Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with chicago

Spiral staircase in Chicago?

Fiery Jack — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:27:41 -0800

I would like to take some photographs of spiral staircases. I’m looking to capture the basic construction of the object from its components, rather than any particular aesthetic beauty. Simpler would be better, and emphasizing the engineering over the architecture. If possible, I would prefer to take my photographs at a quiet time in a public building walkable from the loop in Chicago. Do you have any suggestions?

Won't you help me solve a thirty-year-old puzzle?

FAMOUS MONSTER — Tue, 14 May 2013 10:39:23 -0800

Hello darlings. I'd like your help, specifically in the form of looking at a painting and telling me if you recognize any parts of it from the city you live in, especially if that city is Boston. There's a fair amount of background in terms of what to look for, so please do bear with me. It's all relevant, I promise. I hope you'll pardon me if I am a little obtuse about this - this is a very niche hunt, and if too many details are released to the internet at large, I'm sort of afraid that someone else will figure this out before me and then go get the thing I'm looking for. Normally I'm not so selfish, but I've been trying to solve this for about a decade now and I would be a bit put out, you know? Also, I first found out about this hunt when I was just a wee MONSTER, reading a preview of it in one of FAMOUS FATHER's issues of National Lampoon. I found the actual book about a decade ago (it's long out of print) and only in the last few years found out that other people remember it and are still working to solve it.

About thirty years ago, a man put out a book which contained clues that would, when solved, lead intrepid explorers to twelve locations in North America where little sculpted boxes were buried. Inside each box was a key, and each key could be redeemed for a precious stone, worth about a grand apiece. Two of them were found (one in the eighties, one in the last decade), and exchanged for stones. In 2005, the man who buried them (and the only person who knows the solution to all the puzzles) died in a car crash, and there will be no more jewelry, but whatever, there's still boxes and keys and I'd like to find one or at least figure out where it once was, and this is where you come in.

So it's like this. Ten of them are still out there. Clues to the location of each one (in terms of city and state) are hidden in images in the book. Most of the people working on this have a pretty solid idea about nine of the images; there are recognizable outlines of states or landmarks or what have you. There's one that we're not sure about, and for reasons to do with other content in the book, some people suspect that it might lead to Boston. This would be excellent news for me, since I live there.

First, the two solved images, so you can see what to look for. The notes in these images may refer to verses or months - just ignore that for now. The landmarks are the part we care about. I'm sorry, I know this is a lot, but it's crucial to the question I'm asking.

One was found in Chicago. Here is the image found in the book. Here is an annotated version of that image, showing which parts are Chicago landmarks.

The other was found in Cleveland. Here is the original image, and here is the annotated version, as above.

So as you can see, some elements in each image were painted from photo reference and are realistic depictions of statues or sculptures or buildings or whatever, in their respective cities. Some are not (unless the Chicago Warty Castle-Headed Goblin is just a really well-kept local secret, I guess), and for the purposes of this question, we don't care about those.

Keeping all of the above in mind, we arrive at the actual question I'm asking.

Kindly regard this image.

Do you see anything in the above image which looks (with a degree of accuracy similar to that found in the previous two) like anything - buildings, sculptures, the recognizable outline of a public park, whatever - in or near the city of Boston? Failing that, do you recognize anything(s) from a different city? You may have to turn the image upside down, or sideways, or maybe you're looking for an outline, like the Terminal Tower in the Cleveland image.

Caveats:

1. The book was published in 1982, so anything which was built after that would be an astonishing feat of prescience on the artist's part but wouldn't be useful here. The date also means that no Photoshop trickery would be required to solve this, et cetera (though turning it upside down, for example, is fine). It's entirely possible that the painting may depict something that has disappeared in the last thirty years, and that's okay. The box may or may not still be there and I know the odds aren't great, but I'd be happy just knowing I'd figured out where it was. Or, if you recognize things from a completely different city, I'd be happy knowing I can stop looking in Boston.

