Chicago?

Parent Cafe
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<p>H and I are going to Chicago for a long weekend in a couple of weeks. He has a business meeting and we are going to extend it and have a nice away time. I have a couple of questions from you travel savvy and Chicago experts.</p>

<p>What I do know. We are going to drive to Indiana, park and take the Metra into Chicago. Tried Amtrak in the past but it is a pain and we think this will be easier. Metra has a weekend pass for $7 and I think the parking is free at least on the weekends. </p>

<p>We are going to stay near Millennium Park. The Metra goes to Millennium Park and the hotel is about a 3 block walk so we are set there. H’s meeting is in the area so it’s perfect and I got a fantastic deal on Priceline for a weekend. </p>

<p>What we are thinking of doing. We will probably go to the Shedd aquarium or the Field Museum, I think we can get back on the Metra and take it there. Am I right on that? I am planning on going to The Art Institute which is right in Millennium Park. </p>

<p>Ok now to my questions? We would like to go to the restaurant at the John Hancock building, I’ve tried to download the transit maps but it’s pretty confusing. What is the easiest way to get to JH from Millennium Park? </p>

<p>We thought about going to a show since it looks like we are in that area. The Book of Mormon is playing but it looks like Sat night is sold out and the Sun matinee was going to be $378! Just a little too rich for us. Any suggestions for cheaper theater tickets or other shows which would be less expensive. </p>

<p>Any suggestions for restaurants in the area? H says he likes nice restaurants but not stuffy. He really means nothing too expensive. Also we are taking the train in and I don’t want to pack anything dressy. Any other suggestions of things to do? We are open and have 3 days there. </p>

<p>Thanks, this board is usually great for travel suggestions.</p>

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<p>From Millennium Park, take a cab straight up Michigan Avenue to the John Hancock building. Have a drink at the top and enjoy the view. Check out restaurants in that area (River North) on Open Table and Trip Advisor. You’ll be in for a sticker shock for dinner, don’t expect to get out under $150 for dinner for two. Have fun!</p>

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<p>Re restaurants - consider Spiaggia Cafe [Spiaggia</a> Restaurant - Cafe Spiaggia](<a href=“http://www.spiaggiarestaurant.com/cafe]Spiaggia”>http://www.spiaggiarestaurant.com/cafe) - not Spiaggia itself though unless you love sticker shock! Rather than eat at the 95th at the Hancock, have a cocktail at sunset and eat elsewhere. In the loop, Trattoria #10 is a very comfortable and popular Italian place. [Trattoria</a> No. 10](<a href=“http://www.trattoriaten.com/t10/trattoria/aboutus.html]Trattoria”>http://www.trattoriaten.com/t10/trattoria/aboutus.html) Restaurants have gotten a lot less stuffy (although not necessarily less expensive) in recent years - are there any particular types of food you like? There are dozens of very good restaurants within walking distance from the park so some specifics would help us narrow them down.</p>

<p>If breakfast is not included at your hotel, Wildberry is just across the street from Millenium Park on the north and is great. [Welcome</a> to Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe!](<a href=“http://www.wildberrycafe.com/]Welcome”>http://www.wildberrycafe.com/)</p>

<p>No particular show recommendations, but you can stop at HotTix on Randolph and see what they have that interests you at half price. [Hot</a> Tix locations and hours](<a href=“http://www.hottix.org/hours.aspx]Hot”>Locations – Hot Tix)</p>

<p>We usually park and just walk everywhere; if the weather is good and you have comfortable shoes it’s not that bad from Millenium Park to the Hancock.</p>

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<p>For getting around on the CTA look up CTA trip planner - for some reason the link I just posted was bad. It will give you different options on how to get to the John Hancock building from Millennium Park including walking.</p>

<p>Just walking around Millennium Park and over to the lake front is wonderful if the weather is good. Right off the park near the Art Institute is the Chicago Cultural center which often has great art exhibits - and for free!</p>

<p>The Shakespeare theater on Navy Pier has a hip hop version of Othello that is supposed to be good - tickets are usually reasonable.</p>

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<p>Sort of, but not really. I think there is a Metra stop near the Field Museum. But, there is a difference between Metra (commuter trains) and the CTA (local buses and the “L”). Metra has very infrequent service on the weekends, and they are expensive to ride for a short distance.</p>

<p>The CTA is relatively cheap (might even have a weekend or day pass) and runs fairly frequently. You can hop busses from where you are to the Field Museum. It is also close enough that a Cab ride for two might be cheaper than a bus.</p>

<p>CTA or a cab, can get you from your hotel to the Hancock building. It is also a nice walk down Michigan Avenue on a nice day. I think people like shopping on Oak street, which is a little north of the Hancock building. Navy Pier is also nearby. The Hancock building has a very expensive restaurant on the top. Better to eat next door at a food place in Water Tower Place (still not cheap). </p>

