Tips for Chicago

[Cycsk]

While we drove through Nebraska on the return from Denver, I decided to do something worthwhile (and to pass the time in that abominable state). So, I wrote down my personal tips about Chicago. Note that these are my “personal†tips in various categories. I make no claim to being complete, accurate, or current, but as someone from Chicago who moved to Ames 12 years ago and who loves going back, I thought it would be good to share a few things with my fellow Fanatics.

Here are my favorite places in Chicago (not in rank order):

1. Signature Room. On the 95[SUP]th[/SUP] floor of the Hancock Building is a great restaurant. It is super expensive at night, but they have a $20 lunch buffet on weekdays. So, for just about the same price as the observatory, you get a lunch buffet included. The restaurant is the entire 95[SUP]th[/SUP] floor, so you can walk around and see four distinct views of Chicago (lake, south lakeshore, north lakeshore, and west city).

2. Gino’s East. Go to “the original†on Huron just east of Michigan Avenue. Do not go to the imitations in neighborhoods or the one on Wells. Expect long lines, but they move pretty fast. You can also call ahead and get carryout. The place is known for the graffiti everywhere and if you bring a marker, you can add your own. I know people are saying that Chicagoans aren’t so crazy about deep dish stuffed pizza anymore, but I consider that to be either a lie espoused by transplanted New York hipsters or a horrible change to my fair city. There is no better pizza in the world than Gino’s East stuffed sausage patty pizza. Yes, I said “sausage patty†because there it has a thick slab of sausage across the whole pie. And get the corn meal crust. It is the only pizza where I look forward to finishing the crust.

3. Mr J’s Dog and Burger. At State and Chestnut in the heart of River North is a classic Chicago joint. Order a #1 (burger, fries, and a milkshake), take a bottle of ketchup for your fries, and sit by the window and watch the world go by. I lived on #1s when in college.

4. Buddy Guy’s Legends. This is the blues bar run by Buddy Guy. It is just south of downtown, only 6-7 blocks from the CF hotel. They have no-cover acoustic sets during the day and cover charges for night performances (starting late at night and ending early in the morning). If Buddy Guy isn’t travelling, he is usually there (probably 2/3 of the times I’ve been there). He just sits over at the bar and holds court. And sometimes joins the band for the night.

5. Weiner’s Circle. Go to this place on the way up to Wrigley, but only around midnight and with friends (it is best if they are drunk and a little racist). The black ladies at the counter and the black guy at the grill will absolutely destroy them. They are extremely quick-witted, vulgar, and hilarious. Sit back and watch your friends try to banter with them and fail miserably. There was even a reality show about this place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak4fr18wn2s

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: My Favorite Places and Restaurants

More restaurants in River North and N. Michigan Avenue:

· Ditka’s. Upscale sports restaurant with fantastic memorabilia.
· Harry Carry’s. Another fantastic sports-themed restaurant.
· Gene and Giorgetti’s. High end steak place that gets rave reviews.
· Carson’s. Classy rib joint. They even give you bibs. Business people go in suits.
· Lou Malnati’s, Pizzeria Uno, and Giordano’s are other Chicago classics for deep-dish.
· Rock and Roll McDonalds on Ontario. It is one of the busiest McDonalds in the world, but still serves you quickly. Lots of cool memorabilia.
· Portillo’s. Across Ontario Street from McDonalds. Great place to take a family of all ages. Good food, but a fantastic room. Stuff on all walls and hanging from the ceiling. You can be there an hour and still all of a sudden see something really cool that you hadn’t yet seen.
· Greektown. Just west of downtown on Halsted Street is a row of authentic Greek restaurants.
· Adam’s Ribs. The place on Adams Street referenced by Hawkeye on MASH is fiction. However, it clearly has the old rib joints on Madison Street in mind. These are the places I used to hop of the bus to get rib tips to take in with me to watch warm ups before Bulls games at the old Chicago Stadium. It looks like the “authentic” BBQ places on Madison are now a few miles west of the stadium so I wouldn’t recommend most Iowans to go there on their own. The places near the United Center are now more classy products of gentrification.

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: My Favorite Places and Restaurants

Other restaurant areas:

· Evanston. You should just stay downtown and enjoy it, but Evanston is wonderful. I think I could go to a different place every night for a month and be pleased. Northwestern is just a classy university with a classy town around it filled with people who like good restaurants.
· Wrigleyville. Lots of great yuppie places, but probably not worth the drive except for Murphy’s Bleachers which is the official Iowa State gamewatch location. Parking is horrible up there unless you are a resident. Take the CTA train.
· Rush Street. Also known as the “Viagra Triangle.” Just west of N. Michigan Avenue and north of State. It used to be the place to party, but it has been taken over by businessmen with big expensive accounts. Still some nice places with cool street performers, but not the go-to place it once was.