2. To keep this question between the buoys as much as possible, I'm really only looking for definite matches - something where you look at an element in the image, and you know what it is and ideally can link to a picture of the landmark that you believe corresponds to it. Again, it won't just be something that looks sort of like the landmark - it will be an extremely close match. Speculation (say, on what the numbers mean, or that you noticed the triangle inside the square is evocative of the Citgo sign but isn't a photo-referenced painting of it, etc) is fine but you should probably just MeMail me with it.

Okay? Okay. Thanks so much for reading, and thanks in advance for whatever help you can give. You're the best. I could just kiss you.

Cocktail bars in Richmond, VA

Zosia Blue — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:02:50 -0800

Your favorite high-end cocktail bar in Richmond, VA, please. I grew up 20 minutes south of Richmond (so I'm familiar with neighborhoods and streets), but haven't spent much time there since I moved 13 years ago. I'll have one free evening on my trip there in mid-May and want to get slow-drunk on good cocktails.

I like dimly-lit, lush, cocktail bars such as Marvel Bar in Minneapolis or The Violet Hour in Chicago. (I've only experienced the Midwest's versions of these type of bars -- I'm sure there are many more examples on the coasts.) Food is optional. In the Richmond area or surrounding suburbs a must. Price and pretension aren't objects. In fact, if you've been to this sort of place and thought, "Jesus, how pretentious," then that's the place I want.

Thanks!

Road Trip in a Hurry

i_am_a_fiesta — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:01:45 -0800

My friend and I are planning a one-way road trip from Denver, CO to Rochester, NY this June. The catch? We would like to complete it in around 7 days. I'm looking for your insight on how to make the most of the cities along our route in a limited amount of time (probably about 5 hours of exploring), suggestions for a better route, or general road trip advice. The route I've drawn takes us through the following cities:
Denver, CO -> Kansas City, MO -> St. Louis, MO -> Chicago, IL -> Detroit, MI -> Toronto, ON -> Rochester, NY

I anticipate spending around 4-5 hours driving and the rest of the day in the city, and will probably stay a full day in both Chicago and Toronto. Best answers would look like this: "Go to A neighborhood, park your car at B, visit park C/explore quirky museum D/visit tourist site E/shop at the cute shops on F Street, eat dinner at G, go to cheap bar H, and stay at cheap-but-clean motel I," where B - H are in walking distance. Motel recommendations/locations outside of the city are good, too, as long as they're on the way. In Denver, we will be starting at the Denver Airport. Rochester is home, so no need for Rochester attractions.

I'm also open to alternative routes, though they should be similarly direct.

General road trip advice is also welcome. We are two young women. Only one of us will be driving. I am a AAA member.

Places for a lunch meeting in Chicago (near the Hilton...)?

mariokrat — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:46:33 -0800

I had to do this last year for San Francisco. This year, it's in Chicago! I'm looking for a place that can comfortably seat a group of 7 for an informal lunch meeting. It has to be within a five-minute walk of the Chicago Hilton, reasonably priced, decent food, and have a semi-quiet environment. I see some possibilities on Yelp, but it's hard to judge from there whether they'd actually be suitable. Any kind of food is fine, but vegan/vegetarian recommendations are especially welcome. Thank you for your help!

Bars in Oak Park, Ill.

ultraviolet catastrophe — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:01 -0800

Getting married in Oak Park, I'll., this weekend and I'm looking for recommendations for a bar that would be good for a small group of people to hang out in at night after the planned events are over. We're staying near the Oak Park stop on the Green line, so it should be within walking distance from there. I'm fond of the bars in Brooklyn that are low key but still serve up a mean cocktail. Looking to avoid sports bars or bar and grill type places. Ideally there would be no TV. Does such a place exist?

