In Chicago for the weekend - what must i not miss?
December 15, 2008 11:24 AM Subscribe
Going to be in Chicago all weekend - what must i see and do.
My fiance and I will be in the windy city all weekend - Friday mid-afternoon to Sunday night. I haven't been in Chicago for a couple of years and need advice on what not to miss.
We like museums (art and the Field of course), eating, drinking, concerts, bars, live music - the sky is the near limit. However i'm not big on shopping , so I don't need suggestions on where to go.
here are the caveats: Suggestions don't have to be on the absolute cheap, but I want to be able to pick up the tab every now and then so dinners/lunches staying around $50-60 (including drinks??) would be nice. Any and all food is appreciate, so long as it is GOOD.
We are staying on East Ontario Street and will be taking public transportation everywhere. Given this though, it'd still be nice to be within walking distance of some goings on. Also we are from Minneapolis and understand cold weather, so walking in cold weather doesn't frighten us.
We like museums (art and the Field of course), eating, drinking, concerts, bars, live music - the sky is the near limit. However i'm not big on shopping , so I don't need suggestions on where to go.
here are the caveats: Suggestions don't have to be on the absolute cheap, but I want to be able to pick up the tab every now and then so dinners/lunches staying around $50-60 (including drinks??) would be nice. Any and all food is appreciate, so long as it is GOOD.
We are staying on East Ontario Street and will be taking public transportation everywhere. Given this though, it'd still be nice to be within walking distance of some goings on. Also we are from Minneapolis and understand cold weather, so walking in cold weather doesn't frighten us.
sorry- forgot to add, for Texas de Brazil, if you click the link to join their 'e-club' they occasionally send out pretty good coupons/ discounts. It also occured to me that you might not know what it is, sorry- it's a churrascaria, a Brazilian steakhouse which means . . . a huge and amazing salad bar with stuff like ahi tuna and sushi and lobster bisque, and then the waiters come to your table with like 12 different kinds of meats on skewers. You can try whatever you want and it's all you can eat. Intense.
posted by lblair at 11:44 AM on December 15, 2008
posted by lblair at 11:44 AM on December 15, 2008
Head north and have dinner at Ethiopian Diamond. You can take the Red Line and get off at the Granville stop -- the restaurant is about three blocks from there. After dinner, take the #36 Broadway bus south to Lawrence to hear live jazz at the Green Mill.
posted by smich at 12:00 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by smich at 12:00 PM on December 15, 2008
I concur with the Ethiopian Diamond/Green Mill suggestions.
If you're leaning more towards S.E.Asian, get off at the Argyle stop instead.
posted by aramaic at 12:10 PM on December 15, 2008
If you're leaning more towards S.E.Asian, get off at the Argyle stop instead.
posted by aramaic at 12:10 PM on December 15, 2008
If you're leaning more towards S.E.Asian, get off at the Argyle stop instead.
Hell yeah, Pho is the ultimate in cheap meals (and great hangover food). I like Pho 777 and Tank the best.
Then, you can get off at the Berwyn Red Line stop and head into Little Sweden / Andersonville, where it is Glogg season at Simon's. Oh, and the hood is home to the Swedish-American Museum. More cheap eats can be found around the corner at Taste of Lebanon. For a more upscale dining, check out The Hopleaf or the new Southern comfort food spot, Big Jones.
In short, Andersonville: It's delightfully Christmasy right now without all the tourist trappings.
posted by pfafflin at 12:44 PM on December 15, 2008
Hell yeah, Pho is the ultimate in cheap meals (and great hangover food). I like Pho 777 and Tank the best.
Then, you can get off at the Berwyn Red Line stop and head into Little Sweden / Andersonville, where it is Glogg season at Simon's. Oh, and the hood is home to the Swedish-American Museum. More cheap eats can be found around the corner at Taste of Lebanon. For a more upscale dining, check out The Hopleaf or the new Southern comfort food spot, Big Jones.
In short, Andersonville: It's delightfully Christmasy right now without all the tourist trappings.
posted by pfafflin at 12:44 PM on December 15, 2008
I know everyone and their mother recommends Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind in Chicago threads, but it's seriously the most fun a room full of strangers can have outside of a jello orgy. I read the website and it didn't really sound like my thing, but my friend and I went on our Chicago trip and it was boat loads, titanic shipfuls of fun. When I engage in extended daydreams of moving to Chicago (one day!), I imagine that I'll spend one night a month going to a Neo-Futurist show.
posted by zoomorphic at 12:45 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by zoomorphic at 12:45 PM on December 15, 2008
Response by poster: Oh crazy, I just heard about too much light on This American Life last night (it was a re-run).
good ideas everyone - thanks!
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 1:05 PM on December 15, 2008
good ideas everyone - thanks!
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 1:05 PM on December 15, 2008
Seconding the Green Mill. And actually, this Saturday night would be a great night to be there: The Chicago Yestet is playing, and it should be a great show. Oh, and the After Hours Jazz Party is always excellent.
posted by *burp* at 1:16 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by *burp* at 1:16 PM on December 15, 2008
Best answer: Osteria via Stato has an AMAZING "Dinner Party" set up for $36.95 per person. AMAZING. I went there last night for about the billionth time and was still impressed. I have never been disappointed with their service or their food. They too are on Ontario Street, at State. You're right in my neighborhood so if you need directions to anything, just mail me and I'll help you out.
posted by MeetMegan at 1:24 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by MeetMegan at 1:24 PM on December 15, 2008
Since you are into museums, and not scared of the cold, I'd recommend one of the walking architecture tours. I went on one last year, and really enjoyed it.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:34 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 1:34 PM on December 15, 2008
Best answer: Go ice skating at Millenium Park. Stay around long enough to watch the mini-Zambonis clean the ice.
