|
01-31-2010, 11:04 AM | |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $1578962
VARSITY
|
Going to Chicago. What do I need to do? Avoid?
Going to Chicago for a little 4 day vacation(Thrusday - Sunday) on spring break. Going to the Bulls vs. Cleveland NBA game and see Lebron, Derrick Rose, Shaq etc on Friday night. What is the can't miss "stuff" in Chicago? Avoid? opinions welcome...
Staying downtown at the Allerton hotel. Any Planeteers want to get together? -------------------------------------------------------------------- 03/22/2010 edit to pay it forward for future chicago visitors: Transportation: Definitely take the trains and bus’s if you are planning to spend a lot of time downtown. We saved a fortune in cabs. Get the CTA pass and you can get on how ever many buses, trains, transfers etc that you want for how many days you purchase. http://faremedia.chicago-card.com/store/main.aspx?DepartmentId=34 Check the schedule and plan your route out: http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/maps/default.aspxhttp://www.transitchicago.com/riding_cta/populardestinations.aspx We arrived at 8:00 at the O’Hara airport and not taking the train would have been a disaster. They highways are parking lots that time of the day. We flew out of Midway on the way out and took a cab out there to the airport. We really enjoyed riding the bus’s and talking to the locals. They gave us great tips on where to eat etc. You don’t need a car. If you are driving, there is no where to park and where there is parking is very expensive and driving downtown is dangerous trying to navigate all those cabs and buses? Not for the weak of heart. Attractions: Get the Go Chicago card: Saved us a ton of money on admission fees but more importantly we avoided the lines at the attractions to get tickets. It was snowing and the line to get into the Field museum was over an hour and a half to just get tickets to get into the museum. The lines to get tickets are long. Get your tickets in advance. http://www.smartdestinations.com/chicago-attractions-and-tours/_d_Chi-p1.html?pass=Chi_Prod_Go Sears Tower: Was cool but if you have to wait an hour or two? Question the value. The ledge is really cool. Nothing between you and the street 103 stories up but some Plexiglas. It’s an experience you can’t get anywhere else in the world. John Hancock observatory: We actually liked it better than the Sears tower because of the better ocean and beach views. They have something cool there, a skywalk 93 stories up that you can walk along that is exposed to the wind, temperatures etc 93 floors up. Just some mesh screen between you and the sky. Science and Industry museum: We all felt that this was the best of all the museums. You have to see the U-Boat. It’s another one of those you can only experience in Chicago things. Millennium Park: The silver bean was really cool. Seems like a real simple thing but once you get there and see it up close you understand the draw the bean has for people. Make sure you go underneath the bean and check it out. Looks like a wonderful place to watch a concert. Shedd Aquarium: We were disappointed in this one. Maybe we are just spoiled but we thought the Aquarium in Omaha was much better. The Field museum: Another disappointment. Sue the T-Rex was really cool but the rest of the museum left us flat. Seemed really educational for kids but for us adults we would like to have seen more exhibits than some pottery. Chicago Bulls game: We decided to take the bus out there. Straight shot to and from downtown. Not really a bad seat in the house. The mascot seems to be pretty athletic and entertaining. Highly recommend getting one of the monster dogs. Navy Pier: We went there and it was cold. Looks like a great place to visit in the warm weather. Second City: We saw “Rush Limbaugh, the musical”. Barney Frank, Hillary, Dancing Ronald Reagan’s…Very funny stuff. Had a bit in there when Rush with the Royals and George Brett on a toilet with hemorrhoids. Highly recommend checking out a show there. The Art Institute: A wonderful place to see art. So many Picasso’s, Monet’s and Van Gough’s you can’t really appreciate them fully like if some were here in KC just because of the sheer volume of masterpieces in one place. Very impressive collection. We also enjoyed seeing the American Gothic and some American art. http://www.artic.edu/aic/ Eats: Ginos East: Great pizza. Love the crust. We went to the one on Shapiro and it has all the walls filled with customer graffiti. Not living off its past reputation. My son thought it was the best pizza ever. Giordanos: on Shapiro, Excellent deep dish pizza here also. Better than anything you can get in KC. Try sprinkling a little Italian herb seasoning on the pizza here. http://www.giordanos.com/locations.html West Egg: Breakfast by the doubletree. Reasonable prices and great food. Everything we had was good. http://www.yelp.com/biz/west-egg-cafe-chicago-2 Yokes: Breakfast on Lake Shore drive. Best crepes we have ever had. Very good food. http://www.yelp.com/biz/yolk-chicago-2 Quaritinos: Best meal in Chicago. Very trendy and hip place but don’t let that push you away. You order 5-6 things and share them. Ravioli, Brusheta and the Bananas foster desert were our favorites but everything we had was real flavorful and well prepared. http://www.quartinochicago.com/ Lodging: We stayed at the Allerton hotel downtown. I would highly recommend if you are coming to Chicago and you are going to do these things listed above to stay downtown. This was a great hotel. If you can’t afford the downtown rates just take the train into the city and go from there. Last edited by BigRedChief; 03-22-2010 at 10:07 AM.. |
Posts: 79,886
|
01-31-2010, 12:53 PM | #46 |
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Join Date: Aug 2000
Casino cash: $1613385
|
This thread is old, but there's lots of good info in it.