Moving to Chicago. Help?

lunastellasol — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:48:46 -0800

Where to live, what am I overlooking, huge step and pivotal moment in my life. I need to know where to look for apartments for rent in Chicago in a safe, student friendly neighborhood that won't cost a fortune. I appreciate the time to read all of this, I will try my best to be somewhat concise.

My SO recently moved to Illinois to attend SO's dream school. I fell in love with Chicago and can no longer handle the LD part of our relationship, so I am making the move for us to be together. I am fairly certain SO is my life partner and "soul mate" (whatever this means to you, basically we're in it for the long haul) We are in our mid-20's and have been together 4 years so we're both on the same page in regards to the usual deal-breakers, life circumstances, kids, etc. All of that is taken care of so any advice on that aspect is not needed for the most part. We're both under the agreement at this time that we'll do whatever it takes to be together and are fairly certain that this move is the next step in our relationship.

Right now, the advice I'm needing is where to live? The beginning of August is the time frame we would like to move in to an apartment. SO is currently attending Columbia College and I will be attending the University of Illinois. I have been looking at places near Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast area, but they are pretty expensive and don't seem student friendly (but feel free to recommend if you know otherwise). I have been told of a few neighborhoods such as Edgewater and Wrigleyville or something like that, but since I am not in Chicago and SO recently moved, we're both fairly clueless. What we are hoping for is a place close to both of our respective colleges. SO currently has a job, I will hopefully have a job lined up before I move, but some savings should keep us afloat until I do.

~Preferably a location that is close to the train and bus stops. Some walking is ok, but not anything over a few blocks, a safe neighborhood is a must.

~Rent preferably around $1200 or less, one bedroom, any paid utilities (preferably heat), W/D are a definite plus! (Very important, but I would compromise for a laundry facility if the rent is cheaper) We don't have pets, or need parking spaces, or anything like that.

Looking for a reputable landlord and a location that is student friendly and safe. I am wary of the street violence and/or gangs and am concerned to be living in a neighborhood that that will not be an issue or something to be actively concerned with every time I walk out the door. I know most places advertise on the building and that is the only avenue to let people know that they are available to rent, but I would like to know from personal experience where to go that would not be shady. I know the suburbs might be nice but what would the commute look like? Any advice or help is appreciated.

Tell me what you love about Chicago

phoenix_rising — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:26:00 -0800

Might be moving to Chicago in near future; not crazy about the idea. Help me adjust my attitude about the Windy City. Hi Metafite Chicagoans. I might be moving to your city in a few months for work. I'm not a city person. I'm not a cold-weather person. My naive impression of the Midwest is endless, flat cornfields.

So, tell me what you love about Chicago. I'm not really into bars or fancy restaurants, but I like museums, gardens, outdoorsy recreation, and bookstores. I'm hoping there's easy access to suburban-ish areas where I might happily live (or at least areas that aren't so much of an urban jungle). I need to know which parts of the city are safe, and which parts to avoid. I'm also curious about outlying areas that might be nice for short day trips or weekends -- I'm sure the Midwest isn't the void that I've imagined it to be. (Yes, I've spent my entire life in coastal areas, west and east.) I think with the right attitude, I should be able to embrace metropolitan life.

Thanks in advance for any advice/tips!

Chicago Database of Bars seachable by beers

Uncle — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:52:22 -0800

My friend just told me of a website that had a listing of Chicago bars, restaurants, and liquor stores that you could search by beer brand. He can't remember the name or url. Can you?

Making Sure I Get the Security Deposit Back

hwyengr — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:54:02 -0800

Just moved into a new apartment. YAY! The apartment is in terrible shape. Boo. Our move-in condition form has the following clause, "I understand that the management company has also performed an inspection of the property, including digital photographs of all areas, and said report will prevail in any instances of conflicts." They will not show me their inspection report. How do I ensure that theirs doesn't say that everything is fine, and we get dinged for a whole ton of stuff that's already bad. Jurisdiction: Chicago. We were planning on preparing a detailed report, with photos, and notarized for the date. Will this be enough to counter any claims in their current inspection report? Can I just scratch that sentence off the form before sending it in?

