The Official "I'm visiting/moving to Chicago, what should I do?" Thread

[UrbanSophist]

I'm busy workin'. I hope you take good pics, though.

[nygirl]

My camera sucks but the trip is basically for a small reunion. My hubs actually leaving tommorow morning after but I am staying extra to hang out with my aunt, she has just was diagnosed with breast cancer and my trips here have always been involved with cousins but this one I plan on walking and just spending time with her. So we're doing pictures big time. I already took over 200 photos yesterday my camera isn't so great at night (olympus) and went on a river tour. Went to Dicks last night which was cool cuz people throw paper at you while you eat? I got a hat that said I love nsync, and um er we checked out the crow bar ( never been), cooler than New Yorks. Chicago, I fuckin love you. Expect many pics.

[i_am_hydrogen]

Originally Posted by nygirl

My camera sucks but the trip is basically for a small reunion. My hubs actually leaving tommorow morning after but I am staying extra to hang out with my aunt, she has just was diagnosed with breast cancer and my trips here have always been involved with cousins but this one I plan on walking and just spending time with her. So we're doing pictures big time. I already took over 200 photos yesterday my camera isn't so great at night (olympus) and went on a river tour. Went to Dicks last night which was cool cuz people throw paper at you while you eat? I got a hat that said I love nsync, and um er we checked out the crow bar ( never been), cooler than New Yorks. Chicago, I fuckin love you. Expect many pics.

Right on, right on. And Chicago loves you, too. I can't wait to see your pictures. If you get the chance, check out the air and water show tomorrow. The Blue Angels are amazing to see.

[wickedestcity]

Destination: CHICAGO, Illinois


Make Chicago your kind of town



By PHIL WILLIAMS -- CanadianParents.com


Navy Pier

"Chicago. My kind of town!"

The Sinatra classic couldn't be more fitting when describing how I felt after taking the family on a trek to the Windy City. Another line from that song is very appropriate too, "My kind of people too, people who smile at you." Friendly is the best way to describe the people we encountered - from one end of the city to the other.

Our hotel was located downtown, just one block away from the incredible Michigan avenue -better known as the Magnificent Mile. Again, a name very befitting this street. If you want to buy anything - food to clothing to services - you can find it on the magnificent mile. Upon checking into the hotel I had one quest and one quest only - real Chicago-style deep dish pizza for dinner. With my wife, two kids and mother in tow we headed to the highly recommended Giordanos Restaurant & Pizzeria. At first you are a little surprised because you are told there is a 45 minute wait but then you see how their system works. While waiting you order your meal and then once you are seated (we were sitting in 30 minutes) your food arrives fairly quickly. The food was incredible and the service was very old-style Italian - efficient and friendly. For $ 70 US all five of us were fed quite handily and that bill included a pitcher of beer and enough leftover pizza for a yummy breakfast the next day! A post-dinner visit to the Hershey Store downtown made for chocolate that my waistline could have done without but was still very enjoyable. A bright and airy store that gives the kids free Hershey Paper hats upon entry is filled with every product Hershey can pump out and all at very affordable prices.


After a good night's rest, we were ready to hit the town or at least my daughter and her American Girl were ready! You see, Chicago is one of only three centres in the United States that houses a three-story tribute to everything that is American Girl dolls (the other two are in Los Angeles and New York). Now I have to admit that going into this part of the journey was not something my seven-year-old son and I were looking forward to - you know, girls-dolls-yuk! But yet another pleasant surprise. To say this company thinks of everything would be a supreme understatement. Boys can enjoy a complentary Gameboy during their visit - trust me, it is a brilliant idea and one that makes it easier for the girls to enjoy the American Girl Place experience. This three-story building is quite something - a hair salon for the dolls, book store, hospital for dolls in need of repair, outfits that take you through history and some that girls can buy to match their favourite doll - it doesn't stop there. The lower floor offers up some history on the American Girls too - a real learning experience even for a girl from Canada. American Girls might be "american" but they stand for what so many of us are striving for in our young girls these days - girls being girls!

