Chicago - First Time

[ebrasmus21]

Going to Chicago in June for 3 days and I want to make the most of my trip.  
 

I’d welcome recommendations on what to do and where to go while I’m in town.  
 

Id like to do the Art Institute and go on an architectural tour but past that I don’t really know what else to do.  
 

I’ll be getting into town on a Wednesday afternoon and leaving on Sunday evening. 

[deadsolid...shank]

Hey E, we took the boat tour, that was pretty neat. 
 

You should hook up with DavePelz4 and VNutz for a game of golf too. 

[Argonne69]

Hopefully you get some decent weather. June can be iffy. It could be 80 degrees and Sunny, or 45 and rainy.

 

Definitely try to walk or bike a stretch of the lakefront. Chicago is unique in that it has a 20+ mile stretch of public parkland along the waterfront. The Divvy bike share is inexpensive. The Chicago River also has a walkway, but it pales in comparison to San Antonio. 

 

Pre-pandemic I'd say hop on the 'L' and take a ride on the Brown Line up to Addition (Wrigley Field). Grab a beer on Clark St just outside the ballpark. The 'L' is a good way to see the northside neighborhoods.

 

The Field Museum is excellent if the weather is poor.

 

[RobotDoctor]

Pizzeria Uno is a definite MUST to experience a Chicago Pizza icon.  There are many choices for Chicago style pizza but Uno's stands the test of time and is the original.  The address and phone number is:

 

29 East Ohio, Chicago IL 60611

312-321-1000

 

Don't be fooled by the UNO's Pizza chain locations around the country, this is the real deal even though the chains are affiliated.  Pizzeria Due is the second location as also excellent.

 

619 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611-2713

312-943-2400

 

 

 

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[Argonne69]

Pizzeria Uno or Lou Malnati's. The more-or-less accepted story is that Lou invented the first Chicago deep dish while working in the kitchen at Uno's, and then struck out on his own.

 

Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of great tavern-style pizza near downtown. You really have to venture out in the neighborhoods to get authentic tavern-style.

 

[Argonne69]

Try to get out to the Planetarium on Solidarity Dr. If you drive there's street parking available, although it can be tough to find a spot during peak times. The views from the north side of the peninsula overlooking downtown, Grant Park, and the Monroe Harbor are some of the best in the city. Great spot for photos, and/or simply throwing down a blanket for a 30 minute rest. 

 

[ebrasmus21]

34 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

Try to get out to the Planetarium on Solidarity Dr. If you drive there's street parking available, although it can be tough to find a spot during peak times. The views from the north side of the peninsula overlooking downtown, Grant Park, and the Monroe Harbor are some of the best in the city. Great spot for photos, and/or simply throwing down a blanket for a 30 minute rest. 

 

I’d like to do that, Field Museum, Art Institute, Zoo, River tour, so many options......

[TiScape]

I ❤️ Chicago. I live 25mi from San Francisco and definitely prefer Chicago... It’s the weather that kills it for me.  Enjoy your trip! Catching a game at Wrigley is a great experience. Or just being at one of the bars across the street on game day. It’s like every game is a playoff game there!

Edited April 6, 2021 by TiScape

[Murphy76]

Itallian Beef!

 

Hit Al's or Portillos.  Order it wet, with extra gravy on the side with hot peppers. 

 

 

[MtlJeff]

On 4/6/2021 at 2:17 PM, TiScape said:

I ❤️ Chicago. I live 25mi from San Francisco and definitely prefer Chicago... It’s the weather that kills it for me.  Enjoy your trip! Catching a game at Wrigley is a great experience. Or just being at one of the bars across the street on game day. It’s like every game is a playoff game there!

 

I've done Wrigley and i agree it was a lot of fun...And i'm not even a huge baseball guy. There's something immensely enjoyable about a beer and a hot dog at Wrigley Field 

 

The best part about flying into Chicago intending to stay there, is that you don't have to worry about getting stuck there due to Ohare being basically the worst airport to fly through in the history of airports. LOL

 

97% of the time i've spent in Chicago is due to missed or delayed flights. I've spent more time at Ohare than some properties i've owned!

Edited April 7, 2021 by MtlJeff

[Hawkeye77]

Art Institute is incredible.

 

Field Museum is incredible.  Museum of Science and Industry a short walk away - incredible.

 

Brookfield Zoo over Lincoln Park for me.