Meditation Center/ (Buddhist) in Chicago and Buddhist therapist

TRUELOTUS — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:28:29 -0800

I used to practice at a Buddhist Center in Columbus, Ohio (KTC, on Grubb St). I am trying to find a center in Chicago. I really love the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. I also enjoy podcast teacher Gil Fronsdal from the Insight Meditation Center in Cali, which is in the Vipassana tradition. I also enjoy Deer Park Dharma cast which is associated with Thich Nhat Hanh. I would like to find a center in Chicago to help me build a mediation practice, and obviously, mediate with others. To be able to listen to great dharma talks in person, not just on my ipod. And, to be a part of a community. It just doesn't feel the same listening on my ipod, you know? I do not have a car. I have gone to weird a$$ places in Asheville, NC, where random people start there own sangas and ask you for $, and I and not up for that. So, I thought it to be better to ask here than to do the google search. Please let me know if you have thoughts on where I can find a practice center. Also, I know that there is a school of Buddhist Psychology. Where might I find a Buddhist Therapist in Chicago?

Where to stay in Chicago for easy access to Kendallville, Indiana?

kythuen — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:39:08 -0800

Asking for a friend... just what it says on the tin. She's visiting her partner while he's on an extended work trip; he's in Kendallville, Indiana, but there are no decent accommodations there. His office suggested she stay somewhere in Chicago. Where's someplace nice in the Chicago area, not too spendy, and within easy reach of Kendallville?

Where to buy a car in the Chicago area?

The Notorious B.F.G. — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:46:43 -0800

We're interested in areas with lots of dealerships in close proximity, so we can see the models we're curious about without having to head all over town. Ms. B.F.G. and I are trying to buy a late-model used car sometime in the next week or so. In most of the places we've lived, car dealerships seem to cluster together, so that you can visit lots of them quickly. What are the analogous areas in Chicago or the suburbs? Are there any areas in particular we should be looking?

Some details:
- We live in Hyde Park, but will have a car for this. We're willing to travel to the suburbs if that's a better option.
- We've narrowed things down to 3-6 models mostly Hondas and Toyotas, but also a Nissan and a Mazda. We're looking to take a few test drives to narrow it down, not necessarily buy.
- We looked around online, but we're having trouble telling if the dealerships are just in sort of semi-industrial, non-residential neighborhoods or in actual sketchy neighborhoods that we should avoid.

Seeking funny novels about Chicago, Wicker Park, and if possible the Cub

BWA — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:09:30 -0800

Seeking funny novels about Chicago, Wicker Park, and if possible the Cubs. Prefer to avoid genre fiction and the self-published. Philip Roth's Great American Novel comes up of course.

fun teen chicago outing

southeastyetagain — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:46:26 -0800

I have a few 14 year old suburban girls to escort on a fun day into the city of Chicago. Looking for a mild adventure, but I am somewhat new to the area. If we were back in the DC area, I might take them by metro up to GWU for a tour and lunch, then walk down to Georgetown for some shopping and then walk down to the river and take a boat back to Alexandria, seeing a few highlights along the way. Anything similar we could do for a day in Chicago? Wicker park? We can come in on the UP-NW Metra.

Pre-wedding brunch restaurant in Oak Brook, Illinois

McPuppington the Third — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:53:48 -0800

I'm planning a nice pre-wedding brunch on a Saturday in May for a friend who lives in Oak Brook, Illinois, but I live in LA and don't know any restaurants in that area. Any suggestions from Chicago MeFites? There will be about 10 women at the brunch. It doesn't have to be in Oak Brook, but it would be best if it wasn't more than half an hour away (or so). Ideally we'd love to have a private room, although that's not required. We're looking for somewhere nice-ish, but it doesn't have to be crazy upscale.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Aiport shuttles in Chicago? Is this a workable plan?

