Any tips for Chicago???

KTinTX · Post by **KTinTX** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:47 am

I'm going to Chicago Wednesday on business to tour some vendor's facilities and be 'entertained' LOL. Any 'not really fancy' dining or evening establishments near the Hilton on Michigan Ave. that we shouldn't miss? I've never been to Chicago before, so any help appreciated. The plan so far:

Wed; business and staying in the 'burbs' that nite

Thurs; a.m. business and Cubs game at Wrigley in the p.m. Dinner???

Fri: architectural boat tour in the a.m. afternoon and evening open...Field museum? Art museum? ????

Schnell · Post by **Schnell** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:59 am

Get a deep dish pizza....my favorite is Ginos East....man do I miss living in Chi-town. The food

Lawrys is good for prime rib and its right off Michigan ave.

Cubs games are fun, thats what there for. Real baseball is on the south side though (should fire somebody up here)

Go to Grant/Millenium park. Just walk around. You could spend a few minutes or an entire day there. Lakeshore as well. Chicago Art Institute is at the Park as well.

Shedd aquarium is cool too. Right by the Field Museum. Science and Industry is cool as well, but is further south around 59th st.

Top of the Hancock building. Went to architecture school in Chicago and the is by far my favorite building. It does not have anything to hide.

I really need to be back to Chicago for a fun visit. Having family there really steals time away from all the fun stuff to do in the city.

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:11 pm

I'm with Schnell -- you have to have deep dish pizza while you're here. We never order pizza in other cities because it just can't compare. My favorites are Pizzaria Uno or Due, Gino's East, Baccino's. Also try some Garrett's Popcorn while you're here.

Weather is ick right now but it gets better through the week. Looks like you'll have some good days!

You are in a great location not too far from Grant Park (go see Buckinham Fountain, then cross Lake Shore Drive at Balbo and walk along the lake front) and Millennium Park. The museums (Art Institute, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium) are wonderful too.

You're going to the Cubs game? Woo hoo! I love Wrigley Field. April games are iffy with the weather, but looks like you'll have a good day Thursday. There are lots of restaurants in Wrigleyville (and they'll all be crowded after the game.) El Jardin (3335 N. Clark) has pretty good Mexican food and dangerous margaritas. I'm pretty sure there's something not legal in them. John Barleycorn (3524 N. Clark) has bar food, good beer selection and good burgers. Harry Caray's on Sheffield and Addison for steaks or Italian. Stop in to the Wild Hare (it's a bar, not a restaurant) for some reggae music. Or grab a cab south to Lincoln Park and go to Cafe Ba-ba-reeba (2024 N. Halsted) for tapas and Sangria.

The architectural boat tour is great. It will be so nice on Friday; if you don't feel like going indoors to a museum, you could look into renting a bike and biking along the lake front. www.bobbysbikehike.com They also have group tours that are highly rated and sound fun. For walking tours see www.walkchicagotours.com

Public transportation is good in Chicago. Cabs are plentiful as are buses and the El / subway will take you north to Wrigley or south to Chinatown (and lots of other places.)

Have fun!!

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:31 pm

You have to go to the billy goat tavern and get a cheese burger it is the place that sat. night live spoofed with cheese burger cheese burger.

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:07 pm

chicagoans wrote:I'm with Schnell -- you have to have deep dish pizza while you're here. We never order pizza in other cities because it just can't compare.

Have fun!!

I am sorry, i just have to step in here. You NEVER eat pizza outside of Chicago???

Have you ever eaten at di fara's in Brooklyn (midwood) or at grimaldis (formerly patsy's) in brooklyn heights? (two name jsut a couple of NYC's finer pizza establishments.....
I know you in CHicago take your pizza seriously as well--but don't knock the thing crusted amazingness that is a pizza here.

lily · Post by **lily** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:41 pm

What suburb you going to? I don't get to the city much, but it's supposed to be beautiful weather starting Thursday. Gotta go to Cubby Bear for drinks. Like previous posts say, it's going to be a mad house before and after the game. But you will have an awesome time. Go Cubs!! Check out Harry Carey's, but beware drinks are expensive. Heard they have good food too. Best bet is Chicago pizza, hot dogs and Italian Beefs. Have fun!

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:54 pm

How about the popcorn place the mix cheese and carmel is so good

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:47 pm

loria wrote:
chicagoans wrote:I'm with Schnell -- you have to have deep dish pizza while you're here. We never order pizza in other cities because it just can't compare.

Have fun!!

I am sorry, i just have to step in here. You NEVER eat pizza outside of Chicago???

