119301 Thu Mar 09 02:31:02 -0800 2006 11 7 Chicago Area 0 651004 Need some major help here please, and pretty fast too. My son is currently in Chicago(don't ask where he is staying cos I really don't know). He is with a cousin of his, and another cousin is arriving today. She's a VA gal but lives in NJ and will be having a car so distance is not a problem. He leaves on Saturday (or Sunday for Boston) I have got a few good pointers from previous posts on this board, however would appreciate some additional help, so please advise: (a)What is the best Chicago has to offer -Must see / Must Do for food, or shopping. (b)What are the best foodie items he can pick up for his old man . Stuff that will carry well in his suitcase back to London. (He is going from Chicago to Boston and then DC /VA, so will subsequently post similar messages on the relevant boards). (c)Where can they have a great time for one evening ?They are in the 23-28 age bracket(two single males and one single female). They don't drink so where can they spend say around $ 20-30 per head ? (d)Ferry plaza -Is this the farmers market so often talked about on these boards ? trying to locate some back info on this (or some new one) (e)TJ's - Where is TJ's and what are the best and easy to carry stuff to take back with him ? While I await some great ideas from you, shall do some more delving in the old posts on this board Many thanks / Amin Thu Mar 09 02:31:02 -0800 2006 0 Amin / London 1 651005 First, I highly recommend a trip to Shedd Aquarium, it's amazing and so big! For dinner, there are many options, depends on where you can get in on short notice and what kind of food you like and what you want to spend. If you're looking for one blowout dinner, tonight, I'd recommend Tru, which has availability early tonight, according to Opentable.com. http://www.trurestaurant.com That would definitely be a great example of the best Chicago has to offer. Thu Mar 09 07:42:35 -0800 2006 651004 0 Mike 2 651026 If he decides to go to Shedd, he also should stop at the Field Museum, where the current exhibit on Pompeii runs until 3/26 and on Chinese dinosaurs into mid-April--plus lots more. On the way over to the museum campus (easily reached on the Red Line el) he could stop at the Bongo Room for an upscale breakfast (Wabash & Roosevelt) and on the way back at Canady le Chocolatier (824 S. Wabash) for some artisinal gift chocolates. Hot House (world music/jazz) and Buddy Guy's (blues) are nearby if he wants to stay in the neighborhood through the night. Thu Mar 09 13:18:30 -0800 2006 651005 0 jbw 1 651007 Have they been to Frontera Grill, owned by Chicago's award-winning chef Rick Bayless? I'd recommend that, for an eye-opening adventure in the cuisines of Mexico - plus they could buy a jar of Frontera's salsa to take back home. Another goody that they could safely transport would be Marshall Field's signature Frango Mints (get the widest selection at the main store on State Street, between Randolph and Washington). Typical Chicago. I've never heard of Ferry Plaza - the farmer's markets are organized by the city, and run during the summer, once a week at various locales around town. By TJ's do you mean Trader Joe's? It's an upscale grocery chain that carries specialty items (many organic or "natural"). Best way to find one is on-line or in the phone book. As for something unique to do, I'd recommend our enormous Museum of Science and Industry, on the city's south side (near the University of Chicago). They recently renovated their huge WWII German submarine U505 - the only German sub captured intact during the war - and installed it indoors so you can walk all around it. You can actually go through it on a guided tour. The Museum also has a coal mine that people can tour, and a host of interactive exhibits. Link: http://www.msichicago.org/exhibit/U505/ Thu Mar 09 09:00:25 -0800 2006 651004 0 Akatonbo 2 651010 Thank you all for your great suggestions. Please keep them coming as I will compile all the info received and leave it to them to decide on choices, however as these guy's are complete novices to chicago, would request a rough idea of location / area making it easier for them to track the places. Fran, your'e right. Ferry Plaza is in SF (sorry for throwing you guy's off the track). Yes -TJ's is Trader Joe's. There have been innumerable good reviews about them in the past and will certainly get him to visit there. Shall look up their address on the website. Thanks/Best Wishes Amin Thu Mar 09 09:58:10 -0800 2006 651007 0 Amin / London 3 651030 I second the suggestion above about the Chicago Architecture Foundation tours. We're having a spell of spring like weather so perhaps their wonderful river boat tours are on already. And, although the Ferry Market is nowhere nearby, let me recommend another market (if your son is still in town on Sunday morning). The "Maxwell Street Market" takes place every Sunday, on Canal Street north and south of Roosevelt Road. This is just southwest of the downtown area. It's a great place to get tacos with handmade tortillas, birria (goat stew), sweet empanadas filled with rice pudding, Salvadoran pupusas, and more. There may well be a blues band playing, and all sorts of stuff for sale by the vendors (socks, tires, videos, ...) I'll put a link to David Hammond's guide to the market below, but note that some vendors will be in different locations from what the guide has, because there is a road reconstruction project at the south end of the market which displaced a number of regulars. Link: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=10407 Thu Mar 09 13:36:36 -0800 2006 651010 0 Amata 1 651008 The Ferry Plaza and Farmer's Market is great, but unfortunately, it is in San Franciso, not Chicago. I will second both of the recommendations for the Museum of Science and Industry as well as the Shedd Aquarium. They are both excellent attractions. Additionally, I will second the Frango mints. Also, he might be able to get