Visiting Chicago

[kovalchuk71 212]

Hey guys, like the NYC thread, I will be visiting the Chicago Area and was wondering if people would be nice enough to fill me in on what to see, where to eat etc? What Hockey Shops should I keep an eye out for? Gunzos? I am already going to the Cubs vs. Mets game, so dont worry about the Cubs.

Thanks, I am really looking forward to it!

Chris :)

[JGraz15 53]

Here are some of my favorites

Restaurants

Giordano's' - Deep dish

Rosie Anglie's - Italian

Mia Francesca - Italian

Fulton's on the River - High end, steak, sea food, etc

Cafe Ba Ba Reba - Spanish tapas

Anne Sather - breakfast place

Charlie Trotter's - $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ - don't go there unless you want to spend serious cheddar

Geja's - fondue

Bars

Matilda

The Gramercy

Justin's

Mystic Celt

Sluggers (next to Wrigley)

Duffy's

Twisted Lizard

I would check www.metromix.com for any new hot spots too

[Vapor 0]

Chicago is like Queens with some tall buildings... Wrigleyville is a cool little area but after that...

[number21 3]

There are no real hockey shops in the city.

There is a tiny Gunzo's @ Johnny's icehouse and the HawksQuarters on Michigan Ave has used BH gear.

food

Giordano's - deep dish

ChicaGo's - thin crust

Hoagie Hut - best Chicago Dog IMO (the intersection of Lincoln, Sheffield and Racine in Lincoln Park)

Anne Sather, Clark's, Earwax, Hotspot - breakfast/lunch

Geja's fondou is good, but a little pricey

Pot Pan - Thai

Cousin's - Mediterranean

Lula Cafe - breakfast, lunch or dinner

Buona Terra - italian

johnny o hagans - fish and chips

Ceasar's - mexican

Silver Cloud - great bugers!

bars

(if you like them packed and college bar like - just hit about any bar Wrigleyville or Lincoln Ave in Lincoln Park. Lots of really drunk 21-35 year olds. I prefer the more low-key places anymore. I did the binge drinking thing, I am over it.I'll mention a few of each)

crowded bars

john barleycorns - nuts at night good food before bar hours

Halligan's - gets packed quickly - good weekday drink speacials

hidden shamrock - hit or miss - sometimes it's great other times dead as hell

Cubby Bear - packed for the games, but kind of a quintessential stop for drinking and the cubs.

Hogs & Honeys - friggin hate this place. but a lot of other people think it's great

Lincoln Station - used to haunt this place. Good for shooting pool but you might have to wait a while. They are a saber's bar.

more low-key

Sheffield's - still crowded but better music (more indie/alternative) great summer beer garden. One of my favorites

Vaughan's Pub - pretty neighborhoody very laid-back

Lelia Jane's - good and low-key seems out of place for the neighborhood

California Clipper - Not in the best neighborhood - but a nice throw-back bar. Kind of a greaser meets hipster meets old country bar.

River Shannon - neighborhood bar, quiet sometimes, packed others.

Stanley Cup - Upstairs at johnny's icehouse tiny bar, but you can drink and watch beer leaguers play.

punk/music bars

Delilah's - great jukebox small place cheap beer lots of whiskey

Empty Bottle - great venue never been there just to drink

Double Door - same as above

Hideout - same as above

Stuff to see:

Downtown is packed in the summer, but if you want to do the tourist thing...

Any of the museums

Buckingham Fountain

Millenium Park

Lincoln Park Beach (in the summer)

River boat tours - pricey but cool for visitors

Navy Pier - Family spot - fireworks Wed and Sat nights all summer

Sears tower

John Hancock building - got to the restaurant/bar and get a drink instead of the observation deck.

second city - stand up/skit comedy is not my thing so i have never gone.

chicagoreader.com is good for a restaurant finder and local stuff

metromix.com is good too

cityofchicago.org - look for or google chicago neighborhood festivals see if one is going on when you visit

ok well i really should be working right now!

[chikinpotpie 137]

Don't listen to Vapor, when he visited the city he didn't get out of boy's town

JK :)

Depending on how old you are, there are some cool places like the Metro (usually good bands playing at night) and all the bars along Addison and Clark. Goose Island, Cubby Bear, and others. As far as hockey shops go, the Gunzo's at Johnny's ice house is minuature but you could find some hidden treasures in there. Hawkquarters usually has some good pro-stock items. Not sure what else you are into but there are cool shops (clothing and novelties) along the intersection of Belmont and clark just north of wrigley. If you like steak check out Baraaza (sp?) its the steak house owned by the Sox manager. Giardono's and the weiner's circle are must stop places.

