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I'm in Chicago, and I need to be in the Loop this afternoon. Right before seeing my friend in the Loop, I'm going to have an important phone call from home. Where's a good place near Millennium Park for me to take an hour long private call?
posted by ocherdraco around Chicago, IL at 9:51 AM - 6 answers

Pre-and-post marathon dining destinations sought. [more inside]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris around Chicago, IL at 2:16 PM - 11 answers

I am going to be flying in/out of Midway in a few days. I've flown out of O'Hare several times, never Midway, though. The company I'm doing business with has changed my itinerary, such that my last meeting with them is 3:30-4pm and my flight departs at 5pm. Convince me that this is not a terrible idea. [more inside]
posted by basalganglia around Chicago, IL at 1:15 PM - 25 answers

The Chicago Architecture Foundation is opening up 200+ locations for free tours during the annual Open House Chicago event. Out of this list of locations, what are the most rare and beautiful sites I can view? [more inside]
posted by Juliet Banana around Chicago, IL at 1:52 PM - 7 answers

How can I see a friend during a four-hour layover at O'Hare? [more inside]
posted by ottereroticist around Chicago, IL at 8:57 AM - 13 answers

I will be visiting Chicago in the fall. Please tell me what gives Chicago its own unique sense of place. Bonus points for places you would take a special person, places with a strong sense of place, things that are highly typical of or unique to Chicago, restaurants with wonderful food, striking or unusual architecture, neighborhoods to explore [more inside]
posted by sleepy psychonaut around Chicago, IL at 8:13 AM - 16 answers

We are in Chicago for the weekend visiting an elderly relative. He doesn't get out much beyond his immediate area and I'd like to take him somewhere today for a little visit and variety. He's not very mobile, but doesn't use a wheelchair. Someplace nice to sit with a coffee is fine, or a nice neighborhood to drive around, any other creative suggestions would be really helpful!!! Easy parking for us is key.
posted by leticia around Chicago, IL at 9:38 AM - 10 answers

At water tower from 10am to 4pm with baby & stroller. How should I fill the time. I have done this with my older kids and we went to Navy Pier and had a great time. This time I have my 2 month old while my awesome wife is at the Loyola water tower campus for a conference. I am looking for something stroller accessible (regular stroller, not a city stroller), fairly uncrowded, and with AC. [more inside]
posted by dstopps around Chicago, IL at 11:20 AM - 3 answers

My wife and her under-21 sister are going to her first Chicago Pride. They want to scope out the nightlife tonight, but finding under-21 bars online is fizzling out. Any locals know of gay or gay-friendly venues that accept under 21s? [more inside]
posted by zug around Chicago, IL at 3:02 PM - 3 answers

My girlfriend is staying at an Airbnb in Chicago near the intersection of S. California Avenue and W. 18th Street next to Douglas Park (North Lawndale/Little village?). Her work colleagues expressed some concerns about crime there and she just wanted to hear your impressions of the area (and possible "ground rules") from the Mefi-community. Secondly (and likely more interesting) what would be some fun, low-cost experiences for a late 20s girl who loves to explore and see a city from the ground up - sights/people or even events this coming weekend.
posted by mathiu around Chicago, IL at 4:18 AM - 20 answers

We're loading up the car and heading to North Carolina for a wedding in late June, from Long Island. I'd love some ideas and tips for things to do, places to stay along the way. We're planning to break the trip up quite a bit and make an event of it. We've never roadtripped with the li'l dude before though and we don't really know how he'll handle things like hotels, long drives, camping(?), etc. Any thoughts and ideas are welcome. [more inside]
posted by Shutter around Chicago, IL at 6:23 AM - 10 answers

We're going to Chicago April 18-24. We're a dyke couple in our 40s plus a 14 year old kiddo. Our interests include: music (singer/songwriter or rock/punk continuum), theater, books/zines/comics, delicious foods of all types (two of us are vegetarians), history/walking tours (especially exploring race/labor history/activism), queer things, stuff we wouldn't find outside of Chicago [more inside]
posted by latkes around Chicago, IL at 8:31 AM - 17 answers

Help me plan a quick Chicago getaway! [more inside]
posted by sprezzy around Chicago, IL at 7:19 PM - 5 answers

Looking for help finding a last minute room near Chicago's River North district without breaking the bank [more inside]
posted by downtohisturtles around Chicago, IL at 7:46 AM - 11 answers

Ideas for a low-key weekend trip on Metra from Chicago? [more inside]
posted by ohsnapdragon around Chicago, IL at 2:25 PM - 9 answers

We live in the Chicagoland area and next year, instead of dealing with the transit/parking/waiting/crowds aspects of watching the Navy Pier 4th of July fireworks display, I thought maybe we could just get a hotel room nearby with a balcony view and watch from there in comfort and style. It seems like many people pull this off every year. What will I need to know? [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown around Chicago, IL at 2:42 PM - 5 answers

We're hitting up Chicago this week, from Wednesday through Sunday, for a wedding on Saturday. Looking for tips on what not to miss. [more inside]
posted by disillusioned around Chicago, IL at 6:52 PM - 16 answers

My wife, our 15-year-old daughter and I are going to Chicago the last week of June (June 26 - July 1). We're looking for some ideas of things to do that AREN'T the usual highlights. [more inside]
posted by briank around Chicago, IL at 8:24 AM - 21 answers

My wife is travelling to Chicago with our 7 year old son tomorrow, and she'll be in town through Wednesday. She really only has 2 items on her must-do list right now: the Field Museum & the Museum of Science and Industry. Any other ideas for off-beat food / additional attractions that might be in the same general areas? We can find the traditional "touristy" stuff easily enough, but I'd love to hear suggestions with more of a local flair - - the kind of things you'd never know to try unless someone tipped you off...
posted by richmondparker around Chicago, IL at 11:29 AM - 11 answers

Chicago! I need your help finding a location for a photo shoot! [more inside]
posted by triggerfinger around Chicago, IL at 5:01 PM - 8 answers