The wife and I are heading to Chicago for a short anniversary trip next week. I'm a Braves fan, but I've always wanted to go to Wrigley. We are going to catch the Cubs and Pirates play next weekend (hoping Frazier will be in the lineup that day). Anyway, we need some suggestions on things to do/see and places to eat. What y'all got? Definitely want to get some Chicago style pizza while we are there but there are a billion of those. Any suggestions?
OT-Chicago
- Thread starter bulldog2488
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Decent steak houses
But if you haven't already made reservations for the top ones, (Gibson's, Chicago chop) house, it may be to late.
Pizza: I like UNO's, but there are a lot of good ones.
You've probably already made hotel reservations, but I was really impressed by The James Hotel. It's an independent hotel and the room I had was really cool. Much better than your standard hotel room. The location is great, too.
I'm by no means an expert, so I'm sure others will give better advice.
But if you haven't already made reservations for the top ones, (Gibson's, Chicago chop) house, it may be to late.
Pizza: I like UNO's, but there are a lot of good ones.
You've probably already made hotel reservations, but I was really impressed by The James Hotel. It's an independent hotel and the room I had was really cool. Much better than your standard hotel room. The location is great, too.
I'm by no means an expert, so I'm sure others will give better advice.
Known for their deep-dish, but the best may be other types. Check out this article from the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/foodfocus/ct-best-pizza-chicago-2016-photogallery.html
It's been many years since I was last in Chicago, but when I've gone, I love to hit the traditional blues clubs.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/foodfocus/ct-best-pizza-chicago-2016-photogallery.html
It's been many years since I was last in Chicago, but when I've gone, I love to hit the traditional blues clubs.
The prime rib at Lawry's is an absolute must! It is on Ontario St a half block off Michigan Avenue
For sure go to Millenium Park and Buckingham fountain. Afterwards go for drinks at Cindy's. Drinks are expensive, but the views are amazing. You can skip Navy Pier if you want. It is super touristy and crawling with unsupervised kids. Only reason we went was to ride the ferris wheel.
Try Au Cheval burgers. It is basically a fancy diner that specializes in burgers. Get bacon. We got a Chicago dog from the wiener's circle. It was good but some locals told us there was better. Supposedly if you go at night and ask for a chocolate shake the lady behind the counter will show you her boobs.
Try Au Cheval burgers. It is basically a fancy diner that specializes in burgers. Get bacon. We got a Chicago dog from the wiener's circle. It was good but some locals told us there was better. Supposedly if you go at night and ask for a chocolate shake the lady behind the counter will show you her boobs.
The Rush/Division Street area is nice with plenty of restaurants and bars. Lou Malnati's Pizza, Gibson's Steakhouse, Tavern on Rush. Quartino is a great Italian restaurant downtown. The Trump hotel has a great, but expensive, bar about 20 floors up that overlooks the river. Second City is a well known improve, comedy club. The options are endless in Chicago.
I just got back a couple of weeks ago.
I've been a lifelong Cubs fan had never been to a game at Wrigley.
I went and saw them get the crap kicked out of them by the Rockies.
It's pretty awesome seeing a game from there. I want to go back soon and catch a game from the rooftops, but they didn't have any available in any of the buildings that a decent view.
That being said, I think I had more fun at the Whitesox game later that week.
They are awful this year and we got $35 club level tickets - dedicated waiter, semi-private restrooms, lounge where we watched bits of the NBA finals.
For Pizza, we did several places: Giordano's, Lou Malnatti's, and Pequod's.
If you want the stereotypical "Chicago" style - I'd say Giordano's, although it's a chain, it was still really good.
Our favorite though, was Pequod's. It's still deep dish, but doesn't have a layer of crust near the top like Giordano's. It' was great and it's s not a national chain, so that may be why I put it at the top.
Lou Malnatti's was garbage. Skip it.
On a side note, I've heard for years everyone say things like "Oh, you don't want to go to Chicago! it's so dangerous...".
