Overnight Chicago trip

[YankeeFan]

How could I forget coffee!

21 Outstanding Coffee Shops In Chicago

 

[cranberry]

I'm making YF my tour guide next time I go to Chicago, even is he has to push a stroller around.

 

[YankeeFan]

I'm making YF my tour guide next time I go to Chicago, even is he has to push a stroller around.

Chicago's a great place to play tourist, even if you live here. Really wide variety of things to do. Great neighborhoods. Lots of creative restaurants.

The lists I posted are a little generic, but they give enough of a description that you should be able to figure out what would appeal to you.

For restaurants, I love Trencherman. You have to be a little bot of a good eater, but it's creative, the menu changes, and they have great cocktails and beers. It's where I always bring guests from out of town.

Girl and the Goat is very good, but hard to get into. But, bar seating is open. Hang at the bar for a bit, and you'll get a seat if it's just a couple of you. The Pig Face is good. It's their signature dish. Sort of a bacon and eggs, breakfast for dinner kind of thing.

All of the Chicago Architecture FOundation tours are excellent. See what they're offering on any given day and check one out. In nice whether, the architecture boat tour is fantastic.

We like to check out some of Chicago's Churches from time to time. The first one on this list is a favorite:

Eleven Churches Not to Miss When You Visit Chicago | Catholic World Report - Global Church news and views

 

[Ace]

Isn't anyone going to try to talk N_W out of going to see Wrigley Field in February?

 

[I Should Coco]

Isn't anyone going to try to talk N_W out of going to see Wrigley Field in February?

February's a great time to visit Wrigley Field.

No lovable losers on the field, and no selfie-taking losers in the bleachers!

 

[YankeeFan]

Isn't anyone going to try to talk N_W out of going to see Wrigley Field in February?

It doesn't look like they're offering tours in the off season, maybe because of the construction:

Ballpark Tours - Daily Tours

But, if you've got to see it, you've got to see it. You can still get a feel for how it fit into the neighborhood, have a quick beer at a bar and get out of there.

It's not far from downtown, so it's not much of a side trip.

Unless you want to check out Boystown -- not that there's anything wrong with that -- there's not much else to do around there.

Can't really recommend anywhere nearby to eat.

I've never been, but this joint was on Man vs. Food, for those so inclined:

Lucky's Sandwich Company - Chicago's Best Sandwich Shop

 

[Dick Whitman]

Let us know what they've done to ruin Wrigley this winter after turning it into Jerry's World last winter.

 

[YankeeFan]

Let us know what they've done to ruin Wrigley this winter after turning it into Jerry's World last winter.

LOL. Do you have some affection for the old Wrigley Field?

Besides, after a spaceship landed in Soldier Field, they can't do anything worse to ruin a landmark.

 

[Dick Whitman]

LOL. Do you have some affection for the old Wrigley Field?

Besides, after a spaceship landed in Soldier Field, they can't do anything worse to ruin a landmark.

I had more affection for Wrigley Field, as an architectural landmark, than I did for the team that players there and, in particular, for the idiots who fill the seats.

As far as the OP's question: I live in the suburbs, and I'm not really a foodie, so I've been kind of frozen out of the culture of the city I grew up near at this point. It's too bad my brother isn't on this board. He's a big-time yuppie, like YF, and could give you every last haunt where the trendy gather. I've had good luck with steakhouses, particularly David Burke's Primehouse. Sable is a great cocktail bar I discovered recently. It's pretty close to downtown, and we got some seats at the bar the other night stopping in at around 7.

Though it isn't traditional Chicago deep dish, people go nuts for Piece pizza, in Wicker Park. It's a brewery, as well. Good luck getting a seat, though. I love Longman & Eagle. It has a huge whiskey list - like 700 - and a quirky single-floor hotel upstairs. Serves breakfast, too.

The Rick Bayless restaurant I'm familiar with is Xoco. Very casual atmosphere. I think you line up for your food like a cafeteria.

 

[YankeeFan]

Sable is a great place for a drink or dinner. Really one of my favorite places to take someone for a drink.

Piece is excellent. For a cheap meal, it's one of the best places to go in the city, especially if you like beer.

Longman and Eagle is great. A bar with a Michelin star. Lots of good places nearby too. (Billy Sunday and Yusho to name a couple.) Longman and Eagle can be a tough place to get a seat too though. Try it for lunch maybe. My only complaint would be the portion sizes can be a little small.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Sable is a great place for a drink or dinner. Really one of my favorite places to take someone for a drink.

