<p>"Looks like we’ll do buses to Harry Potter "</p>
<p>That’s the right call for the Museum of Science & Industry. You probably know that you need to get your tickets well in advance, but just in case…get your tickets well in advance.</p>
<p>I second the suggestion to take a quick cab to Chinatown for lunch—my favorite is a little place called Moon Palace for authentic Shanghainese cuisine. You might also check out Manny’s Deli, a longstanding Chicago tradition (and one of Barack Obama’s favorites) not too far from McCormick Place; they have a small outlet right in McCormick Place, but a cab to the original deli (12th & Jefferson) would be more fun and a more authentic Chicago experience. A few blocks farther west, there are some good options on Taylor Street, Chicago’s “Little Italy.” Or a few blocks south of there, you can find good authentic Mexican fare in the Pilsen neighborhood. All cab rides from McCormick Place, but at 3 or 4 to a cab the cost won’t be much more than transit fare. You could, of course, take a cab back to the Loop or Near North Side for lunch but those places will be more crowded at lunchtime and won’t give you the full flavor of Chicago, historically a city of ethnic villages.</p>
<p>I go to Chicago every October for a trade show out near the airport. </p>
<p>My tidbit of advice is that the weather will change in early October. It seems that it always changes around the 7th from late summer to early winter. Bring more warm clothes than you think you need! Especially a good jacket.</p>
<p>The best values on your hotel list are the Embassy Suites on State Street and the Silversmith on Wabash. Both are in good locations and very near the El for getting around. The Embassy has free breakfast and is closer to Michigan Avenue shopping and nightlife, but a longer trip on the shuttle bus. The Silvermith is right in the Loop, convenient to almost all transportation, but it is next to the El tracks. Both are suite hotels, which is really nice when you are sharing with a co-worker. Check tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews and chicagoreader.com for restaurant reviews. </p>
<p>Most people just hit the McCormick Place food counters for lunch, since it is not convenient to anything but Chinatown. Eat lightly at lunch and save room for all the good restaurants in Chicago.</p>
<p>Plan on using the conference shuttles for the hotel. If they run things like other groups do it will be nicely done. The area around McCormick Place is not fun, think of it as a business park without amenities around it and it will get cold in October. People can have more fun outside the conference hours by staying nearer to other attractions. I know the main reason for being in a city is the conference, but making it easy to see the sites is better than being close to only the conference site. Remind people to bundle up, they may not want to spend much time enjoying the outdoors even when dressed for the weather. People do not always attend every session/minute of a conference, no matter how good it is- being close to the Michigan Ave shopping/restaurant district is nicer than having to walk several blocks to it in the fall weather. October has to be the biggest month for conferences, I know of so many medical specialties that have theirs then.</p>
<p>October can be absolutely gorgeous in Chicago, or it can be winter. Be prepared.</p>
<p>From downtown, the #10 bus goes directly to MSI. The issue is that it does not always run. You’ll have to check its schedule.
12th St. was renamed many years ago, and is now Roosevelt. Manny’s Deli is at Roosevelt and Jefferson. The Roosevelt bus (#12) is always very full.
The “Little Italy” area is turning into a college area. You do have the traditional Italian style eateries, and you also have the places which aim towards college students. Little Italy is right in between the two UIC campuses.</p>
<p>mollie - don’t keep us in suspense anymore… which did you choose?</p>
<p>We have a room at the Hotel Burnham, two rooms at the Hotel Monaco, and one room at the Hilton Chicago Magnificent Mile. I was happy – getting a good hotel for this conference involves registering as fast as the registration form becomes available, then picking a hotel at lightning speed from the list of those still available.</p>
<p>I can’t wait to go. I haven’t been to the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum since I was eleven, and I remember them being pretty great. And I will be sure to dress warmly! Our conference is usually held in November, and I think they moved it to October specifically to mitigate the weather somewhat.</p>
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<p>Cute. It stands for Metropolitan Rail.</p>
<p>If I may suggest, there is a little place–actually a couple of places on the same block–called the China Doll in Lincoln Park run by a very nice couple who keep it really nicely decorated and cozy. You can walk to the beach, Wrigley Field, and Steppenwolf Theatre, and there’s a train station about a block away. The website is ChinaDollGuestHouse dot com. More expensive than a typical hotel but worth every penny, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Those are all good choices for hotels. The Hilton Suites will be better for shopaholics, the other two are walking distance from the Art Institute and closer to the museum campus.</p>
<p>October weather in Chicago is not too bad, but it can be anywhere from 80 degrees down to 30 degrees. “Normal” would be days in the 50’s and 60’s, with nights 10 degrees cooler. Check the forecast before you go, and dress in layers.</p>
<p>Actually we’re going to Chicago tomorrow to visit our D. Any restaurant recommendations? Looking for good food, not fancy. Open to most cuisines. For tomorrow night the loop/south loop area would be great. Friday and Saturday we’re flexible as to location. Also interested in favorite breakfast/brunch places! Thanks.</p>
<p>Miller’s Pub on South Wabash! It’s not the most adventurous food–sort of basic American or English fare like steaks and meat pies with a few twists–but it’s bustling, has an elegant decor, great Martinis, reasonably priced, and it’s near the theatre district, so it’s a good place to spot someone famous. Fancy enough that you’ll feel like you “went out” but casual enough that you can probably wear whatever you’ve got on.</p>
<p>Vermilion. It was recommended to us by our concierge at the Omni on the Mag Mile.
