Sweet Willie

Every month United's Hemispheres magazine features a different city to write about. This month was Chicago, here are the itinerary of what United had to say.

Day 1
check into the Park Hyatt Hotel
800 N Michigan Avenue

Breakfast at Tempo
6 East Chestnut St

Walk south along Michigan Ave
Take Chicago's First Lady, a 90 minute boat ride architectural tour
847.218.2001

Do some shopping along Michigan Ave
Lunch at the RL (Ralph Lauren) store
115 East Chicago Ave

Take cab north to Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 North Cannon Drive

Dinner at Gene & Georgetti
500 North Franklin

Play at Steppenwolf Theatre
1650 North Halsted St

Day 2
Breakfast at Park Hyatt's restaurant NoMi
cab ride to River North's art galleries
Lunch at Mr Beef (Italian Beef)
666 North Orleans Street

Art Institute of Chicago
111 South Michigan Ave

Dinner at Japonais
600 West Chicago Ave

Comedy at Second City
1616 North Wells St

Day 3
Breakfast at Pierrot Gourmet in the Peninsula Hotel
108 East Superior

Walk around Millennium Park
205 E Randolph
Bike Ride Millenium Park Bicycle Station
239 East Randolph St

Visit Field Museum of Natural History
1400 South Lake Shore Drive

Visit Shedd Aquarium
1200 South Lake Shore Drive

Dinner at Topolobampo
334 N Clark St

Music at the Jazz Showcase
59 West Grand Ave

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Mateo4321

I've lived in Chicago my entire life and I have done 6/17 activities listed above

and Mr. Beef??? pshh....go to Al's Beef instead

Sweet Willie

If you wish to debate, might try the Italian Beef thread:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308703

In fact there are quite a couple other existing threads for items mentioned in the United article:

Best Steak in Chicago:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464183

Millennium Park
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330140

13 of 17 for me a lifelong Chicagoan

Gargoyle

I've done 5 of them. But only half my life was within city limits, and another 1/4 in the 'burbs.

ILuvParis

Anybody see Alan Solomon's must sees for Chicago in the Tribune Travel Section a couple of weeks ago? His suggestions were:

The essential Chicago experience: a ballgame at Wrigley Field

Art Institute

Millenium Park

The local delicacy: not pizza, but a Chicago hot dog with neon green relish, YELLOW mustard, chopped onions, tomato, sport peppers, a slice of dill on steamed poppyseed bun

Big bucks restaurant: Charlie Trotter's or Tru (or Everest, Alinea or Spiaggia)

Iconic Chicago favorite: Twin Anchors for baby back ribs

The perfect Chicago walk: from Oak Street beach, walk north along the lake to Fullerton and the FREE Lincoln Park Zoo and see the Great Apes, exit anywhere and walk through the park to the ball fields where, if you're lucky, you can see CHICAGO soft ball (16 inch, no gloves). Cross Lake Shore Drive on the pedestrian bridge and walk back along the lake.

You can't go wrong with either list. I would only add that Mr. Beef beats Al's by a country mile!

ElmhurstNick

I'd quibble with some of the food choices. The RL restaurant?? I'm assuming it is for the peoplewatching, but still. Japonais? Chicago isn't exactly a hotbed of Japanese culture like some West Coast cities. The range of alternatives (Tru for foodies, North Pond for the views) is substantial.

Sweet Willie

my thoughts as well, they mentioned the burger at RL. Chicagoans in this forum know the best burgers in Chicago are here: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=450842

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bdesmond

6/17 for me.

IMHO Peggy Noteabart Museum is nothing to get excited over.

ChgoBob

5 for me too.

Gargoyle, I admit to not being a rocket scientist or mathematician, but I wonder what happened to the other ¼ of your life?

ILuvParis

I have a couple friends who love RL and claim it is their favorite restaurant. I haven't been, so can't comment otherwise. I thought Japonais an unusual choice too.

paytonc

Uh, 13/17 for me; it's not like locals usually have breakfast at the Peninsula (although I've had a few 3 AM "breakfasts" at Tempo). Overall, their lists are never that adventurous. The restaurant choices are probably geographically driven, since the chosen hotel is the Park Hyatt.

I kind of liked Mary Schmich's weekend itinerary here:
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news...orn_and_s.html

In a follow-up, Eric Zorn linked to this guide from Gary Johnson of the Chicago History Museum (née Society):
http://gryjhnsn.tripod.com/chicagohistory/

chichow

What's to eat at the RL restaurant?

ILuvParis

According to Chicago Magazine, the menu is "tweaked" daily, "but be happy if it includes the baked Camembert appetizer with poached pear and maple syrup or the simple but profound lobster bisque." For the light side, spinach salad with apple slivers and Amish blue cheese. "Entree-wise, sea scallops go beyond the call of duty with their cucumber-tomato salad and decadent balsamic cream. Ditto with the grilled venison chops and butternut squash puree. Extensive wine list; many choices by the glass."

trvlr70

I had the most expensive lunch of my life there and nobody even had alcohol. I was so glad it was on an expense account. Delicious, but like the clothing, way overpriced.

If you must, get the lobster club.

Wanderbug

We recently visited Chicago for a week and read all of these recommendations before we went. We even printed out the Tribune columns-I never would have found those without FT! Even with a week it's not possible to do everything that was suggested, but I found all of these ideas interesting and I think it added to our enjoyment of our trip quite a lot.