Then go to Heaven on Seven for glorious Cajun food. Try the gumbo.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 2:08 PM on December 15, 2008
Then go to Heaven on Seven for glorious Cajun food. Try the gumbo.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 2:08 PM on December 15, 2008
Bad news about Too Much Light, from their website:
Showtimes
Friday nights at 11:30pm (doors open at 11:00), Saturday nights at 11:30pm (doors open at 11:00), Sunday nights at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30), 50 weeks a year! (We take off the very last two weekends of December each year.)
posted by lblair at 2:55 PM on December 15, 2008
Showtimes
Friday nights at 11:30pm (doors open at 11:00), Saturday nights at 11:30pm (doors open at 11:00), Sunday nights at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30), 50 weeks a year! (We take off the very last two weekends of December each year.)
posted by lblair at 2:55 PM on December 15, 2008
The Art Institute has a lot of stuff in storage right now. Admission price is the same, of course.
posted by goethean at 3:13 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by goethean at 3:13 PM on December 15, 2008
You might want to check out the previous Chicago threads with all their goodness:
Chicago in February
Weekend in Chicago -emphasis on veggie options.
Chicago for an atypical tourist - rather atypical
One perfect night in Chicago
Christmas in Chicago - going for the more is better
Chicago Hotel, Dinning and Nightlife?
Toasty toes and hot toddies
Based on the Jenny Lewis tracks in your profile I'm guessing the DOOOM-fest presided by Kuma's corner (epic burgers) over at the Double Door isn't going to be your cup of tea.
There really isn't much going on that is special: *burp*'s suggestion is a good bet.
You mentioned an interest in art: New City has a decent look-see at the what is going on in Chicago, although you'll likely be better served by checking out galleries that cater to your specific interests. NOTE: chicagogallerynews.com is often out of date so double check with the specific galleries.
posted by zenon at 3:46 PM on December 15, 2008
Chicago in February
Weekend in Chicago -emphasis on veggie options.
Chicago for an atypical tourist - rather atypical
One perfect night in Chicago
Christmas in Chicago - going for the more is better
Chicago Hotel, Dinning and Nightlife?
Toasty toes and hot toddies
Based on the Jenny Lewis tracks in your profile I'm guessing the DOOOM-fest presided by Kuma's corner (epic burgers) over at the Double Door isn't going to be your cup of tea.
There really isn't much going on that is special: *burp*'s suggestion is a good bet.
You mentioned an interest in art: New City has a decent look-see at the what is going on in Chicago, although you'll likely be better served by checking out galleries that cater to your specific interests. NOTE: chicagogallerynews.com is often out of date so double check with the specific galleries.
posted by zenon at 3:46 PM on December 15, 2008
Best answer: Second City's great, it's always great, go see it.
Kingston Mines is a great blues club, and you can be fairly certain of seeing a great show there even if you don't know who's actually playing. That's if you're into that kind of thing.
If you like beer check out Risque Cafe. They've got a great selection, and even some whiskey on tap (yes, on tap). It's in Wrigleyville so you'll probably want to time any trip up there around any potential sporting events/other things that increase the douche quotient of that area beyond habitable levels.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 3:54 PM on December 15, 2008
Kingston Mines is a great blues club, and you can be fairly certain of seeing a great show there even if you don't know who's actually playing. That's if you're into that kind of thing.
If you like beer check out Risque Cafe. They've got a great selection, and even some whiskey on tap (yes, on tap). It's in Wrigleyville so you'll probably want to time any trip up there around any potential sporting events/other things that increase the douche quotient of that area beyond habitable levels.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 3:54 PM on December 15, 2008
i think santa con is happening this weekend...
posted by melodykramer at 4:36 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by melodykramer at 4:36 PM on December 15, 2008
Tank Noodle, one of the suggestions on Argyle Street, is closed for their annual vacation until January, if you plan on heading up that way.
posted by fiery.hogue at 5:56 PM on December 15, 2008
posted by fiery.hogue at 5:56 PM on December 15, 2008
Best answer: Jenny Lewis tracks do NOT preclude one from eating the amazing burgers served by Kuma's Corner. Yes, it's very crowded. Yes, it's a metal bar sort-of. Yes, it has DELICIOUS food. I'm into Iron & Wine mostly, and yet, Kuma's was hugely awesome yesterday. :) But on the weekends, if you're eating at traditional meal times, you'll wait an hour at a table and an hour for your ordered food.
posted by santojulieta at 9:12 AM on December 16, 2008
posted by santojulieta at 9:12 AM on December 16, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Plus you can balance it out with the awesome cheap stuff. You must go to Portillo's. (Hot dogs, won't break the bank. I suggest beef and cheddar crossaints with cheese fries.) This is also on Ontario St. And if you want Chicago pizza, I think Gino's East is like a block from Portillo's. Other good fast food/ cheap food I like downtown is Taco Fresco.
For the museums- you may already know this so disregard if you do- but the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium are all together on the 'museum campus' so it makes sense to go to them on the same day. I think you can buy double or triple passes. this is a good idea. Art institute is not in the same location (though not terribly far) but i'd suggest giving that its own day. maybe museum campus all day sat and art institute on sun. In that case you should go to Texas de Brazil on Friday :-) just a suggestion, haha.
Have fun!!!!
posted by lblair at 11:37 AM on December 15, 2008