Chicago Trip

October 1, 2009 8:04 AM

Day trip to Chicago

My Wife and I are headed to Chicago for 2 Days one night. From our research we where interested in seeing the Wicker Park Area. We enjoy small diners and live music (in our late 20's early 30'3) Was wondering if anyone had any Ideas of an affordable close place to stay the night in the area and or any suggestions as things to see places to visit etc. We are hoping to enjoy the city for one full day / night but not try to stretch ourselves to thin. Any other suggestions are welcome
Transportation once we get there
Places to eat / stay
Cozy pubs / Bars and so on

Thanks!

posted by slowtree to Travel & Transportation around Chicago, IL (17 answers total)

Wicker Park is on the blue line. Hotels near O'Hare (Renaissance Hotel near Cumberland I've stayed in and is nice) may be the most affordabe, but you could also visit Wicker Park if you stayed downtown and used the CTA.

There's a ton of Chicago threads so you may want to look at questions tagged Chicago. Check out if Double Door is playing anything (Wicker Park music venue).
posted by ejaned8 at 8:23 AM on October 1, 2009

p.s. if you're out late Flash Taco is a popular 2am stop.
posted by ejaned8 at 8:23 AM on October 1, 2009

Check the Hideout for cool music events. The dance party they host is supposed to be tons of fun.

Lula cafe is my favorite place to eat in the city. You can eat "fancy" from the specials menu, which is always awesome, or you can have a sandwich or burrito from the regular menu.
posted by Mid at 8:32 AM on October 1, 2009

My sisters boyfriend is a bartender at le bouchon. I highly suggest. Try the Steak Frites and Salade Lyonnaise (wonderful salad with greens, thick juicy bacon and a poached egg) and of course the creme brulee.

It is probably close enough to walk to from anywhere you would stay in Wicker Park. It has a great atmosphere and is not to expensive.

Late night look into Webster's Wine Bar, they have a great cozy atmosphere and fantastic wines, cheeses, and beers. They are open till 2 or 3 am depending on the night and make a great place to cap off an evening.

Taxis in Chicago are pretty cheap and ubiquitous.
posted by travis08 at 8:43 AM on October 1, 2009

The Violet Hour beckons you. You will have a wonderful night, I assure you.
posted by felix betachat at 8:58 AM on October 1, 2009

Seconding Lula for lunch or dinner. I still daydream about their turkey sandwich.

I doubt you will find any hotels near Wicker Park, but you can easily Blue Line it from hotels either in the Loop or out by O'Hare, and the Blue Line runs 24 hours. Damen is probably the Blue Line stop you'll want for most Wicker Park destinations, and will put you close to a ton of stuff.
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:10 AM on October 1, 2009

My in-laws stayed at the House of Two Urns, which is a B&B that is more or less in Wicker Park. It seemed like a pleasant enough place except that their room was not much bigger than their bed.

For dinner, I recommend Mana Food Bar. If you have time to hang out at a coffee shop, I recommend Lovely: A Bake Shop.
posted by Xalf at 9:14 AM on October 1, 2009

Ray's Bucktown B&B -- My family stayed here during my wedding, and I think it's pretty much about the same price as anywhere else in the city (plus you get can a great breakfast). Availability might be the real snag though.

Here are my favorite relatively cheap places to eat:
Bite (BYOB) and The Empty Bottle (for live music), Irazu (BYOB), Smallbar, Sultan's Market, Earwax, Handlebar, Smoke Daddy, Pizza Metro
posted by Ultra Laser at 10:02 AM on October 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oh and The Map Room is great if you like beer.

Feed is also great though maybe a little out of your way.
posted by Ultra Laser at 10:12 AM on October 1, 2009

Last time I went to Chicago I stayed at the Days Inn Lincoln Park. The prices were good, and the location was great - very easy and quick to get a bus downtown (and crosstown to Wicker Park if I recall correctly), lots of dining options in the immediate area, and much cheaper than staying downtown. Free breakfast with waffles too.

It's also very close to Belmont Ave, which I personally find more interesting than Wicker Park, which seemed to me even a few years ago to be heading in the heavily commercialized, big-chain-store direction aka American Apparel Syndrome (that said, there were/are still some fantastic places there, including Quimby's and The Boring Store). Take that with a grain of salt because I'm not a native and haven't had the chance to go for a few years, since the Toronto-Chicago train stopped running.
posted by Gortuk at 10:46 AM on October 1, 2009

I almost forgot, check out the Ruby Room for an affordable place to stay right in Wicker Park.
posted by travis08 at 11:07 AM on October 1, 2009

Seconding Ruby Room. I live in Wicker Park and an acquaintance stayed there a year or so ago. It's on a busy stretch of Division St. and you absolutely cannot find a hotel closer to Wicker Park. From what I can tell, it's new and cute and nice. From what I remember though, there weren't TVs in the room, but if you're only in Chicago for a couple of days that shouldn't matter.

For food I highly recommend Mado. I'm not sure if it's still BYOB, but if it is, get yourself over there and get some pate pronto!
posted by awegz at 11:25 AM on October 1, 2009

Also near wicker park, but slightly south is the brilliant Ukranian Village neighborhood. Definitely check it out if you're in the area (Milk and Honey is a fantastic spot for lunch), lots of crafty things and some record stores all near Damen.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 11:51 AM on October 1, 2009

Seconding the Mado recommendation and adding Hot Chocolate for some fantastic desserts and very good food. (Their burger is, in my opinion, the best I've had anywhere.)
posted by hijinx at 11:52 AM on October 1, 2009

You can also do metromix in Chicago if you want to go with your own guesses.
posted by stormpooper at 12:03 PM on October 1, 2009

Transportation there = walking, the blue line, and/or cabs.

Good place to grab a slice of pizza (albeit New York-style): Santullo's

Sit-down restaurant with comfort/diner food: Silver Cloud

If by "cozy bar/pub" you mean also "divey," the Beachwood isn't bad. And yeah, the Double Door, but they haven't been booking much in the past few years that I've been interested in seeing.

Oh, and people would (and have) argued with me, but for post-bar eats skip Flash Taco and go down the stairs to Underdogg. (But wow, those are some bad reviews. Not that Flash's are better...)

For shopping, Quimby's bookstore, John Fluevog shoes, Una Mae's boutique, Myopic Books, Rotofugi, Reckless Records. Probably lots more, but I don't live in the neighborhood anymore and stuff comes and goes all the time.

+1 for the Map Room. And I've been meaning to go to The Violet Hour for a while, but I haven't made it yet. I hear it does not disappoint (but it's not cheap).
posted by penchant at 1:01 PM on October 1, 2009

For things specific to Wicker Park area: Seconding checking out The Boring Store. Lovely is a cute little bakery and coffee shop. If you got to Hot Chocolate, get the Warm Brioche Doughnuts mmmmmm.

If you're exploring other neighborhoods: get a steamed bagel sandwich at Chicago Bagel Authority right off the Armitage Brown line in Lincoln Park (I LOVE the Stud's Turkey). Or try Costello's in Lincoln Square. Both are in areas full of shops to browse and bars to stop in.

For transportation, you can order a one or three-day transit pass online.
posted by auntietennis at 9:51 PM on October 2, 2009