http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=138140 You sure picked a shitty time of year to visit weather-wise. One change - Sears Tower is now called Willis Tower. I haven't been up there since they put in the ledge thing, but I hear it's really cool. I might actually go check it out one of these days - I haven't been up there for over 20 years. The Museum of Science and Industry continues to be the coolest of the major attractions. I cannot stress that enough. Also, if you visit the Billy Goat Tavern, wear your Cardinals stuff - they love that. And pissing on Wrigley Field would be fine. You might actually get to watch it freeze depending on how cold it is. If you'd like to do lunch or hook up for a beer or three after I get off work on Thursday or Friday, shoot me a PM. You can tell me about your World Series experience and watch me seeth with envy in person. |
Posts: 119,883
|
01-31-2010, 12:58 PM | #47 |
Cheat Death
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Land of Drincoln
Casino cash: $778244
|
I know you're a Cards fan, but Uberstein in Wrigleyville has a ridiculously good bratwurst served on a soft pretzel bun and the best mustard I've ever tasted.
|
Posts: 35,073
|
01-31-2010, 12:59 PM | #48 |
MVP
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: West of the Equator
Casino cash: $399901
|
Is the restaurant where the food is brought to you via model railroad trains still there? That was very cool... well, to a 12-year old.
|
Posts: 13,705
|
01-31-2010, 01:01 PM | #49 |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $1578962
VARSITY
|
Never been to a "real" NBA game and get to see Lebron in person....They can rip me off a little...one time anyway.
__________________
Mind you own damn business |
Posts: 79,886
|
01-31-2010, 01:07 PM | #50 |
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
Join Date: Aug 2000
Casino cash: $1613385
|
BTW, I just added you to my contacts list so you can actually send me a PM. Duh.
|
Posts: 119,883
|
01-31-2010, 01:07 PM | #51 |
Would an idiot do that?
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Arizona
Casino cash: $1324931
|
Just do what frazod says... heh.
The Museum of Science and Industry is that good... it's a bit off the beaten path as far as the pier, Sears Tower, etc; but it's well worth a day or three. If it wasn't for the glass ledge, I'd say the Sears/Willis tower isn't worth it... when I went it was 2.5 hours of waiting (the line was out the door, and even when you walk in and see a fairly short line, you go down an elevator to another huge freakin' line) for about 15 minutes at the top... eh. So, if you can find a time to go where it's not crowded (probably first thing in the morning), stepping out on the ledge is really cool. The aquarium is okay... at least 3rd behind Atlanta and Omaha, IMO. The Field Museum isn't a must-see, but it's nice and you can get through it in a few hours. |
Posts: 56,561
|
01-31-2010, 01:11 PM | #52 |
Supporter
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Spink, SD
Casino cash: $163762
|
|
Posts: 39,104
|
01-31-2010, 01:16 PM | #53 | |
Supporter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ozarks
Casino cash: $1800564
|
Quote:
|
|
Posts: 33,959
|
01-31-2010, 01:22 PM | #54 | |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $1578962
VARSITY
|
Quote:
Plan on wearing my World Series Cardinals gear over to wrigley and at leat get a pic of me flipping the bird. I know its very junior highish but sound like too much fun to pass up. I was flipping around on the radio yesterday and heard the Queen song, "We are the Champions" brought back a very cool memory of hearing it on the sports talk radio station I was listening to as I drove home to KC from St. Louis after watching them win a WS live.
__________________
Mind you own damn business |
|
Posts: 79,886
|
01-31-2010, 01:23 PM | #55 | |
Shit
Join Date: Jun 2008
Casino cash: $10039067
|
Quote:
Posted via Mobile Device |
|
Posts: 55,715
|
01-31-2010, 01:50 PM | #56 |
Supporter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Olathe, Ks
Casino cash: $1284127
|
Be careful around there. You may want to take a cab to and from there as opposed to a train. Especially if it is a night game. Stay out of south Chicago at night. The METRA is another train line that will take you to places like the MOSI. It is right by the U of Chicago. Again, daytime only. At night I would stay around the Loop and Near Northtown. That is where most of the things to do at night are anyway. Stay in crowded areas.
|
Posts: 129,396
|
01-31-2010, 02:32 PM | #57 | |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $1578962
VARSITY
|
Quote:
__________________
Mind you own damn business |
|
Posts: 79,886
|
01-31-2010, 02:37 PM | #58 |
Agree to Disagree
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: The State of Euphoria
Casino cash: $10026612
|
BRC, the wife and I going to Chicago for a quick weekend getaway this coming weekend. Never been before....we're staying downtown at Four Points Sheraton, a block off Michigan Ave.
I think we've planned to go to the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute, and a museum or two. If the weather permits, we'll do the Navy Pier. My wife isn't terrible excited about going up in the Sears Tower, but she feels somewhat obligated. We're going to the Bulls/Heat game on Saturday night, so I'm looking forward to that. Last edited by KevB; 01-31-2010 at 02:46 PM.. |
Posts: 14,446
|
01-31-2010, 02:39 PM | #59 | |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $1578962
VARSITY
|
Quote:
__________________
Mind you own damn business |
|
Posts: 79,886
|
01-31-2010, 02:41 PM | #60 |
Has a particular set of skills
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: On the water
Casino cash: $1578962
VARSITY
|
Yeah, you have missed some pretty good Chiefs private info
__________________
Mind you own damn business |
Posts: 79,886
|
|
|