Just as our son was becoming bored, boom, it was time for lunch. And lunch itself was a fun experience - mini hamburgers and hot dogs to go along with a mini-seat just for your American Girl - all served with what, to us, was becoming customary Chicago friendliness. This three course meal was a real experience and I am happy to report that we were not the only "boys" in the house! After lunch we saw a live stage production called the American Girls Revue. A well-produced play with a constantly underlying storyline teaching girls that they can do whatever they want and be whoever they want to be when they grow up. It also bestowed upon them how important it is to be your own person and to stand up for what you believe in. American Girl Place is a must stop for anyone visiting Chicago with a daughter. It is an amazing experience and one worth taking in. (American Girl's 3rd TV Movie - shot in Canada - is due out in November. Watch for more info)

The next day saw an excursion to the famous Navy Pier on the edge of Downtown Chicago. Gently jutting out onto Lake Michigan, this 3000 foot pier was originally a main shipping pier but was redesigned in the late eighties into what it is today - a vast line of shops, restaurants, festival halls, performance stages and docking for various tour boats and water taxis that work up and down the lake. It also houses a Family Pavillion that is highlighted by the 50,000 square-foot Chicago Children's Museum, a 440-seat IMAX theatre and a 32,000 square foot Botanical Park. Wow -talk about maximizing your available space - they thought of it all here.

Our first order of business was to take a water taxi over to the Shedd Aquarium - a must-see for the family if you are in Chicago. The ride alone gives you an incredible view of the Chicago skyline with the famous Sears Tower defiantly standing guard over one of America's landmark cities. As you approach the Aquarium, the architecture alone is quite stunning. Shedd Aquarium is surrounded by pillars, glass and incredibly well-groomed garden areas. Upon entry, the aquarium has it all but one tip - arrive early! As we were leaving around 2 pm, the line to get in was quite long. You will need 3 hours to really enjoy the aquarium and all it has to offer - which includes a dolphin show that teaches you more about dolphins and their real habitat & lifestyles than it does fancy tricks, unlike other marine type shows you may know. The number of exhibits are endless and the learning opportunities numerous for people of all ages- covering Waters of the World, Wild and Carribean Reefs, the Amazon plus a lizards exhibit that included a huge Komodo Dragon! All five senses are overloaded as you tour this well laid out Chicago landmark and all it has to offer. The cost for a family of four (kids 3 to 11) would be $ 80 US but a wise investment considering what they have to offer- kids under 3 are free.

Upon arriving back at Navy Pier after our 15 minute water taxi ride, we dove right into what they had to offer too.We stopped at the food court and had some lunch - a Gyro for mom and I while the kids, of course, reverted back to McDonalds for the always reliably happy meal! Once lunch was done we spent the afternoon wandering up and down the pier and taking in all it had to offer. From very-affordable souveneir stands & shops to bicycle rentals to carnival-like rides (the giant ferris wheel was the family favourite), we had no problem filling out the rest of our day. We made our way to the Pepsi Skyline Stage at the end of the day to see a show called Cirque Shanghai - an exclusive engagement direct from China showing off some incredible Chinese acrobats. The show was fabulous and kept the whole family enthralled just waiting to see what they would attempt next! The show is hyped with the slogan "Amazing Feats, Affordable Seats" and again, a very appropriate motto indeed. Our family of four saw the show for $55 US and considering it was a world class production that lasted well over an hour, that is pretty good bang for your buck!


But of course if you go to Chicago, you have to think sports at some point! With professional teams in all the major sports (two in baseball!), a stop in Chicago without taking in some action would not be right. That is where the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox provided a pretty special night for my son and I. We sat in the left field bleachers as the White Sox took on Baltimore Orioles and had a great time. Shucking peanuts, eating hot dogs and kibitzing with the fans were the first order of the day- fans that again showed off the friendliness of the city. Once they realized we were from out of town, the people around us went out of their way to make sure we had a good time. Some great one-liners from the longtime 'bleacher bums' plus not having to hear one curse word during the whole game a great experience. The White Sox won 4-2 so it ended on a great note too! Getting to and from the game was easy as well. Again, $ 60 US for a pair of seats with the true White Sox fans was well worth the cost. A very efficient transit system took us from downtown to the park in 10 minutes flat making driving to the park not even worth considering.

When the sun rose on our final day in the Windy City I could not help but once again echo of sentiments of Frank Sinatra when he sang "My Kind of Town -Chicago is!".

If you want a clean, family-friendly place to take the family - Chicago should definitely be high on your to-do list.

http://travel.canoe.ca/Travel/Activi...6/1763495.html

[Toronto06]

American Girl's 3rd TV Movie - shot in Canada - is due out in November.


