham Fountain and The Mag Mile. I love to walk, so walking up Michigan to The Mag Mile, doesn't bother me at all. Some people don't like to walk....I love it!

Plenty of food to choose from in Chicago. You'll find everything you love!

[lovepuppy]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 6:04pm

Dottie, I'm not sure what your budget is, but lots of people are giving lots of "nice/cool/hip/yummy but expensive" ideas. If you want to stay near O'Hare, there are naturally tons of hotels out there, and you can take the Blue Line L all the way into downtown and you can stay for cheaper. But having been a tourist in NY last year after a long absence, I totally understand kind of wanting to be in the thick of things downtown. The only issue with that is, lots of the shopping and restaurants either off Michigan Ave or even further into the Loop do cater to the financial or workday crowds, so they may not all be open as late as you might prefer.

I hope you check out other neighborhoods; the L train will get you pretty much wherever you want to go. On the Blue Line L, before the downtown stops, is Bucktown/Wicker Park. Very artsy and becoming very gentrified, with cool restaurants and clubs for every taste. My favorite is Feast, on Damen north of North Avenue--trendy and cozy looking, and DEE-lish food, very reasonably-priced. Also near there, if you want a funky, filling brunch, try the Bongo Room if you'll be here on a Sunday morning. The Red Line, as some mentioned, runs straight north and south from the far north side beginning at Howard Street, can drop you off at a Cubs game and restaurants and bars to hop around at (Addison stop), Boystown if you like (Belmont or Fullerton stops), downtown shopping/eating, a Sox game (35th St. stop), and all the way to 95th. But something tells me you won't have a need or interest to all the way that far south. :)

The north side Brown Line stops at many fun sections of the Lincoln Square, Lakeview, and edge of Roscoe Village neighborhoods. They all have had restaurants and boutique/cafe strips built up in recent years...kind of like Lincoln Park but a tad less snooty and pricey, but still cute stuff, fun atmospheres and good food.

Downtown, there's also Howl at the Moon dueling piano bar, which is a chain now and can get expensive depending on how much you eat or drink there, but it's a blast. There's Harry Caray's steak house right across the street. There are a bunch of steakhouses on Rush St. like Tavern on Rush and Rosebud. Across from Rosebud is Giordano's if you want to go a little cheaper but very tasty and filling! (But my favorite for deep dish once a year or so is Due's, which I think someone else mentioned!) For cheaper eating, there is Dublin's Pub, also off State/Rush streets, which has great food for $10-12 bucks an entree and the bar is open til 4am. Nearby there's also Ditka's, Bistro 110, the Hangge-Uppe if you're in the mood for some cheesy '70's-'80s retro dance club action.

The West Loop has also really been built up and has a ton of great restaurants, including Red Light for Thai-fusion, and...oh...why can't I think of more at the moment!?!? Oprah's studios are right over there, also, if you want to see that sort of thing.

Millenium Park often has concerts at lunchtime, too. If you're here in early September, you might even be able to catch one of many neighborhood street fests, with beer and drinks and bands.

You can pretty much look anything up at Metromix.com and click "Chicago." Welcome and have a great time!!

Updated On: 8/7/09 at 06:04 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 6:53pm

I love, love, love Chicago!

The skyline by Lake Michigan on a nice, sunny day is absolutely beautiful. I am very jealous you are going. I went on Columbus Day weekend in October, and it turned out to be a warm weekend.

When I went to Chicago, I was only able to go into the city only two times and did the touristy things. Sears Tower (now renamed) has a marvelous view of Chicago, and they just installed glass skyboxes so you can see the view of Chicago from below you as well.

The Shedd Aquarium was nice, but we paid the basic price, so we didn't see all the cool stuff like the sharks and whales. When it all added up, it was a bit expensive to see all the stuff. Unless you are willing to spend the money, I would skip the aquarium.

The Field Museum was amazing, and the animal exhibit was worth the price of admission alone. Loved it.

We did Navy Pier at night and went on the ferris wheel there.

Nothing much, but a fun weekend trip to Chicago. Hopefully you will have time to take in more sights.

Also, the L train was really confusing, so it was difficult for me to get around the downtown Chicago area. If I am not mistaken, it doesn't really take you to places around the downtown area...? For example, when we went from Sears Tower to the museum campus, we ended up taking a cab. Maybe a native Chicago-ian can elaborate on transportation. When I went, there was a hop on/hop off free shuttle that went around Chicago to various sights, but because we didn't know what we were doing, we didn't use it.

I'd love to go again. Have fun!

ETA: I just read your original post and realized you didn't specifically ask about sights. Well, since it is your first time, hope I didn't stray too off-topic.

Updated On: 8/7/09 at 06:53 PM

[lovepuppy]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 7:07pm

Actually, coming from a person who was once directionally-challenged (myself), the L train system is VERY easy. (Then again, not being a native New Yorker, I thought the subway system looked intimidating but people who live there swear by it, so I guess it just takes getting used to.)

Like anything, you do need to identify whether you're going north, south, east or west, and what stop is closest to the intersection you're going to. Similar to NYC, the city limits of Chicago are in a grid: 0,0 is the intersection of State and Madison, and the numbers get larger as you correspondingly go either north, south, east or west from that point. Also, it is in a "100's" system; every four blocks is a "major" intersection or at least has traffic lights. So once you identify main ones on a map (Belmont, 3200N; Addison, 3600N; Chicago Avenue, 800N; Halsted Ave, 800W, for example), you can look at an address of a place you want to go and see, "oh, that's this many blocks east and this many blocks north of this intersection, based on the numbers of the address."

Then again, that was sort of a combo of advice for using the train *and* walking. The CTA (bus and train system) has a phone number you can call for clarification or directions: 312-836-7000. Or they also have a trip planner online, at www.chicagotransitauthority.com. That way you can figure out specific directions from point A to point B. Except for the Red line, which goes all the way north to all the way south in a straight line, each of the other color-coded lines only hits specific neighborhoods. You'll get the hang of it!

Updated On: 8/7/09 at 07:07 PM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 10:15pm

lovepuppy, thank you for concern for by budget. I actually got a great deal via Hotwire for my hotel and will be staying in the Water Tower area right on North Michigan Avenue. I'm the type, when I'm traveling to a particular city for the first time, I want to be right in the middle of it.

Mister Matt, after some investigation, I was told that Stephanie will be opening a new restaurant in 2010.

I have a feeling if I really like it, I will go back for another visit.

[Jon]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 10:44pm

If you are going to the Art institute, let me reccomend two great gift shops right across the street on Michigan Ave: The Symphony Center Store for anything music related, and the Chicago Architechture Foundation Shop, which has lots of great stuff, much of which has NOTHING to do with architecture.

[jessica0414]

Posted: 8/8/09 at 4:49pm

omnomnomnom!! I looooooooooove Epic Burger :) hehe.