Things to do in Chicago?
 

Hello fellow flyertalk'ers,

I am planning to visit Chicago in Mid-September and am staying at the Sutton Place Hotel by the Magnificent Mile. I was wondering what is there to do in Chicago (does not have to be typical tourist things)? Is this a good central location for most things and is it easy to navigate Chicago through public transportation (I will not be renting a car)? Also, I am from Houston and on Sept. 8th, the Astros will be playing the Cubs at Wrigley Field, is it worth it to go see the game?

Last question, is this part of Chicago (downtown) safe for tourists? What areas should I avoid?

Thanks, if there is anything else you would like to add, it is more than welcome.

Edit: Any particular places I should visit? I will be going with my girlfriend.
Eating/Restaurant?
Sight Seeing?
Fun?
Parks?
Bars?
Nightlife?
Tours?
Open for anything really.

Welcome to FT and have a great visit.

Did you know the Chicago sales tax is 10%?

Half point drop coming 7/1...

Any relief scheduled for the 15% hotel tax?

Yes, it's easy. google maps does a pretty good job with transit directions, but feel free to ask here, there are plenty who are well versed on in this group.

That's really up to you. Wrigley is a great old park with the ivy, etc. I'd say it's worth going to at least once. Check stubhub, as there have been lots of cheap tickets so far this year.

Pfft, yeah right. Isn't a chunk of that paying for soldier?

Your topic is very general, a simple search on the internet with Chicago can easily come up with hundreds results, but basically you can get all your information from this site

http://www.choosechicago.com/Pages/default.aspx

And there are many Chicago tourist guide books in your local book store.

About being a first-time visitor to Wrigley Field:

http://tinyurl.com/38pfjkq

More
 

You will be a very safe area with lots to do. Also, cabs are plentiful.

Of course there is lots of shopping.

Tons of good restaurants--what do you like?

Parks? Millennium Park is very cool.

Navy Pier is Illinois' top tourist attraction. From there there are many boat cruises.

The Art Institute is truly world-class.

If you're into architecture, this is a city that takes it seriously...the Chicago Architecture Foundation has zillions of tours (I recommend the 90 minute river cruise.)

Lots of theater choices too if you are looking for good theater.

And then there are Blues Clubs....

Really???

s/b tourist trap.

+1

Navy Pier is to Chicago what Fisherman's Wharf is to San Francisco...

All parts of downtown and the North Michigan Avenue are safe. Unless you are extremely adventurous/looking for trouble, any areas that you, as a tourist, would be interested in seeing are safe.

If you want to get tickets to a Cubs game, I suggest looking on Stub Hub, as opposed to Ticketmaster or the Wrigley Field box office. It's a down year, so you'll probably be able to get tickets for less than face value.

...especially after D. Lee's swan song last night. :D

When did it do down? IIRC the sales tax here is 10.25% (plus more taxes on things like bottled water, booze, and other things.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_t...tates#Illinois

You may be right. I don't shop B/M in Chitown. Suburban rates can be as low as 7%.

Since this is your first trip you'll be in a great location for a lot of what you are looking for regarding bars, food and nightlife. I think you'll be at the epicenter of the Viagra Triangle and close to Michigan Avenue.

While I agree Navy Pier is touristy, the walk is nice and the skyline views from the end are worthwhile.

Definitely do the Cubs (this from a Sox fan). The area surrounding Wrigley is worthwhile.

Lots of good museums to see in the city and I'd suggest an architectural river tour.

Recently disowned, no doubt. ;)

Well
 

I agree, but none-the-less, many may find it appealing.

While Navy Pier to chicago is clearly a tourist trip, but Fisherman's Wharf to San Francisco is not.

There are a lot more to see and do in Fisherman's Wharf than Navy Pier. I have been to SF many many times, but I never got tired or sick of it. Whereas Navy Pier once is enough.

The OP may find more objectivity when reading one of the many Chicago travel guidebooks or by visiting the Metromix, Time Out Chicago or Chicago Reader websites. That's what I suggest. About Navy Pier ... it's a huge attraction, not just to tourists ... and if you spent a couple days there you probably couldn't fit-in all there is to do. The panoramic views of Chicago's lakefront from the pier are spectacular. But do some more independent investigation to find things that interest YOU and not the rest of us and check back to ask some specific questions. mid-September is usually an excellent time of year to be in the city. Thanks.