a tin of Garrett's popcorn to bring back, depending on how many days before he arrives in London. I would also recommend avec. The food is excellent, and the communal seating provides for a fun environment. Thu Mar 09 09:38:01 -0800 2006 651004 0 Fran 1 651009 Re: "Ferry Plaza" -- as Akatonbo says, this is not in Chicago. You must be thinking of San Francisco's farmers' market. Some cuisines particularly strong in Chicago are Mexican, Thai, Greek, and Polish. I'll link to an old thread in which a visitor from SF got advice both on ethnic food in the neighborhoods (esp Mexican, also Thai and South Asian), and some higher-end places (Blackbird, North Pond). Note, though, that since those posts were written one of the high-end Mexican places, Chilpancingo, and one of the tiny neighborhood Mexican places, Polo, have closed. Amin, weren't you asking about Mexican ingredients some months back? This would be a great time to get some dried chiles brought back: ancho, guajillo, pasilla, pulla, piquin, japones, chile de arbol. A store to try just southwest of downtown is La Casa del Pueblo, at 1810 S. Blue Island, or on the north side try Cermak Produce at 4234 N. Kedzie. (Or, find out where your son is staying and we can recommend a Mexican supermarket nearby. :-)) By the way, Boston and Virginia/DC are much less likely to offer the sort of Mexican products available in Chicago. Amata Link: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=45371 Thu Mar 09 09:45:35 -0800 2006 651004 0 Amata 2 651062 Many thanks to all of you for the great recs. Have passed it onwards. Yesterday he went downtown and was constantly tripping over as he was looking at the amazing buildings which according to him are a dime a dozen in Chicago as compared to places like canary wharf down here. Lunch was at PJ Clarks, followed by some casual shopping at Express, then along Michigan Ave. He was amused by the fact that you guys have drive- thru cashpoint machines where you sit in your car and pay in or draw cash from your bank account. We don't have such a thing here. They're planning on going to a good seafood restaurant which they have pre-booked (don't have a name as yet but will give a full update to you guys after he returns). JW: Your point about Trader Joes well noted and much appreciated. Its off the list. Amata: Yes it was me who some months ago posted regarding Mexican ingredients. Sadly he will not be going to El casa del pueblo to pick up the goodies for me as he does not want to spend time grocery shopping, so I shall have to save this for a later time IF & WHEN, I get there myself. (I have friends in virtually every state and am keen on visiting Chicago /NY and SF some day),however if any of you come to London, just drop me a line on OrientRice@aoldotcom Best Wishes Amin Fri Mar 10 01:46:57 -0800 2006 651009 0 Amin / London 1 651021 (a) If you are in Chicago the weekend of the 11th, I would suggest going to the St. Patrick's parade downtown to experience a very festive Chicago in motion. See the river dyed green... Also, while you are downtown you should walk down Michigan Avenue and see all the modern architecture that Chicago has to offer. There are tours offered by the Chicago Architectural Society (which I highly recommend. Not sure if they have boat tours yet, but if they do, it is the best way) (b) not sure (c) I think someone mentioned Avec. I second that. The only problem is that you might have to wait a while if you are not there early enough on the weekends. If not Avec, I would suggest one of the many Mexican or Nuevo Latino restaurants. My fav is National 27. But there are many others such as Adobo GRill, Frontera GRill, Mas etc. etc. (d) not sure (e) as much as I like Trader Joe's I think you should skip this altogether as it is JUST a supermarket. (Unless you are interested in their marketing and products, why they are so successful.) It's a great supermarket, but their best stuff is their frozen goods, which you will probably not be able to take back anyway. Their nuts and cereal are great, I don;t think that's what you want to take back. Thu Mar 09 12:23:40 -0800 2006 651004 0 JW 1 651028 Check out Lou Malnati's for Chicago-style deep dish - Link: http://www.loumalnatis.com/ Thu Mar 09 13:28:29 -0800 2006 651004 0 Miss Kizzie 1 651104 I second the Bongo Room nomination. I can't emphasize enough how great and how much of a Chicago tradition weekend brunch is. I am a native Chicagoan who recently relocated to NYC and I am soooo disappointed at what New Yorkers think is passable brunch/breakfast fare. I come to the Chicago board to salivate. Wicker Park/Bucktown/Ukranian Village are the (once) bohemian areas of Chicago where twentysomethings like to hang out. And there are some great brunch places, where, yes, they may have to wait in line for a bit on a Saturday or Sunday, but it is worth it. BONGO ROOM is at 1470 N. Milwaukee, about halfway between the Division stop and the Damen stop on the blue line. If they like pancakes this is the place. If they are staying at a downtown hotel, they could visit the other location at 1152 S. Wabash (at the corner of Wabash and Roosevelt) FLYING SAUCER is at 1123 N. California. Take the Division bus west from either the Red or Blue L line. Varied menu, good egg dishes and pancakes and some of the best restaurant coffee I've had. HOT SPOT is at 2824 W. Armitage. Take the Armitage bus west, get off at California. Amazing breakfast burritos! BITE is at 1039 N. Western. Take the Chicago bus west from Red or Blue line. I really like their eggs florentine. There are also numerous cafes in this area that serve good breakfasts as well, available any day of the week. These places are also great for lunch or a light dinner. If a trip to Wicker Park isn't possible, I would also recommend Orange at their downtown location, 75 W. Harrison. Try their pancake flight, a plate of 4 unique kinds of silver dollar pancake creations. Sat Mar 11 13:50:00 -0800 2006 651004 0 potatosnob