View Full Version : Going to Chicago in April. What to see/do/eat?
albionmoonlight
01-27-2022, 03:29 PM
My work is planning an in person training in Chicago in April. On the assumption that we will be between the Omicron and Sigma variants at that time, I have signed up for it.
The hotel is in the Millennium Park area--though I'm happy to Uber or take transit places. I'll be going up a couple of days early with Mrs. A to just enjoy the area.
So, what are the must see/must do/must eat things in Chicago? And, of course, who has the best Chicago pizza?
Listening. I was stationed in Great Lakes IL for years...I'm finally going to take my family there in June. Outside of that neck of the woods, I rarely ventured into Chicago.
I'm thinking we might do a paid tour of Chicago for one of the days.
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 04:16 PM
And, of course, who has the best Chicago pizza?
Tell me, albionmoonlight, when was it that you decided to start a holy war?
QuikSand
01-27-2022, 04:24 PM
Honestly, the cliche Chicago things to do are all pretty worthy, in my opinion. The Field Museum is really good, the Adler Planetarium is really good, Grant Park is high end especially when there are events going on. The smart touristy play is a boat-based architectural tour that I have never done myself, but have been assured delivers if you're into that sort of thing.
I had every expectation that I'd one day live in Chicago, but life threw me a curve and I never made it back to the midwest.
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 04:37 PM
I actually don't have a strong opinion on Chicago deep dish pizza, perhaps because a) I'm not from here originally and b) my grandfather, who was from Chicago, cooked (from scratch, including the crust) what is, by far, the best deep dish pizza I have ever tasted.
But I believe the general consensus is that it's either Lou Malnati's, Giordano's, or maybe Uno's. There are certainly other Chicago folks on the board with more detailed opinions than mine.
As far as things to do, one of the standard recommendations is an architecture tour. (https://www.architecture.org/tours/) The boat ones might still be a little cold in April.
The museum campus around Soldier Field has the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. The Museum of Science & Industry is a bus ride south. Depending where you're from and what's available there these all might have differing levels of appeal. For instance, the Adler is fine, no better or worse than many other planetariums I've been to. The Shedd is also fine, but doesn't really hold a candle to aquariums located on the coasts. The Field is a great natural history museum, but you need to be into that to really enjoy it. I, personally, think the MSI is the best example of its type in the United States (be sure to visit the submarine, which is kinda hidden, to be honest).
If you're looking for fun places to eat, peruse the restaurant reviews in the Chicago Reader (https://chicagoreader.com/) for ideas. Just make sure they're not too out of date. The Reader is, IMO, the best source by far for objective takes on Chicago restaurants. There are a ton of good restaurants, from every cuisine. My favorite, by far, is North Pond (http://northpondrestaurant.com/), but it's pretty spendy and pretty foodie so may or may not fit the crew you're with. Rick Bayliss' Frontera Grill is always good. We have loved Sayat Nova (https://sayatnovachicago.com/), off Michigan Avenue, for ages, if you're into that kind of cuisine. The Berghoff (https://www.theberghoff.com/) is still open, and is still an age-old Chicago experience, and is also not far from Millenium Park.
Good music is everywhere. Again, check the Reader. One of the authentic experiences, however, remains the Green Mill (https://greenmilljazz.com/), way on the northside (cab it - don't bother with the Red Line)
If you're staying near Millenium Park, you're basically next to The Loop, which is bordered by the Chicago River to the North & West, and, let's say Roosevelt to the South. It's still pretty 9-5 businessy, with stuff closing in the evening, but of course it's still the area with the Museum Campus, the Symphony, the Opera, Berghoff, the Museum of Fine Art (also worth it) etc.... Go to Daley Plaza if you want to relive the final scene of The Blues Brothers. Stay away from Michigan Avenue, as that's where all the touristy stuff is. Millenium Park is in itself fun to walk around.
Just north of the Loop is River North (Sayat Nova & Frontera are here), bounded by, let's say, the river to the south, Lake Shore Drive to the east (Navy Pier is there, but, again, it's pretty touristy), Oak to the north and Orleans to the West. Characterized by a lot of high-end shops & restaurants, plus the bar scene at Rush & Division, there are some gems here, but it's best to look them up first instead of just wandering around.
That's just a start, but I hope it helps.