 

[Cycsk]

Tips for Chicago: Gamewatches, Sports-related, Tickets

While we drove through Nebraska on the return from Denver, I decided to do something worthwhile (and to pass the time in that abominable state). So, I wrote down my personal tips about Chicago. Note that these are my “personal†tips in various categories. I make no claim to being complete, accurate, or current, but as someone from Chicago who moved to Ames 12 years ago and who loves going back, I thought it would be good to share a few things with my fellow Fanatics.

Cyclone Gamewatch Locations:

· Murphy’s Bleachers. The ISU Alumni site lists Murphy’s Bleachers as the official gamewatch location. This place is literally across the street from the bleachers of Wrigley Field. Take the CTA train north from downtown, get off on Addison, go around the corner and down the block and you are there.
· Corcorans. For years, I heard that more fans watched games here than at Fizz, but have never been there myself. Now they only list Michigan State on their site. It is on Wells at the north end of River North.
· Fizz. I’ve been to gamewatches here, but don’t know if they still have them. Good folks who opened early on Thanksgiving weekend when we had an early game. They are a mile or so west of Wrigley Field.
· Best Website Ever. http://www.chibarproject.com/Features/College/ChicagoCollegeBars.html. Too bad it is not up-to-date.

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Gamewatches, Sports-related, Tickets

Sports-Related Sites:

· Chicago Athletic Club. It is really cool that the CF trip is staying in a hotel associated with this club. It is Chicago’s version of the “Downtown Athletic Club” where they announce the Heisman. Everyone in Chicago has heard of the Chicago Athletic Club, but I don’t know anyone personally who ever went there. It has quite an exclusive reputation. You should try to see it even if you aren’t staying there.
· Wrigley Field. It is super easy to visit Wrigley Field by CTA. I would recommend taking a CTA train and get off at Addison. It stops a half block away.
· Sox Park. Similarly, you can easily get to Sox Park by CTA train, though it is not in a yuppie neighborhood like Wrigley.
· Soldier Field. I could have included this with the museums as a relic of football past. You can drive right past it as Lakeshore Drive goes around it. I don’t know anything about tours. And it is “Soldier Field,” not “Soldiers’ Field.” Don’t know why. If you use the plural, locals will assume that you are a stupid Packer fan.
· Bulls Practice Facility. I think the Bulls now practice in the city somewhere (not in suburban Deerfield anymore). I’ve never been there, but it would be a good thing to do. If you want to see what practice was like in the olden days, go to the Angel Guardian Orphanage on the far north side and find the gym with the Bulls logo on the floor. It is where they practiced in the 50s.
· Bears Practice Facility. The Bears practice facility is in far north suburban Lake Forest.
· Hoiberg’s House. Actually, I don’t know where it is, but I think it is in a near southwest suburb.

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Gamewatches, Sports-related, Tickets

Tickets:

· Stub Hub Hotels. If you are rolling the dice to buy tickets through Stub Hub at the last minute, there will likely be a hotel somewhere downtown where you can pick up the tickets you buy online. Just hang out in the lobby until you get the price you want.

· Scalpers. It has been 15 years since I’ve bought tickets from scalpers near the United Center, but they are sure to be there. These guys will be pros (much better at their craft than the guys at Hilton or Jack Trice). Don’t think you are going to outsmart them or show them up. These guys are making enough money and have enough ego that they are the ones who might tear up a ticket in front of you (and in front of their colleagues). Just tell them what you are willing to pay and let them know where you will be if they want to sell it.

 

[Cycsk]

Tips for Chicago: How to Think Like a Chicagoan

While we drove through Nebraska on the return from Denver, I decided to do something worthwhile (and to pass the time in that abominable state). So, I wrote down my personal tips about Chicago. Note that these are my “personalâ€￾ tips in various categories. I make no claim to being complete, accurate, or current, but as someone from Chicago who moved to Ames 12 years ago and who loves going back, I thought it would be good to share a few things with my fellow Fanatics.

Thinking Like a Chicagoan:

· True Chicagoans pronounce the name of their city “Chi-cah-goâ€￾ with a bit of a nasal tone and the accent on the “cah.â€￾

· If someone asks you if you are a north-sider or south-sider, they may really be asking if you are a Cubs fan (north) or Sox fan (south).

· North siders are mostly northern European immigrants (lots of Germans, Polish, Swedes). South siders are mostly black (with some really nice neighborhoods like South Shore because they don’t all live in ghettos), except for near south is Italian and Greek and southwest corridor toward Midway Airport which is also of European decent. West siders are largely black with lots of Hispanic pockets. Far north side has some fascinating pockets, like Little Vietnam on Argyle Street or a blend of old Jewish and new Indian shops and restaurants on Devon Avenue.

