The Windy City

[kingcreole]

Fair enough, Doc. But you know Chicago pizza is an issue dear to my heart (and surrounding arteries).

King, the best neighborhood places all serve thin crust pizza that is incredible (especially Italian sausage). But all the ones I know are on the far NW side. Where you're staying, though, that area is out of the way, though. As for a chain, try Home Run Inn. The location I last went to was down the road from the Cell a bit, but I'm pretty sure there's a closer one to downtown.

As for a Sox game, it really is a great park to watch a game and the kids would have tons of interactive things to do. When I was last in town, I bought tickets to take my dad to a game. He's in a wheelchair most of the time, and the Cell is very, very accessible. Safety was never an issue in putting the outing together. Then again, I was rooting for the home team.

So you're saying if it ain't thin and crispy, it ain't the real thing?

 

[Rambler]

Deep dish...Gotta do it.

 

[Chi City 81]

Fair enough, Doc. But you know Chicago pizza is an issue dear to my heart (and surrounding arteries).

King, the best neighborhood places all serve thin crust pizza that is incredible (especially Italian sausage). But all the ones I know are on the far NW side. Where you're staying, though, that area is out of the way, though. As for a chain, try Home Run Inn. The location I last went to was down the road from the Cell a bit, but I'm pretty sure there's a closer one to downtown.

As for a Sox game, it really is a great park to watch a game and the kids would have tons of interactive things to do. When I was last in town, I bought tickets to take my dad to a game. He's in a wheelchair most of the time, and the Cell is very, very accessible. Safety was never an issue in putting the outing together. Then again, I was rooting for the home team.

So you're saying if it ain't thin and crispy, it ain't the real thing?

That's my opinion of pizza. But some swear by the deep dish. Who am I to say they're wrong?

 

[pallister]

As for pizza, Doc, I'll be the decider.


That's exactly what I'm saying, King. If you want to try something regional that not every tourist in the city is gonna have, that's what you go for.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

I saw a game at the Cell a number of years ago. I didn't feel threatened at all. Of course I wasn't wearing the opposing teams colors (wasn't wearing the home colors either).

It wasn't even too bad after the game, walking back to the car.

The only thing I didn't like at the ballpark was the steepness of the incline in the upper deck. I was down the first base line and it was quite steep.



As far as pizza, what about Giordano's?

 

[spup1122]

Thin and crispy is the best pizza in Chicago and I'm not even from the city.

 

[pallister]

If you get to a Sox game early, you can sit in the fan deck behind center field for free, no matter where your tickets are. I usually buy cheap tickets and grab a spot early in the fan deck. But stay away from the upper deck, regardless. It can be a bit scary up there, especially if anyone in the party is leery of heights.

 

[Sportsbruh]

go to a Soul Food restaurant it's called Edna's

then high tail it with the tykes to the Gospel fest.

since you'll still be there go next weekend to the blues fest (or is it the Jazz fest)

Then go to the SOUTHSIDE!!!!! and eat at Dixie kitchen or calypso. You'll like that.

then cruise down 75th street east and enjoy the lovely sights

make sure you let your windows down and spend freely with the street vendors.

 

[SoSueMe]

I remember I had the best omlette of my life at a place called Oscar's in Chicago. And the waitress was from Transylvania and hot.

Also, I remember eating a good old hangover-cure breakfast at a ****hole called the Ferris Wheel.

Other than that. I was there for baseball with the boys.

 

[Stop_Pre]

http://www.billygoattavern.com

Cheezeborger, cheezeborger, cheezeborger! The original is near the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Well, I would highly recommend the Art Institute (some fantastic stuff in there to see), but your kids may get a bit restless in there after a bit.

Also would vouch for the Field Museum (kiddos should like that) and it's right next to the Aquarium to boot.

An alternative to the Sears Tower is the John Hancock building. Rather than visit a staid observatory floor, the Hancock has a lounge where you can enjoy a cocktail whilst looking down on the city.

Go deep dish on the pizza--Malnati's, Geno's, and Girdano's are all fine recommendations.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

What they've done w/the chain outlets is shameful . . .

BUT

The ORIGINAL Pizzeria Uno . . . corner of Wabash and Ohio (Est. 1943) . . . a national monument . . . and as good as ever.

 

[Football_Bat]

I remember I had the best omlette of my life at a place called Oscar's in Chicago. And the waitress was from Transylvania and hot.

Watch it ... Transsexual Transylvania.

While everyone does the time warp, I plan on paying a visit to Chi-Town sometime this summer. Probably in July; I'll take 90º there over 105º here. The way gas is looking, I think I will fly and take the L from Midway. God, it'll be nice visiting a city with mass transit.

 

[21]

Lou Malnati's is Chicago pizza to me...the long wait at Uno's (agree with Ben the original on Ohio is the only place to try it) isn't worth the 18 pounds of cheese that will sit on your stomach for 72 hours. Geno's sold out and got all touristy.