Eumachia L F — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:36:25 -0800

How does the airport shuttle work at the Embassy Suites Chicago - O'Hare/Rosemont? I've been to hotels that use a hotel-branded mini-van, and you have show your reservation to driver before you can go board. Likewise, you would book a seat on the shuttle back to the airport during check-out.

I've also been to hotels that had a shuttle bus stop outside, and you rode (free!) with passengers from a number of local hotels. On these, you just get on and no one asks any questions.

How does the system work at the Embassy Suites Chicago - O'Hare/Rosemont? If I had to travel between this hotel and the airport, morning and evening, for 4-5 days (but was not a guest at this hotel) would I be able to use their shuttle?

Mechanics: how do they work?

phunniemee — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 06:55:01 -0800

[Chicago Filter] My car needs new brakes, like, a year ago. (Seriously.) I need to find a good (reasonably priced, will get the job done) mechanic in Chicago because the Toyota dealership wants payment in first born children. I come from one of those fix-it-yourself-or-take-it-to-the-dealership families, and have literally never been to a mechanic before. You can't walk a block in this city without running into a shop, so I feel kind of silly asking this, but I honestly have no idea what I'm doing.

Anyway, Toyota wants $1000 to replace the brakes and another like $650 or something to flush the brake lines, and as my car is a 1997, I feel it no longer requires the TLC a dealership would offer. Any old place will do, as long as they'll do it right and for less money.

Recommendations? Vehicle is a Rav4 if that matters. I live on the lower west side, but will go anywhere you people tell me to.

Thanks!

Help us troubleshoot our vacation to Chicago, April 1-5:

mattu — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:14:32 -0800

This will be the biggest vacation yet for our family of four (son age 10, daughter age 12). Our vacations tend to run unsmoothly--some ugly surprise always pops up--and I'd like to get opinions from people who know Chicago before we set out. This will be a kid oriented trip. We are quiet nerdy types and the main attractions we're looking forward to are the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. Here's our plan so far:

Tues, Apr 2: drive from KS to Springfield, IL (maybe Bolingbrook) and stay in a hotel there

Wed: drive into Chicago, visit to Lincoln Park Zoo (park in the zoo lot), drive back to Bolingbrook hotel

Thurs: take the train from Bolingbrook into the Loop, visit the Field Museum, take train back to Bolingbrook hotel

Fri: drive into Chicago, park in a muni lot, visit Shedd Aquarium, drive back to Springfield and home from there

We're lukewarm on the zoo. If there's a better kids' activity we might swap it out. Our kids put a lot of energy into fantasy medieval adventures (play acting, reading Terry Pratchett, FRP video games, etc) particularly.

Sometime in all of this we might try to hit Millennium Park.

Is there anything wrong with this plan? Examples:

* We picked Bolingbrook because it's close and hotels are much cheaper there. We're assuming it's basically family friendly and safe, but we'd like confirmation on that. (Maybe there's a better option for keeping lodging costs down.)

* I'm assuming we can drive from Bolingbrook into Chicago in about half an hour. If that drive is really 90 minutes because of traffic or current detours, we want to know.

* I'm assuming we'll be able to find parking (i.e. actually available spots) in the Loop for around $20/day. If this is way off, maybe we should think about taking the train every day instead.

* Anything bad specific to the zoo, museum, or aquarium, e.g. the best exhibit in the museum is going to be closed that week, they're opening a flashy new thing at the aquarium on Fri and it will be mobbed.

Any general Chicago advice also appreciated.

Chicago Laundry Delivery

bleep — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:02:05 -0800

I need to find a service (in Chicago) that will pick up my dirty laundry and bring it back clean on a weekly basis. I have googled, called, emailed, and googled again (so much googling!) but so far have not found a service that will
1. call us back, and
2. pick up and deliver
3. to where we are (north end of Roger's Park).

Will be about 30-50 pounds a week (I think. I actually have no idea how much laundry weighs but those are the standard stated minimums and they sound about right).