· Street names on the north side have names, but east/west street names on the south side are numbered. That is because north-siders can’t count and south-siders can’t read.

· Homeless. Don’t give money to people on the street. Just don’t. They may make your Iowa nice heart ache, but they don’t need your money. They have plenty of ways to get food and shelter (from families and social services). Nearly all of the people asking for money are going to use it to support a bad habit or are pros who do it as a job. If you must do something, give them a burger. Better to give your money to Pacific Garden Mission who do will make sure that the money is used well.

· Al Capone. Chicagoans aren’t fixated on Al Capone. The gangster tours don’t seem very worthwhile to me. You can get the same information on Wikipedia. They mostly show you where things took place, but there is very little there to see.

· Chicago Fire. This is not just a TV show to Chicagoans, but a tragedy that destroyed the city 100 years ago and gave it the opportunity to rebuild itself.

· “Downstate.â€￾ Downstate means anything outside of the Chicago area. For instance, Rockford is 75 miles northwest of Chicago, but it is “downstate.â€￾

· “The City.â€￾ When they say “the city,â€￾ they mean within the city limits, not the suburbs. It is like on the fantastic Raygun shirt. https://www.raygunsite.com/products/chicago-chicago-1

· “Downtown.â€￾ Downtown means the Loop (south of the river) and River North (north of the river).

· Chicago Dog. Lots of people like to say what a Chicago hot dog is supposed to be, but I don’t
remember it being so pretentious in the 80s and 90s when I was there. I love ketchup on my hot dog and don’t remember anyone ever giving me grief for it until the last few years. However, a Chicago dog should be made with “Vienna Beef.â€￾

· “The Mayor.â€￾ In Chicago, “the Mayorâ€￾ is Richard Daley, the best mob politician ever. He gave the 1964 election to Kennedy. His son “Richieâ€￾ was a long-standing mayor who always seemed like a little kid trying to be like his father but just didn’t have it. He tried to be tough, such as bulldozing Meigs Field (an airport just east of Soldier Field on the lakefront) in the middle of the night because he wanted the Downstate politicians to have to use O’Hare and Midway Airports. In between the two Daley’s was some fascinating politics, such as Jayne Byrne who got elected because she won the poor vote by moving into Cabrini-Green projects (with a few hundred of “Chicago’s Finestâ€￾) and because her opponent was the sitting mayor and didn’t get the snow cleared quickly in one huge storm. Then, they elected Harold Washington, a really, really tough politician who was the first black mayor and quite progressive in leading the city. He died of a heart attack in his office and the white alderman rallied all night to select Eugene Sawyer, a very token black leader, as his replacement in what may have been the most brilliant and racially manipulative political move ever. I don’t know much more about Raum Emmanual than I get from the national media since I’ve been in Iowa for 10+ years. But as long as I’m telling stories, don’t be so hard on Rob Blagojevich (pronounced “Bla-goi-a-vichâ€￾), the governor of Illinois from Chicago with the great hair who tried to sell Obama’s Senate seat when he became president. All he did was swear a lot and ask people for good jobs for him and his wife after he left office. That is hardly “corruptâ€￾ by Chicago standards!

· “Windy City.â€￾ Chicago is called “the Windy Cityâ€￾ for three legitimate reasons: 1) the politicians are blowhards who never stop talking, 2) the invention of skyscrapers downtown created wind tunnels on the streets below, and 3) the original use of the term is a poor translation of the native American term “smellyâ€￾ because there was an onion field just west of the original settlement which smelled awful when the west wind blew.

 

[Cycsk]

Tips for Chicago: Transportation, Driving, Parking

While we drove through Nebraska on the return from Denver, I decided to do something worthwhile (and to pass the time in that abominable state). So, I wrote down my personal tips about Chicago. Note that these are my “personal†tips in various categories. I make no claim to being complete, accurate, or current, but as someone from Chicago who moved to Ames 12 years ago and who loves going back, I thought it would be good to share a few things with my fellow Fanatics.

Transportation-related (not driving or parking)

· CTA. I highly recommend buying a CTA pass if you are downtown and planning to do anything more than just go to the game and back. You can get them all over the city at stores or from vending machines at train stops. $10 for a one-day pass and $20 for a three-day. With it, you can jump on any bus or train. You will bumble around when you first buy the pass and struggle to make it work with the turnstiles, but some other passenger will help you and then it will be no problem after that.