^that was priceless lol

[Toronto06]

how much does it cost to take a "water taxi" ride from navy peir through the chicago river and around the front of the city to see the skyline?

[UrbanSophist]

I don't know. I've never done it. Here's a link, though: http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/...axis/index.htm

I should really try, one of these days, to pretend that I'm a tourist in Chicago, and take advantage of those touristy types of things.

[i_am_hydrogen]

deleted.

[Toronto06]

Originally Posted by UrbanSophist

I don't know. I've never done it. Here's a link, though: http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/...axis/index.htm

I should really try, one of these days, to pretend that I'm a tourist in Chicago, and take advantage of those touristy types of things.

thanks for the link

and you should really try it

i put on my Heat jersey on, slapped on a southern accent and BAM all of a sudden i was from Miami

and i got a discount on food

[nygirl]

Take the seadog it was definetly a cool trip. Navy Pier is really cool at night. Catch it on a night you get to see fireworks. You can do a booze cruise too ya know. Urb do the booze cruise, don't do the touristy shit. I did circle line here in ny but i boozed hard before it, and on it was much cooler than being sober although I did learn alot about the buildings I've never known. For instance the Civic opera house being built to resemble a thrown so the guy who owned the building theoretically can sit on it, dip his feet in the chicago river and watch the sunset.... nice.
How initially 2 pru is made to resemble the chrysler but instead looking more like 2 liberty place...
How about Lake Point Tower cheating it's way to getting built east of Lsd on what should only be recreational developed land by being built on STILTS! those things must go just as deep into the ground as the building is tall..
and carbide and carbon is supposed to look like a bottle..And 333 wacker reflects everything around it.. example the curvature of the building is perfect with the street or that it's a greenish blue color to reflect the river..How Chicago has always had the guts even though it didnt always have the money to build what it's built and almost always getting it done.

Also the SeaDog is a speedBoat so they get out on that lake pretty far, pretttty quickly. You will enjoy.

[klamedia]

Coming to the beautiful (most stunning skyline in the US((possibly the world for that matter)) where my favorite sitcom "Good Times" was "set")city of Chicago. It's been 3 years since I've visited last and even then their were more cranes up downtown than I'd ever had the pleasure of witnessing. That last trip really impressed upon me how beautiful a city it was/is. The first two trips were completely awful, I aint gonna lie, guess I came with all of the East Coast predjudicies that I'd heard before like it being a backwater version of NYC or it being an overgrown Midwestern city or like all the peeps got gold teeth kinda shit and really really it was winter everytime I came and I'd never experienced that kind of cold before, shit even in NYC. But on the last trip their, something clicked, an honestly, you'll have an unbelievably fucking beautiful well balanced from superdense urban, skyscrapered to single family homes with a backyard city!! Out of the big 3(LA/NY/CH) the only place I would attempt to raise a family in a superurban setting.
Ok, here is the drill: I will be arriving at o'dark 1121pm on Sept. 2 Saturday at Ohare. I would like a farely cheap trip from the airport, preferrably a train or a "Flyaway" type service as we have here in The City Of Angels. I will be staying in the neighborhood close to Univ of Mich(I think). My family lives in I believe a well-to-do black neighborhood that Farrakahn also resides, I've heard of this sort of well known hood before but it escapes me at the moment.
I'm looking forward to re-visiting this stunning city and this time having a day on my own without fam for sightseeing. I also would like to hit up a gay club or two since I belong to the 10percenter club........
All rivalries aside show your LA boy some love........

[Steely Dan]

^ the university of michigan is in ann arbor, MI, so your best bet would be to fly into detroit, not chicago.

but seriously, you must be talking about the university of chicago down in hyde park. which airport are you flying into? you can take a train from either midway (orange line) or o'hare (blue line) to downtown, but getting down to hyde park will require a transfer to a bus as it ain't served by the L.

[klamedia]

Originally Posted by klamedia

Ok, here is the drill: I will be arriving at o'dark 1121pm on Sept. 2 Saturday at Ohare. .....

Yes it must be the University of Chicago my apologies and yes it is Ohare and yes Hyde Park sounds about right.

[Kevin J]

You're arriving so late at night that the el/bus combo that would be cheapest for you to get out of O'Hare isn't really practical, especially for someone who probably doesn't know the CTA all that well.