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 04:40 PM
Oh, standard recommendation for folks who want to see Chicago from the top of a skyscraper is not to do the Sears/Willis Tower. Go to the Hancock, but not the observation deck. Instead, there's a bar on the 95th floor. Drinks a pricey, but you're also paying for the view. Good experience, IMO. Trump Hotel is technically (I think) the 2nd tallest, but I don't believe there's an observation deck and my understanding is that everything there is horrendously overpriced anyway.
CrimsonFox
01-27-2022, 04:42 PM
Ignore everything you hear about "Chicago Style Pizza with the sauce on top". It sucks. It is not interesting. Just don't
CrimsonFox
01-27-2022, 04:43 PM
I grew up 2 hours from there and the one field trip I remember most was THe Museum of Science and INdustry. Such a fun place
Flere, how much time would I expect to spend generally in the Aquarium or Planetarium? Is that a full day for both or each?
As of right now, I want to spend a day up around the base and a day of the tour of Chicago. I want to factor in the Aquarium, Planetarium, and the Navy Pier, but I'm not sure how much time to plan for those. I still can't believe I never went to the Navy Pier when I lived up there.
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 04:54 PM
Flere, how much time would I expect to spend generally in the Aquarium or Planetarium? Is that a full day for both or each?
Of course it will depend how much you're into planetariums or aquariums, but a full day for both (they're literally within a 2 minute walk of each other) and I would think you'd hit most everything. The key thing would be identifying what shows you want to see in both, and when those shows are, and then planning your day accordingly.
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 04:55 PM
You could do the aquarium & planetarium during most of the day and head up to Navy Pier (walkable, IMO, but also probably a 5-minute Uber) for the late afternoon / evening. I probably wouldn't do dinner on Navy Pier, but happily there are a bunch of great restaurants directly west of it (to Michigan Ave) including Sayat Nova linked above.
sterlingice
01-27-2022, 05:04 PM
I actually don't have a strong opinion on Chicago deep dish pizza, perhaps because a) I'm not from here originally and b) my grandfather, who was from Chicago, cooked (from scratch, including the crust) what is, by far, the best deep dish pizza I have ever tasted.
But I believe the general consensus is that it's either Lou Malnati's, Giordano's, or maybe Uno's. There are certainly other Chicago folks on the board with more detailed opinions than mine.
I think you'd also want to put Gino's East on that and you'd have "the big four" covered. My preference is Lou's > Gino's > Uno's > Giordano's but I think you're ok with any of the 4. The ones downtown are fun like the original Gino's East or Uno/Due, but they're going to be crowded. Caveat: I haven't been up to visit family since the pandemic started so I can't tell you what accommodations are being made or how they look now.
Personally, you could do a lot worse than just getting a large Lou's Chicago Classic at a number of suburban ones. We often get ours at Schaumburg or Elk Grove on our way from O'Hare to Rockford and call it a day. It's not upscale and you're not getting the "experience" you would downtown. But you'll see it the way most locals do - eating at a neighborhood restaurant after a game or graduation or whatever.
I know most people are pepperoni pizza people - I know I am. But, in this case, get the sausage - it's Chicago and it's what they do. Also, don't go to like some of the trendy "we make artsy pizza" places - you're in Chicago, you came to Chicago to try deep dish pizza, so do it right.
Finally, be aware that good deep dish pizza takes time - usually about 45 minutes to cook. We usually call when we get our rental car squared away so it's already been in the oven for a while when we get there (it's still amusing to me that they have never purged my number from the system despite me putting it in when we lived in Indy over a decade ago and us getting pizza once or twice a year at most). So, just don't expect to roll up and have it cooked quickly. Either order ahead, plan around being there an hour or more, or get delivery/takeout (of course, it will still take a long time to cook but you can do other stuff while you wait).
SI
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 05:06 PM
Agreed 100% on all of that from si, sorry I forgot about Gino's! And definitely ++ on the sausage part. You're in Chicago, indulge in the meats.
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 05:11 PM
Of course, if we want a second holy war in this thread, we could argue about what the best steak house is. :D
Anyway, it's Gibson's. Bavette's is pretty good too.
Here's a comprehensive list of the best eateries: Food & Drink poll winners - Chicago Reader (https://chicagoreader.com/best-of-chicago/food-drink-poll-winners/)
Damnit, now I'm hungry.
sterlingice
01-27-2022, 05:17 PM
I thought I was pretty diplomatic about the pizza thing - no holy wars here :D. Also, I'm not educated enough about the steak houses. Was going to tackle the tourist thing next but maybe not until this weekend
SI
RainMaker
01-27-2022, 05:21 PM
Fun fact, Chicagoans don't eat as much deep-dish pizza as people think. We mostly eat tavern-style pizza and deep dish is more of a special occasion type thing. Tavern style is a crispy thin crust with a little softness inside. Toppings are a HUGE deal in Chicago. A lot of places make their own sausage for instance.
