Chicago

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We’re going to be in Chicago next weekend for a wedding. Does anyone have any suggestions on places/neighborhoods/things that we should see while we’re there?

10 thoughts on “Chicago”

  1. You should totally check out Lakeview…also known as Boys Town. It’s a neat neighbourhood, sort of like the West Village and Wrigley Field is totally right there in the middle of it.

    My favorite bar is Side Track, which I especially recommend on Monday nights if you will be there then.

    Let me know if you want me to alert the cadre of Chicago friends that you will be there and see who wants to meet up.

    You’ll also want to check out the Christmas windows at Marshall Fields down in the Loop. If you’re looking for offbeat smaller theatre productions, see what’s on at Theatre Building Chicago on Belmont.

    Definitely spend some time walking around down in the Loop. Architectually, Chicago is a much more interesting city than New York and there are fasciniting things to see.

    I’m so envious…it’s a great town. I love it there and haven’t been back in almost a year.

  2. Boystown is the main gay hangout and Sidetrack is, indeed, required visiting for all out-of-towners.

    The other gay neighborhood, which used to be Swedish, then went lesbian and now hosts mostly gay bars(leather, strip, troll and guppy)as well as restaurants and families is Andersonville (further north).

    For ideas for museums, art, theatre etc, visit: http://www.metromix.com

  4. Hit the Museum of the Art Institute of Chicago:

    http://www.artic.edu/aic/

    Enter and go directly to the European paintings. They have one of the best collections in the world … Seurat, Monet, Picasso, Kandinsky, etc. It is foolish to go to Chicago and not make this trip, even if you are not especially “into” paintings.

    Then, be sure and check out the Edward Hopper “Nighthawks” on your way out:

    http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/amer/highlight_item?acc=1942.51&page=6

  5. I don’t know if you want to spend your time going to a movie, but I love going to see movies at the Music Box Theater on Southport. The theater is old and beautiful and they have sing-a-long Mary Poppins right now. I’ll also second the suggestion of the Art Institute and throw in Millenium Park.

    If you want food recommendations, give me some idea of what you’re looking for and I’d be happy to help. My mom knows more than me, as she still lives there, so I could always hit her up for suggestions.

    http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/

  6. Oh, I forgot, if you don’t mind playing tourist a bit, definitely take a river tour of the city. I think the Chicago Architectural Association or some such organization runs them and they are great fun.

  7. I echo the Art Institute recommendations. What a great museum.

    You’ll need a car to get there, but the Little India stretch of Devon Ave. (stress on the second syllable, rhymes with Yvonne) is a fabulous light show at night and has great food.

    If you’re in the mood for kosher food, skip the famous but overrated Ada’s in the Loop.

    If you do go to Boystown, a place called Rick’s has great, fresh Chinese food and Mao kitsch.

  8. While it is not the nicest bar in the world and is always full of tourists, a drink at the top of the Hancock Tower is a great way to get an overview of the city. Also, it is a way to avoid paying to get to the top of the Hancock Tower. Of course, they get you with obnoxiously priced drinks.

    A great city for walking and some of the best architecture in the US.

    Enjoy!

    Don

  9. Hancock Signature Lounge is, indeed, beatiful. Just remember that someone coming from New York is used to paying at least 10 dollars for a martini. Chicago bars will seem amazingly cheap, Jeff. (Also amazingly smokey for a New Yorker, as well.)

    The river and lake tours can be caught without reservation from Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue. They stop offering them either Veteran’s Day or Thanksgiving, though, I think. I can’t recall.

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