I've never taken a shuttle service from O'Hare, but I'm sure they have the type that all big airports have that will deliver you to your door. In other cities I've visited, they usually cost about $20. That's a lot less than a cab to Hyde Park would be.

You're at a big disadvantage in terms of gay nightlife because you're staying on the south side and nearly every gay night spot is on the north side. You can get there on public trans, but it will take an hour or so.

The gay bar district is on Halsted Street between Belmont and Grace. There are at least a dozen bars of all types either on this street or very close by. The Red Line el train Belmont stop puts you a five-minute walk from Belmont and Halsted.

Given where you're staying, you may want to use public trans to get up to Halsted and use it part of the way when you come home. The Metra (commuter) train has stops in Hyde Park. Take that to the end of the line downtown, which is Millennium Park Station. There, walk upstairs and then walk 2 blocks to State Street and look for the signs leading to the Red Line subway.

Take the Red Line north to Belmont. Note that by the time the train gets to Belmont, it is no longer underground. When you exit the Belmont station turn right and walk. The second traffic light you hit will be Halsted. There are bars on that corner and if you turn left and start walking, you will see the rest of them.

When you're coming home, take the Red Line to the Loop and then you should probably switch to a cab. The buses heading south late at night are full of sketchy people and the Metra train stops running at 1 am.

Paying your fare on both train systems is different and involves buying fare cards. Ask someone you're staying with to explain it all to you.

[wickedestcity]

Chicago offers world’s fare
BY GWEN BEDIENT / For the Lincoln Journal Star

We started with “A Taste of Chicago” and ended with King Tut at the Field Museum. Consider them bookends to the variety that is available in Chicago.

A convention of the American Guild of Organists brought me and my spouse, Gene, to downtown Chicago for a week in early July. Between manning our exhibition booth, renewing old friendships, and attending organ recitals, we found time to see some of the sights.

Sunday we ventured to the jam-packed Taste of Chicago festival in Grant Park along Lake Michigan, a yearly festival that brings more than 60 local restaurants together in one place. Booths line the pathways of the park, offering samplings of their specialties. You’ll find ethnic, family-style and everything in between. Be sure to try the “taste” portion at each booth; it appears to be the best deal if you don’t want to fill up at one place. Musical entertainment, cooking demonstrations and other activities fill the park.

On this beautiful day we walked south past the Buckingham Fountain to the Field Museum to purchase tickets for the King Tut exhibit later in the week. (They can also be obtained through the Field Web site for an additional fee.) A bus took us from there to our hotel, the Chicago Marriott Downtown on the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue, in the middle of some of the best shopping in town. It is also just a short walk to Water Tower Place. If you have a young daughter, American Girl Place is nearby.

Monday we headed for the Chicago Art Institute. What is there to say about one of the top art museums in the country? We had been here before so we revisited old favorites, such as the El Grecos, the large mural by Georgia O’Keeffe that fills a stairwell, and “American Gothic” by Grant Wood as well as looking at the latest exhibitions. I also highly recommend the museum Garden Restaurant for lunch. A special menu in conjunction with the “Ceramic Art of the Ancient Southwest” exhibit featured food with a Southwestern influence, and you could also try two different wines from Spain to complement the menu. We shared a portion as we often do at restaurants.

Tuesday we visited the Museum of Contemporary Art. As you walk up to the museum it looks as if a car and travel trailer have crashed into the plaza in front of the building. Of course it is a piece of installation art! We were pleased to discover that this museum has free admission on Tuesdays.

A large traveling exhibition by photographer Wolfgang Tillmans took up much of the first floor. We liked the spaciousness of the museum. There is also a sculpture garden outside with a wonderful view of Lake Michigan. The restaurant here is (Wolfgang) Puck’s at the MCA. An express counter offers a quick sandwich or salad but the restaurant is well worth the time. It has a view of the sculpture garden, and you can eat on the terrace in mild weather. It is located near the Old Chicago Water Tower, one of the few buildings that survived the great Chicago fire of 1871. It is now a gothic landmark in the heart of downtown Chicago.

Wednesday was for shopping. If you like designer boutiques and luxury department stores, the Magnificent Mile is the place. Many stores are pricey, but it is fun to look. One exception was Neiman Marcus: When I walked in the main entrance a woman from one of the makeup counters accosted me. She insisted that it would take only 30 seconds to show me a “special” cream. The next thing I knew she had me on a stool and was massaging a different cream on each side of my face. “Now doesn’t that feel better?” she insisted. I assured her that it did while saying that I really had to go, now! I resisted entreaties from other counters and made a quick exit through the men’s department.

