I'm planning to go to Chicago sometime soon. I have always loved going there, but I want to hear from other people about what I should definitely check out and may have been missing. I'm going with some friends, and we will definitely catch a game a Wrigley. "Tourist-y" stuff is okay and I wouldn't mind checking out, but I'd also like to hear about stuff that isn't as much of a tourist trap. PS- is there a more "authentic" pizza place than Giordano's?
I like Gino's East for pizza. I also like Ditka's. lots of nostalgia and good food/service. Also visit the Art Institute, love that place.
If you're going July 4th weekend make sure to catch the fireworks downtown. Pretty cool. You can just find a place to chill in the park and watch from a slight distance.
Chicago style dog and a beer or three on the rooftop at Wrigley Navy Pier -- also, walk the Lake Michigan shoreline... absolutely spectacular, especially during the summer Gibson's Steakhouse (N Rush St) -- excellent food, superb atmosphere, and plenty of eye candy; they share a kitchen with Hugo's Frog Bar, excellent spot for lunch... try the kobe beef sliders Hop on the El and take a day trip to Evanston (Northwestern U) -- beautiful campus, eat lunch at Merle's Ribs Shopping on the Mag Mile As far as pizza goes, Gino's East, Pizzeria Uno, & Pizzeria Due are your best bets. Also, Harry Caray's Steakhouse is very cool... packed with Cubbies memorabilia and other interesting sports artifacts.
International Museum of Surgical Science McCormick Freedom Museum American Science & Surplus Ollie's Lounge Bertucci's Corner Neo-Futurists of Chicago Moody's Pub El Circo Cheapo Cabaret
For deep dish, my favorite is Pequod's in Lincoln Park. I've been living in Chicago for almost four years now, and haven't been to Gino's/Uno/Due/Giordano's in over three years. While I love deep dish on occasion, my go-to pizza place is actually thin crust. It's at a place in Wicker Park called Piece. Highly recommend it. Grab a burger at Kuma's Corner or a hot dog (with duck fat fries on Friday and Saturdays) at Hot Doug's, but be prepared for long lines at both. If you're looking for any specific type of food, let me know and I can point you in the right direction. As far as site seeing goes, I highly recommend skipping Navy Pier altogether (without a doubt the biggest tourist trap in Chicago), and head straight to North Avenue beach instead. On a sunny summer day, it rivals South Beach. Michigan Avenue is a complete cluster***** of tourists on weekends, but doing the walk once for tourists is worth it, IMO. A lot of really nice architecture near the river, etc. Let me know if you have any other specific questions.
Whatever happens, don't go to south side. Don't even cross 65th street. I've seen enough homicide cases at my hospital to know to wear a vest under my white coat.
Do the Chicago food walking tour - it is really a lot of fun and you get to hit some very unique restaurants/shops. We did the Near North tour and really loved it. I recommended it to others and they raved about it as well. http://www.chicagofoodplanet.com/
Non-touristy places to eat and see: 1) Mario's Italian Lemonade on 1068 W Taylor St - the original ice is lemon but you can get different flavors. On the same street you can get some really good polish sausages and beef sandwiches. 2) Nuevo Leon on 1515 W. 18th Street - great Mexican food (very different flavors than what you can get in Tx). 3) Rick Bayless (famous public TV chef) has several restaurants in Chicago. Frontera Grill is the cheapest and if I recall correctly no reservation is needed. Topolobampo needs a reservation. 4) Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants - A minority of these restaurants could be chains but the rest has some very good tasting food. 5) Taste of Chicago if you are there during the days of June 24 and July 3. 6) Go play some Whirly Ball (whirleyball.com) 7) Ed Devevic's - its a dinner restaurant where they treat you rudely on purpose. People go for the experience 8) Portillos - a nice hot dog, beef n' sausage place. Touristy Stuff: 1) Sears Tower or Hancock Observatory Decks 2) Navy Pier 3) Museum of Science and Industry (if you take a girl with you or if you pick up a girl over there - take her there and find the thermal cameras. Speak dirty in her ear and look at her erogenous zones glow! :grin 4) Shedd Aquarium / Field Museum / Soldier Field / Millenium Park (all next to each other) 5) Rock n' Roll McDonalds 6) Indiana Sand Dunes are cool place to go to (about 1 hour from downtown) 7) Plays/Shows/etc - Cirque du soleil, blue man group, broadway plays (not on broadway of course), Comedy Sportz Theater... If you give me more info in terms of what you are interested I could provide you with more information. Also, if you take the El (eleveated trains) do not take the red line.
I know us Chicagoists have provided input on these types of threads before...I'll dig up some past advice on the BBS for Chicago trips and repost links during lunch. Above all, stay prepared for weather changes.
Millennium Park Signature Room Lounge - John Hancock Tower - For the best view of Chicago. The Wit Hotel Lounge also has good views of Chicago. Oak Park - for the Architectural tours.
Visiting Chicago by EmJohn [Trip Advice] Chicago & Cincinnati by GlassHalfFull Things To Do In Chicago? by Droxford Going to Chicago by Mr.Brightside Going to Chicago by MadMax I'm In Chicago, Any Advice? by AroundTheWorld Chicago by RocketManTex You'll find my hidden gems of advice hidden throughout these threads. Enjoy!
Spiaggia - very nice italian food Stop by the Drake for a drink at the bar...same for Trump hotel if you have extra time The Gage - next to Millenium Park. Great Irish Breakfast R L Restaurant Second City - comedy show Of course pizza and don't forget to have a chicago style dog.
Thanks a lot! I tried searching for threads through google, but all I could find was GARM threads about the Bulls. As an aside, I might be heading to NYC too, can you point me in the direction of 1 or 2 of those old threads? Regardless, thank you! +REP
The best pizza in town is Lou Malnetti's. Ginos and Giodarnos are good, but Lou's is by far the best. Hot Dougs are the best hot dogs in town, but you have to give yourself about an hour leeway because it gets incredibly crowded. Kuma Burger has same wait length, but has some of the best burgers in town. The architectural boat tour off the Navy Pier is a MUST DO for any native or visitor to Chicago. There will be weekly fireworks off of the Navy Pier soon. Make sure you visit wrigglyville during a Cubbies game if you can't make it to actual Wrigley Field. If you like theatre, there are hundreds of incredible theatres in town. Chicago has tons of "Storefront" theatres that leave you with an incredibly unique theatre-watching experience. I work in the theatre here in town, so if this is your thing let me know, and I can suggest some really awesome shows going on at the moment. If you are traveling with shoppers, the Magnificent Mile/Michigan Ave. is the best mile+ for shopping. Also, don't be intimidated by the "el" system. It's really easy to navigate and can get you to any important location in the city. The pizza thing I am passionate about, and I am firm on saying that Lou's is the #1 pizza in town. Try it out, you will not be disappointed.
Second City tends to sell out fast. If you want to go and know when you are going to be there, you should get tickets now.