· CTA Buses. The bus is wonderful for going up and down Michigan Avenue. It is also a cheap way to get to the United Center, but leave early to avoid traffic and expect slow, packed buses on the return trip. Most bus stops downtown have maps and route schedules posted. The sign on the front of the bus will tell you the route number, route name, and destination (terminal point). And even if you aren’t sure you are getting on the right bus, most people at the bus stop or the bus driver will be glad to help you. Just say where you want to go (“Hancock Buildingâ€) and they will tell you whether the bus goes there or not. You can pull a cord or push a button to indicate that you want to get off at the next stop. http://www.transitchicago.com/travel_information/fares/unlimitedridecards.aspx

· CTA Trains. The trains are a little more tricky. Most routes are known by their color (the blue line runs to/from O’Hare). Downtown they board in underground in tunnels or on elevated platforms. Sometimes you have to walk a block underground to connect from one line to another. And even experienced train riders get on the train going the wrong direction, so don’t panic. Just go back and use the stairs to get to the other side if the platform doesn’t serve trains going both directions. Or get on the train and hop off at the next stop to switch back. You board the train from a platform right next to the tracks with trains whizzing by you.

· Third Rail. If you drop anything, forget it. The trains run on electricity and you don’t want to touch the “third rail.†Your kids will never forget the dark, squeaky, screeching of CTA trains in tunnels going around corners, especially if the train has to stop and/or loses power for a few minutes. It never lasts long and nothing bad ever happens, but it will certainly be memorable for Iowans.

· State and Washington. Just a few blocks from the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel (the hotel of the Cyclone Fanatic bus trip) is the 0/0 point for addresses. You always know how far you are from this intersection by the street number. Wrigley Field is at 1040 Addison (at the 3600 corner of Clark Street). This means it is longitudinally 10 blocks west of State Street (which doesn’t actually run that far north) and latitudinally 36 blocks north of Washington.

· 8 blocks = 1 mile. So Wrigley Field is 4-1/2 miles north of State and Washington. Sometimes you have half blocks, so pay attention to the addresses, not just the blocks. If you know your major streets, you always know how far you are from anything else.

· The “L†is actually the “El†which stands for “elevated train.†However, any city train is commonly called the “L.â€

· The “Loop†is the area bounded by the “El†that runs around the old downtown area (Lake, Wabash, Wells, and VanBuren), but is commonly used to refer to anything downtown just south of the river, west of Lake Michigan, east of the suburban train stations (e.g. Union Station), and north of Congress Avenue.

· Taxis. Cabs are heavily regulated in Chicago. The medallion on the hood represents a license that had a market value of $400,000 (now $200,000 because of Uber). I rarely have had a bad experience with a taxi, other than some occasional BO. I’ve never had a taxi “take me for a ride†to run up the meter. You are just a rider. They have “out of towners†all the time. If you are concerned at all, address the driver by name and take a photo of their name (they all have it posted inside the cab), then they know that you can identify them if they do anything funny.

· Uber. This a great way to go, especially if you want to have a limo type ride to/from a place, just use the black car option. For most rides around downtown, Uber and cabs have about the same price. If you want something right away and a cab is there, take it. If there are no cabs or you are going a longer distance, then use Uber. Expect Uber to be 2x or 3x regular fees to/from the game because it is all based on supply and demand.

· Metra Suburban Trains. If you are staying outside the city (O’Hare is considered “city†and served by CTA trains), you may want to take a suburban train in. They are very comfortable, double-decker, and safe. They mostly take professionals to/from their suburban homes. Rides will be $5 to $10. Schedules can be rather limited late at night. It is a short cab ride to the United Center, Michigan Avenue, or anything downtown. There are several stations downtown depending on where you are coming from (Union, Northwestern, Illinois Central). Most Metra stations in the suburbs have parking lots where you can leave your car (or you can use the “Kiss and Ride†lanes for a drop-off).

· Underground Walkway. I’ve never done it, but they have maps that show how you can walk nearly two miles underground from Union Station (west of the river) to the Hyatt Regency (almost to Lake Michigan).

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Transportation, Driving, Parking

Driving in Chicago:

· Driving. Chicago is the anti-Iowa when it comes to driving. Aggressiveness is the name of the game. The secret for Iowans is just to keep in pace. If they are going 80 on a highway with 55 speed limit and narrow lanes, go 80 or get off the road. Don’t really get off the road because you don’t want to find yourself driving through a bad neighborhood. The highway lane is plenty wide enough for your vehicle, just not your comfort level. Unless you know you need to exit, stay left so you will have fewer cars moving in and out in front of you. The left lane isn’t a “fast lane” unless the road is pretty clear of cars. Another secret is to follow a flatbed truck because you won’t have to worry about him making sudden moves or stops and you can still see the road signs.

· Turning from the Second Lane. My favorite city driving tactic is the turn from the second lane. It is especially good for turning from a one-way to another one-way. Instead of waiting in the turn lane, pull up in the second lane and then just turn with the first person in line in the turn lane. Great time saver and it really impresses the family and friends.