Room and Board, a furniture store with a twist, was a store I really enjoyed. It is a showroom only; the furniture can be customized with the fabric of your choice from a roomful of samples and then shipped direct to your home. The nominal shipping fee covers one piece or a roomful.

We couldn’t leave Chicago without taking a tour of the downtown by boat. We chose the Chicago Line which is associated with the Chicago History Museum. It has both historical cruises that tour along the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan, and architectural cruises that take a route inside the city on the Chicago River. We chose the latter. The Chicago Architecture Foundation also gives tours of downtown, either by boat, bus, or walking.

The Chicago Line boards at the North Pier Docks, a short distance from Navy Pier. Our tour was led by an architecture student who was very knowledgeable about the history of buildings but also could tell us about current projects, such as 92-story Trump International Hotel & Tower, an example of the building boom going on in downtown Chicago.

We cruised by landmarks, such as the Tribune Tower, built in the 1920s and topped by a tower with flying buttresses. It has stones in its base from sites in all 50 states. Several buildings, such as the curving 600-foot-long Montgomery Ward building or the Merchandise Mart, were formerly warehouse space but are now being converted into condominiums. As the Chicago River splits we take the south branch towards the Sears Tower and post office. Our guide points out the former site of Mrs. O’Leary’s barn, which, unlike most of the rest of Chicago, didn’t burn down in the fire of 1871 even though it allegedly started at that spot.

As we debarked we made a lunch stop at the Fox & Obel, a gourmet grocery and café just steps away from the dock. It is open 364 days a year and has a wonderful breakfast menu. Try a Croque Madam with ham, salami, gruyere, and pesto on sourdough bread topped with two sunnyside up eggs, or a double-baked almond croissant from the in-store bakery, where fresh pastries and loaves are made throughout the day. There is also an extensive lunch and dinner menu with everything from sandwiches to steak/frites. Try the turkey, cranberry relish and brie sandwich or the farmer’s house salad with mixed greens, toasted walnuts, two farmstead cheeses and Dijon mustard vinaigrette.

This grocery is a treat for the eye, nose and palate. You’ll find an entire wall of balsamic vinegar and another of olive oil of every description. The meat and seafood counter was superb, featuring free-range organic poultry and fresh seafood that arrives several times a day. A wonderful charcuterie, cheese shop and produce all offer an unbelievable selection.

With all the condominiums and other living space downtown it’s easy to see the demand for nearby groceries. I am envious of the selection possibilities. Another grocery, Dominick’s on E. Grand Street, was close to our hotel, which made it handy to pick up breakfast.

We saved money on the morning meal so we could splurge on either lunch or dinner at one of the many, wonderful restaurants in downtown Chicago. Using recommendations from friends and guidebooks we managed to find a few of them.

If you long for French cuisine try Bistro 110 near the Water Tower. You can start with roasted garlic on crusty French bread then try the French onion soup and the North Atlantic salmon fillet with thyme and olive oil and roasted vegetables from the wood-burning oven. Big Bowl is the place for Asian-style food. It is a classy but moderately priced chain restaurant. You can fill your bowl with veggies from the stir-fry bar and then choose the protein, sauce and noodles or rice to go with it. Or you can choose from the extensive menu of Chinese and Thai cuisine. Chili pepper addicts can try the red hot dishes.

For traditional American comfort food we found a place just across the street from our hotel. Bandera is one flight up from the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue with great window seating and a nightly jazz trio. As you walk in you can smell the aroma of chicken roasting on a spit. Try the chicken with chive mashed potatoes or in the macho salad with greens, nuts and goat cheese. Warm cornbread with honey on the side is highly recommended.

We saved the most memorable experience for last. Friday we headed for the Field Museum and our 8:30 a.m. appointment with King Tut. A bus from our hotel took us to the Museum Campus. From the mood-setting film to the audio guide that expanded on the most interesting objects, the exhibit was a magical experience. The dim lighting focused our attention on the priceless treasures and added to the mood. Besides objects from King Tutankhamun’s tomb there were spectacular pieces from his parents’ time. It was interesting to learn that King Tut’s father tried to change the Egyptian’s worship from many gods to one. It was also fascinating to see the results of CAT scans of his mummy and what they reveal about his life and death. We emerged blinking from the exhibit and headed for the atrium of the museum where we came upon Sue, the world’s largest, most complete T. Rex. Her head is so heavy that the real one couldn’t be mounted on her skeleton. You have to go to the second floor balcony where you can see it up close.

