I need some Chicago help! I am going to your lovely city for a short business trip in the beginning of June (7th-10th)... and I have never been there before (yippee!!)!
We are staying at the Hyatt Regency McCormick on South Martin L. King Drive... there will be lots of down time, so I was wondering where to go, visit, eat, play and shop (all reasonably priced, of course -- Cdn currency is still worth less than yours!!) I am very excited to experience your Windy City... so any tips would be greatly appreciated!! Merci in advance, *Terramia*
A few of our favorite stops for an early June visit:
For the department store experience -The Marshall Fields (ok, Macy's) European Flea Market should be happening by then in the first floor arcade
For home and garden goodies - Sprout Home and Jayson Home and Garden
For gifts - Art Effect
To eat - Bistro Campagne (Organic French with a great garden)
To wander - the Conservatories in Lincoln or Garfield Park
To drool - Luminaire and Orange Skin
To snap photos and people watch - Millennium Park
Chicagoans, and lovers of Chicago...take it away...where should Terramia visit on her city holiday next month ?
Image:goingpostalt-shirts.com
I did a couple posts well over a year ago on a few of my favorite places to hit. Somethings may have changed/moved/closed since that time. But for the most part it looks like it is mostly still correct:
shopping:
http://kfreshdesigns.blogspot.com/2006/02/coming-to-chicago-heres-some-cool.html
eating/drinking:
http://kfreshdesigns.blogspot.com/2006/02/chicago-food-drink.html
view katie's profile
My parents came to Chicago for their first extended stay ever, and I took them to Francesca's on Bryn Mawr, which they loved, strolling around Lincoln Park (we went to the Notebaert Nature Museum to see the butterflies) and then for dessert, drinks at the Signature Lounge at the top of the Hancock Tower - it's always a good place to take visitors, because the view is awesome no matter the weather.
view KristinaXI's profile
If you need a casual place to eat, go to Ed Debevic's. It's lots of fun - they are rude to you on purpose and you get to be rude back. (It's more fun than that makes it sound, trust me.) And they dance on the bar! GREAT burgers.
Don't bother with the Sears Tower skydeck - it's overrated.
view KatGamer's profile
Two of Chicago's best Art Festivals will be happening that weekend: Old Town Art Fair and the Well's Street Art Festival (within walking distance of each other).
view AndyinChicago's profile
Oh wow, awesome tips! Thanks sooooo much!! (:
view *Terramia*'s profile
DonÎt miss the museums:The Art Institute and the Field Museum.
The Sears Tower Skydeck maybe overrated for locals but for me was a breathtaking point of view - I got to know the city views better.
Walk along the Magnificent Mile shops - i.e. North Michigan Av. from the Chicago river up to Oak Street.
I had dinner at Cheesecake Factory at the bottom of Hankok Tower - go to see the unique design of the restaurant and not the food.
There was a great Chinese modern restaurant across ESPN Zone downtown I think it was called Big Bowl Cafe, great food and service.
Also the best italians, Phil Stefani's restaurants.
view Stratos's profile
Yeah, the Sears tower may be a little touristy, but I think everyone should go up there at least once! If you do go, make sure you go at NIGHT. Not only is the crowd minimal to nonexistent, but the view is breathtaking!
A nice area to take a stroll through on a sunny day is Old Town. There are all kinds of neat little restaurants and shops to browse through, and if you love to cook/bake, make sure you stop by The Spice House - http://www.thespicehouse.com
view ktelschow's profile
The John Hancock building is a nice alternative to the Sears Tower Observation deck. Or you could go to the Signature Lounge, which is only 2 floors below the observation floor at the Hancock and it only costs the price of your drink!
view katie's profile
-i'd recommend visiting paper source, lots and lots of eye candy there! (www.paper-source.com)
-if you have time to travel up to the north 'burbs, evanston, etc. also great villages to explore. it's really easy to get out to the 'burbs via metra, but really, that's so much to do in the city, why leave!
-great tapas (i highyly recommend the patatas bravas) at cafe iberico on lasalle. it can get really loud in there. (www.cafeiberico.com)
-fronter grill on north clark is also really good; has the most delicious guacamole (www.fronterakitchens.com)
-joy yee's in chinatown is amazing (www.joyyees.com)
view jhayne's profile
For restaurants, etc., you can find all of my favorites here: http://girlsguidetocitylife.com/chicago. Quartinos is my absolute favorite.
I highly recommend checking out Buddy Guy's for some blues if they are still open...
I second the art festivals mentioned by AndyInChicago, as well as the Art Institute (if you feel overwhelmed by its size, stop by and check out the docent schedule, and you'll get a free, condensed tour).
view anna24's profile