Going to Chicago Oct26-29

[Stunt]

I will be heading up to Chicago for a roadtrip of sorts with a friend of mine from ottawa, one from toronto and me from london area. Looking for any advice on things to do there; I'd like to see the sears tower, go to a comedy club, check out the aquarium. Are there any popular clubs there (we are 24-25) and love the bar scene; don't know which bars are good. Any other ideas for a few tourists in the windy city?

Cheers.

 

[Skiddex]

i like the lucky strike, its a fun bar with pool, bowling and tons of tv's

 

[Platypus]

There are tons of clubs and bars, what sort of place are you looking for?

 

[Platypus]

Gov't Mule
Marshall Tucker Band
Minus The Bear
Bob Dylan w/ Elvis Costello
Dope (lol)
Nightwish
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Sevendust
The Decemberists
Dashboard Confession

All these bands are playing in the time frame you're in town, FYI

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: StuntI'd like to see the sears tower,

Go at night. Once you've seen vistas from high places, the Sears Tower is just like any place else, except 1/2 the view is just the lake, but looking out on a vast metro area from it's center at night is a rare treat. Don't go if your have a cold...the evevator ride will blow out your erdrums!

As for clubs, theres anything you can imagine. Since Chicago is the Blues capitol, why not Kingston Mines or Buddy Guy's? See who's playing.

 

[rgwalt]

Go to the top of the Hancock building, but don't take the tourists elevator for $10. Instead, take the bar elevator and spend the $10 on a nice drink. Second City is the comedy club of choice, and of course the Shedd Aquarium is awesome. You could spend all your time at the museums if you were so inclined.

As for info on clubs and restaurants, check:

Chicago City Search

I live in downtown, and I'm not much for the club scene, so I can't provide much useful information there. The bars I enjoy going to are Irish pubs, like John Barleycorn, Timothy O'Tooles, and Fados. House of Blues typically has great, local live music in their bar area. Near HoB is a bar called Rockit, which is pretty popular with the younger crowd.

The club scene is really hopping in the Rush and Divsion area. If you get up there by cab or whatever you will be a stone's throw from probably 20 clubs. Lincoln Park and Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhoods are also really cool places to go to for good food, shopping, and night life. Wrigleyville (south of Wrigley Field) is a great area for casual bars as well.

Don't be afraid to use the busses/trains to get around, and be ready to do some walking unless you don't mind spending money on taxis. I would buy a five day pass if I were you, and then use it for everything but getting to the club at night. Nicer restaurants tend to be pretty expensive, so check menus first. It is pretty easy to drop $20 for dinner without drinks. Club's can be pretty expensive to get into, so keep that in mind. Look for places that are offering a good drink deal early in the evening. Some places will do a $20 cover for all-you-can drink between 9 and 11 or 12.

Other things to do:

-- Walk down/up Michigan Avenue. Even if you don't shop, it is pretty cool to see all the stores. The Apple store is awesome.
-- Go to the Lincoln Park Zoo. It is the perfect way to kill an afternoon, plus it is free.
-- Take a tour boat up the Chicago River. Another good way to kill an afternoon, plus you learn a lot about the city.
-- For Chicago-style deep dish pizza, I recommend Gino's first, Giordanos second.
-- Don't bother with Navy Pier unless you want to take in an IMax show. It is a total tourist trap for people with kids.

Where are you and your buddies staying?

R

 

[Uppsala9496]

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Go to the top of the Hancock building, but don't take the tourists elevator for $10. Instead, take the bar elevator and spend the $10 on a nice drink.

This is great advice. I've had numerous friends in from Sweden and we have always done this. It's one floor lower than the observation deck so the view is basically the same.

 

[daveymark]

see Wicked.

 

[Steve]

I recommend the strip of Halsted between Belmont and Addison.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Steve
I recommend the strip of Halsted between Belmont and Addison.

Indeed, I highly recommend stopping into any of the bars along there too.

Everyone is really friendly and won't hesitate to come up and talk to you.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Go to the top of the Hancock building, but don't take the tourists elevator for $10. Instead, take the bar elevator and spend the $10 on a nice drink.

This is great advice. I've had numerous friends in from Sweden and we have always done this. It's one floor lower than the observation deck so the view is basically the same.

yes, much better than Sears.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Steve
I recommend the strip of Halsted between Belmont and Addison.

Indeed, I highly recommend stopping into any of the bars along there too.

Everyone is really friendly and won't hesitate to come up and talk to you.

this is excellent advice. Little Jim's is one of the more popular bars in all of Chicago...

 

[EKKC]

i was there last month for training in schaumburg. went there on saturday to do some sightseeing with the gf, went up to sears tower, the millennium park, and visited Milwaukee for their art museum.

to me i didn't see chicago anything special being from NYC and all, but it's a nice city. i could see myself living there. (but traffic is actually worse than nyc IMO)

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Steve
I recommend the strip of Halsted between Belmont and Addison.

Indeed, I highly recommend stopping into any of the bars along there too.

Everyone is really friendly and won't hesitate to come up and talk to you.

Gentry is a great jazz club

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: Platypus

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Steve
I recommend the strip of Halsted between Belmont and Addison.

Indeed, I highly recommend stopping into any of the bars along there too.

Everyone is really friendly and won't hesitate to come up and talk to you.

Gentry is a great jazz club

Sidetrack has a great trance area too.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Stunt
I will be heading up to Chicago for a roadtrip of sorts with a friend of mine from ottawa, one from toronto and me from london area. Looking for any advice on things to do there; I'd like to see the sears tower, go to a comedy club, check out the aquarium. Are there any popular clubs there (we are 24-25) and love the bar scene; don't know which bars are good. Any other ideas for a few tourists in the windy city?

Cheers.

http://chicago.going.com

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Steve
I recommend the strip of Halsted between Belmont and Addison.

Indeed, I highly recommend stopping into any of the bars along there too.

Everyone is really friendly and won't hesitate to come up and talk to you.

this is excellent advice. Little Jim's is one of the more popular bars in all of Chicago...

I was thinking Roscoe's, great place to either just sit and chill at the bar or get on the floor and dance. Not too nightclubbish either.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: K1052

Originally posted by: Steve
I recommend the strip of Halsted between Belmont and Addison.

Indeed, I highly recommend stopping into any of the bars along there too.

Everyone is really friendly and won't hesitate to come up and talk to you.

this is excellent advice. Little Jim's is one of the more popular bars in all of Chicago...

I was thinking Roscoe's, great place to either just sit and chill at the bar or get on the floor and dance. Not too nightclubbish either.

Little Jim's is for those who like the danky bar scene. This is probably the dankiest one in existence. I'll leave it at that....