Piece is excellent. For a cheap meal, it's one of the best places to go in the city, especially if you like beer.

Longman and Eagle is great. A bar with a Michelin star. Lots of good places nearby too. (Billy Sunday and Yusho to name a couple.) Longman and Eagle can be a tough place to get a seat too though. Try it for lunch maybe. My only complaint would be the portion sizes can be a little small.

Not for breakfast, though. The portions were huge.

 

[albert77]

When my wife and I were in Chicago this past summer, we had a really good deep-dish pizza at the Giordano's on Irving Park Road. I suspect the locations are pretty much interchangeable.

 

[TwoGloves]

Billy Goat Tavern too touristy these days? I haven't been there in 25 years but it was good enough for Mike Royko.

It's worth a visit. Just make sure to order fries so you can hear them yell "No fries! Chips!" Can be a bit tricky to find. As somebody else said, it's under the bridge but there are steps there.

Also had good luck at Blue Chicago the couple of times I've been there. Music was great.

 

[Dick Whitman]

There's one near the United Center, too.

 

[Buck]

See if these guys are playing anywhere:
Three Blue Teardrops [official]

 

[justgladtobehere]

Is the Checkerboard still open?

 

[Fly]

I have to blow in and out of town this weekend (in CHI Friday and Sunday, MKE Saturday). Have heard from some of my Windy City food/beer friends that Burger Antics in Brookfield is supposed to be legit. May have to try it, though the Dan Dan Noodles at Katy's Dumplings in Westmont (near where I will be in Woodridge) is calling my name. Been too long since I've been there.

 

[I Should Coco]

Wow, Fly ... I grew up in Westmont and went to HS in Downers Grove. (DGS ... screw the Trojans! ) When we get back to DuPage County, Papa Passero's pizza remains a must. I've been eating their pizza since the late 1970s, when we moved there.

There's lots of good Asian restaurants in the region, including Katy's.

Have a good time in the western 'burbs!

 

[Dick Whitman]

I guess I get it, but, damn, the idea of making a special trip to visit that dump on the North Side and the surrounding bro-tastic neighborhood seems like self-harm to me.

 

[YankeeFan]

When my wife and I were in Chicago this past summer, we had a really good deep-dish pizza at the Giordano's on Irving Park Road. I suspect the locations are pretty much interchangeable.

It's worth a visit. Just make sure to order fries so you can hear them yell "No fries! Chips!" Can be a bit tricky to find. As somebody else said, it's under the bridge but there are steps there.

Also had good luck at Blue Chicago the couple of times I've been there. Music was great.

For the love of God, do not eat at the Billy Goat. I went once, and could not believe how bad it was. Don't get a drink there either. It's close to your hotel -- if a little hard to find, it's on Lower Michigan Avenue, like below Michigan Avenue. Look for the stairway in the sidewalk. And then, the actual entrance is on Hubbard -- so, if you want to see it, and check out the pictures on the wall, fine, but do not eat or drink there. I can't stress this enough. And, there's less of a reason to go to any other location. The one on Lower Michigan is the one the guys from the Tribune and Sun Times frequented.

Do walk to Millennium Park if the weather is decent. See the Bean:

http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/***/city/depts/dca/Millennium%20Park/cloudgate800.jpg

You might think it looks dumb. I did at first. But it's awesome. But only from up close. Stand right below it too. Seriously, it's awesome.

If it's cold, the Cultural Center is across the street, and is free:



There's also an Intelligentsia Coffee on Randolph, one block East of Millennium Park, half a block past the Randolph entrance to the Cultural Center.

The Modern Wing to the Art Institute is connected to Millennium Park by a foot bridge. If your down there at lunch time, there's a good, if a little expensive restaurant in the Modern Wing, and you can go to it without paying to get into the Museum (which is worth a visit if you have time, and are into that kind of thing).

Deep dish pizza can be good, but I always regret it the next day. If you do eat it, and you think you might want one more slice, don't do it. Stop eating. You'll be glad you did.

Giordano's and Lou Malnati's are about equal to me. Both have multiple locations. I've never been to Gino's East, so I can't speak for it. People do swear by Pequod's, but I haven't been there either. There's also Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due.

Worth noting, you'll wait about 45 minutes for your pizza to be baked once you order it.

Pizzeria Uno/Due have you order while you're still in line and waiting for a table.

For Blues, I haven't been to Blue Chicago. I've done Kingston Mines which is good. B.L.U.E.S. is right across the street from it. And there's also Buddy Guy's.