Deep-Dish: Lou Malnatis and Giordanos are the big chains here. They're fine, bit geared toward tourists and suburbanites. But nothing wrong with them. If you want to really dig in, try Art of Pizza or Pequods.
Tavern Style: Art of Pizza again, Aurelios, Michaels, Rosangelas, and Johns. Honestly, if the place has been standing for more than a deacde, they probably make good tavern style pizza.
Non-pizza: Portillos can't be beat for an Italian Beef and Chocolate Cake milkshake. You'll be near the Billy Goat Tavern which is where the infamous SNL skit originated from.
As for what to do, there is so much. If we get baseball, I'd highly recommend checking out Wrigley.
If not, the lake is filled with parks that have stuff going on all the time. Then you have all the museums along a stretch. Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium can be hit in the same day. Maybe even Adler Planeterium.
RainMaker
01-27-2022, 05:29 PM
I know most people are pepperoni pizza people - I know I am. But, in this case, get the sausage - it's Chicago and it's what they do. Also, don't go to like some of the trendy "we make artsy pizza" places - you're in Chicago, you came to Chicago to try deep dish pizza, so do it right.
This a million times. Lot of pride goes into toppings here and all the good places make their sausage from scratch.
If you're a craft beer drinker, there are so many great brewpubs in town too. Crushed by Giants, Adams Street, and Haymarket should all be near the area you're at. Short walk and you can check out the riverwalk too.
flere-imsaho
01-27-2022, 05:40 PM
The riverwalk is definitely worth it. Hard to believe there was nothing like it a few years ago.
weegeebored
01-27-2022, 06:19 PM
All good suggestions, but when it comes to food it will be a personal preference thing. There is no BEST pizza or BEST steakhouse. You can't go wrong with any of the places mentioned here but people usually prefer one over another. Try them all. ;) If you go to Gibson's make sure to get the Chocolate Mousse pie for dessert. It's big so you can share it -- and have leftovers. The best steak I ever had was a ribeye at Gene and Georgetti's. Not as well known as some of the other restaurants but my experience was great.
I disagree with the Portillo's suggestion. Very popular, but so is Papa John's. Popular doesn't make it good. It's just ok, imo. If you like Mexican food, try one of the Rick Bayless places -- Frontera Grill or Topolobampo for something more upscale.
Aquarium, planetarium, and museums are all great suggestions.
RainMaker
01-27-2022, 06:36 PM
I would only recommend Portillos for the italian beef (which they do great) and the chocolate cake shake which is a Chicago thing. Outside of that, it's a pretty generic burger joint.
sterlingice
01-27-2022, 07:20 PM
As far as things to do, one of the standard recommendations is an architecture tour. (https://www.architecture.org/tours/) The boat ones might still be a little cold in April.
My wife and I did a Frank Lloyd Wright tour out in the suburbs about a decade ago - probably not worth the drive if you have limited time and you're staying in town but it's there.
The museum campus around Soldier Field has the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium. The Museum of Science & Industry is a bus ride south. Depending where you're from and what's available there these all might have differing levels of appeal. For instance, the Adler is fine, no better or worse than many other planetariums I've been to. The Shedd is also fine, but doesn't really hold a candle to aquariums located on the coasts. The Field is a great natural history museum, but you need to be into that to really enjoy it. I, personally, think the MSI is the best example of its type in the United States (be sure to visit the submarine, which is kinda hidden, to be honest).
If you're staying near Millenium Park, you're basically next to The Loop, which is bordered by the Chicago River to the North & West, and, let's say Roosevelt to the South. It's still pretty 9-5 businessy, with stuff closing in the evening, but of course it's still the area with the Museum Campus, the Symphony, the Opera, Berghoff, the Museum of Fine Art (also worth it) etc.... Go to Daley Plaza if you want to relive the final scene of The Blues Brothers. Stay away from Michigan Avenue, as that's where all the touristy stuff is. Millenium Park is in itself fun to walk around.
