Chicago guys, shows/events/to-do's?

[lendaddy]

The wife and I are gonna do a Chicago trip on May 17-19 and I'm looking for some ideas. We've been many times but never done much more than dinner, shopping and wandering the city night spots.

Any good Broadway style shows? Other "event" ideas. We're hitting a Tigers game Saturday night in Detroit so I guess we'll really only be there Thursday night and Friday night.

Thx guys,

[Embraer]

go to the art institute. ive been to art museums all over the world, and that's still one of my favorites. are you staying downtown? if you don't have reservations yet, the Drake is my fav place downtown. too bad on the tigers game....bleacher seats at wrigley are an experience.

[lendaddy]

Drake is high on the list, stayed there before and really liked it (very fair price too). I have connections to Comerica and will be on the dugout so it's a good time

The art museum is a maybe, I'll look into it... thx.

[Embraer]

i had front row seats, right behind home plate for the last regular season tigers game in 2009 at comerica. what a blast.

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Embraer

i had front row seats, right behind home plate for the last regular season tigers game in 2009 at comerica. what a blast.

Yea, the city is a chitbox but they did a great job with that park and the small surrounding area as well. Just don't venture more than 10 blocks or so

[9dreizig]

Second City is cool and cheap.. Also Ditka's is good food and the coach is usually holding court upstairs in the cigar bar..

[lendaddy]

We've done most of the bars and steakhouses, I'm trying to do something more for the wife on one of the nights. The art museum is a good idea but I think she would prefer something more along the lines of the theater for a good musical or play. So any input there would be much appreciated, something upbeat and lively, no les miserables or anything.

[mnewport]

The Drake? I wouldn't stay there. Bedbug city. If you wanna stay in a hotel, check out the Hotel Burham. It's a boutique hotel run by Starwood I think. It's got fantastic architecture and a top notch restaurant attached.

Also I'd check out VacationRentals.com and see what's available. You can find nice condos downtown for the same price or less than a hotel.

The Architectural Riverboat tour is something I'd recommend. Bring a jacket, it can get pretty cold on the water even in late May.

Also I'd suggest visiting the Chicago Botanical Garden. You can get there by taking the Metra train from downtown, and there's a free shuttle from the Metra stop to the Garden. Plus it's free of charge unless you drive a car there, then parking is $20.

For restaurants, I don't know what your tastes are but for steak I'd recommend Fogo de Chao if you want something lively, or one of our famed chophouses like Kinzie Chophouse or Chicago Chophouse. If you like excellent beer and pork try The Publican. It's an upscale European style pub. Very crowded but lots of fun.

[RM512]

NATO summit is May 20,21. Good luck

[mnewport]

NATO summit is May 20,21. Good luck

Good point.

[RKC]

Hotel Burnham is pretty cool, as is the restaurant. But the loop may suffer with NATO. Stay north to avoid the NATO mess (though there is no telling where the protesters will be). Favorite but pricy hotel in the city is the Peninsula. If the weather's nice the terrace there at sunset is nice (Shanghai Terrace or just drinks) - or at the Affiny hotel rooftop bar across the street. Have been looking for theater tickets myself, and it seems like a dry time....not much in the city that is new - Jersey Boys, etc. Book of Morman not until winter, etc.

Most of the museums close pretty early. Maybe an architecture tour at night? Walk, boat or bus, they're better than they sound....

Late night Second City is fun, and have had good times at the Red Head Piano Bar too - kind of like a 70's throwback with a good/joyous piano player in the center of a bar - a lot of fun. Sounds like you've done Second City. Chicago Cut for steaks or Catch 35 for fish. If the lake throws up fog and cold that weekend, go to Ralph Lauren's at Chicago & Michigan for lunch (looks like a old English Explorer's club with a fireplace in the lounge) or Ditka's. If it's sunny, head to the top of the Hancock Bldg. to the bar for a sunset drink. If it's hot, head to the beachstro on Oak Street Beach.

Mid May just doesn't seem to have the events this year....

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by RM512

NATO summit is May 20,21. Good luck

Ouch, Brutal. I may have to reconsider the whole thing. I imagine they take over the whole "upscale" part of the city don't they?

[RM512]

City officials are describing a lengthy list of roadway closings, parking bans and mass transit reroutes during the upcoming NATO summit weekend as "minor inconveniences," but independent transportation experts cautioned that the scope of the security-related changes could be disruptive.

The best advice from transportation experts to drivers planning to head downtown on May 19-21 is: Don't. In some cases, you won't be able to get there from here, despite official pronouncements that it will be a fairly normal spring weekend and back-to-work Monday.

The problem is Los Federales will be in town a few days prior to 'secure' the area. Then you have the 'protesters' trynig to disrupt things. Should be interesting (think '68 DNC)

[jcommin]

If you are staying in the city, I would not rent a car. Much easier to take the train or cab.

NATO summit could restrict things in the heart of the city and just to the south of it.

Things to see:

Michigan ave
Art Institute
Take a architectual tour of the river
Take in a BB game either sox or cubs
Botanic gardens - this is a car ride but it is very nice, you could spend the day there.
Blues club - Kningston Mines

Food:
Chicago style pizza
Steak: Gene - Georgettis
just about anything on Randolph street
Depending on where you are staying, there are many resturants. Yelp is good

Bars:
Viargra triangle - sit outside, people watch on Rush street.


Have fun!

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Yea, the city is a chitbox but they did a great job with that park and the small surrounding area as well. Just don't venture more than 10 blocks or so

You're fine at Wrigley venturing out pretty far (mile or more walking). Sox field, United Center, well, not so much...

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by cstreit

You're fine at Wrigley venturing out pretty far (mile or more walking). Sox field, United Center, well, not so much...

Got lost a few years back trying to find a vendor in Chicago and ended up next to the United Center. Cop pulled up on me and basically said "WTF are you doing....get outta here"

[krystar]

to add to the food list:
maxwell's (roosevelt ave next to i-90 highway)
hot doug/superdawg's
al's beef (on taylor near UIC)
uno's/gino's/lou malnati's/connie's
harold's chicken shack in south loop

things to do list:
art institute,
field museum,
aquarium,
trolley bus tour for getting around the loop,
house of blues,
watch nato protestors get arrested (from a safe distance)

[lendaddy]

No one mentioning any theater experiences.... I had been led to believe there was a pretty good mini-broadway area there.. no?

[RKC]

There is good theater, but not right now....

Big shows are all gone - no more Wicked, Lion King, etc. There are a bunch of revivals here and there for 2-4 weeks runs like Cats, Sister Act, etc. Jersey Boys is back for a short time. Opera season is over.

Not much until fall. Try Broadway In Chicago Show and Theatre Tickets

Might be some smaller shows at northern theaters - http://www.chicagoplays.com

[speeder]

Make sure to eat some *real pizza*. I freaking love Chicago this time of year. I was just in San Francisco, eating some dog schit on a crust that they call pizza and day dreaming about Chicago. You could take a slice of pizza from Geno's East in Chicago, throw it in the street and run it over 8 times and it would still be better than what I ate last week. And the SF pizza was what some locals told me was "the best"...they don't have a clue.

FWIW, we have plenty of great pizza in L.A. But nothing like Chicago.