Heading to Chicago...need tips

[tnvwboy]

My wife and I are heading up to Chicago this weekend (Nov.2nd - 6th) because of a conference I'm attending at the McCormick center.

We have Friday afternoon/evening, all day Saturday, Sunday afternoon/evening and Monday evening to do things.

Are there any special events or activities we shouldn't miss? Any parts of the town town region we should avoid? I know it's not going to be as good as Chinatown in San Francisco, but how is Chicago's Chinatown?

Thanks! I'm open to meeting for drinks or lunch or something also.

[xfuuey]

what in the hell does this have to do with anything? go post that @ www.likemen.com or something :eek:

[tnvwboy]

what in the hell does this have to do with anything? go post that @ www.likemen.com or something :eek:


Perhaps because there are a number of like minded individuals, some, I'd consider friends, who might be nice enough to have some suggestions of what to do in Chicago, in here.

Also for your reading pleasure: Forum Rules of Conduct (http://revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?t=703)

[thisisdn]

^^Nominated for douchebag response of the year^^

Congratulations, you've earned it! ;)

Getting back to the topic at hand, being from Chicago, I could make some recommendations while in Chicago. I would definitely check out State St. ("The Magnificent Mile") at night. It's a pretty spectacular sight. Or any part of downtown for that matter. Other tourist-y places to check out are, Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain; The Adler Planetarium; The Shedd Aquarium; The Field Museum; and definitely The Museum of Science and Industry (a drive down from McCormick Center).

Chicago's Chinatown is a little more spread out than San Fran's Chinatown and not as busy. It's nothing too exciting, but they do have some nice restaurants there. I would definitely avoid the nearby residential neighborhoods at night and the Cabrini Green area near the McCormick Center.

Hope this helps and enjoy your visit! You'll love it!

[brettville]

From an Amtrekker's perspective I vote for Millennium Park. The giant metal bean is pretty rad and I had fun sliding down the BP bridge. The Lincoln Park zoo was cool...and free. But I'm a sucker for the animals.

Other than that Chicago was kind of a blur of bar hopping with an old college roommate. If you want to email me I can put you in touch with a few people though.

[heyseuss]

what in the hell does this have to do with anything?

Puberty sucks don't it sweetheart.

[heyseuss]

[QUOTE]Getting back to the topic at hand, being from Chicago, I could make some recommendations while in Chicago. I would definitely check out State St. ("The Magnificent Mile") at night.

That's the street of neon isn't it?

I would definitely avoid the nearby residential neighborhoods at night and the Cabrini Green area near the McCormick Center.

see that Keanu Reeves kids baseball movie to know what goes on up there. It's right by the bars and restaurants too. There's a significant change north of the Sutton Place hotel. Good little irish bar across the street from that hotel and big place next door called Frog's or something though.

It's very touristy, but one of the boat cruise tour things might not be bad. It's inner city as well as out on the lake, looking back on the city, made a nice image at sundown when I went. Might be freezing though.

Oh yeh, VERY IMPORTANT - get a deep dish pizza.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/heyseuss_/SkysandViews/chic.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/heyseuss_/SkysandViews/chicskyline.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h217/heyseuss_/Chicline.jpg

[siraim]

Getting back to the topic at hand, being from Chicago, I could make some recommendations while in Chicago. I would definitely check out State St. ("The Magnificent Mile") at night. It's a pretty spectacular sight. Or any part of downtown for that matter. Other tourist-y places to check out are, Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain; The Adler Planetarium; The Shedd Aquarium; The Field Museum; and definitely The Museum of Science and Industry (a drive down from McCormick Center).


You've got some different memories of the Chicago I live in.. Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River is the Mag Mile. The Hancock Tower and Mall, the Water Tower.. the horses pulling carriages.. Great places to shop and people watch.

State Street has lost its luster in recent years (south of the Chicago River) with all of the major retailers disappearing. Marshall Fields turned into Macys and the city cried out in frustration. State Street and the Daley Center area is the home of all the theatres. Broadway shows and whatnot.

Grant Park with all of its fun is alway a good thing to do during the day. The Bean (you'll know it when you see it) on the northwest corner of Grant park is a must see.

You'd have to really go out of your way to find Cabrini Green from downtown as it's more than just a few blocks northwest of the Mag Mile.

