What should we do in Chicago?
December 26, 2010 4:34 PM Subscribe
What should two mid-twenty somethings do in Chicago from now until the January 3rd?
The GF and I will be staying in downtown Chicago at my parent's apartment there until the 3rd. I've been to Chicago a couple of times but I'm not from there so I don't really have a whole lot of knowledge of things we could do. That and the fact that I've spent most of my time in Chicago during the warmer months so I have no idea what people do for fun here when it's 10 degrees outside.
We're both active and arty and into a wide variety of activities so any and all suggestions are appreciated. We're also looking for things on the less-expensive side.
Thanks, hive mind!
The GF and I will be staying in downtown Chicago at my parent's apartment there until the 3rd. I've been to Chicago a couple of times but I'm not from there so I don't really have a whole lot of knowledge of things we could do. That and the fact that I've spent most of my time in Chicago during the warmer months so I have no idea what people do for fun here when it's 10 degrees outside.
We're both active and arty and into a wide variety of activities so any and all suggestions are appreciated. We're also looking for things on the less-expensive side.
Thanks, hive mind!
From Ms. Vegetable: Ice skate!
posted by a robot made out of meat at 5:08 PM on December 26, 2010
posted by a robot made out of meat at 5:08 PM on December 26, 2010
Yes, adding :
Millennium Park (Michigan & Washington) for skating and just for the fun of it (it's a very cool park in any season).
posted by marimeko at 5:12 PM on December 26, 2010
Millennium Park (Michigan & Washington) for skating and just for the fun of it (it's a very cool park in any season).
posted by marimeko at 5:12 PM on December 26, 2010
Go the the world famous Field Museum for a look around - then hop a Michigan Avenue north bound bus right out in front to the Art Institute on Michigan Ave. Use that as your starting off point for a long stroll down "Boul Mich" to see the sights and wind up at the Drake Hotel. They have afternoon tea ($33.00 per person) but if that is too $$ just walk through the underground walkway right there over to the Oak St. beach and stroll along the walking/bike path up to North Avenue where you an take another underground tunnel path west a few blocks to Clark St and check out the Chicago History Museum. This area from Michigan Ave to North aveune and a few blocks west is known as the Gold Coast so its great for just walking up and down the streets and checking out the great old Chicago mansions (N. State Parkway, Astor St, etc.)
To go back downtown from the History Museum - just cross Clark St and take a # 22 bus back downtown.
posted by Tullyogallaghan at 5:44 PM on December 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
To go back downtown from the History Museum - just cross Clark St and take a # 22 bus back downtown.
posted by Tullyogallaghan at 5:44 PM on December 26, 2010 [2 favorites]
Nthing the museums. The Art Institute used to have a free day once a week, so it might be worth checking the museums' web sites to see which days are cheaper/free. The Shedd Aquarium isn't too far from you either.
Some other faves of mine are the Museum of Science and Industry, the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, but these are a little further afield.
If it's not totally inhospitable out, the architecture tours the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers are a great opportunity to see great buildings and learn a little history.
posted by metarkest at 6:38 PM on December 26, 2010
Some other faves of mine are the Museum of Science and Industry, the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, but these are a little further afield.
If it's not totally inhospitable out, the architecture tours the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers are a great opportunity to see great buildings and learn a little history.
posted by metarkest at 6:38 PM on December 26, 2010
Explore Andersonville. Stop in at Simon's and ask for the tour.
posted by achmorrison at 8:15 PM on December 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by achmorrison at 8:15 PM on December 26, 2010 [1 favorite]
You could roll out to Oak Park (a mile west of the city limits) and check out Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio, they have a tour, $12 or $14 I think. It's cold but there are a bunch of Wright buildings in Oak Park and River Forest (adjacent to Oak Park). The house look especially amazing in the snow. You know, if you're into that kind of thing.
posted by IvoShandor at 10:13 PM on December 26, 2010
posted by IvoShandor at 10:13 PM on December 26, 2010
Best answer: Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind.
You can take the red line up if you've got transport issues. It would take you about 30 minutes.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 2:07 AM on December 27, 2010
You can take the red line up if you've got transport issues. It would take you about 30 minutes.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 2:07 AM on December 27, 2010
Best answer: Go see the Iliad at A Red Orchid Theatre. It is one of the best shows I have every seen (I do know the director and some of the creative team but even if I didn't the show is amazing). Here is a review. The script was written by Craig Wright who has written for United States of Tara and Lost. The girls are great actors and the fighting is some of the best I've seen in Chicago. Hot Tix has half priced tickets for the Iliad and other shows.
If a 5th grade girl screaming with all her might "I want Trojan Blood" doesn't sound amazing or you want something funny I would go for BriKo. They do silent comedy and are quite good. I've seen their show for the past 2 years of Chicago Sketch Fest and I plan on going again this year.
Seriously though go see the Iliad. It's a once in a lifetime kinda show.
posted by Uncle at 8:30 AM on December 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
If a 5th grade girl screaming with all her might "I want Trojan Blood" doesn't sound amazing or you want something funny I would go for BriKo. They do silent comedy and are quite good. I've seen their show for the past 2 years of Chicago Sketch Fest and I plan on going again this year.