<p>Blue Man Group is a great show - get there early and read the scrolling sign. Second City is also worth seeing. You will need to figure out transportation (cab or bus/L).</p>

<p>Pizza is big in Chicago. Pizzaria Uno or Duo. Giordanos. Edwardos. Ginos East. For ambiance, you can’t beat the Rock and Roll McDonalds (just kidding, but it is a McDonalds worth stopping in to look at if you are in the area).</p>

<p>I haven’t been to Chicago in a while, but I remember Little Italy, and Berghoffs. You can take the L down to Chinatown. Phoenix is a good restaurant there.</p>

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<p>Thanks so much! We love Italian so those are great suggestions Marilyn. We will have a drink at the Hancock building and eat somewhere else.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info on the CTA. I’ve looked at the transit maps and it’s confusing so thanks for explaining. And thanks so much for the Hot Tix info, very helpful. And Wildberry Pancakes. </p>

<p>We might or might not have pizza. H has lost over 20 pounds since the first of the year. We will see how he feels. </p>

<p>All the suggestions are great. Sounds like lots is walkable which is great to me. We’ll pack our walking shoes.</p>

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<p>Have nothing to add about Chicago deb922 other than to say I am jealous, haha. My H leaves for Chicago tomorrow for a business trip. I have never been there, but because of my job, I cannot go with him. I have gone with him on other business trips and sometimes we are on the same business trip (we have the same employer). But not this one.</p>

<p>Beware that major cities are expensive. You said that $378 for a show was too rich for you. That price is similar to Broadway (NYC ) prices. H and I spent last week in NYC for fun, not business. We saw a show, had good seats and it was about $260 for two of us. ( D1 actually bought us the tickets and got them online). But we also went out to dinner several nights (not every night because we were staying at D1’s apartment to babysit her cat while she hiked Yeosimite). At several restaurant it cost over $250 for three of us. These were not “stuffy” restaurants and had no dress code. We did buy a bottle of wine however. Everything in large cities is just more expensive.</p>

<p>Have fun.</p>

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<p>METRA is no the line used in Indiana, the South shore line is different. Be sure to double check where you are planning to park and double check the train schedules. The trains do not stop at all stations and taxis are scarce in NW Indiana. I recommend East Chicago and Miller over the Gary station. </p>

<p>Here is Metra
[Schedule</a> & Fare Finder](<a href=“http://metrarail.com/content/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map.html]Schedule”>http://metrarail.com/content/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map.html)</p>

<p>And here is South Shore
[Northern</a> Indiana Commuter Transportation District](<a href=“http://www.nictd.com/systemmap.html]Northern”>http://www.nictd.com/systemmap.html)</p>

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<p>If the weather is nice, the walk along the shore is amazing. The view from Lincoln Park back toward The Drake and the skyline is one of the great sights in the world. You can probably rent bikes somewhere and go from Navy Pier out. BTW, the bus runs out Sheridan from Michigan Ave right into Lincoln Park. Very easy.</p>

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<p>I’d just walk up Michigan Avenue from Millennium Park to the John Hancock Building. It’s about a mile, so roughly a 20 minute walk, through the heart of the Magnificent Mile, Chicago’s premier shopping street. Some interesting architecture, too, especially the Wrigley Building and to a lesser extent the Tribune Tower, and of course the Water Tower that supposedly was the only structure to survive the Great Chicago Fire. If the weather’s bad I’d just take a cab, or maybe the #3 bus.</p>

<p>If you’re into architecture, I highly recommend the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s boat tour. It goes up the Chicago River with great views of many of the city’s architectural landmarks, and these people know their stuff. Chicago has long been a leading innovator in urban architecture; the skyscraper was basically invented here, and Chicagoans take their high-rise architecture seriously. It’s also just a fun cruise, but it could be chilly out on the water in April, so dress in layers. The tours leave from a dock on the River at Michigan Avenue, 3 blocks north of Millennium Park.</p>

<p>Just south of Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue is the Art Institute, truly outstanding, in my opinion the best of Chicago’s many fine museums. </p>

<p>From where you’re staying it’s also a short walk to Navy Pier, a popular lakefront dining, shopping, and entertainment destination. I’m not enamored of most of what Navy Pier has to offer, but it is home to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, an excellent professional company that does a mix of straight Shakespeare, contemporary plays, and occasionally musicals, as well as the occasional comic send-up of a Shakespeare classic. Right now they’re doing a 90 minute hip-hop take-off on Othello (Othello: The Remix) that sounds like a hoot. Reasonable price, too, $25-35/ticket.</p>

<p>Then, of course, there’s Second City, the famous improv comedy company that’s given America an outsized share of its best comedians and comic actors, a legendary Chicago institution.</p>

<p>Or, depending on when you’re going, a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, the classic throwback ballpark that just kills with its old-fashioned cuteness.</p>

<p>So much to see and do.</p>

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<p>If you like meat try gibson’s, its close to Hancock and not as expensive as morton’s (but not cheap either).</p>