If you're into comedy shows/improv, check out Second City. Always a good time, they have a few Friday night and Saturday night improv shows around 11pm and midnight. Great fun.. Cannata would love it.

If you like food.. find a steakhouse and enjoy. Chicago is famous for three things.. hot dogs, deep dish pizza and our steak houses. The Chop House is great but expensive. Mortons. Gibsons. mmm..

Navy Pier is also fun to check out these days..

I would definitely avoid the Chinatown area.. it's out of the way.. and nothing like Chinatown or Little Italy in San Fran.

Enjoy,
Sam

[thisisdn]

You've got some different memories of the Chicago I live in.. Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River is the Mag Mile. The Hancock Tower and Mall, the Water Tower.. the horses pulling carriages.. Great places to shop and people watch.

State Street has lost its luster in recent years (south of the Chicago River) with all of the major retailers disappearing. Marshall Fields turned into Macys and the city cried out in frustration.


Granted, I haven't been back there in about 6 years. I'm sure things have changed a lot. I'm just going off what I remember while growing up there. Forgive me if I don't get it totally accurate ;P

[thisisdn]

[QUOTE=thisisdn;226397]


That's the street of neon isn't it?



I believe so.




Oh yeh, VERY IMPORTANT - get a deep dish pizza.


I can't believe I even forgot to mention that. Curse you California, and your Pizza My Hearts! :P

[siraim]

Granted, I haven't been back there in about 6 years. I'm sure things have changed a lot. I'm just going off what I remember while growing up there. Forgive me if I don't get it totally accurate ;P

Forgiveness? That's unpossible! I was just giving you a hard time.. and it was a nice segue into what I wanted to say.. :)

[yssman]

Despite living three hours away in Michigan, I do spend a fair bit of time in Chicago every once in a while, and certainly having family there helps.

First of all, McCormick center is awesome! I'm there once a year for the Chicago Auto Show and I've been astounded by the way they've transformed it over the past four years. A beautiful building thats well laid-out and actually in a nicely accessible part of town.

What I'd recommend?

A trip to the Museum of Science and Industry is worth it if you're into it. I don't know if the Submarine exhibit is complete yet (it wasn't when I was last there), and they've usually got cool side exhibits going on as well. Its a bit kid-oriented, but its still pretty cool for this 20 year old.

Michigan Avenue is pretty awesome as well. Personally, I like to shop, so I enjoy myself when I'm there with family. Check out the ESPN Zone if you're into it, otherwise there is always the Lego and Apple stores.

Lincoln Park is a pretty cool neighborhood, which may be worth a visit for the Zoo. Problem is, its getting cold, so I'm not sure if it stays open or not. Its been a while since I've been there, my Aunt moved out of Lincoln Park to a new place not too far from the Navy Pier, but I seem to recall visiting the Zoo when it was cold.

...Speaking of Zoos, the Brookfield Zoo is AWESOME. I haven't been there in a few years, but last I was there (I want to say 2001?) I was amazed by the size of it all. The gorilla setup is awesome, and so too is the bat house. Worth a trip out to Brookfield if you've got the time...

Lastly, the Navy Pier. Its worth a visit I suppose. Its mostly shops, but being out on the lake is nice. Of course, I'm impartial to my part of Lake Michigan, but its nice to see it up close if you've never been there.

[spynes]

3 words from my frozen 2-cent machine

The Chicago Blackhawks

most exciting team to watch this season

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obp8G2JFgkM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS_tTt93vn4
home commentary of that game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpXc-fL82Ys

they face the nashville predators on Sun, Nov 4, 2007 @ 6:00 PM
they should stomp them and there might be some fighting/ugly stuff cause tootoo (nashville) is playing dangerous

Iam Canadian so all i know is death, taxes, and hockey (i know i need to insert more RAD and less death)

only been to CHI once for a layover so i know NOTHING else, sorry. :o

[kwok_talk]

Deep dish pizza, definitely. You can't go wrong with Giordano's and Gino's East; I personally love Lou Malnati's the best.

If you like seafood, there's a place called Bob Chinn's (http://www.bobchinns.com/) that is awesome!

[tnvwboy]

Awesome (and Rad) stuff guys. Thanks bunches. The deep dish pizza is going on my must do list and china town is falling off of it. mmmm...Pizza!