Have you ever eaten at di fara's in Brooklyn (midwood) or at grimaldis (formerly patsy's) in brooklyn heights? (two name jsut a couple of NYC's finer pizza establishments.....
I know you in CHicago take your pizza seriously as well--but don't knock the thing crusted amazingness that is a pizza here.

We have tried eating pizza outside of Chicago. But usually we've been disappointed... ugg now I sound like a pizza snob... but we eat pizza here really really often (embarrassingly often) so we'd rather try something more local for wherever we're visiting.

You've given me some ideas to try that I never have - thank you! (Now I just have to get there!) I do like thin crust too. In Chicago, it's Ranalli's in Lincoln Park for me when I want thin crust. Great beer menu too.

But seriously... anyone visiting Chicago really should try the deep dish pizza.

Waterguy -- that popcorn place is Garrett's. SO good! Also Nuts on Clark has good popcorn. They have a store at Union Station and I have to force myself to "just keep walking" as I head toward my train at the end of the day.

loria · Post by **loria** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:55 pm

okay so we are so OFF topic, and apologies to the OP,
but you seriously have to try NY pizza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it;s da BOMB! (and i LOVE LOVE LOVE chicago Pizza!)

verjoy · Post by **verjoy** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:03 pm

Our neice (who was born and raised in Chicago) swears by Malnati's Pizza. She even had some shipped to us for New Years Eve. I loved the deep dish crust!

KTinTX · Post by **KTinTX** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:13 am

I've talked again with our 'host' for the trip, and it looks like Gino's East is one of his favorites, too...so that will be on the list. The weather looks pretty good, and I'm pumped about the game at Wrigley. Truth be told I cannot root for either team that is playing...the Cubbies are on my all-time 'hate list' since I grew up in Houston and still live here. There are only a few baseball teams on that list, but the Cubs, Mets, Braves and Dodgers top the list!

I'll post back next week on where we ate etc.

Thanks!

Schnell · Post by **Schnell** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:39 pm

You will enjoy the cubbies game. They are always a good time. Being a life long Cub hater I can say that with confidence too! Have to admit, it is slightly better to go in the summertime when the ivy has greened up. Now it will just be a brown dead wall and that ivy wall is half the charm of Wrigley.

Gino's was started by the original cook from years ago at the original Pizzeria Uno (according to the Chicago Tribune). When she started Gino's she started using a different crust, a cornbread based/type of crust. It makes a world of difference in the pizza. Make sure and get the flat sausage if you want sausage. They also have a crumbled sausage and its no where near as good as one big sheet of sausage on the pizza. Damn, I am hungry

Might have to order me some mail order Gino's tonight....they ship worldwide

True story though....on our last visit we wanted to take one home to FL....the frozen half cooked ones are good and a very close second to the real thing. So a couple hours before our flight out we ordered a large pizza and found a big plastic bag to carry it in. That was my wife's carry on

We definitely got some looks going through security at Midway and then again getting on and off the plane. Well worth it though!

KTinTX · Post by **KTinTX** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:02 pm

Thursday afternoon was our first day truly in Chicago after touring our vendor's facilities out in the 'burbs.

Afternoon Cubs game at Wrigley. A highlight for me as a baseball fan.

A change of plans added the 8pm show at Second City, which was really good. We had to skip our planned dinner and had appetizers and margaritas at Cafe Adobo which was very good. We then had pizza at Giordano's at about 11:30 pm!!!

Friday we did the city architectural boat tour, which was nice. Temps were in the 80's! Lunch was at Dublin's pub/grill...good burgers etc. there and it was recommended to us by the valet at our hotel. Dinner on Friday was at Rosebud's on Rush. It was also very tasty. The zuppe di mare was incredible.

I will make a point to get back to Chicago sometime soon, as I really enjoyed the city and I know my wife would love Michigan Ave. and all the nice restaurants etc.

chicagoans · Post by **chicagoans** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:29 pm

Hey KT I'm glad you enjoyed your trip! I was thinking about you on Friday when it was sunny and hot; a colleague and I took a verrry long lunch, outside, with some cocktails. (Haven't done that for ages, maybe ever. Fell asleep on the train home and almost missed my stop.)

I do hope you come visit again and bring your wife. She'd love it!

Schnell · Post by **Schnell** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:40 pm

chicagoans wrote:Hey KT I'm glad you enjoyed your trip! I was thinking about you on Friday when it was sunny and hot; a colleague and I took a verrry long lunch, outside, with some cocktails. (Haven't done that for ages, maybe ever. Fell asleep on the train home and almost missed my stop.)

I do hope you come visit again and bring your wife. She'd love it!

I have done that before and actually fell asleep and did not wake up. Conductor came by and woke me up. Good thing the last stop was my stop! Good times!

KT, Glad to hear you enjoyed your Chicago trip. Its a fun city!

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