· Crosswalks and Jaywalking. Chicago is an “at your own risk” town, unlike many other cities where pedestrians have the right of way. Drivers expect you to stay out of their way. However, they won’t be surprised if you walk in front of them when they are slowed or stopped. It is your job as a pedestrian to find your way across the street. And don’t be a slave to the crosswalk signs. They are intended for people who can’t figure it out on their own. However, pay attention to the traffic flow so you don’t walk right into the path of an oncoming car turning into the lane you are crossing.

· Major Streets. If you get off an expressway in the city other than downtown, just stay on the major streets (those with two lanes in each direction). The city is designed on a grid with major streets every 8 blocks.

· Diagonal Streets. Although most of the city streets run east/west or north/south, there are a few that run diagonally, such as Clark Street up to Wrigley Field. Others are Lincoln Avenue on the north side, Archer on the southwest, and Ogden on the near west side. Ogden is important because that can be a short-cut from River North to the United Center.

· Double Parking. It is common downtown for someone to park “just for a minute” in the lane of traffic next to the parking lane. If they block you, don’t get upset and don’t just sit there. Accept it and go around it. Sooner or later, you will be in a hurry and will want to do it.

· Lower Wacker Drive. One of the unique features of downtown Chicago is its underground roads. Wacker Drive which follows the Chicago River from the lake also has another road running right under it. The Michigan Avenue bridge has two levels. You can have a lot of fun with the kids when you drive on Lower Wacker Drive, turn onto Michigan Avenue, and all of a sudden you are crossing the river on the underside of a bridge. Similarly, if you know what you are doing, you can take Lower Wacker and come up a ramp that exits right next to the Sears Tower (now called Willis Tower). It is always fun to sneak up on one of the world’s tallest buildings. Oh, and don’t be surprised if you find some truly homeless folks sleeping in a doorway on Lower Wacker Drive. It is the Homeless Hotel.

· Reversible Lanes. If you want a true Chicago experience, try the “reversible lanes” during rush hour. Not the ones in the middle of the expressways that have very carefully controlled traffic flow, but the ones up north (I think it is Peterson Avenue) where you have lights with green arrows or red x’s hanging from wires above the street and some traffic cones set on the lane lines to let you drive on the wrong side of the yellow lines. By the end of rush hour, the cones get knocked all over the place and it is not unusual for someone to start going the “right” direction in the “wrong” lane right at you. Fun in the city!

· Traffic Reports. With Google maps, you may not even need radio traffic reports anymore. If you do listen to them, you need to know your road names to make any sense of what they say. If you are coming from the south, you will be using the Dan Ryan (90/94). Southwest is the Stevenson (55). West is the Eisenhower (290). Northwest is the Kennedy (90). North is the Edens (94 until it merges with the Kennedy). So, just listen for the name of your expressway. Then, listen to the minutes they give you. Usually, they will give you a marker, such as “the junction” (where the Kennedy and Edens meet) and tell you the minutes to/from downtown (the exits between Ohio Street and the Eisenhower). One of my favorite markers may be relevant for those of you coming from the west. It is the “Hillside Stranger” which is where I-88, I-290, and I-294 merge near the western border of the city.

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Transportation, Driving, Parking

Parking in Chicago:

· Hotel Parking. If you bring a car and want to park it at your hotel downtown, prepare to pay $50 per day. If you look around for a few blocks and aren’t scared to leave your car in a surface lot or in a lot under a bridge, you can probably find something under $20 per day. Make sure to ask about “in and out” parking. You want free in/out so you don’t to pay each time. Read the sign carefully before you enter a parking lot. They love to advertise the $5 rate with “first 60 minutes” and “$20 for 1-5 hours” in fine print. You will pay an attendant who will give you something for your dashboard or you may need to pay at a kiosk and get a receipt to display on your dashboard.

· Valet Parking. If you use a valet, expect to spend a few extra dollars each time they bring you the car. If you give them $5 the first time, you can be sure that they will really hustle the next time (for which I may only give $1 or $2). Even in some of the self-park lots, they will ask for your keys because they sometimes pack the cars in and may need to move it. I’ve never had a problem, even with a car full of stuff they could have taken.

· United Center. The stadium is located on the near west side, right across the street from the old Chicago Stadium (RIP). When they built the United Center, they bulldozed much of the neighborhood for parking and security. Back in my day at the Chicago Stadium, you would pay $10 to park, then some guy would come up and say that for another $5 he would make sure that no one did anything to your car (which was code for “I will do something to your car if you don’t give me $5). The lots now are fenced in and with security guards all over. You don’t have to worry at all about safety for yourself or your vehicle, though I would recommend getting a ride just for ease (cab, Uber, CTA bus, another Cyclone fan), especially if drinking. It is close enough to walk back to downtown, but you shouldn’t. It isn’t bad and there will be cops everywhere, but it is an unnecessary risk.