Just north of the Loop is River North (Sayat Nova & Frontera are here), bounded by, let's say, the river to the south, Lake Shore Drive to the east (Navy Pier is there, but, again, it's pretty touristy), Oak to the north and Orleans to the West. Characterized by a lot of high-end shops & restaurants, plus the bar scene at Rush & Division, there are some gems here, but it's best to look them up first instead of just wandering around
If I were picking museums based on how good they were versus their peers:
1. Science and Industry
2. Art Institute of Chicago
3. Field Museum
4. Shedd Aquarium
5. Adler Planetarium
I would try really hard to hit the top 2, Field is also good if you have time, Shedd and Adler are decent add on activities if you're looking to spend a little more time.
If they're playing baseball, of course, Wrigley Field.
I haven't done it in years (ok, haven't done most of this in years), but Hancock or Sears (Willis) Tower observation decks are fun unless you live in NYC or somewhere you can do this often.
I'm not a big shopping person but I like Michigan Avenue and the Magnificent Mile and just meandering around the river on the streets downtown. I like how they're teaming with life. Pretty sure I wouldn't be excited about that right now during a pandemic, though. Also, for tourist shopping, I love the old Marshall Fields building (it's now a Macy's). It's a 9 story tall Macy's and they have stuff you can't get anywhere else like the darn tasty mint chocolate Frango liqueur. That said, I like doing all of this while we're up there at the holidays. It would lose some charm being there any other time of year. Navy Pier is nice in the evening but, iirc, it's kindof empty on weeknights but hopping on weekends. I could be wrong, though. Again, been a while for some of these things.
There are some "interesting" parts of Chicago even in the more touristy places. Like down by Wacker Drive (the split level street you see in movies like The Dark Knight), there are about a half dozen McDonalds and at least 4 close by 7 so it gets lightly trafficked pretty quick. I also had my pocket picked getting onto the El about a decade ago, but I stupidly had it in my back pocket, fell for a guy who was very practiced at it, and knew it was gone as soon as I got on the train and doors were closing. Still was annoying. Just be smart where you're going and when, like any big city.
Is it dumb to say that you should watch Ferris Bueller before going? It is basically a love letter to Chicago and might give you some ideas.
SI
CrimsonFox
01-28-2022, 01:33 AM
Stick your mouth out the car window and eat a bug!
saldana
01-28-2022, 07:04 AM
I disagree with the Portillo's suggestion. Very popular, but so is Papa John's. Popular doesn't make it good. It's just ok, imo. If you like Mexican food, try one of the Rick Bayless places -- Frontera Grill or Topolobampo for something more upscale.
seconded...i was significantly under-whelmed by the italian beef, but the Choc. Cake Shake is totally worth the heart attack it causes.
and i prefer Giordanos.
flere-imsaho
01-28-2022, 09:36 AM
Stick your mouth out the car window and eat a bug!
You're thinking of Wisconsin.
sterlingice
01-28-2022, 09:38 AM
You're thinking of Wisconsin.
Is it coated in cheese and deep fried?
SI
flere-imsaho
01-28-2022, 09:54 AM
Best way to eat bugs. So I've been told.
Honestly, the cliche Chicago things to do are all pretty worthy, in my opinion. The Field Museum is really good, the Adler Planetarium is really good, Grant Park is high end especially when there are events going on. The smart touristy play is a boat-based architectural tour that I have never done myself, but have been assured delivers if you're into that sort of thing.
I had every expectation that I'd one day live in Chicago, but life threw me a curve and I never made it back to the midwest.
Lived in Chicago for five years and took frequent visits back, though haven’t been in a while, so take the recommendations with a grain of salt.
I have done the architectural boat tour and it was fantastic. I’ve heard the walking tour is also excellent, so I would go with either of those.
Museum of Science and Industry is my favorite museum in town, tons of interesting interactive exhibits as well as just interesting information about anything. Last time I was there was almost 12 years ago, we were there about five hours and I still didn’t see everything I wanted to. Try and pick a non-weekend , non-half price day to go if you can (I think there’s a day each week where entrance fee is half, in any case, you would prefer to go at a less busy time if possible).
My restaurant info is going to be too out of date to use. When I was there, I tried a lot of places for deep dish pizza and never found better than Giordano’s. Just be prepared for a super dense pizza. I would strongly vote against Gino’s East (sorry folks), I know most native Chicagoans I know prefer Lou’s (the one time I had their pizza I thought it was ok).
EDIT - If you like Ethiopian food and they’re still around (and you don’t mind traveling a bit north of downtown to Uptown), Ethiopian Diamond is the best I’ve ever had and doesn’t seem to be a well known place.
albionmoonlight
03-31-2022, 03:54 PM
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I am getting excited.
