Chicago

[Deathsdoorstep]

Anyone ever been to the windy city? I have to go there for work next week. Staying downtown. Anyone got tips on cool things to do and other things and places to avoid? Is the downtown safe? I have tickets to see the WhiteSox, but am wondering what else I should get into while there.

[Section N]

Re: Chicago

A Blackhawks playoff game would be pricey, but I'm sure there's not much else like it.

[OK14]

Re: Chicago

Some friends and I drove through the far outskirts of Chicago last summer during a US vacation. Rush hour on the big ring road is fast but incredibly hectic; it's essentially a bumper-to-bumper mass of hundreds of cars going 65 mph.

Also, I've heard through the grapevine that when you check in at any hotel, especially in the downtown, the staff will give you a map of the area with certain city blocks shaded over. Those shaded areas are where you only go if you want to cross paths with gang activity and get yourself ambushed.

[pete]

Re: Chicago

Chicago is fantastic! Wrong season for the Bears but Soldier Field is fantastic. My wife was enthralled by the Elevated train meh, I didn't really care. The Shedd aquarium is fun and looks over the lake. Navy pier is probably not in the cards due to weather but has a cool atmosphere. Ask the staff at the hotel for good places to eat and drink they usually have good connections. My wife enjoyed the shopping on miracle mile, again I didn't really care. Any american city, you have to watch baseball at some point.

Also, I've heard through the grapevine that when you check in at any hotel, especially in the downtown, the staff will give you a map of the area with certain city blocks shaded over. Those shaded areas are where you only go if you want to cross paths with gang activity and get yourself ambushed.

This is true.

[SandManFan]

Re: Chicago

I hear the aquarium is excellent

[Diesel]

Re: Chicago

Buddy Guy's blues bar Legends. Will be there in july myself

[quake]

Re: Chicago

Big fan of WWII and submarines of all eras. There I hope to get to the Museum of Science and Industry when I go there in July. They have a German U-boat there. Here is a link.

http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here...m_medium=email

[Section N]

Re: Chicago

I heard something about it being windy there, so look out for that.

[turftoe27]

Re: Chicago

I heard something about it being windy there, so look out for that.

OMG. Great song also by Paper Lace, The Night Chicago Died.

[glenvb]

Re: Chicago

Maybe this is geeky, but the Adler Planetarium (right on the lake) is my favourite place in Chicago. An old high school acquaintance works there.

[boydo]

Re: Chicago

You can go see the Ghost and the Darkness at the museum. Chicago is one of my favorite cities to visit. (Getting sat with SMG and Freddie for dinner once helped that opinion)

[gizmo fan 2]

Re: Chicago

Big fan of WWII and submarines of all eras. There I hope to get to the Museum of Science and Industry when I go there in July. They have a German U-boat there. Here is a link.

http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here...m_medium=email

Went there last summer. Was very cool.

We liked the aquarium as well, but MSI was better. Tougher to get to without a car, though, I must say (we went with friends of mine so we got a ride)...MSI is fairly far south of downtown.

Michigan Avenue is a decent walk - most of downtown, generally speaking, was fine to walk around. We didn't go far off the beaten path but we felt very safe and there were some cool things to see.

Navy Pier we found to be a disappointment - not quite worth the hype.

Cubs fans are more into it than Sox fans. Saw wins at both parks - Cubs 7-0 over STL and Sox 4-3 over DET in 11 - and Cubs fans were much more vocal. If you have an off day and can make it up to Milwaukee, we had more fun at Miller Park out of the three.

The Cloud Gate and assorted parkland are relatively nice to walk around also.

Don't go up the Willis (ex-Sears) Tower unless you can bypass the line (with a CityPass or similar).

We were staying out in the suburbs with friends of mine and the transit system was reasonably good. Subway and bus were reliable and reasonably priced for a multi-day pass.

If you haven't had it before, go for Chicago deep-dish pizza (Giordano's) and a Chicago-style hot dog. Neither knocked my socks off, but they were both good and I'd eat them again if I was there.

[Steve Vale]

Re: Chicago

Buddy Guy's blues bar Legends. Will be there in july myself

Saw a late Sunday afternoon blues jam there a couple years back. Not too far from downtown, and the food was great.

Almost felt like ordering four fried chickens and a coke.

[pete]

Re: Chicago

Don't go up the Willis (ex-Sears) Tower unless you can bypass the line (with a CityPass or similar).

X2

[Nanookster]

Re: Chicago

Went there last summer. Was very cool.

We liked the aquarium as well, but MSI was better. Tougher to get to without a car, though, I must say (we went with friends of mine so we got a ride)...MSI is fairly far south of downtown.

Michigan Avenue is a decent walk - most of downtown, generally speaking, was fine to walk around. We didn't go far off the beaten path but we felt very safe and there were some cool things to see.

Navy Pier we found to be a disappointment - not quite worth the hype.

Cubs fans are more into it than Sox fans. Saw wins at both parks - Cubs 7-0 over STL and Sox 4-3 over DET in 11 - and Cubs fans were much more vocal. If you have an off day and can make it up to Milwaukee, we had more fun at Miller Park out of the three.

The Cloud Gate and assorted parkland are relatively nice to walk around also.

Don't go up the Willis (ex-Sears) Tower unless you can bypass the line (with a CityPass or similar).

We were staying out in the suburbs with friends of mine and the transit system was reasonably good. Subway and bus were reliable and reasonably priced for a multi-day pass.

If you haven't had it before, go for Chicago deep-dish pizza (Giordano's) and a Chicago-style hot dog. Neither knocked my socks off, but they were both good and I'd eat them again if I was there.

X2, except I like Navy Pier.

If you want to keep your wife happy go to Harpo Studios and buy your wife something from the Oprah Store. All wife's love Oprah don't they?