Weekend++ in Chicago Central Loop

[o-daddy]

Dear friends,

This is the first posting of Oleg's father here. We enjoyed your Key West/Miami suggestions very much, and now would like to ask for "more of the same" but with a different twist.

We are flying to Chicago Ordway Friday morning for a short vacation (back to Minneapolis next Tuesday in the evening). This time, we are not planning to rent a car because we booked a hotel in Central Loop area (W. Adams St. near S. Clark St.)

We are very open to suggestions on exhibitions, nice architectural sight seeing (including indoors), Lake shore strolls, jazz places, lunch/dinner places [that are not prohibitively expensive but nice and with character], & Of course, we would take a bus or L-train where warranted.

We would be happy to establish personal contacts if you are willing to meet us in Chicago. There will be Internet access there, and we can arrange phone connection from here (or to/from hotel).

Thank you very much,
Ted V.

[pbhome71]

The usual things to do is:
- The Art Institute  - walking distance from the loop.
- Field Museum - I think you can either take a cab, or a bus
- The Aquarium is right next to the Field Museum.  Within a short walk, you can visit the Planetarium, with a bonus view of Chicago skyline.

[CatsDieNow]

I always thought the Wrigley field tours were neat, butI think the first one is a week after you are going to Chicago.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/ballpark/wrigley_field_tours.jsp

[charby]

Second on Field Museum, you could spend a whole day in there easily.

Ten years ago I was successful at sneaking past all the security guards on the different floors to get a free view of the city with out paying for the obsevation deck ride. Not sure how tight security is after 9-11 though.

[buy guns]

you have to go to the sears tower if they observation deck is still open. if not that then at least the hancock building. navy pier is fun. state street has alot of shopping type stuff. make sure to eat at pizzaria uno and berghoffs.

[Ron]

There are dinner cruise ships at Navy Pier.  http://www.navypier.com/index.cfm

 The view of the city from the lake is beautiful.  

 Looks like the weather will be nice for your visit,  have fun!!

[o-daddy]

Thank you for your advice. We'll follow some of them (time/weather limitation). We'll continue monitoring this thread from our hotel in Chicago.
Ted

[o-daddy]

We enjoyed our visit very much though the wind was at time very high.

Instead of Sears, we went to Hancock Building 96th floor cafe late in the evening. Another interesting cafe had the name Orange. A 'Historic Skyscrapers' tour was wonderful (conducted by Architetural Society volunteers).

Thank you again for your advice.

[Ron]

Glad you enjoyed your visit!

It is called the windy city for more than just its long winded politicians, lol.

[grampster]

O'daddy,  Still owe you a bottle of wine at Cafe Sole' in Key West.  We'll be back there Jan 21 thru Feb 11, 2006.  Holler if you'll be in the neighborhood.

[El Tejon]

My old neighborhood--Greektown!

[o-daddy]

grampster, thank you for reminding, please repeat the same closer to the date.

El, we enjoyed Pegasus Restaurant and Taverna so much (the selection was done using Metromix Web site)!

Actually, we like Chicago... and it looks only slightly "terrorized by beeing disarmed"