What should I do in Chicago?

Oh, I have tons of suggestions--fortunately, I already have a list for when I get this question from friends. It's gonna be cold, so be prepared.

*First of all, good job on setting up the Lakland tour. Great people, and I love the basses. I live about 15 minutes away.

*I normally recommend the John Hancock building over the Sears, because it's right next to the lake and you get cool views of the water and Lakeshore Drive, while still seeing the Loop. BUT, I haven't been to the Sears since they put in that glass balcony thing, and it looks very cool.

*Don't expect too much from Navy Pier. The inside, particularly the front half, is pretty much like a mall. It's worth walking around the outside, though.

*Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River is shopping galore, if your wife wants to go somewhere else while you go to Lakland.

*If, somehow, it's not too cold to be on a boat, there are some cool tours of the river that also go out on the lake. Wendella's tours leave from a spot below and to the side of the Michigan Ave bridge over the river.

*Millennium Park, which is on Michigan Ave. a couple blocks south of the river--check out the Pritzker Pavilion (beautiful outdoor venue), the Bean (big, reflective sculpture) and--if it's not too cold to run the water--the towers with videos of people's faces on them.

*Next door is the Art Institute of Chicago. They have a great collection.

*Next to Soldier Field on Lakeshore Drive are the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. I've never been to the latter, but the first two are worth the time and admission price, IMO.
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*Gino's East pizza, the main location at 633 N. Wells (this is about 5 blocks north of the Chicago River). Best deep-dish pizza I've ever had, period.

*The theater district is in the north end of the Loop, if you're into that. For more artsy, funky productions, Steppenwolf Theatre is a couple miles away--the Red Line of the El gets you within a couple blocks.

*Second City is also a couple miles away. The shows are generally good to very good. Take the Brown Line from downtown and you'll be 2-3 blocks away.

I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. Where are you staying?

Some food stuff to hit:

1) Find a good Chicago hot dog - I suspect you can find a Gold Coast Dogs up there, they'll do.

2) Hit one of Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurants - Frontera Grill ($$), Topolobampo ($$$), XOCO ($).

3) Don't bother with Gino East pizza, go for the good stuff - Lou Malnati's.

If you're a fan of fine coffee at all then go to any of the Intelligentsia Coffee locations. There are some downtown. www.intelligentsiacoffee.com

Their baristas are alway winning regional and national competitions, their coffee is fantastic and they set the trends for other fine coffee shops around the country.

bc

I had fun just wandering around looking at all the beautiful skylines at night. And eating. A lot.

Sign up for some stimulas money.

And get a porkchop sandwich.

Andy

I've been to navy pier a couple times, I think you'll be disappointed. I've never been to sears tower, but the glass balcony is supposed to be awesome.

Go to greek town and get some gyros, thats what I'd do. Or find some good Chicago style hot dogs. I'd actually reccommend going to a small little hotdog joint instead of one of the more famous places. I don't know any close to downtown though, I live a good 5 miles from downtown. If you're in the area or willing to make the trip, I would go to Quick Bite, on Western and Foster. Its not a very classy place, but oh man is it delicious. Chicago style pizza is a must, too. The best place I've ever been to is called Art of Pizza, its not downtown either, but its worth the trip (Ashland and Belmont, approximately). Best pizza I've ever had.

Other than food, I don't know what else to suggest. I've lived here all my life, so none of the tourists activities seem exciting to me. You could go shopping downtown, but after 18 years of this city, I would suggest against that, unless you love to wait in line, and spend unnecessary amounts of money. I'm sure your wife will disagree with me though, women love to go shopping downtown. Check out Michigan Avenue. One place I kinda like is the Water Tower. You could go to the Walnut Room at Macy's.

field museum... absolutely. and the lakland guys are great so good job on that. if youre into some odd shopping theres always "the alley" which is at Clark and Belmont. And what is the most fun place? The Chicago Music Exchange. its a premium guitar shop. super high end stuff, boutique amps, loads of vintage...... take Lake Shore Drive to Belmont.... Make a right on Clark. Its a couple minutes down from there.

LaklandBass said:

field museum... absolutely. and the lakland guys are great so good job on that. if youre into some odd shopping theres always "the alley" which is at Clark and Belmont. And what is the most fun place? The Chicago Music Exchange. its a premium guitar shop. super high end stuff, boutique amps, loads of vintage...... take Lake Shore Drive to Belmont.... Make a right on Clark. Its a couple minutes down from there.

