<p>Since you are returning to the Loop for dinner, try Printers Row (Dearborn Street south of Congress.) Take the #10 bus and get off as soon as you reach State Street, then walk one block west to Dearborn, then south for a block or two. There are two good options here: Trattoria Caterina and Amarit Thai. I can recommend both, and they are within your budget.</p>
<p>On the way to the museum, you can take the Red Line all the way south, but it becomes a fairly long walk. If you change from the Red Line at Jackson and State to the #10 bus, you’ll be at the museum in 15-20 minutes.</p>
<p>DO NOT walk from the Red Line to the MSI! Not only is it ~5 miles, but the first 3 of them ARE through a “scary” part of Chicago. You can, however, take the Red Line to Garfield and then take the 55 bus east, which also ends up at the MSI. But that would wind up taking a lot longer than switching to the 10 (or 6, which also works just fine and runs far more frequently) up in the South Loop.</p>
<p>Thanks again for all of the suggestions! Italian is a great idea - my bf does love pasta! xP</p>
<p>Sorry about my statement about the “scary” parts of Chicago - since NU is in a suburb, we don’t have to worry as much or contend with as many reports of shootings, stabbings, etc. that seem to be the topic of threads here at CC about UChicago. Which is not to say that we don’t have incidents of muggings, robberies, or sexual assaults, but it does make a huge difference being situated in a relatively wealthier area of Chicago.</p>
<p>Hmm as tempting as it is to take the Red Line to the musuem, we won’t do that! I’ll definitely figure out this transportation issue. As much as I love walking, I DO NOT want to walk 5 miles anywhere. =P Thank you for the clarification JHS!</p>
<p>Back in the day, you could take the L to the loop, then catch the Illinois Central train line (from around the Art Institute) to get down near the MSI (within a few blocks, IIRC). The IC was one of the commuter train lines, and is probably now part of the Metra system.</p>
<p>(if you click on the map, it’ll expand to a larger version)
In terms of where you catch the “Electric Line” train, the Metra system has a very good website - click on the link at the Museum’s page – looks like either Millennium station (at Millenium Park) or Van Buren. Once you get to the Metra page for the “Metra Electric ddistrict” line, there is a map, plus a link to get to the full schedule for that line. For trip down there, you’ll need the “Outbound” schedule for Saturday or Sunday. (and you can probably pick up a printed schedule to use to plan your trip back to the Loop) Make sure when you look at the schedule that that particular train stops at 55th-56th-57th. Trains run quite frequently. $2.50 each way (on top of your L fare to get downtown)</p>
<p>The Express buses mentioned on the Museum’s website should work just fine as well, and would be less expensive than the Metra. Each way would be $2.25 for the L, then .25 for a transfer.</p>
<p>(oh, and BTW, it’s not 5 miles from the Red line – only about 1 1/2 miles.)</p>
<p>In terms of doing something romantic, and not spending too much money, you might just want to get fast food or sandwiches, then plan on being at the Hancock Building shortly before sunset. I always advise people NEVER to pay for the hugely expensive elevator ride to their Observation Deck. Instead, ride the elevator for free to their Lounge on the 95th floor. Yeah, the drinks are expensive, but no more so (or less) than the elevator ride to the Obs. Deck. You can sit down, enjoy the FANTASTIC view and a nice drink. If you’re <21, you could have a mocktail (we got virgin strawberry daiquiris for our kids when they were little) or a soft drink. (oops, I see from above that you’re over 21 - oh, well, I’m sure this thread will be read by other potential Chicago tourists.)</p>
<p>Since it’s so close to the lake, the view from the Hancock is much better than that from the Sears Tower, IMO. As the sun goes down, you have the lights coming on in the city on one side, and the darkness of the lake on the other. Fabulous! BTW, the view from the women’s restroom is one of the best! be sure to check it out.</p>
<p>Marilyn, I’m so glad you mentioned The Italian Village (and that it is still there). I still remember it over 30 years after having dinner there. Right out of college, boyfirend(now husband) and I had an Amtrak rail pass that took us all over the country. One of our stops was Chicago and that is where we had dinner. Still remember the lights (upstairs, I believe?) . There are so many great restaurants in Chicago.</p>
<p>With all of these suggestions, looks like we’ll have to celebrate our anniversary over multiple days!! =3 WOW…THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE. You all have really made planning this out and knowing where to look for restaurants that much easier, which is incredibly helpful during midterm season/grad school applications/etc. So, I owe everyone great debts of gratitude!</p>
