Chicago - First Time

[blaird]

I suggest going to a Cubs game. Im a huge Cubs fan so I may be a bit impartial, but even to non baseball fans its a cool environment seeing 40,000 dressed in Cubs gear (sing during the 7th inning stretch and if they win stick around and sing Go Cubs Go). I would also suggest Navy Pier, I went about 15 years ago and thought this place was pretty cool. Shedd Aquarium was a neat experience and +1 for Planetarium (we went for a school trip my first year teaching and these things stand out). Went back the next year with my brother and dad and had a better time w/ adult activities. I also suggest trying a Chicago deep dish pizza. We had one when me and the fam went and we couldnt eat it all. No clue where we ordered from but it was incredible and huge. 

[makaveli]

There’s like 4 Club Champion’s in the metro Chicago area. Hit em up! Swing by Cabrini Green while yer at it. Have a day. 

[Argonne69]

Cabrini high rises were torn down over a decade ago. I can see the empty lot out my living room window. 

[makaveli]

On 4/16/2021 at 10:14 PM, Argonne69 said:

Cabrini high rises were torn down over a decade ago. I can see the empty lot out my living room window. 

I just realized that...now.

 

Is the cop shop still there, that must still be there. Spent a drunken night in a holding cell with a buddy. The charge? “Assault with a gyro”

What a night. Back to the golf Jim.

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, makaveli said:

I just realized that...now.

 

Is the cop shop still there, that must still be there. Spent a drunken night in a holding cell with a buddy. The charge? “Assault with a gyro”

What a night. Back to the golf Jim.

 

Yes, the district police headquarters if still there. I walked by it yesterday.

 

[games]

On 4/5/2021 at 11:52 PM, ebrasmus21 said:

Going to Chicago in June for 3 days and I want to make the most of my trip.  
 

I’d welcome recommendations on what to do and where to go while I’m in town.  
 

Id like to do the Art Institute and go on an architectural tour but past that I don’t really know what else to do.  
 

I’ll be getting into town on a Wednesday afternoon and leaving on Sunday evening. 

@Argonne69 gave you the high points.  I’ll add a few.  I stayed in Chicago for business weekly for four years.   I preferred staying in the South Loop which is  really the first neighborhood south of the Central Loop high-rise district.  

 

Cheap Clean stay:  Wyndham Travelodge on East Harrison, block west of Lake Shore Drive.  Older property but clean, cheap, and super convenient.  (Runner up to stay in the Loop proper is Wyndham Grand Riverfront.)
 

Beer Selection and Tavern Pizza / Pub Food:  First Draft on South Clark in South Loop.  About 40 on tap last time I was there?
 

Night Life:  Love North Loop for night time scenery and sociology experiment observation.  Great places to eat too.  
 

Also, press your khakis and bring a decent shirt to go to the rooftop bar atop LondonHouse Chicago.  Yeah, it’s a $10 beer.  Just sip slowly and take in the views of the skyline, river, lake and other patrons.  It’s memorable....

 

It truly is one of the worlds great cities.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

28 minutes ago, games said:

@Argonne69 gave you the high points.  I’ll add a few.  I stayed in Chicago for business weekly for four years.   I preferred staying in the South Loop which is  really the first neighborhood south of the Central Loop high-rise district.  

 

Cheap Clean stay:  Wyndham Travelodge on East Harrison, block west of Lake Shore Drive.  Older property but clean, cheap, and super convenient.  (Runner up to stay in the Loop proper is Wyndham Grand Riverfront.)
 

Beer Selection and Tavern Pizza / Pub Food:  First Draft on South Clark in South Loop.  About 40 on tap last time I was there?
 

Night Life:  Love North Loop for night time scenery and sociology experiment observation.  Great places to eat too.  
 

Also, press your khakis and bring a decent shirt to go to the rooftop bar atop LondonHouse Chicago.  Yeah, it’s a $10 beer.  Just sip slowly and take in the views of the skyline, river, lake and other patrons.  It’s memorable....

 

It truly is one of the worlds great cities.  Enjoy!