The bummer news is that Mrs. A can no longer come up with me. Her mom (who lives here) was going to be our babysitter for the weekend, but she had knee surgery and based on how her recovery is going, we didn't want to put her through that (and kind of want to keep Mrs. A close by her in case there is a setback).
I'll still go up a couple days before the conference and be sure to hit S&I, Art Institute, and Fields (I'm going through a dinosaur phase right now as part of a nerdy mid-life crisis). I might also catch the planetarium, but I could also see myself being a bit museumed out by that point. I'll play that one by ear.
And, since I will be flying solo, I'd also be fine if some folks wanted to do an FOFC meetup--I'm not really sure how many of you there are up there. I'll be there the evening of the 9th and 10th, and I'll be eating good food and getting good beers either way, so if people wanted to join me, that's all to the good :-)
Thanks again for all the great suggestions.
Irrelevant Dude
03-31-2022, 04:05 PM
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I am getting excited.
The bummer news is that Mrs. A can no longer come up with me. Her mom (who lives here) was going to be our babysitter for the weekend, but she had knee surgery and based on how her recovery is going, we didn't want to put her through that (and kind of want to keep Mrs. A close by her in case there is a setback).
I'll still go up a couple days before the conference and be sure to hit S&I, Art Institute, and Fields (I'm going through a dinosaur phase right now as part of a nerdy mid-life crisis). I might also catch the planetarium, but I could also see myself being a bit museumed out by that point. I'll play that one by ear.
And, since I will be flying solo, I'd also be fine if some folks wanted to do an FOFC meetup--I'm not really sure how many of you there are up there. I'll be there the evening of the 9th and 10th, and I'll be eating good food and getting good beers either way, so if people wanted to join me, that's all to the good :-)
Thanks again for all the great suggestions.
The Cubs will also be in town that weekend, so that would be an option for you too. As for the pizza, I'm a Lou Malnati's guy, and I agree with whoever said that you need to get the sausage. That layer of sausage is what makes the pizza great. Full disclosure, I haven't been to all the highly-rated Chicago pizza joints, but Lou's has never steered me wrong.
NobodyHere
10-19-2022, 08:27 PM
It looks like my meetup group wants to visit Chicago Nov 16-18th. So I'll be reading this thread and asking for suggestions in the near future.
Lathum
10-19-2022, 08:30 PM
It looks like my meetup group wants to visit Chicago Nov 16-18th. So I'll be reading this thread and asking for suggestions in the near future.
You gonna shack up with Amber?
NobodyHere
10-19-2022, 08:31 PM
You gonna shack up with Amber?
Yes
Lathum
10-19-2022, 09:01 PM
Yes
Nice! I'm sure it won't be awkward when one of you has to poop
flere-imsaho
10-20-2022, 07:33 PM
An update to what I wrote earlier: Eater Chicago is now probably a better research vehicle for restaurants than the Chicago Reader. The reviews in the Reader are still good, but there's only like one every 3 months.
The Reader is still good for listings of entertainment.
Ask away as you get closer to the date!
albionmoonlight
08-19-2025, 08:03 AM
So life intervened and canceled this trip. And then two other planned Chicago trips. But last week, Mrs. A. and I finally made it.
What an amazing city! I have visited other cities and had various levels of liking and disliking them. But more than any other city I've visited, I felt a vibe with Chicago. It was really easy to picture a world where I got a random job there right after college and just never left.
It helped that we stayed with a friend of a friend out in Lincoln Square instead of a hotel in the touristy part of town, so we got more of a sense of what it was like to live there. Some of our favorite places were a Chinese BBQ, a bookstore, and an LGBTQ-friendly bar that had been there for 40 years--all in that neighborhood. And you got the sense that the whole city had hidden gems like that. Lots of dogs, too. Always a good sign.
Pequod's Pizza was amazing (where we chose for deep dish after much research)
Cafe Lula was super fun and funky
Jibaritos were fun (and I'm not sure why they haven't taken off in hipster areas in other cities)
Malort was Malort--but I took my required shot.
Art Institute was so great we went twice to try and see it all. Nighthawks was already my favorite painting, but it is even more favorite now that I've seen it in person.
Field Museum lived up to the billing. And the walk outside the planetarium to see the city across the lake was well worth it.
Two architecture tours--one by boat and one walking.
Mrs. A loved The Last Chapter (a 100% romance bookstore)
Second City was hilarious, and Lincoln Park on the way there was neat.
