Top 20 things to do in Chicago ?

Question

Looking for an escape from meetings. Will be passing through for week or so.

Some personal interests - buildings, classical & formal theatre, local culture & history, good food, local curios, shopping. Open to any other suggestions, preferably family orientated.

(GE1.22.10.06)

ABRIDGED
Alternative – sue h’s Jerry Springer !; KuKlux..’s Planet of the apes ! Mullah or a shotgun as required.
Mainstream – Kelly’s suggestion of Millenium park et al. and simply frozen on the parks; ilovef..’s Buckingham Foutain et al., Macy's (formerly Field's), and not to be missed spectacular view from a double decker tour bus.
Comprehensive –
muncie..
1. Possibly the best Art Institute.
2. Field museum worth a visit.
3. Sizzling Bears game.
4. Great south side pizza from Home Run Inn Pizza.
5. Lincoln Park zoo. A classic zoo.
6. Beer atop John Hankock Building. Dinner with deep pockets only.
7. “The Picasso statue??”
8. Cubs game and White Sox game a must for any visitor.
9. F.L. Wright buildings…
10. Old Chicago Water Tower. One of few surviving the 1871 fire.

All encompassing Week’s Guided tour for the family –

Chicago food equates with great food: steak houses at Magnum's and Morton's; pizzas at Giordano's and Uno's; Maggianno's for Italian. Alternatively, see jousting and eat with your hands at Medieval Times.

Evenings: Chicago river tour of architecture, stroll and watching people by Michigan Avenue, grooving with the Chicago Blues scene at Rosa’s or chillnig out at Zanie's Comedy Club or Tony and Tina's Wedding at Piper's Alley at Olde Towne.

Family trips: Children’s entertainment from white Beluga Whales at Shedd Acquarium to Navy Pier; trolley bus tour, reminiscent of Vince Vaughn’s tour narrator in "The Break-up"; an afternoon out at Lincoln Park Zoo; Art and architecture: the Picasso Statue and buildings. Grab the chance to watch a Cubs or White Sox game. Soak in ambience at Wrigley Field’s. Youngsters be spoilt for choice of non-stop clubbing from Rush Street thru to Division Street. – BShakey

Answer 1

I've done that same thing and Chicago is a great city to explore this way while in town for a conference. I've done exactly this with my family as well.

Here are my suggestions for a stay of a week.

I'll number the suggestions as I go along for you.

You have to go get some Chicago food -- at one of the great restaurants. One thing that people associate with Chicago is great food. My suggestion would be to try either (1) Magnum's or (2) Morton's for steak (expensive); (3) Giordano's or (4) Uno's Pizza (cheap), (5) Maggianno's for Italian (moderate).

You can take the (6) Chicago River Cruise part of one evening. It has an archetectural tour that goes down the Chicago River which is beautiful in the evening.

(7) Strolling down Michigan Avenue in the evening is fun in itself -- seeing the beautiful store fronts and people-watching. You have to at least (8) walk through Millineum Park and see it -- especially the Bean. (9) Take a trolley bus tour of the city as well -- the kind that Vince Vaughn did as tour narrator in the movie "The Break-up".

You should take in (10) Zanie's Comedy Club in Old Towne. I've laughed so hard there that the muscles in my cheeks hurt afterward. It is a fun and relatively inexpensive night out -- and is right in the heart of where John Belushi, Dan Ackroyd, Bill Murray and Chevy Chase all cut their comedic teeth while in Chicago at the beginning of their careers.

While in (11) Olde Towne you also should try to take in Tony and Tina's Wedding at Piper's Alley right in OT.

(12) Lincoln Park Zoo is still free so that would be a great family outing that wouldn't cost much.

If you like the (13) Bar Scene you can go clubbin' in Rush Street -- where there are just blocks and blocks of bars and restaurants. After (14) Rush Street go around the corner to Division Street and keep the clubbin' going.

As it gets a bit later you have to go check out a Blue's Club. (15)Rosa's is the place you need to see. It is just what people think of as they imagine an authentic Chicago Blues club. It has been spotlighted in USA Today recently.

http://www.rosaslounge.com/

(16) Kingston Mines is on Halsted is another blues club (North of the city)

http://www.kingstonmines.com/flash/main....

At this time of year you can take in either a Cubs or White Sox game in the evenings. (17) aT THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU CAN AT LEAST WALK AROUND wRIGLeY Field and get the ambiensce of the neighborhood and get a bite to eat. People like to stroll at (18) Navy Pier, but that isn't a great place in my opinion it is overrated. It is really good for children. If you haven't seen it you might enjoy going once. (19) They could go ice skating at Navy Pier.

As for culture that your kids would also enjoy you can't miss the (20) Field's Museum, (21) the Chicago Art Museum, (22) the Museum of Science and Industry and (23) Shedd Acquarium (check out the white Beluga Whales). You can get a pass from your concierge to go to all of these places for one reasonable price for families.

Check out the (24) Picasso Stature -- given to the city of Chicago from Picasso in the mid-sixties.

Finally take a page out of Jim Carrey's movie and go to (25) Medieval Times in Schaumburg. See the jousting and eat with your hands.

One thing for sure -- you will love Chicago. I gave yu five extra things to consider.

It is a great city -- very clean and the people are friendly.

Good question.

Answer 2

1. Art Institute not to be missed under any circumstances. One of the best art museums if not the best in the country.

2. Field museum. Worth a visit any time but not world class.

3. Bears game. They are hot.

4. Home Run Inn Pizza. Down on the south side. Around Pulaski and 34 th st. A south side neighborhood pizza place with great pizza.

5. Lincoln Park zoo. One of the classic zoos. Not of a caliber with the more modern zoos such as Brookfield Zoo but a classic.

6. a beer at the top of the John Hankock Building or if you have deep pockets, dinner.

7. The Picasso statue?? Heck I do not know what to call it. It is not really a statue. It is something else.

8. Too bad baseball season is over. Taking in a Cubs game is a must for any visitor to Chicago as is a White Sox game.

9. There are a several of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in Chicago. The Robie House at 5757 S. Woodlawn Ave. is one.
Another is the Bach House at 7415 N. Sheridan RD.

10. Old Chicago Water Tower. One of the few buildings to survive the 1871 fire. Michigan and Chicago Ave.

Check out the Chicago link below for 10 more.

Answer 3

You might want to go to Buckingham Foutain, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, Macy's shopping center (used to be Field's), the Art Institute of Chicago, do a double decker tour bus and if you ride on the top you get a GREAT view. You might want to keep asking people and you might get better anwsers.

Answer 4

1-meet someone born on leap day 2-start a food fight 3-egg gorges bush house 3 go to the very top part of the statue of liberty 4-try to get in Julliard (not gonna happen) 5-have kids 6-tell the person that i Really like him \ 7-go to the white house 8-start a big fight (i love drama) 9win a 10000000000$ 10-have my 1st kiss 11-go to the moon 12-burst in to random dancing 13-fine out who my true friends are 14-go swimming with the sharks 15-meet my true love 16-party all night 17- be able to tell my grand kids back them when i was a kid stories 18 - meet some one from hollywood 19-ride in a limo with a hot tube 20- have the best live ever

Answer 5

ooh I live there... you can go to millenium park , navy pier, dave and busters, the sears tower, the water tower (mall), or I usually just walk around but now its cold so I would rather not

Answer 6

see Jerry Springer