 

 

I lived in the South Loop (Dearborn Park) for 15 years. First Draft is a solid choice. There's also Franklin Tap 3 blocks away. 'Not as many taps, but always a solid lineup of craft beers, and excellent pub food.

 

[ebrasmus21]

We secured a reservation at Girl and the Goat.  

 

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Redbird]

You'll want to avoid the south and west side unless you have a death wish.  Be smart and be careful walking at night.  The good news is we're at a record pace for murder and car jackings, so there's a good chance they can't keep it up at this pace into June.  The bad news is as the temperatures climb the more people go buck wild, so they might.  

[ebrasmus21]

49 minutes ago, Redbird said:

You'll want to avoid the south and west side unless you have a death wish.  Be smart and be careful walking at night.  The good news is we're at a record pace for murder and car jackings, so there's a good chance they can't keep it up at this pace into June.  The bad news is as the temperatures climb the more people go buck wild, so they might.  

My brother lived in the city for several years so I’m confident we will avoid problem areas.  That doesn’t mean problems won’t find us (hopefully not) but we will not be venturing into those areas 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Obviously I'll second the Art Institute, and I love the Museum and Science of Industry. Those are musts... Some of the paintings at the Art Institute are once-in-a-lifetime things to see. Make sure you also don't miss the Thorne Miniature Rooms exhibit on the lower floor. It's a really unique exhibit, the like I've never seen elsewhere. As previously mentioned the U-Boat tour at the Museum of Science and Industry is also pretty much a unique thing you'll never find elsewhere. 

 

The river architectural tours are really cool... I'm originally from Chicago, and my dad is an architect, and I learned tons that I didn't know when I did that on my last visit. The city has HUGE variety of architectural styles, and seeing it from the river is pretty much perfect. 

 

I always liked the Field Museum as a kid--but I haven't been there in 25+ years, so I don't know any of the current exhibits.

 

For me a zoo or the aquarium aren't all that exciting. Not much at either is going to be that much different than zoos or aquariums elsewhere... And the more extensive of the two zoos (Brookfield) is too far out from the city anyway. 

 

For deep dish, definitely Lou Malnati's over Uno's. Uno's is historic, but the pizza has seemed to be in a slow downhill arc for decades. The last time I was there (fall 2019) I was very disappointed. Yet I've never had an inconsistent or bad experience at Malnati's. For thin crust, the last time I was there I ended up at a place called Paisano's in the loop. Definitely good stuff. Chicago is known for deep dish, but Chicago-style thin crust is also a thing and a dang good one.

 

Find your way out to Greektown. You can get there on the Blue Line, get off at Halsted, and walk a couple blocks north and you'll be at the Greek Islands. Better Greek food than anywhere you'll probably find outside Athens lol... 

 

Other Chicago food specialties would obviously be a Chicago dog (don't put ketchup on it or you'll be shot) and an Italian Beef sandwich. And if you're a vintage SNL fan, check out the Billy Goat Tavern (the original, not the one at Navy Pier). The food is crap, but it's an experience!

[glk]

On 4/14/2021 at 1:56 PM, ebrasmus21 said:

Talking to my bro about places and we are also probably going to try and fit in, among others: 

 

• Girl & the Goat 
• Au Cheval 
• John Handcock for a drink 

Go tO small cheval.   Same burger but much cheaper and way  Less wait  - no egg but then do you want to spend $20 on a burger a la crate - I know I’ve done it and it was good but head to small Cheval now.  Kuma’s corner on belmont - used to go a lot starting around 2007 until we moved in 2015 - going back this July.  - burgers, tats, and heavy metal - what’s not to like - lady Gaga approved.     Girl and goat is pretentious.    Lou’s.   Uno like gino’s East has sold out and is a shell of it’s former self.     Gibsons.    Portillos.   Superdawgs.    Al’s.   Tour underground.   See federal reserve bank just to stare down LaSalle in wonderment as to Nolan flipping an actual semi in the middle of the street in dark knight.  Pie at Hoosier mama.  French market.   Boxcar Betty - yeah from Charleston but one damn fine chicken

sandwich - in my travels only Hattie b’s in Nashville rivals.

 

so many good options.

