Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

mac-kerouac · Oct 28, 2005, 11:13 PM

The old ball and chain has to go to Chicago next week for work. I'm going to take Thurs and Fri off to spend a long weekend there. I would appreciate any tips of stuff to see and do, especially good bars and pubs.

As ever, your excellent suggestions and advice are appreciated.

besson3c · Oct 29, 2005, 12:14 AM

You can ride a Segway in Millenium park for $5, or sign up for a $65 Segway tour of Chicago. There's a big Apple Store there, and last time there was a cool robot outside!

besson3c · Oct 29, 2005, 12:24 AM

You can ride a Segway in Millenium park for $5, or sign up for a $65 Segway tour of Chicago. There's a big Apple Store there, and last time there was a cool robot outside!

subego · Oct 29, 2005, 12:46 AM

Museums:

Art Institute
Field Museum of Natural History

These are both world class. If you're even the slightest bit interested in either subject, don't think about it, just go.

The North Michigan Avenue Apple Store has already been mentioned.

I won't be much help with bars, but I can definitely hook you up with some food. Where are you staying?

Other stuff will come to me.

rickey939 · Oct 29, 2005, 10:40 AM

Where are you staying exactly? That will help in pointing you in the right direction to restaurants that are somewhat close.

Tesseract · Oct 29, 2005, 11:42 AM

I see the Field Museum has already been mentioned.
If you like pizza, definitely eat at Gino's East.
There may be something interesting happening in the small park/square by the old water tower.

I've stayed in Oak Park (a suburb) and recommend it, unless you want to stay downtown or have other arrangements already.

Albert Pujols · Oct 29, 2005, 05:55 PM

Navy Pier?

Tesseract · Oct 29, 2005, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by Albert Pujols

Navy Pier?

Overrated.

mac-kerouac · Oct 29, 2005, 06:15 PM

I think we are staying at Sofitel

himself · Oct 29, 2005, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by mac-kerouac

I think we are staying at Sofitel

A couple of blocks away from the Apple Store... good choice.

There are a couple of good bars a jazz clubs (if you are into that) not far from there on Rush Street, just explore a little. Also, there's the Cheescake factory right across the street in the John Hancock building, and the Grand Lux Cafe (much more than a cafe, really) a couple of blocks south of the Apple store on michigan avenue. Both are pretty good.

One more, you may like the scene on Milwaukee Ave. near the North & Damen intersection... a lot of good restaurants and bars and other night spots, but the area is inhabited by a lot of pretentious yuppies. Should still be fun, though.

P.S. if you really like jazz clubs let me know I'll give you some more recommendations.

rickey939 · Oct 29, 2005, 09:22 PM

If you want some excellent mini cheeseburgers, go to this place right around the corner from your Hotel...

http://www.pjclarkeschicago.com/

Yummy!

subego · Oct 29, 2005, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by mac-kerouac

I think we are staying at Sofitel

Good Deal.

Right around the corner, I can recommend Rosebud Steakhouse. Bistro 110 (French) is pretty close, as is Bice (Italian). Spiaggia (also Italian) isn't too far, but is one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. Cafe Spiaggia is the same food in the same building with slightly more reasonable prices (and a lesser view).

Within a short cab ride you have:

Scoozi (Italian)
Shaw's (seafood)
Red Light (pan-Asian)
Frontera Grill/Topolobampo (Mexican)
The Parthenon (Greek)

The Walnut Room is on the seventh floor of Marshall Field's Department Store on State Street. Together, they make a spectacular combination if you plan on shopping. Six words: Frango mint chocolate ice cream pie.

Those are all on the expensive side. Some cheaper alternatives:

Ed Debevic's is an annoying (50's) theme restaurant which has lasted because the food is actually good.

Wow Bao (steamed buns) is nearby, right inside Water Tower Place (the silvery looking mall, not the actual stone water tower). Deeper inside, on the mezzanine, they have Foodlife, a food court on steroids. These are both good shopping combos.

