neilc said:
If you go to the Art Institute, make sure you see the Thorne Rooms. These are a set of 32 miniature rooms that were commissioned by a woman to be built by master craftsmen from 1932 to 1940. Adobe rooms. Shaker rooms. Japanese rooms. Colonial America rooms. Really an amazing permanent exhibit on the lower level of the Art Institute.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/thorne
Definitely do the architecture tour and even the river walk on the lower level on the south side. Gives you a very different view of Chicago. There is both a river only and a river and lake tour. I'd suggest the latter. Gives you a great view of the city from the lake. Takes about 90 minutes as I recall. I was on it a couple of weeks ago and it never gets old.
Both Willis Tower (former Sears Tower) and 360 Chicago (former Hancock Tower) offer top-of-the-city lookouts if you are interested in a view of the lake and surrounding suburbs from 100 stories up. 360 Chicago has a bar/restaurant on top if you want to do lunch or dinner there.
The Museum of Science and Industry is also a great museum about 10 minute cab ride south of the city on Lakeshore Drive. Much to see there from a coal mine to an amazing train layout and lots of other ways to spend time.
There is currently a very cool art project on display at the Merchandise Mart along the river. The Mart is one of the largest office buildings in the country - I think 16 stories tall and two city blocks large. The exhibit is called 'Canstruction' and is an exhibit on the first and second floors of using vegetable cans to create art. - Free entry and they really have some cool examples of what you can do with stacking cans. Dinosaurs, Rhinos. Ducks. Buildings. Elevated Trains. The exhibit is free and open to the public through September 9th 7 days a week.
The Mart is also the home of several design boutiques for furniture, cabinets and plumbing fixtures. And the upper floors there are where a lot of the startup community gets going in an incubator on the 12th floor called 1871 - The year of the Chicago fire and the rebirth of the city.
https://canstructionchicago.org is the site.
The exhibit brochure is here:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59127a8986e6c038de5757a9/t/5b7c2295f950b7433ce73392/1534861997976/2018+Canstruction+Chicago+Program-DL.pdf
Chicago is a great city. Much to do and friendly people. Great food. Great theater and some of the best architecture in the world.
neil
My wife said she's already been to the Art Institute so that sounds like a great place for me to visit while she's in class. She's also done the architectural cruise. She went to Chicago a couple of years ago on a girl's trip without me.
Going to the top of Willis Tower sounds fun, though I am very afraid of heights [scared].
The Museum of Science and Industry sounds really cool as well. That would also probably be a good place for me to go by myself.
The Canstruction exhibit reminds me of some of the those displays you see in stores made out of 12 packs of soda (which are amazing to me) only the cans are 3D which is all the more amazing. Too bad we're going towards the end of the month so I'm going to miss that exhibit.
rvieceli said:
For getting around, Lyft, Uber, taxis, busses run up and down Michigan Ave. the El for getting to Wrigley
The Thorne rooms are a must see.
A great debate in the Windy City between Lou Malnati and Gino’s although Malnati’s usually gets the nod. Gino’s East is quite the experience though.
Ron
Cool. I have both the Uber and Lyft apps. The El is only used to get to Wrigley? I thought I might be able to use it to get to some other places but I guess it doesn't go in directions that I want to be heading?
That debate sounds like the great Philly Cheesesteak debate: Pat's vs Geno's. We tried both and controversially, I liked neither [blink].
tjbnwi said:
Yes, The Palmer House is the birthplace of the brownie, it was Berta Palmers contribution to the Colombian Exposition.
Pizzeria Uno is the birthplace of Chicago deep dish pizza.
Once you get to the Museum Campus, take your pick...
While we’re dealing with birth[laces, take a ride on the Navy Pier Ferris wheel. Chicago is the birthplace of the Ferris wheel also.
Tom
We're definitely gonna try a brownie from there.
Wow - birthplace of the Ferris Wheel! That's cool. The mention of Ferris Wheel just reminded me that Ferris Bueller's Day Off was set in Chicago.
Cheese said:
From a foodie to a foodie.... lose the go pro. They’re great for motorcycle shots, but, if you’re real about capturing real life situations, bring the Cannon and just take pictures. I’m a Nikon guy but a lens in the 16-85 range would work well for candid shots. I think it was Ron that suggested Rick Bayless...great suggestion. Great food,
I filmed everything on my GoPro in 4k - I honestly thought it came out quite well, with the exception of low light situations (like most restaurants). I didn't even mind the slight fish eye effect. I used to carry a Point and Shoot Nikon camera on trips, but lately I've just been using my phone to take the pictures.
neilc said:
West Loop has some great restaurants. It’s West of the Loop across the Interstate. Lots of gentrification happening with startups converting old meat markets and warehouses into office spaces and lofts, and a great nightlife and restaurant scene. Google and McDonalds are driving the corporate expansion as well.
Au Chevalier burgers on Randolph - best in the city. Green Street Meats - excellent BBQ. Stacy Izard is an amazing restauranteur. Her ‘Girl and the Goat’ - amazing place for dinner. Reservations needed several weeks in advance or show up at 4:45 for a bar table. But the food is so good. Or instead do Stacy’s ‘Little Goat’ diner across Randolph. You haven’t lived till you’ve had Pork Belly pancakes. Reservation suggested but easy to do on Open table.
Girl and the Goat hmm. This looks right up our alley. We're not going for another month so we might still be able to make reservations. Mmm Pork Belly Pancakes... sounds yummy!
Cochese said:
Not sure. We stayed with someone in Evanston and that was what we got. I thought we might go to Pequods, but Lou's was great.
If you are considering MSI, look at riding Metra down. It was only like $5 or so on the train, and it was very relaxing. Stop is only about three blocks west of the museum. Metra would also get you to Field a little easier, and the MSI stop would get you to Robie House.
Also another vote for the Thorne Rooms at AIC. Route 66's start is right across the street too, as you wait for it to open.
Is Metra the same thing as the El? Oh Robie House - I just looked that up as I had never heard of it before.
The consensus seems to be that everyone really likes Thorne Rooms.
I actually wasn't really looking forward to this trip, but after hearing all these wonderful suggestions I'm really starting to get excited!
The only couple of minor problems that we also tend to have are:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Too many places to eat and not enough days/most importantly not enough stomach capacity to eat this much consecutive food.
[*]I think most of these attractions cost money so things will start to add up
[/list]
Thanks again for all these terrific suggestions! I've been compiling a list of the recommendations and addresses. I like to create a little calendar that outlines the itinerary for each day so we can try to be efficient in hitting spots that are geographically close by. I'll also need to check to see if some places are closed on certain days.
