Kevin's Watch

I'm spending this coming weekend in Chicago. My only experience there was a night that I had to spend due to thunderstorms and my flight out was canceled. So, this is really my first trip. I'm stuck in a meeting all day Saturday and part of Sunday am, but I arrive early on Friday so I have some time to see the city. Could anyone give me some pointers on fun stuff to do on a short trip? Restaurants? Best Pizza? Thanks in advance.

ooooh! I now feel like singing "All that Jazz"....

Sea is right; if you are a jazz (or other music) devotee, you will want to check out the Rush Street clubs either Friday or Saturday night.

Dlb, are you going to be in the Loop? If so, I've got boatloads of ideas for you.

* You could lose a day, easy, in the Art Institute of Chicago and still feel like you haven't seen everything.
* Go to Millennium Park and walk around (and under) the Bean. It's pretty cool. You'll be close to the lake there -- if you've got your woolly undies on, you could walk to the shore. (Trust me, you will *need* your woolly undies in Chicago in November....)
* While you're out looking at public sculpture, go see the Calder at Federal Center Plaza and the Picasso at Daley Plaza.
* The Field Museum has a good Egyptology exhibit -- lots of mummies. Farther south along the lake, in Jackson Park, the Museum of Science and Industry has a bunch of cool stuff -- a coal mine exhibit, a real U-2 sub you can tour, and a giant model of a human heart you can walk through. Near the Museum of Science and Industry is the Shedd Aquarium, which used to be kind of dorky but which I believe got a facelift not long ago.
* If you walk north on Michigan Avenue across the Chicago River, you'll pass the Water Tower that survived the big fire allegedly caused by Mrs. O'Leary's cow. Just past that is Water Tower Place, a multi-story shopping mall. In fact, there's shopping all along Michigan Avenue.
* There's an observation deck atop -- um, well, it used to be the Sears Tower but I think it's called something else now. Anyhow, it's right next to Union Station. (My brother used to work on the floor right below the observation deck, so the girls and I got to appreciate the view for free. )
* Another idea for just walking around: You might be able to find one of those laminated "Artwise Chicago" maps at your local bookstore before you go. Chicago has amazing architecture, and I believe many of the best ones are listed on that "Artwise" map.
* Restaurants: The original Pizzeria Uno is, uh, somewhere in the Loop. I found a teashop I liked on the north side of Federal Center Plaza last summer. That's about all I know -- ask Damelon, he may have some better ideas for food.

aliantha wrote:Dlb, are you going to be in the Loop? If so, I've got boatloads of ideas for you.

* You could lose a day, easy, in the Art Institute of Chicago and still feel like you haven't seen everything.
* Go to Millennium Park and walk around (and under) the Bean. It's pretty cool. You'll be close to the lake there -- if you've got your woolly undies on, you could walk to the shore. (Trust me, you will *need* your woolly undies in Chicago in November....)
* While you're out looking at public sculpture, go see the Calder at Federal Center Plaza and the Picasso at Daley Plaza.
* The Field Museum has a good Egyptology exhibit -- lots of mummies. Farther south along the lake, in Jackson Park, the Museum of Science and Industry has a bunch of cool stuff -- a coal mine exhibit, a real U-2 sub you can tour, and a giant model of a human heart you can walk through. Near the Museum of Science and Industry is the Shedd Aquarium, which used to be kind of dorky but which I believe got a facelift not long ago.
* If you walk north on Michigan Avenue across the Chicago River, you'll pass the Water Tower that survived the big fire allegedly caused by Mrs. O'Leary's cow. Just past that is Water Tower Place, a multi-story shopping mall. In fact, there's shopping all along Michigan Avenue.
* There's an observation deck atop -- um, well, it used to be the Sears Tower but I think it's called something else now. Anyhow, it's right next to Union Station. (My brother used to work on the floor right below the observation deck, so the girls and I got to appreciate the view for free. )
* Another idea for just walking around: You might be able to find one of those laminated "Artwise Chicago" maps at your local bookstore before you go. Chicago has amazing architecture, and I believe many of the best ones are listed on that "Artwise" map.
* Restaurants: The original Pizzeria Uno is, uh, somewhere in the Loop. I found a teashop I liked on the north side of Federal Center Plaza last summer. That's about all I know -- ask Damelon, he may have some better ideas for food.

I've only been to Chicago once, but the Field Museum is awesome, I found the original Pizzeria Uno to be too small and mediocre (just my .02), the Sears Tower is definitely awesome (as is the other similar building to the northeast). I took a boat cruise on the Lake which was nice, but beyond that I don't remember too much. I remember a lot of good food but not where I got it...

Plenty of museums. The Brookstone Zoo is nice, though it may be a bit cold this time of year. And for restaurants, there's always Dick's Last Resort. Not for the kids, but the food isn't great and the service is horrible, so enjoy. If you're looking for a good tourist trap, there's the Navy Pier

A stop I typically make when going to Chicago is at the Duke of Perth at 2913 N Clark St. It's a nice little Scottish pub with tons of scotches available, good food and great beer. I've had several great evenings there.

My mom lives in the burbs of Chicago, and my step-father works at the Art Institute. As far as a big city goes, it is one I feel completely comfortable in.

The Music Box usually has something good playing, and the Biograph is historical because of John Dillinger. I saw "Natural Born Killers" there when it first came out, which I thought appropriate, but I guess they have turned it into a live theater venue now.

It might have been at the Biograph where I saw "Rocky Horror Picture Show" while in college. Ah, memories!

Rob, the building to the northwest that you're thinking of is the John Hancock Building. It was the tallest in the world for awhile. Then the Sears Tower was the tallest. Now there's a skyscraper in Japan, I think, that surpasses the Sears Tower by about ten feet.

Oh yeah, Navy Pier! I saw the 4th of July fireworks there in 1998, while my mom was in Northwestern Hospital. I didn't realize the amusement park was permanent 'til I clicked on your link, Sheriff.