 

And kuma’s offers whiskey on tap if you are into that sort of thing - otherwise their beer selection is great - wait can be 3 hours depending  - small pace, small kitchen but trick is to hang behind folks at the bar(bar is huge old wooden that runs half length of the room) and grab a beer and wait until someone leaves - we typically had a seat in less than 45 minutes.   They have opened numerous other places around Chicago and have one just off the loop across the river but the original is always a good place to go.   

Edited May 16, 2021 by glk

[TiScape]

Also, jump on the L and head down south and give the pale hose a little love too! 

[glk]

I’d add another pizza option.   Labriola - on Michigan avenue.   
 

and definitely try to get out to wrigley.   I spent a lot of time in the left field bleachers from 84-86.   Drinking 20 oz old styles, playing catch with the cards, getting invited to weddings, met Ronnie woo-woo, and the bleacher preacher who me and my buddies ran into when at the stick for a Giants Cubs game - damn that was cold for July.  To be single.   But wrigley changed.  We used to pay like $5 for a bleacher seat and walk up on game day.  

[CHuntsman]

I went for the first time back in February.  Lou Malnatis and Portinos were awesome.  Make sure to stop by Skokie and get some smokey at the Greenhouse dispensary!

 

[ebrasmus21]

Chicago was awesome.  To me its basically a bigger, nicer, cleaner, more fun San Francisco.  

 

The architecture is amazing.  

 

The history is fascinating. 

 

The Art Institute is world-class.  

 

The food is awesome. 

 

The L is cool (although it looks like its in need of serious capital improvements) 

 

We had a great time.  We stayed at the Westin River North for 3 nights and one night at the Langham 🙂 (Langham was nice AF)

 

Ate at Girl and the Goat which was great 

 

Coffee at Swanda Coffee (I particularly liked West Loop) 

 

Beers at Goose Island

 

River boat tour was great 

 

Steaks at Chicago Cut 

 

The Bean 

 

We packed a lot in for a short trip.  I did 11,000 steps Wednsday afternoon, 26,000 steps on Thursday, 23,000 steps Friday, 20,000 steps Saturday and 18,000 steps on Sunday.  Really really great trip! 

 

Thanks for all the advice from each of you!!! 

[games]

As much of a Wisconsin guy as I am, I always reminded myself as my Amtrak pulled into Union Station:

 

You are in one of the world’s great cities.

 

Present political issues aside, I still believe that.

[ebrasmus21]

31 minutes ago, games said:

As much of a Wisconsin guy as I am, I always reminded myself as my Amtrak pulled into Union Station:

 

You are in one of the world’s great cities.

 

Present political issues aside, I still believe that.

I'm not a world traveler although maybe one day I'll get to visit some great cities in other countries.  While I'm not a world traveler I have been to a lot of states and a lot of cities in America.  I think The Loop in Chicago is the most beautiful city I've ever seen.  

[ebrasmus21]

I took a bunch of pictures but because @Argonne69 has participated in this thread I'm feeling self conscious about my photographic abilities. 

[Argonne69]

32 minutes ago, ebrasmus21 said:

I took a bunch of pictures but because @Argonne69 has participated in this thread I'm feeling self conscious about my photographic abilities. 

 

Lol. Let's see them. Keep in mind that I only post the best ones. Trust me I have hundreds that are pretty mediocre. 

 

I was out at Navy Pier on Saturday. The rain hit just as I was leaving. 

 

 

[ebrasmus21]

2nd Floor - Langham 

[ebrasmus21]

The Bean

[ebrasmus21]

Vincent 

[ebrasmus21]

Renoir - his paintings blew me away.  The colors are something else to see in person. 

[ebrasmus21]

Sue - had to go see her. 

[ebrasmus21]

Lily was sad she didn't get to go to Chicago. 

[Argonne69]

10 hours ago, ebrasmus21 said:

Renoir - his paintings blew me away.  The colors are something else to see in person. 

 

In the summer of 2019, my last year at work downtown, I'd walk over to the Art Institute at lunch and spend a half hour there three or four days a week. Over the summer I covered pretty much the entire museum. Lots of great stuff.