· Towing. If you get towed, don’t panic, just go to the ATM and get a few hundred bucks. You will probably find your car in an impound lot on Lower Wacker Drive (pretty much under the Hyatt Regency) just south of the river. Don’t panic. Just find a cop and ask for directions. Don’t take it personally or rip on the people at the impound lot. Just pay your money, get your car, and don’t do whatever it was that you did wrong again.

 

[mcblogerson]

Re: Tips for Chicago: My Favorite Places and Restaurants

I don't live in Chicago but from personal experience I'd agree with the Signature Room idea. There is usually a long line to go up there. Walk right past that line to the elevator. Some hostess person will attempt to stop you. They'll say something like "you have to wait in this line" or "whats the name on your reservation?". The answer to both questions is "**** you", and keep walking. Walk right in like you own the place and sit at the bar. I just saved you a minimum of one hour of wasted time. Also dress nice, and nobody will put much effort into stopping you.

 

[Cycsk]

Tips for Chicago: Sightseeing

While we drove through Nebraska on the return from Denver, I decided to do something worthwhile (and to pass the time in that abominable state). So, I wrote down my personal tips about Chicago. Note that these are my “personalâ€￾ tips in various categories. I make no claim to being complete, accurate, or current, but as someone from Chicago who moved to Ames 12 years ago and who loves going back, I thought it would be good to share a few things with my fellow Fanatics.

Architecture and Engineering:

· Architectural Tours. I also highly recommend the walking architectural tours. The skyscraper was invented in Chicago and there have been numerous engineering achievements associated with the development of skyscrapers in Chicago. And perhaps the world’s authority on these achievements is Thomas Leslie, an Iowa State professor. He has literally written the book on engineering innovation with Chicago skycrapers. What a delight to learn about his book and then learn that he was in Ames. Unfortunately, he is not able to be in Chicago this weekend, but he recommends the Chicago Architecture Foundation tours.
http://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/catalog/45fqq6ze9780252037542.html

· Boat Tours. The boat tours that depart from the Michigan Avenue bridge by the Wrigley Building are fantastic. The tour guides are usually pretty clever and informative about Chicago history, architecture, and unique engineering efforts such as reversing the flow of the Chicago River so they should ship from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River through man-made canals.

· Boeing Building. This building was built in such a way that it is only supported on three corners. The fourth corner is hung from an exposed scaffolding on top of the building and hangs over the Union Station railroad tracks along the Chicago River.

· Museum of Science and Industry. It is a few miles south of downtown. Take Lakeshore Drive for some great views. The Museum of Science and Industry is exactly what it says, but it is huge. It is no mere children’s museum. There will be plenty to interest everyone.

· Willis (Sears) Tower. They have added an acrylic box that allows you to step out from the observatory and look straight down 105 stories.

· Merchandise Mart. Just north of the river is what once was the largest building in the world. It takes up a whole city block.

· Drawbridges. You engineering geeks will love the drawbridges downtown. It is awesome when boats (usually sailboats with big masts, not cargo ships) cause them to open the bridges in sequence. My favorites are Michigan Avenue because it has two levels of auto traffic and Wells Street because it has a CTA train track that runs above it.

· Lake Michigan Locks. It is also very cool to watch the locks function at the entrance to Lake Michigan. Because they changed the direction of flow for the Chicago River, they have to use a system of locks to let boats through.

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Sightseeing

Museums:

· Art Institute. Practically across the street from the CF hotel is one of the best art museums in the country (including their own Monets). They often have exhibits from other collections that make the experience even better.

· Science and Industry. It is a few miles south of downtown. Take Lakeshore Drive for some great views. The Museum of Science and Industry is exactly what it says, but it is huge. It is no mere children’s museum. There will be plenty to interest everyone.

· Natural History. The Field Museum (named for Marshall Field, not farm fields) is just a short walk from the CF hotel. Lots of wildlife replicas, but also some rare finds, such as “Sue” the intact dinosaur. The last time I was there, they had a lab with windows through which you could watch them working on Sue. They also have an Egyptian Mummy room.

· Aquarium. The Shedd Aquarium was an older museum until they added the Buluga Whale annex. Now it is a very worthwhile place to go.

· Planetarium. The Adler Planetarium is a popular place, but I’ve never been there.

· Note that the Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium are all right together, just north of Soldier Field, and a short walk from the Art Institute and the CF hotel.

· Surgery. I’ve never been there, but the Museum of Medical Surgery is on my list.

· Gangster. Anything Al Capone-related is just tourist trap stuff. There are some cool stories, but nothing really to see. Think “Geraldo Rivera’s Al Capone’s Vault” fiasco.