As we left the Field Museum we hopped on one of the free trolleys that operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day in a loop throughout the downtown area. We took it as far as State Street and Marshall Field’s fabled flagship store, which becomes Macy’s in September. With over 800,000 square feet of retail space it is the second largest department store in the world. From the most fashionable designers to the “Green Shop” featuring unique Chicago area gifts, from furniture to kitchenware, you can find it all here. The building has been designated a National Historic Landmark and has its own archives.

The two massive clocks on State Street have been a Chicago icon for over a century. We had lunch next to the massive marble fountain in the fittingly named Walnut Room. Opened in 1907, it still features Mrs. Herring’s chicken potpie, a classic favorite. We tried a new dessert, Gale Gand’s Chocolate Cherry Potpie. Chocolate cake on the outside, its interior was filled with molten chocolate and cherries served warm with cream. It is simpy wonderful. After our visit here we felt that we had a true sampling of all that Chicago has to offer.

King Tut’s exhibit will be in Chicago through Jan. 1, 2007, so there is plenty of time to make the trek to the Windy City to see it.

Gwen Bedient works at the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Now that her daughter is leaving for college, she hopes to have more time for both travel and writing.
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/...3867346332.txt

[paytonc]

Effective this month, there's much improved late night service to Hyde Park. You can take the Red Line south to 55th Street (aka Garfield Blvd.) and transfer to either a #55 or #174 headed east to Hyde Park. The #55 runs 24 hours, but on half-hour headways; the #174 supplements that with 20 minute headways until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday nights -- which cuts effective waiting times by 60%. Timetable for the #174:
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/bus/bus/174.pdf

Which bus you take also depends on where you are within Hyde Park. 55th Street should be accessible to all parts of the neighborhood, but if you're closer to the lakefront (or in Kenwood, the next neighborhood to the north and where Farakhan actually lives) the #6 express bus is a faster way to get downtown. It runs from downtown from 5 AM to 1:30 AM. Kevin suggested the Metra, but the #6 runs much more more frequently and along basically the same alignment -- and saves you from having to figure out an entirely different fare structure, timetable, etc.

Halsted Street in Lakeview has the usual flashy dance clubs and the like, but there are gay bars beyond it, depending on your scene -- including, yes, one just a mile southeast of Hyde Park, catering to an African American audience. Mind you, you'll have to leave well before last call (2 AM) to catch the last bus back, but you're from LA so you're used to calling it a night at 11 PM, right?

Time Out Chicago magazine has a good roundup of weekly specials at various bars, plus everything else (restaurants, theater, etc.). Pick one up at the airport to read while you're headed into town.

The only shuttle service operating between O'Hare and the South Side is Omega:
http://www.omegashuttle.com
The SuperShuttle, etc. only run to downtown and the north side.

Using transit from O'Hare, you'd take the Blue Line from O'Hare to Jackson, then the Red Line to Garfield-55, then the aforementioned #55/#174 to get to 55th in Hyde Park. I hope you pack light.

[wickedestcity]

Posted on Sun, Sep. 24, 2006email thisprint this
These days, tourists are gaga about Chicago
Everything about it is big and fabulous — its skyscrapers, its lakefront, its museums, its shopping emporiums.

Its new Millennium Park is only 24.5 acres but huge among tourists — this summer, it was the No. 1 most-requested attraction among those booking rooms at Priceline.com, replacing the Las Vegas Strip. From dawn to dusk, crowds gather to watch themselves in its Cloud Gate sculpture and a changing array of giant faces in the Crown Fountain; still more crowds mill along the Magnificent Mile shopping district, which came up No. 2 in the Priceline.com study.

Navy Pier still is by far the most popular tourist attraction in Chicago, though. The 11-year-old entertainment complex on the lakefront attracted 8.6 million visitors in 2005, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

It's hard to go anywhere in Chicago where there aren't a lot of people, but that's part of the exuberant, big-city atmosphere that makes being there so much fun.

The increasing popularity of Chicago means prospective tourists need to plan their trips a little more carefully than they once did; most importantly, you have to make sure a big event or convention hasn't sold out the hotels or pushed rates into the stratosphere during the time you want to visit. But after that, most of the best attractions are free, and it's easy to eat inexpensively.

