Chicago in a weekend?

[Wyldewode]

My friend recently found that there is a train that goes from Sedalia, Mo to Chicago for the unheard-of roundtrip price of $49. This has inspired us to contemplate a weekend jaunt there over New Year's Eve holidays (a four day weekend for us).

My wallet isn't exactly overflowing, so what I would like to know is exactly how cheap can we make a weekend there? We'd love to do things that are free or lost cost.. . like museums and such. Does anyone have any input about a trip to Chicago this time of year?

[Damelon]

You'd like the Art Institute. The Museum Complex (Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium) are relatively cheap. The Garfield Park Conservatory is supposed to be great if you're into that kind of thing, it's free, I haven't been there, but take the el train there - during the day. Otherwise check Metromix for what's happening in the city.

[Cagliostro]

My stepfather works at the Art Institute, actually. He is the Registrar, and often travels around with the art and goes through all the paper work involved. But, much to my surprise, never works the register at the gift shop. He just had a knee operation, though, and probably won't be back for several weeks.

[MsMary]

I second Damelon's suggestions.

[aliantha]

I second Damelon's suggestions.

I third it.

You could also just kind of walk around downtown to see the architecture and public sculpture, tho it's kinda cold for that sort of thing now. There's also some cool stuff to see in Grant Park (wait, they're not calling it Grant Park anymore, are they?) -- there's this sculpture nicknamed "the Bean" that's kind of neat. I got some pictures of it on my short stopover in Chicago on the way out to Denver this summer.

[Damelon]

Have you figured out where you're going to stay in Chicago yet?

Millennium Park is what Ali mentioned. Yeah, check that out. It's at Michigan and Randolph Street, on the east side.

You can check take in a play in Chicago too. The League of Chicago Theaters has a hottix service, where all members, even for the most popular plays in town occasionally set aside some half price tickets for that days performance. I used to use it when I was working downtown to occasionally catch a play after work. Again, use the Metromix site that I highlighted earlier to get reviews of the plays. Also use the site for the Chicago Reader to look for events. In it's paper form it's a bulky free weekly that comes out on Thursdays. You can at your hotel where to find one, chances are they have some there.

[Wyldewode]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!