· Chicago History. The Chicago Historical Society on the north end of River North has a great regular exhibit and fantastic special exhibits.

· Oriental Institute. This is part of the University of Chicago on the south side. It has a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls (and I mean “fragment”). It also has an entire long segment of the city wall from Khorsabad (think Nineveh). As you walk by, it feels like it is ready to fall on you as God’s judgment. They have also done major work in translation of ancient languages, like Akkadian.

· Jane Addams House. Jane Addams was a social reformer of the early 20[SUP]th[/SUP] century. There is a tribute to her on the east side of the UIC campus.

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Sightseeing

Universities:

· University of Chicago. Along with Northwestern, this is the Midwest’s Ivy League school. Lots of really old sports history there. And they made the atom bomb under the old football bleachers.

· University of Illinois-Chicago. Do not mistake this for the U of Chicago. UIC is the Chicago campus for the U of Illinois. It was originally called the University of Illinois-Chicago Circle as the only university to be named for an Interstate highway interchange (it is at the southwest corner of where the 90/94 intersects with 290).

· Northwestern University. It is located in Evanston just north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. It is another outstanding academic institution with lots of money and tradition, if not lots of athletic success (just like us, except for the money). I recommend a visit to campus. When you see Ryan Stadium (think high school sized Rose Bowl that they don’t even fill), you will love Jack Trice Stadium even more.

· DePaul is on the near north side and accessible almost only by CTA.

· Loyola is on the far north side right along the lake. Pretty campus once you get inside the buildings that line Sheridan Road.

· Northern Illinois University is way, way out in Dekalb. So, if you want to see the campus that sent us Nader and is sending us Darrell Bowie, you should do it on the way to/from Chicago.

· Moody Bible Institute. Its main campus and headquarters for its network of 30+ radio stations and hundreds of affiliates is on the west side of River North. This school has been an anchor of the fundamentalist movement of the early 20[SUP]th[/SUP] century and the evangelical movement of the last 20[SUP]th[/SUP] century. Its basketball facility has been used by visiting teams for practice during NBA playoffs, as well as for Rookie combines.

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Sightseeing

Churches. There are great churches in Chicago (and our "resurrected" team will be playing there on Easter Sunday):

· St. Patrick’s is at State and Chicago (a block from Mr. J’s). It is the main Catholic church for the archdiocese. If nothing else, stop in to see the architecture. Can you imagine the confessions that have been heard there?

· 4[SUP]th[/SUP] Presbyterian is just across from the Hancock Building. Again, just stop in to see the architecture if nothing else. This is where the early movers and shakers of Chicago attended.

· Moody Church is at the north end of River North and has a magnificent 2000 seat auditorium. Again just stop in to see it.

· Salem Baptist is the largest church in Chicago and is pastored by James Meeks, a state senator who is more influential in Chicago than Obama.

· Chicago Temple Building has a Methodist Church at top of the building.

· Jeremiah Wright’s Trinity United Church of ****** is on the far south side for those of you who want to see it firsthand. Preaching against Republicans is not an unusual occurrence here (or in most churches on the south side).

· ****** Universal Temple is a new age church where lots of current movers and shakers attend. Unfortunately, Rev. Johnnie Coleman, often called the “pastor of Chicago,” died a few years ago.

· Park Community Church is a postmodern evangelical church with lots of music and art.

· New Life Community Church on the near west side is pastored by Mark Jobe and is one of the most authentic evangelical churches I know as they are old-fashioned in their beliefs but very active in social causes.

 

[ThatllDoCy]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Sightseeing

Very good list. I would add the Robie House, which is down by The University of Chicago, by Frank Lloyd Wright. I think it's brilliant. Oak Park also has a Frank Lloyd Wright tour including his studio I believe.

 

[acrozier22]

Re: Tips for Chicago: My Favorite Places and Restaurants

I agree 100% with the Gino's recommendation. It's a must do for folks who haven't been to Chi-Town!

 

[Cycsk]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Sightseeing

Other places to go and things to see:

· Michigan Avenue. This is the main downtown street, also known as the Magnificent Mile. “South” Michigan Avenue is what we call the street south of the Chicago River (even though addresses are “North” Michigan Avenue all the way to Washington by the CF hotel). It has the classic old buildings (some of the original skyscrapers), the CF hotel, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, etc. “North” Michigan Avenue is north of the Chicago River. It starts with great old buildings like the Tribune Tower (with stones from each of the 50 states mounted around its base) and the Wrigley Building and runs north to the Water Tower, Water Tower Place, and the Hancock Building. Most of the great shopping is along here (Nike Store, Apple Store, Crate and Barrel, Bloomingdales). And it is not just what you see. There are entire malls inside buildings, such as Water Tower Place (which also has the American Girl Place). The River North area is just west of North Michigan Avenue.