<p>I agree with the walk around on michigan avenue, lots of stores from Forever 21 to designer stores.</p>

<p>You can use google maps to plan public transit, its fairly accurate in that area</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the suggestions, they are all great! </p>

<p>Yep, we are taking the south shore train. I knew I was wrong when I typed it, being too lazy to look up the name. S’s girlfriend lives in the area so she helped us figure out the train info.</p>

<p>Also yep, I know everything is expensive, we’ve been there before but not in years. Still I was shocked how expensive theater tickets have become and still not going to spend almost $400 to go to a show. If there is something good at HotTix, we will consider it.</p>

<p>Probably won’t go to see the Cubs, H did that last year, not a big baseball fan. Glad to hear google maps are good, the last time I tried to use apple maps it was a disaster. The apple powers really messed up on that.</p>

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<p>If you don’t already have Groupon and Living Social, join those and look for tickets. Second City ad other Chicago entertainment offerings come up regularly. We loved doing Second City.</p>

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<p>Disagree with others about Chicago being expensive - it’s not. Yes, full-price theater tickets for major shows cost big bucks everywhere. But Chicago has lots and lots of small theater companies who put on some very good shows. Second City is only $28 full price. There are lots of places to see comedy - some of the theaters in Second City’s building (we saw The Cambridge Footlights in Fall 2011 - the company where Emma Thompson, Steven Fry and Hugh Laurie got their start. All 3 were in it at the same time, way back when!) Improv Olympics (I/O)hosts some good stuff and isn’t expensive. Hot Tix usually has plenty of good offerings.</p>

<p>There are tons of good restaurants, of any ethnic variety you can imagine. Sure, you can go to a hoity-toity place and blow a big wad, but you certainly don’t have to do that in order to get a good meal.</p>

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<p>Afternoon snack - Garrett’s popcorn - the cheese is to die for!</p>

<p>Other afternoon snack - Ghirardelli’s for hot fudge brownie sundaes!</p>

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<p>Avoid Washington Park and Englewood.</p>

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<p>Try this Groupon for CTA…we used on our last visit. So jealous of fast, efficient, clean buses! 3 days for $9.
[Chicago</a> Transit Authority Deal of the Day | Groupon Chicago](<a href=“http://www.groupon.com/deals/chicago-transit-authority-cta-4?pt=aUWOi8jAAAAC1CZ__e75_MZnO9fsTj2Rx]Chicago”>http://www.groupon.com/deals/chicago-transit-authority-cta-4?pt=aUWOi8jAAAAC1CZ__e75_MZnO9fsTj2Rx)</p>

<p>Deal says to allow 10-15 days for delivery. Mine came in six days…ymmv.</p>

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<p>Second the rec for Garrett’s Popcorn - but I prefer the caramel corn. Both kinds are delicious. YUMMMMM!!!</p>

<p>We tend to end up at Ghirardelli’s late at night for a bedtime snack after a long wonderful day of exploring the city. They’re open pretty late, especially on weekends.</p>

<p>Wow, I’m really making myself hungry here!</p>

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<p>Love Chicago!</p>

<p>Go on-line and get the City Pass Chicago - it will give you discounts for the John Hancock building, Field, Shedd, Art Institute, etc. If you also want to go up the Willlis (Sears) tower, you can fass pass to jump over most of the line. Visit Willis or JH about 1-2 hours before sunset and you can watch the sun go down. </p>

<p>Love the Architectual Boat Tour by the Chicago Arch Foundation.</p>

<p>I gotta get my deep dish pizza when in Chicago. It’s like a solid layer of sausage or other topping. Amazing. Everyone will argue which place they like best: Uno, Due, Lou Maltinati, Ginos, Giordano. I’ve done a careful taste test and prefer Due the best, but I haven’t had Uno yet.</p>

<p>You also have to get a Chicago Hot Dog as well.</p>

<p>The range of restaurants is just fantastic.</p>

<p>Walking around Millenium park and the bean and the fountains, so fun!
Walk along the beach!</p>

<p>As for Book of Mormon, no worries. I’ve seen it in Los Angeles, but you have to understand that the humor in it is so South Park, irreverent and may offend many. Only Book of Mormon is so expensive because it is so popular. In LA, I bought my tix from Ticketmaster when they first went on sale for $75. Before the show, they were selling for $300. (I should have bought more and resold them, drats! ) Blue man group is fun, and will be cheaper. Second city is a great improv and sketch comedy place that sends comedians to SNL.</p>

<p>Native chicagoans would know this better than I do, but it seems that once you are in the downtown loop, it’s easier and same price to travel by cab to these nearby destinations. Thus walking (few miles) to shedd and field is possible or cab would probably run same as public transit from your hotel.</p>

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<p>In the past, I googled Chicago and the city puts up a website that includes lots of free things to do in the city that is sponsored by the city.</p>