Dry cleaning would be nice but I really just need laundry done (sheets, blankets, underwear, jeans, blouses, socks, etc.)

Looking for referrals for a service, or an individual who is trustworthy and enterprising, that will do all of these things.

What is my best cycling route to the Western Ave Metra in Chicago?

andrewesque — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:31:40 -0800

What's the best cycling route from my place in the Ukrainian Village to the Western Ave (at Hubbard) Metra? I know this is a stupidly and ridiculously simple question, but I am a total bike newbie and scared of getting hit by a car, so please bear with me.

I'm starting a new job which will require me to take the Metra outbound. The closest station to me is the Western Ave station at Western/Hubbard. I live just north of Augusta/Wood and when I was doing the walk-bus-walk trek this morning to the station, I realized that if I had a bike it would literally shave up to 30 minutes off my already long round-trip commute every day. I'd be leaving my place around 7 am and returning from the station around 6:30 pm every day, doing this full-time starting in April.

However, as I mentioned upfront I am a total newbie to biking so I'm nervous about the best route to the station. I took a look at the Chicago cycling map and it seems to indicate Augusta-Damen-Grand as the best route. However, that makes me nervous -- should I take side streets instead? Would Wood SB to Hubbard WB make the most sense? But then I read that there are higher risks of getting hit/doored by drivers on side streets, so I don't know. And would it make sense to take one route in the morning and a different one in the evening?

Finally, depending on the route it looks like I'll have to make turns at major intersections. How do you go about doing that, specifically left turns?

Where to go dancing in Chicago?

mai — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:08:26 -0800

We like a range of music: house, soul, funk, techno, some of the recent top40, nuwaveglitchhopstep, daytime disco(?). Emphasis on the beat and getting down. The other patrons, similarly, should have a pro-dancing agenda and friendly vibe. March 9th. Birthday party with friends. Danny's is our go-to place, but it might be a bit small for bringing a group. A small cover is OK (<=$10), but we don't want our friends to have to buy tickets in advance.

What would you do with 8 hours in Chicago?

Cosine — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:57:41 -0800

What would you do with 8 hours in Chicago? I've got a brief Chicago layover coming up on a business trip. My flight gets in late and leaves the next day around 6:00pm. I've never been to Chicago (or the mid-west period) but always wanted to. What to do? (I like everything but baseball/football). Where to stay ($150-$200)? What not to miss? Breakfast place? Lunch?

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder looks very good...

The art gallery has some works I've always wanted to see...

Something Fun to Do in Chicago on Sunday?

matildatakesovertheworld — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:38:40 -0800

What's a good place in Chicago to take 5-7 people in their early 20s for dinner/some sort of entertainment on Sunday? Note that not all are over 21. Should be:
-In the loop or only a couple of el stops away.
-Under $35/person including dinner
-Involve some sort of low-key entertainment like live music. Nothing that would require people to participate or that might be out of their comfort zones.

The individuals in question are all strangers to me and each other, some are possibly foreign, and all are probably nerdy. We're trying to recruit these people to live here, so it should be something that shows off Chicago as an attractive place to live, but nothing potentially alienating.

Help me pick the best seats for this concert at Wrigley Field!

tryniti — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:09:21 -0800

So, I managed to score 3 pairs of tickets to the Pearl Jam concert at Wrigley Field in July. I'd like to keep the best seats for myself, and I need some help! I've never been to Wrigley Field, or to a concert at a baseball field, so I'm struggling to decide which tickets are the best. Here is the seating chart for the show.

My options are:

Section 202, row 23 (possible bad side-view of stage but no overhang)
Section 219, row 17 (right behind home plate, but kinda far back)
Section 226, row 22 (also kinda far back).

Obviously I want to be able to see the show from a good seat, but I'm also concerned about acoustics. Will sitting far back under the upper deck distort the sound? Anyone have suggestions?

Thanks!