[V</a> E R M I L I O N](<a href=“http://www.thevermilionrestaurant.com/]V”>http://www.thevermilionrestaurant.com/)</p>
<p>Apparently a favorite of Oprah’s. It sounds crazy but it is Indian and Latin fusion.
It’s absolutely beautiful inside although unassuming from the sidewalk. Sexy, contemporary without feeling stark. It was the best meal we ate in Chicago–we went just two weeks ago. It was hard to choose what to try, so we ordered multiple tapas. Their signature dark chocolate dessert was to die for–and as a life-long chocolate addict, it’s pretty hard to get to the top of my list. But this one was. The location is just north of the loop (north of the river on Hubbard St)</p>
<p>We all agreed it was the best restaurant we’d eaten at in Chicago and also all agreed it might be the best restaurant any of us had eaten at in years.</p>
<p>None of us are actually “foodies” but I can tell you the entire conversation revolved around the amazing tastes we were experiencing. The service was outstanding too.</p>
<p>My D is a grad student there and I will never visit Chicago again without making a trip to this place.</p>
<p>In the South Loop try Mercat a la Planxa, it is amazing
It is a tapas place…but more authentic than some in Chicago.
Can be mid range to expensive, depending on how many plates you order.</p>
<p>They have steaks, but they are rather pricey.</p>
<p>It is in the Blackstone Hotel near the Hilton and towers.</p>
<p>Since this is Chicago, you can wear just about anything to the restaurant.
(I wouldn’t wear sweats or gym shoes, but you can be casual.)</p>
<p>^^^ runnersmom,</p>
<p>Wishbone in the West Loop is famous for their Southern/Creole-style Saturday/Sunday brunch. Reputedly Oprah’s favorite. Try the shrimp & grits.</p>
<p>A popular breakfast spot on the North Side (several locations) is Ann Sather’s, with a Swedish menu featuring totally decadent cinnamon rolls, Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, and Swedish potato sausages along with the usual eggs, omelettes, and breakfast meats.</p>
<p>One of my favorites in my Chicago days was to head to any decent Mexican restaurant for huevos rancheros, huevos a la Mexicana, huevos con chorizo, or chilaquiles. A good spot is Nuevo Leon in the Pilsen neighborhood on the near Southwest Side.</p>
<p>A vote for Greek Town. An old stand by is Greek Islands [WELCOME</a> to the G R E E K I S L A N D S](<a href=“http://www.greekislands.net/contact/contact.html]WELCOME”>http://www.greekislands.net/contact/contact.html) especially when you have hungry young people with you!</p>
<p>Thank you for all the suggestions. This is not our first time to Chicago (2 kids at U of C and I’m an NU grad), and we’ve actually been to Wishbone (very yummy, NOT health food!), but I love to hear what others have enjoyed. Keep them coming!</p>
<p>I like a restaurant in Lincoln Park called Rose Angelis - great Italian food, in a more residential neighborhood (would probably want to take a cab there).</p>
<p>I also always have enjoyed Bistro 110, which (I think) is 110 East Pearson, across from Water Tower Place. They roast garlic so it’s spreadable on spread. Their mushrooms are also great. French-y but not pretentious-y.</p>
<p>Not south, but worth seeking out if you like Indian food: Hema’s Kitchen. The address is 2439 West Devon, but it’s not quite on Devon Avenue (the home of many, many great Indian restaurants). It’s just off Devon to the north, on the west side of one of the side streets that runs north-south parallel to Western Avenue. If you look carefully, you’ll see it, because it has a blue awning with white lettering. Just park near the corner of Devon and Western and walk east toward the lake, peeking off to the left at every side street. Hema herself will be cooking in the kitchen, a really sweet and hardworking lady who makes the best of everything Indian.</p>
<p>In case that doesn’t float your boat, within a block or two nearby are the legendary Viceroy of India and the vegetarian Udupi Palace. All highly recommended and worth a special trip.</p>