Seriously though go see the Iliad. It's a once in a lifetime kinda show.
posted by Uncle at 8:30 AM on December 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seconding Too Much light after wandering around Andersonville. Lots of bars, shops, restaurants. Very compact within a 4-block stretch or so.
posted by Windigo at 10:06 AM on December 27, 2010
posted by Windigo at 10:06 AM on December 27, 2010
Go to the Weiner's Circle in Lakeview. Doesn't really matter what you order, just make sure to go.
Carol's Pub in Uptown has a great country band on Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Really great, the crowd can often be a lot of fun, as can the regulars, the bouncers, etc.
Going to second Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, for sure.
Much of Chicago's life revolves around eating and drinking, particularly during winter when everything you do has to be done out side. So whatever you do, make sure to eat and drink.
There's a great bar with the door always locked during business hours, right by the Paulina Brown Line stop - the old guy that runs it is nice, and he's got himself some history over there. There's a Hamm's sign over the door.
Gigio's Pizza in Uptown is some of the best pizza (not deep dish) that can be found in Chicago. It's right off the Wilson Red Line stop, and don't be dissuaded by the looks of the place.
Metropolis Coffee off the Granville Red Line is a lovely place for coffee and tea and reading. Edgewater in general is a really nice neighborhood to hang out in, though some of the my favorite establishments have closed down over the last several years.
The Golden House in Uptown is a nice coffee shop of the Chicago sort. Generic, good, cheap, lively.
Happy Village in Ukrainian Village had ping pong once upon a time, and is a nice bar.
Also you should check out what's going on around Rogers Park these days. There was always random low-rent artsy-fartsy stuff going on there when I lived in Chicago, which was nice.
posted by kensington314 at 6:52 PM on December 27, 2010
Carol's Pub in Uptown has a great country band on Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Really great, the crowd can often be a lot of fun, as can the regulars, the bouncers, etc.
Going to second Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, for sure.
Much of Chicago's life revolves around eating and drinking, particularly during winter when everything you do has to be done out side. So whatever you do, make sure to eat and drink.
There's a great bar with the door always locked during business hours, right by the Paulina Brown Line stop - the old guy that runs it is nice, and he's got himself some history over there. There's a Hamm's sign over the door.
Gigio's Pizza in Uptown is some of the best pizza (not deep dish) that can be found in Chicago. It's right off the Wilson Red Line stop, and don't be dissuaded by the looks of the place.
Metropolis Coffee off the Granville Red Line is a lovely place for coffee and tea and reading. Edgewater in general is a really nice neighborhood to hang out in, though some of the my favorite establishments have closed down over the last several years.
The Golden House in Uptown is a nice coffee shop of the Chicago sort. Generic, good, cheap, lively.
Happy Village in Ukrainian Village had ping pong once upon a time, and is a nice bar.
Also you should check out what's going on around Rogers Park these days. There was always random low-rent artsy-fartsy stuff going on there when I lived in Chicago, which was nice.
posted by kensington314 at 6:52 PM on December 27, 2010
Go to the Weiner's Circle in Lakeview. Doesn't really matter what you order, just make sure to go.
Don't do this, unless you enjoy this (also see this.)
Seconding the Field Museum and Art Institute; you could easily kill an entire day just at those two, if you're into natural history and/or art. Check out the discounts offered by the office of tourism. The Architecture Foundation offers some awesome tours, many of which are predominantly indoors.
posted by me3dia at 7:33 PM on December 27, 2010
Don't do this, unless you enjoy this (also see this.)
Seconding the Field Museum and Art Institute; you could easily kill an entire day just at those two, if you're into natural history and/or art. Check out the discounts offered by the office of tourism. The Architecture Foundation offers some awesome tours, many of which are predominantly indoors.
posted by me3dia at 7:33 PM on December 27, 2010
Not to derail - but if you go to the Wiener Circle during the day, when there are no drunks, the people who work there are very minimally surly, and they are the best dogs around (Hot Doug's is a completely different animal. No pun intended).
There is also The Museum Of Surgical Science. Not too far from downtown. Really really cool.
Andersonville/TMLMTBGB is always great.
There are some cool areas to wander/windowshop etc in Bucktown/Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village (and yes, as kensington314 stated, Happy Village DOES have ping pong), but I would avoid the area on the weekend nights. That's when it becomes Drunkytown.
And it hasn't been pointed out, but there are a LOT of places in Chicago that are cash only. Just keep an eye out for that.
One other neat place: The Hideout.
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:31 AM on December 28, 2010
There is also The Museum Of Surgical Science. Not too far from downtown. Really really cool.
Andersonville/TMLMTBGB is always great.
There are some cool areas to wander/windowshop etc in Bucktown/Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village (and yes, as kensington314 stated, Happy Village DOES have ping pong), but I would avoid the area on the weekend nights. That's when it becomes Drunkytown.
And it hasn't been pointed out, but there are a LOT of places in Chicago that are cash only. Just keep an eye out for that.
One other neat place: The Hideout.
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:31 AM on December 28, 2010
Response by poster: Haha, I have been to the Weiner Circle before with a female friend. I was promptly told to my pay for my "bitch's milkshake." So yes, I have experienced the joy and the horror of the Weiner Circle.
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth at 2:21 PM on December 28, 2010
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth at 2:21 PM on December 28, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by marimeko at 4:42 PM on December 26, 2010 [1 favorite]