I made it to Chicago yesterday afternoon to kick off a project that I’ll be working on over the next month or so. It should be a good piece of work and I’ve always heard really good things about Chicago. The flight was uneventful and more kudos to Virgin Atlantic for making the trip easy and comfortable. Since it looks like I’ll be here for several weeks, I’m looking for things to do on the evenings and weekends. If you’ve lived in Chicago or know the city, please comment and let me know your favorite night spot, tourist attraction, coffee shop, restaurant, etc. When I traveled for GE, most of my trips were for a day or two so I rarely had the opportunity to be someplace long enough to explore. It looks like this gig is different (other than my last trip to Miami), so please help me out and send in some recommendations.!
1 response so far ↓
1 Maria // Oct 20, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Tom,
God, where do I begin? Chicago is a fantastic city with so many places to go and see. The Field Museum, The Shedd, Grant Park and crazy sculptures, State Street and the Watertower, Oak Park and all the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and Observatory, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, The River North and the Gold Coast areas, Navy Pier, Rush Street (and the fun bars like Mother’s and many others that were in a lot of the old Jon Hughes movies “St Elmo’s Fire” and “About Last Night”, old Bucktown (a revamped area that is now an artist’s paradise), Greek Town, The Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Capone’s and Dillinger’s old neighborhoods, The Hancock and Sear’s Tower,The Loop and riding the El, and so much more. You cannot be in Chicago without trying a slice of pizza from one of the city’s three institutions: Lou Malnati’s, Gino’s East, or Giordano’s. You must also try an authentic Chicago style dawg, Italian Beef, Greek Gyros, and of course some authentic Polish kolatchkies (Chicago has more Poles and Greeks living there than any city outside of Poland or Greece). For a good steak dinner, try the top of the Hancock or David Burke’s at the St. James or old standards like Arnie Morton’s of Chicago, Charlie Trotter’s, or Gene and Georgetti’s, or Harry Caray’s. If you want Italian Maggiano’s is good, Volare, and Bice are yummy. For a taste of an old grand dame of the the jet set try brunch at The Drake or the Palmer House Hilton. For great sushi there’s Sushi Para, Oysy, and Sushi Wabi are fantastic. There’s also a great Persian restaurant on Ontario called Reza’s that is to die for. You can take a harbor tour in a boat from Oak Street Beach or from Navy Pier which is always fun. If you’re renting a car, make your way down Sheridan Drive and the old houses there or go to The Ravinia or even the Riverwalk. I could go on and on Ad nausea, but if you have my # so you can call or text.
Let me know where you’re at and I’ll arrange for some friends/family/colleagues to take you out and give you a local’s tour of the city. Have fun! You’re a lucky duck.
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