<p>MomCat2, thanks for the extensive transportation suggestions!! And I loooove the idea of spending time at the Hancock building!!! I’ve been on that elevator ride and had no idea there was a lounge and a ride for free! xP Thanks so much for that great suggestion!!! :D</p>
<p>Very pricy, yes – but most of them are still less than the $15 per person ride to the observation deck, which is on the floor above, IIRC. Don’t know how much a plain ol’ beer costs. They also serve appetizers, sandwiches and desserts. I had their sangria when we dropped our kid off at school last fall - quite good, but I don’t see it on the current menu. The swizzle sticks are in the shape of the Hancock building – I’ve saved a few of them as souvenirs over the years – including from hubby and I’s first date!</p>
<p>Lounge is on the 96th floor. There’s a full restaurant on the 95th, which is most likely not worth the money.</p>
<p>I think it would make sense to get off the Red Line on the way home and eat somewhere on the north side. IMHO, Mia Francesca is much, much, much better than Italian Village, quite romantic, and not much pricier. The location near the Belmont stop would probably be your best bet.</p>
<p>(Not five miles from the Red Line to the MSI, but not 1-1/2 miles either. Google Maps says 3.0 miles. It’s just the first mile that seems like three. It’s basically 1-1/2 miles from the Red Line to the western edge of Hyde Park, and another 1-1/2 miles from there to the museum.)</p>
<p>Too bad you can’t go to Carson’s Ribs for 15 dollars per person. Save another 14 dollars and go. You won’t regret it. It has been a Chicago classic for a long, long time. I just came back from there myself.</p>
<p>A note on the museum, from a long, long time veteran of Science and Industry. Look at the map before hand. Each of you choose ONE thing you really, really want to see. As soon as you get into door, start walking towards the one that is the closest to you. YOU WILL GET DISTRACTED!!! There is no avoiding it. Just keep moving towards your goal. About half way through the morning you will reach your first goal. Enjoy!! Head towards you second goal. You should reach it about two hours later. Enjoy!! I will guarantee that you favorite thing will not be what you set out to see, but something you just stumble across. That is the real joy of the museum.</p>
<p>Re: MSI, I have been a life member since I was five and worked there for years as a guide and an OMNIMAX projectionist.</p>
<p>The submarine tour is TOTALLY worth the extra money, even for starving students. I am not very interested in military technology, and wasn’t that interested in the submarine during the years I worked there, when it was displayed almost without any context. That totally changed when they built the new – well, really it’s a whole additional museum devoted to that subject. That submarine exhibit, including the interior tour, is one of the best museum exhibits on any subject anywhere in the world. It blew my mind.</p>
<p>Thanks for the posts about the submarine exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. We missed that when we went to Chicago a few years ago, but we will make sure we catch it if we go back again. I will have to make sure we go with son when he’s on break so he can enjoy it as well.</p>
<p>Thanks so much or the restaurant suggestions!!</p>
<p>I’m definitely putting the submarine exhibit on the list. My bf is a huuuge military history buff so he’ll definitely like that as well. I am someone who is easily distracted, so I’ll do my best to make a battle plan. Looks like this whole trip is gonna require multiple trips haha!!</p>
<p>Thanks so much! I still LOVE the Hancock building idea - dunno if I’m willing to pay that much for drinks, but the swizzle sticks sound adorable!</p>
<p>Keep in mind that when you pay for those $15 drinks at the Hancock, you’re really paying for that incredible view and the ambience. It’s such a cool, quintessential experience and particularly given the occasion, worth springing for. The great thing is that if the weather is bad that day which could significantly diminish the views, you can opt out.</p>
<p>If you go to the Purple Pig, let us know what you think of it. I’m considering it on my next trip to Chicago and would love your opinion…Happy Anniversary!</p>
<p>Keep in mind that the museum closes early - 4 p.m.</p>
<p>It’s a drag to pay all that money to get in, then have your visit cut short by the early closing time. Happened to us a few years back – we figured they were open until 5, as most museums are.</p>
<p>Hanna - it looks like the sub exhibit is free, and the tour is an extra $8.
I’m used to the old days, when, as you say, the sub was displayed without almost any context. There was a brief film, and that was about it.
What is the new exhibit like?</p>
<p>Up until 1991, admission to the museum was FREE (a couple bucks to get into the sub or the Coal Mine) – it was such a great way to spend a day for starving student types.
It’s shocking to me how expensive museums are these days, and they’ve cut WAY back on free days.</p>