· State Street. The State Street Mall is just a few blocks west of the CF hotel. However, it is not the mall of old. The great old stores have closed and others have taken their spots. I tend to use the mall mostly for transportation because so many CTA buses run there and you can board lots of CTA train lines from the State Street Subway. It also has the fantastic Harold Washington Public Library on the south end of State Street.

· River North. This is the region north of the Chicago River (clever name, huh?), bounded by Michigan Avenue on the east, North Avenue on the north (convenient, but unrelated name), and nowadays the Kennedy Expressway on the west (but not much is west of LaSalle). This is a great area to stay. Lots of not terribly expensive hotels, restaurants, and shopping. It is also easy to hop on CTA buses and trains.

· Lakeshore Drive. Often called “LSD” is about a 15 mile road that runs right along Lake Michigan. The only building east of LSD is Lake Point Tower downtown (it is where I want to live). It is very much worth a drive just for the contrasting views of the lake, lakeshore, and city.

· Goose Island. Yes, there really is a Goose Island. 312 is the original Chicago area code. It is just north of the River North area. The real Goose Island is just a small land mass in the middle of the Chicago River where geese must have liked to sun. I think there is a Goose Island restaurant and bar near there, but I don’t think the brewery is there anymore.

· Navy Pier. One of the main tourist things to do is Navy Pier (just north of the river and right on the lake). It is cool to see with the ferris wheel and restaurants, but I don’t think I’ve ever gone there except when events are held in their conference facilities.

· Second City. At the north end of River North is the comedy club area with Second City (though there are more in other areas).

· Chicago Symphony. This is a world-class symphony and they play just up the street from the CF hotel.

· The Bean. Surely you have seen photos of the metallic reflective “bean.” It is in Millennium Park just a few blocks from the CF hotel. It is really cool, especially for kids.

· East Side. There really isn’t an “east side” of Chicago, but much of the land east of Michigan Avenue is a landfill, largely made with the land taken out of the canals connecting to the Chicago River.

· Chicago Fire. Nowadays, this means the TV show based in a real firehouse just southwest of downtown (and not too far south of the United Center). You can drive by and take pictures. However, to a Chicagoan, the Chicago Fire is something that destroyed the city 100 years ago and gave it the opportunity to rebuild itself. The “Water Tower” and pumping station on N. Michigan Avenue are the only buildings downtown that survived the fire.

· Board of Trade. If you want to see where they decide how much to pay for your corn, visit the Board of Trade in the Loop at the south end of LaSalle Blvd.

· Harold Washington Library. There is a magnificent library building that is the central facility for the Chicago library system. It is on State Street and Congress.

· Jewelers Row. There is a “Jewelers Building” on Wacker Drive, but also a ton of jewelers just a few blocks from the CF hotel at Wabash and Madison. Mrs. Cycsk and I are wearing rings from Michals-Kagan Jewelers.

· Sports Authority Store. There is a very large, multi-level sporting goods store in River North at LaSalle and Ontario (across the street from the Rock and Roll McDonalds). Make sure to check out their basement clearance sales.

· Hugh Hefner Way. Yes, there is a street sign on Michigan Avenue at Walton Street that says “Honorable Hugh Hefner Way.” It is commemorates the block where the Playboy Building was.

· Hospitals. If you are a medical geek, the area just west of the United Center is a hospital mecca with several large hospitals, including the famous Cook County Hospital where no one is turned away regardless of ability to pay.

· Lincoln Park Zoo. Just north of River North is a very nice, small, urban zoo, including a children’s farm, presumably to help urban kids know where their meat comes from.

· Theater. There are world-class theaters downtown with Broadway-caliber shows. There are also lots of smaller theaters on the near north side (between Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville) with really good shows, including Blue Man Group in the theater where they started it.

· Sears Tower (Willis Tower). If I recall correctly, the observatory is on the 105[SUP]th[/SUP] floor. I like the Hancock Building’s Signature Room because of the different types of views (and the buffet). The Sears Tower views are all mostly city views. However, they have added an acrylic box that allows you to step out and look straight down 105 stories. I’ve never done it and if I did, they better have a squeegee.

 

[DSMCy]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Transportation, Driving, Parking

Great write ups! Thank you!

For parking, do you know of any lots you recommend around River North?
I've also found some websites that allow you to purchase in advance, but most of them are still $40-50/day.

I know it's not DM, but man I did not remember parking being that high.

 

[canker2323]

Re: Tips for Chicago: Sightseeing

Other places to go and things to see:...

I would add Lagunitas Brewery or Revolution Brewery. No, they aren't in gang infested parts of town.