My sister lives in Chicago, and cannot bear to bring her children into the city--she is scared of buses and dirty people--so I take the kids out when I'm there, so she doesn't have to leave the North Shore.

Didn't see any love for the Lincoln Park Zoo here....probably the BEST place for kids under 10. But not close enough to walk from your location, you'll have to take a short taxi ride. Worth it.

Navy Pier/Aquarium is one trip...you can do the Pier in 2-3 hours tops. You walk to the end, you turn around and walk back. The Aquarium is great. So is the Field Museum, but enough is enough, you have little kids.

I'd put the little ones in the stroller and just navigate down Michigan Avenue. If you have girls, go to the American Girl store...you can see the show there and have lunch, and then buy $90 socks for the dolls.

Really, you can just walk up the lakeshore....hang out on Oak Street beach for free. A nice break from the tourist schlepping.

Agree the top of Hancock is a good (and maybe better) option to Sears Tower. Hancock is on North Michigan, much nicer for walking around....Sears Tower is in the middle of downtown, boring for kids.

Oh, and the Billy Goat is not for your kids, they won't get it, and your wife will be annoyed you dragged her under the street through the urine puddles for a bag of chips.

 

[Sly]

Rambler might be able to concur with me, but I see way more kids at Sox games these days than at the Cubs. Beer and ivy mean nothing to kids ... But a scoreboard, fireworks and the Fundamentals deck? That's right up an eight-year-old's alley. Both parks have their share of drunks.

 

[Melodious Thunk]

Well, I would highly recommend the Art Institute (some fantastic stuff in there to see), but your kids may get a bit restless in there after a bit.

Also would vouch for the Field Museum (kiddos should like that) and it's right next to the Aquarium to boot.

I live downstate, and have a 6 and 3 year old. If you prep the kids right, the Art Institute is great for about 2 hours. What we did before our trip was to pick up a book or two/download some information on a particular artist/artists -- they have a huge collection of Impressionists. The lower level also has a kid's area and a miniatures collection. Lower level is also where the bathrooms are.

Across Michigan from the Art Institute is a street sign indicating the beginning of Route 66. Also, a block north of the Art Institute is Millennium Park, which has some great water features and the big silver bean. I'd wager the kids would enjoy both of those.

The Shedd Aquarium & Field museum are great (I'd do them in that order).

 

[Oz]

If you want deep dish, Geno's East is a fine choice.

Second that. Just a great place. And KC, I think you will find that the best view of the Chicago skyline from ground level will come from the aquarium. Great photo op location.

 

[Bob Cook]

Notes from a native (or, at least a guy who has lived in the area for 10 years now):

1. http://www.metrarail.com -- This will get you train schedules. If you're going on a weekday, look for the Heritage Corridor -- Lockport will be your closest stop. On a weekend -- or even on a weekday, given the frequency of trains -- look at the Rock Island line. You would pick up the train at Union Station in Joliet, which is not that far away. If I were you, I would take the train in whenever possible. You can always cab it from place to place, though the downside of that would be the lack of carseat for your 14-month-old. But you won't be far from the Museum Campus or Navy Pier. Believe me, what you'll spend in cabs will be less than you'll spend in parking.

2. Speaking of Joliet, you won't be that far from Silver Cross Field, home to the Northern League's Joliet JackHammers. A very good minor-league ballpark, and it has a kids' play area as well. http://jackhammerbaseball.com/

3. If you go to Sox Park (say it like a native!), buy lower-level seats if you want your kids to be able to take advantage of the kids' deck in left field. Thanks to Ligues, if you buy upper-level seats, you have to stay there. Just buy the cheapest lower-level tickets you can, and enjoy the walk around the park (plenty of elbow room in the concourses) and the kids' stuff. Unfortunately, you will have to drive here -- no Metra stop at Sox Park. Take 55 all the way in, get off at the Ryan heading to Indiana, then go south until 31st Street.

4. After (or before) the game, you can head to Chinatown (whose borders have bled closer to Sox Park over the years), or go just outside of Chinatown to the original location of Connie's Pizza, a spot I'd highly recommend (it's on Archer Avenue -- easy to get to from Sox Park). Also, feel free and easy to walk around Bridgeport. It's gentrified quite a bit, although maybe I'm comfortable because some of my wife's family is from there, and I've been there plenty of times, including taking my oldest son to a birthday party at a church that included two gyms, video games and a bowling alley. A great place to get snowed in, that's for sure.

5. If you're in Romeoville, tour the National Weather Service office!

 

[Bubbler]

There is nothing more stunningly scenic than the oases (plural?) on the Tri-State.

If you want to do a (theoretically) short roadie from Chicago, check out the Indiana Dunes State Park. Kinda cool.

 

[Football_Bat]

Or go to Great Lakes Naval Training Center, where my grandpa was the baddest drill instructor around. At least that's what pops said.