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How could I forget?!?! Chicago Music Exchance is awesome. Actually its on Lincoln, not Clark. That place is great, hands down, its the best guitar shop I've ever been to.

Belmont and Clark is a fun neighborhood too. We call this area "Boystown," you will see a ton of strange/funny looking people in this neighborhood, haha. Besides The Alley, there are a load of sex shops. There's a ton of headshops on Clark too, if you're into that, its probably the best area to buy a new piece. Even if you don't buy anything, I would check out this neighborhood, its a pretty unique area.

Are you a fan of architecture? If so, you have weeks worth of things to do including visiting Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio.

I suspect the place you're staying is at Leavitt and Western (which is a major street--I don't know of an Eastern).

HeavyDuty said:

Some food stuff to hit:

1) Find a good Chicago hot dog - I suspect you can find a Gold Coast Dogs up there, they'll do.

2) Hit one of Rick Bayless's Mexican restaurants - Frontera Grill ($$), Topolobampo ($$$), XOCO ($).

3) Don't bother with Gino East pizza, go for the good stuff - Lou Malnati's.

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+1 on the first two. Portillo's makes a good dog, they're a couple blocks north of the river.

C'mon Ken, you gotta give Gino's some love! Lou Malnati's is my #2 choice, though.

Also, +1 on Greektown (nice neighborhood, good food). Chicago Music Exchange has an amazing vintage collection--I wouldn't buy there, to be honest, but they're cool with letting you try anything.

I took Chicago Studies last year in school, it was a great class. You could go look at the Union Stockyards, its not there anymore, but there is a lot of history. It won't be super exciting, I think if you go there, you should read up on the history. I thought it was really cool to be standing at the same spot where all the history took place.

I'd take a visit to the South side. Its not all a ghetto and its not only black people that live there, but there are a few rough spots. I don't think its nearly as bad is people make it seem to be honest. Hyde Park is a very rich neighborhood, its supposed to be really nice. Obama lives there. Theres also a neighborhood called Bronzeville, its one of the classiest neighborhoods on the southside, I had a good time visiting it (we had a field trip). It is mostly black people in that neighborhood, but its not a rough neighborhood at all. I went there on a Sunday, and it was quite a sight to see everyone dressed up in suits and women wearing fancy fur coats, driving around in their fancy expensive cars to go to church. Again, lots of history, but unfortunately lots of it is gone. You have to do some research to really enjoy it I think. Its another one of those things where you are standing at the same spot were x building used to be, or where a certain event happened. Plus, if you visit the South side, you can tell all your freinds back home, and they'll think that you have some major cojones for visiting the south side.

If you're into history, the south side is full of it. The south side was the first part of town to be developed. It used to be that you would live in the city (on the southside), and you could buy a vacation home on belmont to escape the busy city life on the weekends. If you're into jazz, hit up a jazz club on halsted (what used to be called the Stroll), or there is the Jazz Showcase which is basically downtown.

Haha, at first I didn't know what to suggest that you do, now I've given you a list a mile long.

greekorican said:

Belmont and Clark is a fun neighborhood too. We call this area "Boystown," you will see a ton of strange/funny looking people in this neighborhood, haha. Besides The Alley, there are a load of sex shops. There's a ton of headshops on Clark too, if you're into that, its probably the best area to buy a new piece. Even if you don't buy anything, I would check out this neighborhood, its a pretty unique area.

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Two places to hit near The Alley are The Pleasure Chest and the Gallery of Condoms.

My li'l sister lived upstairs of the second one for a few years. Fun crowd!

blendermassacre said:

Probably won't buy anything there anyways. We're taking the mega bus from kc to chicago, so I don't feel like holding a bass in my lap the whole time.

We'll be there 11/11 thru 11/14. Ill have to buy you helpfull guys a beer.

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I'll take you up on that, if possible. I live in the city, in Lakeview (about 4-5 miles from downtown), so I'm close. I'll be coming back into town on the 11th.

Ahem : Harold's Chicken, and Lawrence's Fishery.

And just get a good view of the skyline..its really killer at night. Super Dawg, but thats North, and Demon Dogs is no more...stinkin red line..