 

Cubs if you like baseball or even if you don't.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ebrasmus21]

1 hour ago, MtlJeff said:

 

I've done Wrigley and i agree it was a lot of fun...And i'm not even a huge baseball guy. There's something immensely enjoyable about a beer and a hot dog at Wrigley Field 

 

The best part about flying into Chicago intending to stay there, is that you don't have to worry about getting stuck there due to Ohare being basically the worst airport to fly through in the history of airports. LOL

 

97% of the time i've spent in Chicago is due to missed or delayed flights. I've spent more time at Ohare than some properties i've owned!

I've flown into Ohare once and Midway once but this will be the first time spending any time in the city.  Definitely looking forward to it! 

[ebrasmus21]

35 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Art Institute is incredible.

 

Field Museum is incredible.  Museum of Science and Industry a short walk away - incredible.

 

Brookfield Zoo over Lincoln Park for me.

 

Cubs if you like baseball or even if you don't.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So my brother and I have talked about going to a ball game because they are playing the cards while we are there.  I'm assuming since it is a rival the tickets will be expensive.  We will see what happens but I think going to a game would be a lot of fun depending on how many covid rules they have.  

[TiScape]

On 4/6/2021 at 9:41 AM, Argonne69 said:

Pizzeria Uno or Lou Malnati's. The more-or-less accepted story is that Lou invented the first Chicago deep dish while working in the kitchen at Uno's, and then struck out on his own.

 

Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of great tavern-style pizza near downtown. You really have to venture out in the neighborhoods to get authentic tavern-style.

 

Went to Vito & Nick’s on S Pulaski for tavern-style (I call it thin crust haha) it was very good!

[Argonne69]

4 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Art Institute is incredible.

 

Field Museum is incredible.  Museum of Science and Industry a short walk away - incredible.

 

Brookfield Zoo over Lincoln Park for me.

 

Cubs if you like baseball or even if you don't.

 

 

 

The Museum of Science and Industry is not a short walk from the Field Museum. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Planetarium are close to each other in the "Museum Campus" along the lakefront near downtown. The Museum of Science and Industry is 6 miles south along the lakefront in Jackson Park.

[Argonne69]

36 minutes ago, TiScape said:

Went to Vito & Nick’s on S Pulaski for tavern-style (I call it thin crust haha) it was very good!

 

Yes, there are numerous places out in the neighborhoods where one can get great thin crust pizza. I assume the OP is staying in the downtown area, and options there are limited.

 

Any interest in brewpubs? I believe Chicago now has more brewpubs than any city in the country.

 

[Hawkeye77]

24 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

The Museum of Science and Industry is not a short walk from the Field Museum. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Planetarium are close to each other in the "Museum Campus" along the lakefront near downtown. The Museum of Science and Industry is 6 miles south along the lakefront in Jackson Park.

LOL, I forgot we took a taxi there. 

[Argonne69]

 

As mentioned the architectural river cruise is excellent. There's also a walking tour that covers the Loop.

 

Since you're planning to go to the Art Institute, you'll be close to Millennium Park. Be sure to check out the Crown Fountain and "The Bean" sculpture. Michigan Ave is an architectural gem. It's roughly a 1.5. mile walk from the south end of Grant Park (at Roosevelt) to Millennium Park at the northwest corner of Grant Park. You can continue the walk up north Michigan Ave, crossing the Chicago River, and up "One Mag Mile", the main shopping district. 

 

It's very touristy, but I still enjoy spending time out at Navy Pier. During the summer they have live music out at the beer garden on the weekends.

 

[ebrasmus21]

56 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

As mentioned the architectural river cruise is excellent. There's also a walking tour that covers the Loop.

 

Since you're planning to go to the Art Institute, you'll be close to Millennium Park. Be sure to check out the Crown Fountain and "The Bean" sculpture. Michigan Ave is an architectural gem. It's roughly a 1.5. mile walk from the south end of Grant Park (at Roosevelt) to Millennium Park at the northwest corner of Grant Park. You can continue the walk up north Michigan Ave, crossing the Chicago River, and up "One Mag Mile", the main shopping district. 

 

It's very touristy, but I still enjoy spending time out at Navy Pier. During the summer they have live music out at the beer garden on the weekends.

 

Good idea!  
 

we will most certainly be going to brewpubs as well.  