I never felt unsafe anywhere we went. We rode the El up to Lincoln Square where we stayed, and out to the Sox game, then out to O'hare for the flight back and never had any issues at all.
I've been a lifelong Cubs fan had never been to a game at Wrigley.
I went and saw them get the crap kicked out of them by the Rockies.
It's pretty awesome seeing a game from there. I want to go back soon and catch a game from the rooftops, but they didn't have any available in any of the buildings that a decent view.
That being said, I think I had more fun at the Whitesox game later that week.
They are awful this year and we got $35 club level tickets - dedicated waiter, semi-private restrooms, lounge where we watched bits of the NBA finals.
For Pizza, we did several places: Giordano's, Lou Malnatti's, and Pequod's.
If you want the stereotypical "Chicago" style - I'd say Giordano's, although it's a chain, it was still really good.
Our favorite though, was Pequod's. It's still deep dish, but doesn't have a layer of crust near the top like Giordano's. It' was great and it's s not a national chain, so that may be why I put it at the top.
Lou Malnatti's was garbage. Skip it.
On a side note, I've heard for years everyone say things like "Oh, you don't want to go to Chicago! it's so dangerous...".
I never felt unsafe anywhere we went. We rode the El up to Lincoln Square where we stayed, and out to the Sox game, then out to O'hare for the flight back and never had any issues at all.
Haha this reminds me of The Office episode when Michael Scott goes to New York and gets pizza at the "best pizza place in NYC." Classic
Halsted St for Blues clubs
The last time I went, a guy took me to B.L.U.E.S., which is a dive. The music on a Monday night was still great. Kingston Mines is up the street, don't park in the Ace Hardware lot.
The last time I went, a guy took me to B.L.U.E.S., which is a dive. The music on a Monday night was still great. Kingston Mines is up the street, don't park in the Ace Hardware lot.
Ive been quite a few times and love the city. I can second Gibson's Steakhouse and Giordano's being really good. Like someone else mentioned, millennium park is pretty neat, Navy Pier is kinda just meh. If you are going to a cubs game, plan on spending some time in wrigleyville. There are lots of little bars on clark st right by the stadium and murphys bleachers on sheffield. Its a great atmosphere if you can get there a few hours before the game and bounce around to a few of those places. I cant remember the actual name, but there is like a bikes, bites and brews bike tour that is a fantastic way to see the city. I'm not usually one for gimmicky tourist stuff, but it was really cool and kind of gets you off the beaten path some and to see some other sides of chicago. Im an architecture guy, so i really like the architecture river cruise. It only lasts an hour or so and gives a really cool brief description of all the buildings in chicago and some hidden history. It also serves drinks which is a plus. A very relaxing hour floating the chicago river and hearing about all the stuff downtown.
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Its been years, but Lawry's The Prime Rib is a must visit, IMO.
We did an architecture cruise on the river that was fun also.
We did an architecture cruise on the river that was fun also.
Very few dangerous cities have a lot of crime in their nicer and touristy friendly areas. New Orleans is probably one of the worst, and the French Quarter is still pretty safe most hours of the day, and Magazine St. and the garden district are pretty much always safe to my knowledge.
D.C. is maybe another city where the dangerous areas and touristy/upper class areas are close to each other, although I'm not sure how much the continued gentrification of D.C. during the federal government boom has ended that.
What's the best option to buy tickets? Last minute stubhub? (that's what I normally do) I was looking at going later this month, maybe Friday 7/21 - afternoon game vs. StL. My plan was to see what prices looked like next week when they have a string of home games.
I waited and waited, hoping prices would go down as the Cubs kept losing...
But they never really did - I think Cubs hysteria is still pretty high after the WS.
So I bought on StubHub a couple of weeks before we went.
They load the tickets right to the app on your phone, which is nice so you don't have to keep up with anything extra.
But they never really did - I think Cubs hysteria is still pretty high after the WS.
So I bought on StubHub a couple of weeks before we went.
They load the tickets right to the app on your phone, which is nice so you don't have to keep up with anything extra.