Here are a few tips for visiting Chicago.

First, stop at the Chicago Cultural Center. This domed 1897 palace at the corner of Michigan and Randolph, across from Millennium Park, is the nerve center for tourism. It's the place to find out about free concerts, festivals, tours and exhibits, and it hosts its own free events, too.

See Millennium Park. Every city should be so lucky as to have a park like this. Everything about it is brilliant: the Crown Fountain, where children splash in water coursing off two glass-block towers onto which the faces of a random selection of 1,000 Chicagoans are projected; a serpentine Frank Gehry brushed-steel bridge and pavilion, with a trellis of steel pipes over a grass lawn; and the Cloud Gate, or Bean, which reflects its surroundings in a surface inspired by liquid mercury. Needless to say, tourists and locals alike love it.

Tour the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Nowadays, everyone wants to be on the water. Hop on a cruise boat at Navy Pier or the museum campus for a tour of the lakefront; under the Lake Michigan Bridge, Wendella Boats gives architecture tours of the river, a lakefront sunset tour and a combined lake and river tour. The Chicago Architecture Foundation also offers justly renowned river cruises, plus many walking and bus tours around town.

There are bike rentals at Millennium Park and Navy Pier, which allow visitors to ride the 18-mile Lakefront Trail; it's spectacular, taking bicyclists, skaters and runners past a solid succession of beaches, parks and marinas.

Navy Pier is a bit of a tourist trap, but there's a lot going on there — free theater and concerts, plus rides on swings, a carousel and a Ferris wheel. And of course, there's shopping.

Go to a museum. Chicago's wonderful museums were tourist favorites long before the rest of the city acquired the cachet it enjoys today. The Art Institute is next to Millennium Park, and admission is free Thursday evenings. Just down the lakefront, on the museum campus, there's the Field Museum, which is showing "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" through the end of the year (discounted admission Mondays and Tuesdays through Oct. 31); Shedd Aquarium (free admission Mondays and Tuesdays through November); and Adler Planetarium (free Mondays and Tuesdays through Dec. 19). The Museum of Science and Industry is farther down the lakeshore (free days Mondays and Tuesdays through Thanksgiving).

At right are tips to help you get to Chicago, find a room and make your way around.

Trip Tips: Chicago neighborhoods

Getting there: I like Air Tran, which last week was selling round-trip flights to Chicago's Midway for as little as $87. Regular discount tickets can be found for $157; check www.airtran.com. The Atlanta-based airline flies out of the Humphrey Terminal.

Another option is the Megabus, which sells express round trips to Chicago for as little as $2 — and that's not a typo. Started in the United Kingdom, this bus company keeps costs low by forgoing terminals — the motorcoach picks up passengers on the street at the University of Minnesota or downtown Minneapolis and drops them in downtown Chicago at Union Station — and books all tickets on-line.

Tickets now can be booked up to 45 days in advance; the first tickets to sell generally are cheapest, and the last are most expensive, even $96 round-trip, depending on demand. It's seven hours each way; coaches leave Minneapolis at 7:45 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. and return from Chicago at 2:20 and 11 p.m (as at airlines, seats aren't guaranteed, so don't be late). Book at www.megabus.com; 1-877-462-6342.

Getting around: If you want to explore on your own, it's easy to use CTA buses, subways and El trains; a Visitors Pass is $5 for one day, $9 for two and $12 for three. They're for sale at airport stops (also the Chicago Cultural Center, Navy Pier and museums) or you can order, with no shipping charges, at www.transitchicago.com.

Guidebooks: The Not For Tourists Guide to Chicago 2006, $16.95, is invaluable; it maps city neighborhoods and shows shops, restaurants, cultural centers and transit routes.

Neighborhood tours: The Oct. 7 and Nov. 11 Taste of the Neighborhoods tours are sold out, though cancellations are possible. Cost is $50, $45 for students, including food at three stops. Motorcoach tours leave from the Chicago Cultural Center, in the Loop at Randolph and Michigan, at 10 a.m. and return about 2:30 p.m.

The tours begin to book up as soon as the next year's schedule is announced in December; plan to book at least two months in advance. Brochures are sent out in January; to get on the mailing list or to reserve, call 1-312-742-1190 or check www.chgocitytours.com (the site has been down but should be back up soon).