[RobotDoctor]

On 4/6/2021 at 10:41 AM, Argonne69 said:

Pizzeria Uno or Lou Malnati's. The more-or-less accepted story is that Lou invented the first Chicago deep dish while working in the kitchen at Uno's, and then struck out on his own.

 

Unfortunately there isn't much in the way of great tavern-style pizza near downtown. You really have to venture out in the neighborhoods to get authentic tavern-style.

 

I love Lou Malnati's.  Great deep dish.  I prefer Italian Sausage and Pineapple on my pizza, no matter what the crust is.  I can't get that at Pizzeria UNO's or Pizzeria Due but can at Lou Malnati's.  

[ohioglfr]

It's a shame the Museum of Science and Industry is in a rather isolated location.  If you can shoehorn it into your schedule, the German U-Boat exhibit is remarkable.  Enjoy your trip!

[Argonne69]

OP, are you going to have a personal/rental car, or are you ride sharing your way around town?

 

[golfortennis]

On 4/7/2021 at 10:28 PM, Argonne69 said:

 

Yes, there are numerous places out in the neighborhoods where one can get great thin crust pizza. I assume the OP is staying in the downtown area, and options there are limited.

 

 

 

On the deep dish question, Is Giordano's still considered a place to go?  Guess it doesn't quite count as downtown, but if I recall it's just off the Mile, no?

[Argonne69]

6 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

On the deep dish question, Is Giordano's still considered a place to go?  Guess it doesn't quite count as downtown, but if I recall it's just off the Mile, no?

 

Technically Giordano's is a stuffed pizza, and not deep dish. The deep dish served at Pizzeria Uno and Lou's has a single layer of dough at the bottom. Stuffed pizza has a 2nd layer of dough on top of the meat, cheese, and veggies, with the sauce on top of the 2nd dough layer. 

 

Giordano's is still popular, but I prefer Edwardos or Nancy's. I don't think there's a Nancy's near downtown, but there's an Edwardos in Old Town. The sauce on top of Edwardos is very "tomato-y" with nice chunks. Giordano's sauce tends to dry up. 

 

There is a Giordano's in the Loop near Jackson and Franklin, as well as one off the Mag Mile on Rush St. 

 

[golfortennis]

25 minutes ago, Argonne69 said:

 

Technically Giordano's is a stuffed pizza, and not deep dish. The deep dish served at Pizzeria Uno and Lou's has a single layer of dough at the bottom. Stuffed pizza has a 2nd layer of dough on top of the meat, cheese, and veggies, with the sauce on top of the 2nd dough layer. 

 

Giordano's is still popular, but I prefer Edwardos or Nancy's. I don't think there's a Nancy's near downtown, but there's an Edwardos in Old Town. The sauce on top of Edwardos is very "tomato-y" with nice chunks. Giordano's sauce tends to dry up. 

 

There is a Giordano's in the Loop near Jackson and Franklin, as well as one off the Mag Mile on Rush St. 

 

 

Ah ok.  I went there with a group.  I'm not a fan of way too much cheese on a pizza, so I wasn't huge on it.  More of a Detroit-style myself.   

 

[Argonne69]

32 minutes ago, golfortennis said:

 

Ah ok.  I went there with a group.  I'm not a fan of way too much cheese on a pizza, so I wasn't huge on it.  More of a Detroit-style myself.   

 

 

Stuffed pizza can be a real cheese bomb. I order Edwardo's once a month, and I'm in a food coma for hours. Definitely not recommended when one has after dinner plans on vacation.

 

Deep dish at Lou's and Uno's is filling, but I can still walk after 2 slices. Lol.

 

[ebrasmus21]

7 hours ago, Argonne69 said:

OP, are you going to have a personal/rental car, or are you ride sharing your way around town?

 

Public transit and ride share, only.  

[DrOldSchool]

Add my vote for Lou's. So happy one finally opened here in the Indy suburbs. But I always go there when I'm in Chicago no matter what.

[2ball]

On 4/7/2021 at 7:25 PM, Argonne69 said:

 

The Museum of Science and Industry is not a short walk from the Field Museum. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Planetarium are close to each other in the "Museum Campus" along the lakefront near downtown. The Museum of Science and Industry is 6 miles south along the lakefront in Jackson Park.

He is an ultra-marathoner so it is just a short walk for him. 😉

[ebrasmus21]

Talking to my bro about places and we are also probably going to try and fit in, among others: 

 

• Girl & the Goat 
• Au Cheval 
• John Handcock for a drink