Someone mentioned Gino's East for pizza. I personally think they've slid. Go with Lou Malnati's. Get the deep dish with buttercrust (the buttercrust bit is very important). As an aside, wherever you go, don't even bother with thin crust pizza. Deep dish is what we do here, and the thin crust pales in comparison to what you can get on the East coast.

Potbelly's, makes a damn fine sammich, and this is where the chain started! Back when there was only one, my ex-GF's mom would drive some 45 minutes through the heart of the city just to get a couple.

mac-kerouac · Oct 29, 2005, 09:59 PM

Thanks for all the great suggestions!!!! You are each very helpful.
And I would love some more suggestions for good jazz.

Thanks Again!!

mac-kerouac · Oct 29, 2005, 10:00 PM

Thanks for all the great suggestions!!!! You are each very helpful.
And I would love some more suggestions for good jazz.

Thanks Again!!

subego · Oct 29, 2005, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by rickey939

Yummy!

Indeed.

Captain Obvious · 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by mac-kerouac

I think we are staying at Sofitel

Well, you're staying next door to my building. So really there is no need to plan too much. Every ounce of tourism, shopping, and dining options revolve around this area. Talk to your concierge.

The strip of bars around here run the range all the way from elegant/expensive to drunken/trashy. Two blocks up is the Division Street strip plagued by suburbanites and tourists 40y/o and under. The bar in the Sofitel is nice as is Cru wine bar next to that. The Four Seasons hotel is100 yards up from this intersection and the John Hancock has a bar on the upper floor and that is only a block away. If you want to go more grown up go to Jillys or Whisky Bar, again about a block away.

I don't do Jazz bars but http://www.undergroundwonderbar.com/ is also a block away (Are you seeing the trend?) and Green Dolphin is a ten minute cab ride. I don't know your age but I'd say knowing what crowd you want to be around would help in knowing where you will be happiest.

Honestly, given where you will be staying you don't have to try very hard to find what you want within walking distance so talking to your concierge is the smartest thing to do since she will be better versed on the exact events of that weekend. If you must listen to us though the topic of what to do here has been covered pretty well a few times http://forums.macnn.com/search.php?searchid=524230 or just go through the metromix website for a more thorough search function.

Just stay away from the "lettuce entertain you" restaurants if you are here to sample the flavor of the city. They are still chain restaurants and while good they are nothing you couldn't find in any other city.

finboy · Oct 30, 2005, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Tesseract

If you like pizza, definitely eat at Gino's East.
There may be something interesting happening in the small park/square by the old water tower.

La Strada on N. Michigan Avenue is excellent for real Italian. I mean REAL.

finboy · Oct 30, 2005, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Albert Pujols

Navy Pier?

Normally overrated, but they're showing a new Imax film about walking on the moon, by Tom Hanks. Can't see it in Houston yet, even. I wanted to see it when we were there a few weeks ago, but we couldn't fit it in.

The Museum of Science and Industry (I think it's called) is one of the best I've seen. Besides, where else can you tour a U-Boat? Get in line early for that one.

Tesseract · Oct 30, 2005, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by finboy

La Strada on N. Michigan Avenue is excellent for real Italian. I mean REAL.

"Real Italian" is great. But there's something to be said for the Americanized version as well.

I might try La Strada next time I'm in Chicago. But I'll probably stop at Gino's as well. They're different things.

SeSawaya · Oct 30, 2005, 12:27 PM

Get some drinks at the the signature room on top of the John Hancock. Same price as the observatory but your higher, MUCH nicer surondings and you may be drunk!!
http://www.signatureroom.com/

Also check out Izumi if you like sushi. http://izumisushi.com/

subego · Oct 30, 2005, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

Just stay away from the "lettuce entertain you" restaurants if you are here to sample the flavor of the city. They are still chain restaurants and while good they are nothing you couldn't find in any other city.

I must defend my honor here sir

Will you at least give me that the two I mentioned (Shaw's and Scoozi) are consistently good. I did want to recommend places where it would be unlikely to catch them on an "off day".