Other neighborhood tours also are popular. Special-interest tours include lunch and cost $50-$45; regular tours are $25-$20. Remaining this year are tours of Uptown, Oct. 14; Literary Chicago (special interest) and Hyde Park & Kenwood, Oct. 21; Historic Bronzeville (African-American) and Pilsen (once Czech, now Mexican) & Little Village, Oct. 28; Greek Chicago (special interest), Nov. 4; and South Shore Neighborhoods, Nov. 18.

The Oct. 7 White City tour (as Chicago was dubbed during the Columbian Exposition of 1893) and Oct. 14 Great Chicago Fire special-interest tours are sold out. Next year, watch for tours of Irish, Chinese, Italian, East Indian, Polish and Ukrainian neighborhoods, plus tours of the cemeteries and the Pullman District.

Food tours: Chicago Food Planet offers three-hour tasting and cultural walking tours through the Gold Coast, Old Town and Lincoln Park neighborhoods through October, $38. 1-800-979-3370, www.chicagofoodplanet.com.

Ethnic grocery tours: Evelyn Thompson also gives private 3½- to 4-hour grocery tours, $60 for one, $70 for two, $85 for three and $110 for four. Call 1-773-465-8064, ext. 2 , www.ethnic-grocery-tours.com.

Accommodations: Prices vary widely according to demand. When considering a visit to Chicago any time of the year, see if a huge convention or event is in town; if so, rooms may be very expensive. Check www.choosechicago.com, and under "choose a category,'' pull down the Convention Calendar. For example, the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 22 will draw 40,000 people.

In the past, I always used www.hotrooms to book a budget room, but lately I've had better luck with www.orbitz.com; also check www.travelocity.com and www.expedia.com. In January and February, check for winter bargains at www.877chicago.com.

I like the Club Quarters and Hotel 71, both overlooking the Chicago River at Wacker and Michigan (ask for a river view); Hotel Burnham, a block from the Cultural Center in the Loop; and the Hilton Homewood Suites on Grand Avenue, which have kitchenettes and include a breakfast buffet.

Information: 1-877-244-2246, www.877chicago.com or www.choosechicago.com.

— Beth Gauper, Pioneer Press

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twinci...g/15576123.htm

[sprash]

Hey guys, just a few tips on planning a Chicago visit:

1. If you plan to visit the Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetaerium, be careful! The times mentioned are from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. But if you want to enjoy it and make the visit easy, then please wake up early in the morning and reach there before 8:30AM itself! Because there will soon develop a long queue running for miles and miles as soon as the doors open at 9'o clock!!

2. If you are of Indian or Pakistani origin, or would like to get an essence of the subcontinent, then please make sure you visit Devon Avenue. It is essentially an India-town! It has so many Indian restaurants & shops, also lots of Pakistani cuisine & Mediterranean stuff. When you drive on the avenue you will feel and smell the place like you are in India - filthy, polluted and crowded without any available parking spaces!!! But make sure you buy something from the grocery stores here, because the quality over here is much much better than what you would get at a local Indian store in your town.

[wickedestcity]

Chicago's Visitor Information Centers


Chicago has two Visitor Information Centers.

These centers serve several puposes:


They answer would-be visitors' inquiries about accommodations, events, exhibits, programs, and sightseeing by either mailing them a free Chicago vacation-planning package or asking them to call the Chicago Office of Tourism's toll free hotline at 1-877-CHICAGO / 1-866-710-0294(TTY). This hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

They help newly-arrived tourists "refine" their itinerary -- if needed. If not, they will answer their questions and give them multilingual maps and brochures featuring ongoing attractions and special events.

Chicagoans, too, can use some of the programs available at the Visitor Information Centers, such as "InstaGreeter," an "on-the-spot," "first come, first served" greeter service that offers families or groups of six or less the opportunity to see downtown Chicago in an hour with local volunteer greeters leading free walking visits.

(For more information on this program, see our Chicago Greeter article.)
Location of Visitor Information Centers:
Chicago Water Works Visitor Information Center
163 E. Pearson Avenue
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Holidays: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center
77 E. Randolph Street
Monday - Thursday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Holidays: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day

http://chicago.about.com/od/governme...06_visitor.htm

[pottebaum]

We plan on visiting at the end of December (the 27th, I think). Do you think this would be a good time to come; much going on? I'd love to come before Christmas, but it just isn't a possibility.