I'm in Chicago

[Kirin]

My mom gave my sister a trip to Chicago as a graduation present, and I tagged along. Our hotel is in Evanston, IL, but we're taking the subway to Chicago every day (yay for cheap public transportation).

So far, I've seen the musical "Wicked" at the Oriental Theater, visited the Lincoln Park Zoo, and went to Taste of Chicago festival. I'm itching to go to the planetarium and the Museum of Science and Industry, but I don't think I'll get to because my Mom and sister won't want to go.

If anyone has any suggestions about other things I could do while in/near Chicago, I'll be glad to hear 'em. I'm here until Monday night, so I still have plenty of time to do stuff.

[Denmo]

Re: I'm in Chicago

I wonder if someone here lives near Chicago..

[Cutter De Blanc]

Re: I'm in Chicago

Go see the Sears Tower.

It's big.

I mean really big.

I've seen pictures, I know.

[Owl of Parliament]

Re: I'm in Chicago

You could meet Al Bundy.

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: I'm in Chicago

Eat a deep-dish pizza.

I never did that while I was there.

[Translucid]

Re: I'm in Chicago

Eat Al Bundy.

[Kire]

Re: I'm in Chicago

Giordano's is the best deep dish pizza in Chicago.

Go visit the signature room, you can look down on the city. If you order a drink, expect to be raped on the prices...for god sake don't get a meal there (price).

http://www.signatureroom.com/

I very much enjoy the art museum.

RUB THE BIG METALLIC BEAN!!!

[John Mora]

Re: I'm in Chicago

Women: SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY ARE BORINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[Kefka Jr.]

Re: I'm in Chicago

The Art Institue kicked my ass.

And the Bean is cool as hell. They have outdoor concerts around there sometimes, too. Maybe you could catch one if it's not hot as hell.

[Perversion]

Re: I'm in Chicago

The Museum of Science and Industry is, to me, the best thing, hands down, to see in Chicago. If you get to the Loop, you should check out the Picasso. Not that it's all that impressive or anything. But just to say you've seen it.

Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain also (but if you were at the Taste, you probably already saw that). Chicago's got a vibrant music scene as well. If anyone local is playing Metro, Double Door, or Empty Bottle, check those out possibly. If you want to get out of the city proper, and take the train to Brookfield, you could go to Brookfield Zoo (granted, you've already seen Lincoln Park, which really pales in comparison), which, other than San Diego Zoo, is probably the most famous zoo in the U.S.

Catch a Cubs game if you can (yeah, right), as this might be "next year."

And I also vouch for deep dish pizza, but you might also want to try authentic Chicago thin crust. Before leaving, you should also try at least one Chicago style hot dog, and an Italian Beef sandwich with spicy giardinera.


Okay, I think I've given you enough to choose from....

[jvrlopez]

Re: I'm in Chicago

I heard the southside of Chicago is great this time of year.

[Kirin]

Re: I'm in Chicago

Went to the Art Institute yesterday. Wonderful, and overwhelming. It's free from 5-9 on Thursdays, and we showed up around 6 or so, which was a big mistake in hindsight. There's no way I could absorb all of it in just four hours. Were it left up to me, I'd visit over at least a 2 day period.

There was a concert/fireworks show at the Bean yesterday. Oddly enough, it was freezing outside after being hot all day. I'm glad I persuaded my family to get to the train station a little before the show ended; I was watching the news this morning, and it reported that somebody got killed in a shooting that broke out minutes after we'd left.

Today my sister wants to go to Chinatown, so we're probably going to head there first, then go visit some relatives who live downton. Tomorrow I'm hoping we'll go to the Science and Industry Museum and the Aquarium.

I'd really like to get into the local music scene, but since I'm probably going to have to stick around my mom and sister most of the time (I'm the only one who can read the maps and navigate the train system ) I probably won't get to.

[Perversion]

Re: I'm in Chicago

Yeah...it WAS damn cold last night.


The aquarium is cool, too, but if you're in that area, you'll probably end up going to the Field Museum too. It's a history/culture museum. Science and Industry is a bit further down Lake Shore Drive. Oh, and if you are on LSD (Lake Shore Drive), and need to get off, try to take Lower Wacker if possible. Or even if not, just punch it in to Mapquest or a GPS, and take a ride down it anyway. Seriously, Lower Wacker is one of the coolest streets to drive on in the city (short of maybe LSD). It's kinda sorta all underground, but not really.

And Kirin, before you leave, try to eat at least one of the following (I'm gonna reiterate this until you say you've done so): Chicago Hot Dog, Chicago thin crust pizza, Italian Beef Sandwich, or authentic gyros. Granted, a lot of this food is kind of a joke about Chicago outside of Chicago (SNL's Superfans), but if you only get a chance to come here once in your life, you need to take a rememberance of food back with you. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT eat at McDonald's or somewhere that you can eat the same food anywhere else.

Glad you're having a good time!