1st time in Chicago

[BAMFMrsB]

MrBAMF and I will be heading to Chicago next week. He's running the marathon a 2nd time, but this time we've added on some days so we can have a bit of a vacation -- sans DS!  We'll be in the Loop-ish area, near the river.

We'll be there Fri - Wed night and I want to book 1 nice meal - I'll check the past dining threads for that info-  and I'm getting us CityPasses for $78  (down from $99! Totes $$MM). I see we can get a disounted pass for the metro/train www.transitchicago.com/fares/ I may just pay the $28pp for a 7 day pass because we'll need it Day 1 and Day 5 to get back and forth to the airport.

The CityPass gets us:

Shedd Aquarium
Skydeck Chicago (Fast Pass entry)
The Field Museum
Option Ticket 1: Your choice of Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago OR John Hancock Observatory (Fast Pass Entry)
Option Ticket 2: Your choice of Adler Planetarium OR Art Institute of Chicago


so that is quite a bit for 5 days!

Anything we else we should do?

[maddiepaddy]

The architecture boat tour is one of my favorite things to do in Chicago. The Arcitecture Foundation runs a great tour down the river but for a first time visit, I'd suggest Wendella's combo lake and river tour. It's awesome to get to see the city from the lake.

[v]

The Art Institute is a MUST. It has a fantastic collection.

Also, deep dish pizza is delicious and very MM.

[mbcdefg]

I'm not a local, but I've been there a few times and I really like the city.

I went through the Art Institute on my last (business) visit. I only budgeted a couple hours before I had to leave for the airport, and I took my time at first but then I sort of sped through so that I could be sure to see A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and American Gothic. Really cool place, but leave yourself a few hours. And you can walk over to Millennium Park and Buckingham Fountain from there.

We did the Wendella architecture boat tour on the Chicago River during our first trip, and again when my mom came with us last summer. I really enjoyed how they talked about the history of the city and the buildings, plus the architecture itself is beautiful. We went out onto Lake Michigan at the end of the first tour which was awesome, but they didn't do it when we went last summer. www.wendellaboats.com/experience/riverarchitecturetour.aspx

I wasn't impressed with Navy Pier, and I've heard locals say it's too touristy anyway.

The comedy show at Second City was really fun.

I ate at The Purple Pig during my solo business trip, and I loved it so much that I ate lunch there the next day Great small plates and drinks, and it's trendy without being stuffy. It's got tight seating, which didn't bother me but I know MH would've been annoyed if he'd been there with me. I loved the milk-braised pork shoulder, the beets with whipped goat cheese and pistachios, the burratta (cheese), and a Wagyu beef dish (short ribs, maybe?). I had a drink and 2-3 plates each time and only spent about $50. thepurplepigchicago.com/

MH and I got small plates at a place called Farmhouse. They have a delicious house-made root beer (it's clear!): farmhousechicago.com/

I really liked Lou Malnati's pizza. Gino's East was gross: www.loumalnatis.com/

MH is a craft beer guy so he wanted to try Hopleaf, and it was very good: hopleaf.com/ And there's a cute little ice cream parlor a short walk from there: www.georgesicecreamandsweets.com/

On our first trip we had dinner at Joe's Seafood. IDK if it's a tourist trap place or not, but the food was good and the service was excellent and we got a free dessert: www.joes.net/location/chicago/?loc=chicago

Maybe a tour of Wrigley Field? It's a cool ballpark.

[v]

Sept 30, 2014 15:17:27 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

so that I could be sure to see A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte and American Gothic. 

Two of my very, very favorite paintings in the whole world.  That may be why I like that museum so much (the study of A Sunday Afternoon at the Met just doesn't compare!)

[Deleted]

I have a Chicago recos file that I can dig up if you'd like - can copy it in here. One of my fave cities.

[tacom]

I would skip the pass you're planning on. I didn't love the aquarium - I think there are many better attractions (art institute, millennium/grant park, lurie garden, architecture boat tour, free lincoln park zoo, beaches, adorable shops in lakeview/lincoln park/old town, divvy bike ride along the lakefront path, walk along the river walk or down the mag mile). I would also skip the skydeck and get cocktails at the signature lounge instead which has a better view anyways and is less overtly touristy. agree with others to avoid navy pier. I do love the field museum so I support your plan to check that out.

I'm not sure what constitutes a "nice" meal; I think we have simpler palates than most MMers and avoid $$$$ places. with this in mind, we love: the gage (best burger in the city. fried pickles are divine. good beer selection. great service and adorable outdoor seating. located on Michigan Ave), Topo Gigio (bruschetta I dream about on the regular; located in Old Town; across the street from froyo so you have built-in date night), Purple Pig (delicious small plates; long wait but you can grab drinks somewhere to kill the time. should be within walking distance from your hotel), Howells and Hood (awesome wine and beer selection, right on the river. perfect place to grab drinks before the purple pig. also a little sentimental for me because FI and I celebrated here with our families the night he proposed. drinks are definitely better than food though); Quartino (cute pizzeria and wine bar; small plates), Lou's (does not require explanation). 

have fun and enjoy the city! 

[v]

Timely, MMR article from the NYT

mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/travel/a-100-weekend-in-chicago.html?smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0&referrer=

[badgergrl]

I had one of the best meals of my life at Tru.

Shopping on Michigan Ave is fun.

I can't wait to check out Eataly.

[scout8]

Sept 30, 2014 19:19:38 GMT -5 tacom said:

I would skip the pass you're planning on. I didn't love the aquarium - I think there are many better attractions (art institute, millennium/grant park, lurie garden, architecture boat tour, free lincoln park zoo, beaches, adorable shops in lakeview/lincoln park/old town, divvy bike ride along the lakefront path, walk along the river walk or down the mag mile). I would also skip the skydeck and get cocktails at the signature lounge instead which has a better view anyways and is less overtly touristy. agree with others to avoid navy pier. I do love the field museum so I support your plan to check that out.


have fun and enjoy the city! 

Everything Tacom said!

Try to get out to one of the neighborhoods. In addition to the above, Lincoln Square, Southport Corridor, Andersonville are all cute and close to the el. I think that the neighborhoods are one of the best parts of the city.

Have fun!

[sjh722]

Sept 30, 2014 16:43:59 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Several posters recommended the Girl and the Goat to me for dining and my H and I loved it. It might be too late to book a table, but you could plan to walk in right when they open. Good food that isn't a budget buster - one of the best meals we've had in their price point.

If you can't get a reservation, The Little Goat is good too! It's a diner setup. We've eaten there before and loved it.