I'm not sure what makes Fisherman's Wharf any less of a tourist trap other than the fact that it's easier to leave. Both have spectacular views, both have tons of tourist crap. Fisherman's Wharf has better food.

Yes, but Navy Pier has better Shakespeare. And I'm still hoping the Fritto Misto that I had at Scomo's a few years ago has worked it's way out of my arteries.;)

How old are you?

Right. You like Fisherman's Wharf because you've been a tourist in SF. I lived in SF, and I assure you that no locals go there unless they are entertaining out of town guests...and probably not even then.

There is a restaurant in Water Tower Place called FoodLife that is really cool, also Garretts Popcorn has amazing cheese and caramel corn.

Delta747

I really, really apologize in advance for what I'm about to do, but here it goes anyway.

I'm a fan of a band based out of Chicago. Their fan forum has an absolutely phenomenal post/thread about what to do in Chicago, written by some long term residents and Chicagophiles.

I don't know if you will be able to read it without registering, but here is the link to the thread.

FWIW, I get to Chicago at least once a year, and my visit is not complete (and I've completed quite a few visits over the past decade) without a stop at Lou Malnati's for deep dish. That is sure to raise the hackles of some of the locals (I know, Gino's), but to each their own :)

It works without registering.

Some good stuff in that thread - thanks for the link.

Hardly. I know plenty of locals, myself included, who rate Malnati's well above Gino's.

I presume you're talking about Gino's East - are they even in the mix anymore? And is Gino's (the one on Rush that the Dept. of Health closed down a time or two and is not related to Gino's East) still open?

Yeah, Gino's East. They're back in the location on Superior just east of Michigan and I've seen crazy lines.

I maintain the superiority of Bacino's on Lincoln for deep dish. But Malnati's ain't bad.

As I find myself doing here often, for the sake of visitors, Bacino's and Giordano's are NOT traditional Chicago deep dish pizza. They are stuffed. If stuffed is what you want and like, that's cool, but unsuspecting visitors wanting the "real" thing, need to go to Malnati's, Gino's East, Pizzeria Uno (or Due) or Pizano's.

So
 

while we are on the subject of deep dish, I understand Travel Channel's Food Wars was taping a battle between Uno's and Malnati's....does anyone know how it turned out?

Funny, I never knew there was a difference. But Wikipedia confirms it.

Either way, if I have more than one slice I'll probably get a stomachache. :rolleyes:

Deep dish is single crust, stuffed is double crust (with the sauce on top of the top crust).

As an east coaster and avid pizza fan, I appreciate the differences between styles, but will not elevate any one style above another. Comparison's among styles is perfectly acceptable, though.

My comment about Malnati's was based on a rather small sample size of those familiar with the differences from a couple of years ago The small group discussing it was mixed, I seemed to be the primary Lou's champion :)

So, Bacino's, eh? Since I can easily do pizza for successive dinners (and to be truthful, successive meals), it would appear that Bacino's and Lou's are my 1-2 punch for the three days I'll be out there in September...

Is that the Bacino's on Lincoln and Belden? Nearest CTA line/station? OK neighborhood for late evening? TIA.

Then you must try the most unique pizza of all, preceded by one of their great salads!

http://www.chicagopizzaandovengrinder.com/menu.htm

That's the one...nearest el is the Fullerton red/brown stop. It's Lincoln Park, so there should be lots of people out on any given night. Just stick to the main streets - walk down Fullerton to Lincoln should be fine.


I've heard of this place, but never been. Looks tasty.

C'mon - it's Lincoln Park....

You could walk down every side street and cut through alleys, and you'll be fine. :p

A Chicago cop once told me that Lincoln Park and Lakeview have some of the highest mugging rates of all neighborhoods in the city - thieves know that people with money live in those neighborhoods.

I've walked around those and other neighborhoods at all hours alone and never had a problem, but on the other hand I know a couple people who were robbed at gunpoint in the middle of Lincoln Park. So yes, odds are one could walk anywhere and be fine - but it's still a big city and one should exercise big city precautions.