Public transit (trains and buses) were clean and convenient.
Ran out of time for Science and Industry--that's first on the list for next time.
10 out of 10. Five Stars. Can't recommend enough!
QuikSand
08-19-2025, 08:16 AM
Well done. I'm there next week, my kind of town, Chicago is.
flere-imsaho
08-19-2025, 05:54 PM
Glad you had a good time! Lincoln Square is definitely one of my favorite neighborhoods.
An update to the above is that no one really rates Portillo's Italian Beef anymore, which is relevant because of The Bear. Consensus seems to be Johnnie's in Elmwood Park (which can be a bit of a hike) followed by Al's on Taylor Street.
Passacaglia
08-27-2025, 10:03 AM
I must have missed this thread when it first came around.
Oh, standard recommendation for folks who want to see Chicago from the top of a skyscraper is not to do the Sears/Willis Tower. Go to the Hancock, but not the observation deck. Instead, there's a bar on the 95th floor. Drinks a pricey, but you're also paying for the view. Good experience, IMO. Trump Hotel is technically (I think) the 2nd tallest, but I don't believe there's an observation deck and my understanding is that everything there is horrendously overpriced anyway.
Hopefully you didn't try to go to the Hancock for this -- I'm pretty sure the Signature Room has closed since then.
Fun fact, Chicagoans don't eat as much deep-dish pizza as people think. We mostly eat tavern-style pizza and deep dish is more of a special occasion type thing. Tavern style is a crispy thin crust with a little softness inside. Toppings are a HUGE deal in Chicago. A lot of places make their own sausage for instance.
Agree on the deep dish being a special occasion thing. Just on cost alone, really. Now that My Pi is closed, I'll probably only do it when we have people coming in from out of town. As lukewarm as I am about deep dish, though, I really hate tavern-style.
I would only recommend Portillos for the italian beef (which they do great) and the chocolate cake shake which is a Chicago thing. Outside of that, it's a pretty generic burger joint.
Agree here. I am not an italian beef fan, and most people I know are into Portillo's for the burgers, which I don't get. Not even good.
My wife and I did a Frank Lloyd Wright tour out in the suburbs about a decade ago - probably not worth the drive if you have limited time and you're staying in town but it's there.
If any of you guys do the FLW tour, hit me up, I'm super close to it.
It helped that we stayed with a friend of a friend out in Lincoln Square instead of a hotel in the touristy part of town, so we got more of a sense of what it was like to live there. Some of our favorite places were a Chinese BBQ, a bookstore, and an LGBTQ-friendly bar that had been there for 40 years--all in that neighborhood. And you got the sense that the whole city had hidden gems like that. Lots of dogs, too. Always a good sign.
Nice! I have driven through Lincoln Square a lot, but never spent a lot of time there, until this weekend. My kids wanted to do something called Pokemon Go Fest which was happening there. We walked all around the area, then later went to the Book Cellar and sat in the square near there. During the Pokemon Go part, the whole group ended up wandering into the middle of a block party. After a few minutes, one of the guys from the block party came up to us. I assumed he was going to tell us to get lost, but he said they had way too much ice cream and asked if we all wanted some -- pretty big deal since there were at least 20 of us nerds.
Second City was hilarious, and Lincoln Park on the way there was neat.
We actually just went to Second City recently, too! We took the kids to a more kid-friendly show. It seemed meant more for kids a few years younger than ours, but they liked it, and it was worth it to be sure it wouldn't be inappropriate. We used to live right by there, and whenever we go back to that area, we always complain that the Starbucks there took out a ton of tables, and isn't 24 hours anymore.
If you go back to Lincoln Park, the zoo is good, and free, if you're into zoos. And you should check out Bourgeois Pig, which turns into a speakeasy called The Gatsby on weekend nights.
Art Institute was so great we went twice to try and see it all. Nighthawks was already my favorite painting, but it is even more favorite now that I've seen it in person.
If you went to the Art Institue, I'm assuming you at least saw the Bean. Hopefully you ran into these guys:
In the rain, group persists for release of man supposedly living in The Bean - Chicago Sun-Times (https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/08/18/the-bean-cloud-gate-millennium-park)
GrantDawg
08-27-2025, 05:03 PM
I have always wanted to go to Chicago, but just never have had a chance. I even had an Aunt, Uncle and cousins living up there (my mom was even born there) but we never went up and visited. I need to try to get my wife to go. She would love the FLW tour.
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