[Vapor 0]

lol, i really did go around the entire city, but I just didnt really get a city feel while I was there. Seemed like a nice big town.

[number21 3]

that's kind of how chicago is.

downtown is pretty small, then the surrounding city is really neighborhood orientated.

[Miike 1]

My parents will be heading to the Chicago area in October, do the Blackhawks have any shops were they'd send pro return stuff. Anybody who has experience with it in Chi-town let me know.. thanks alot.

[D-MaN88 0]

Miike, ask them to check out HawksQuarters as stated above. That's the BlackHawks pro-return store.

And I can attest to the Giordano's, their pizza is a must try and a cool little restaurant at that.

[Vapor 0]

And I can attest to the Giordano's, their pizza is a must try and a cool little restaurant at that.

Pizza? More like lasagana

[daca 0]

Chicago style > NY style

get into it ;)

[precursor 0]

I got engaged in Chicago over thanksgiving last year.

Stayed in the North end of town, about a 10 minute walk from Wrigley Field.

I had a lot of fun boozing it in the neighborhood bars, and walking around downtown.

Giordano's is pretty good stuff, and there are tons of small one off restaurants that are excellent.

If you want a unique experience, check out one of the Blues bars. Im not much of a Blues guy (I like rock and electronica), but I had a riot.

[Vapor 0]

Chicago style > NY style

get into it ;)

them be fighting words kid... I wouldn't mind it so much if they didn't call it Pizza, maybe something like a pepperoni pound cake or something like that. It would be more accurate at least...

[toroytorero 0]

everytime I go to chicago I like it more and more. millenium park and the art institute are high on the list for me. As for eating there's Lowery's on the South Side and Harry Caray's downtown.

The Wrigleyville area is kick ass as well.. be sure to endure an Old Style while your at the game

[All Torhs Team 0]

You gona hit up any rinks Kovy?

[kovalchuk71 212]

Ill be there for SW, so Ill be at that rink. If there are any other good rinks around (prefer roller), please let me know

[All Torhs Team 0]

Ahhh gotcha. Well the edge is the best roller hockey rink in Chicago IMO.

Although Hattrick is pretty popular. I dont think they are very close though.

[Hazard14 0]

Chicago style > NY style

get into it ;)

hey dont get too far ahead of yourself, NY pizza rules over all other types of pizza. i heard gino's east has some pretty good deep dish pizza

[Buzz_LightBeer 969]

Are you looking to shop?

John Hancock place has a North Face Shop, H&M across the street, Water Tower Place has Hollister and Lacoste, and Hawk Quarters as mentioned

[kovalchuk71 212]

Yea, looking to do a bit of shopping for school and such.

[number21 3]

seriously don't bother shopping!

there is nothing on Michigan Ave that you can't get at any mall in america. You'll just pay more for the stores location and then the 9% sales tax.

Save your money and go out to eat or go to a museum!

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I didn't see it mentioned anywhere else, so thought I would say it. When I was in Chicago for a conference last year, I ate at Lawrys. It is, hands down, the finest prime rib I have ever had in all my days. Great service, even the salad, which they spin and mix tableside in a bowl of ice, is great (and I'm not a salad fan).

I stayed at the fairmont, which was only a few blocks (maybe 8-10) from Hawkquarters, Pro return skates, xxx, 1500's etc were all only $100, and varied from beat up, to almost new, but all same price. Gloves (many new) were around $60 if I recall correctly, and if you are left handed, you will score great deals on sticks. They didn't have one righty when I was there.

[trucks 0]

Hey, Im going to be in Chicago for 2 days at the end of August. Unfortunately my friends and I are only 20 so we're fucked for bars, Ive got an ID but no point in going out alone. Any nighttime recommendations that don't involve alcohol? Thanks.

[lb33knight 0]

Hey, Im going to be in Chicago for 2 days at the end of August. Unfortunately my friends and I are only 20 so we're fucked for bars, Ive got an ID but no point in going out alone. Any nighttime recommendations that don't involve alcohol? Thanks.

Try the restaurant, Sullivan's, in downtown Chicago. Awesome steak and seafood.

[UC-CP-SF-dB 0]

Go to a Sox game and hit me up when u get there....I am the audio guy at US Cellular Field.