Originally Posted by SeSawaya

Get some drinks at the the signature room on top of the John Hancock. Same price as the observatory but your higher, MUCH nicer surondings and you may be drunk!!
http://www.signatureroom.com/

I wanted to mention the Signature Room as something uniquely "Chicago", but the food is overpriced and merely okay. However, going there for drinks is a brilliant idea. As a light drinker, it would have never occurred to me.

One more thing. Though after saying I don't drink much, why would you take my advice on a bar? I do know that Jilly's Piano Bar is nearby, and is where the "Martini/Sinatra" set hang (at least it used to be).

CO's suggestion to talk to the concierge is a good one though, You are right smack dab in the bar/restaurant/shopping district. You won't run out of things to do in your immediate area for at least a week.

mac-kerouac · Oct 30, 2005, 03:12 PM

Thanks for all the great suggestions, you have all been very helpful!! I can't wait to get there.

Captain Obvious · 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by subego

I must defend my honor here sir

Will you at least give me that the two I mentioned (Shaw's and Scoozi) are consistently good. I did want to recommend places where it would be unlikely to catch them on an "off day".

I did not say they were bad places to eat. I said they are not really unique to Chicago and that if what he is looking to find is something special then he won't find anything there he couldn't order in the burbs of Minneapolis or Houston.
I mean why would someone from the NE coast be looking to find a crab house in the landlocked midwest?

subego · Oct 30, 2005, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

I did not say they were bad places to eat. I said they are not really unique to Chicago and that if that is what he is looking to find then he won't find anything there he couldn't order in the burbs of Minneapolis or Houston.

Got ya.

I wasn't trying to refute what you were saying, only giving a reason why I would recommend such places (i.e. the consistency).

CMYKid · Oct 30, 2005, 06:45 PM

Just got back from there actually... you owe it to yourself to check otu Cafe Iberico, 739 north La Salle...Spanish fusion food, small lates, all the prettiest people. Also, FOrno Francesca at 1576 Milwaukee in Wicker Park. used to be Soul Kitchen, is still one of the cities most eclectic places and is still in its first months so it's the new hot place still.

ALso do not miss out on at least drinks at Victor Hotel. Look on the MetroMix site for the address and a review, but you'll love it.

Captain Obvious · Oct 30, 2005, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by CMYKid

Just got back from there actually... you owe it to yourself to check otu Cafe Iberico, 739 north La Salle...Spanish fusion food, small lates, all the prettiest people. .

Cheap for tapas and far better than Cafe ba ba reeba. On Thursday nights and Friday Happy hour a huge pick up joint with the Sangria special. Also only two blocks from the Sofitel

teney7 · Oct 31, 2005, 06:08 AM

Go to the Billy Goat Tavern.. a Chicago classic

CMYKid · Oct 31, 2005, 09:38 AM

Er, i meant to say 'small plates'.

and yes, Sangria makes people um, friendly.

himself · Oct 31, 2005, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by CMYKid

Just got back from there actually... you owe it to yourself to check otu Cafe Iberico, 739 north La Salle...Spanish fusion food, small lates, all the prettiest people. Also, FOrno Francesca at 1576 Milwaukee in Wicker Park. used to be Soul Kitchen, is still one of the cities most eclectic places and is still in its first months so it's the new hot place still.

ALso do not miss out on at least drinks at Victor Hotel. Look on the MetroMix site for the address and a review, but you'll love it.

Café Iberico is highly recommended. However, I got tired of it after a while, since it was the default meeting place with friends, and we'd meet there on average about three times a month. It can get crowded though.

Cpt. Obvious beat me to most of my suggestions, at least the Underground Wonderbar and Green Dolphin, but here are a few more:

jazz showcase not far from where you are,
green mill a bit farther north, maybe 20 minutes by taxi, but a classic cozy spot (although it is sometimes overrun with tourists)
andy's jazz club cool, laid back spot, about 5 minutes away. great for lunch-time jazz
the backroom another cool laid back spot (nearby on Rush Street), hidden away (as the name suggests), good for late-night entertainment.

There is plenty more to see. Go to metromix.com, as was suggested earlier, for the complete run-down.