Whats to do in Chicago?
 

We are coming to Chicago for the Auto show in about a week and are staying at the Hard Rock Hotel. Just wondering if there is anything anyone can recommend to do while up there that I should not miss?

Thanks.

Depends on what you like to do. The area that you're staying in has enough stuff to do within walking distance that could keep you busy for months. What do you like to do? Do you like architecture, bars/nightclubs, restaurants? Help us out here.

Touristy stuff would include:
- Signature Room Lounge at the Hancock Building - The bar is a good place to grab a drink and see Chicago 96 floors up.
- Sears Tower: Observation deck in one of the worlds tallest buildings.
- Navy Pier: Boat rides, big ass Ferris Wheel, restaurants on the lakefront.

Here's more stuff

http://www.aceplaces.com/vision/index.html

Best club I've ever gone to.

Blue Man Group
Geno's Pizza

freeze your ass off

Were probally going to go to a few bars around the area, maybe a nice place to eat (I don't wear suits :rolleyes: ) Isn't Chicago known for deep dish pizza? How about some of that stuff.

To answer your question of what we like architecture is fine to look at on the way to the bars. Clubs are good but the people I am going with range from 27 - 41 in age so it has to appeal to all of us. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Also is anyone else planning on attending the auto show?

Lou malnatis, has great pizza. Not sure if thats all over the U.S. tho. I am going to be attending the auto show, prob. on friday or saturday. Chicago indoor racing in buffalo grove (suburb) would be alot of fun. Its a little expensive, see for yourself http://www.chicagoindoorracing.com/

If you like bars, just walk around. There are at least a handful on every block. But since it's cold and you're from FL go a few blocks north on State St to Hubbard or Kinzie and there are local sports dives (Mother Hubbards), trendy bar (Rockit), dualing piano bar (howl at the moon), microbrew (Rock Bottom), Irish Pubs, Pizzeria Uno/Due. Keep going north to State & Division and you;ll hit tourist central which is all bars and a mob of drunk people to watch make idiots out of themselves. Or head north on Rush and you'll hit Ra Sushi, Gibson's Steak House and a bunch of other great places.

Seriously, there is a ton of stuff around there and sometimes just walking around in Chicago discovering stuff for yourself is what ends up being the most fun. I love Chicago.

If you really want stuff you can only get in Chicago, take a cab to the nearest:
- Giordanos (best stuffed pizza IMO) or Gino's East (write on the walls and have great pan Pizza). Skip the Lou Malnatis which I will get flamed for but I don't like it.
- Goose Island Brewery - Chicago's very own beer. Excellent beer and the main brewpub (there are several locations) rocks.
- Twisted Spoke - for Smut & Eggs. Have some porn with your breakfast.

Here's a map

I'm headed to the autoshow but not sure what day.

EDIT: See, already with the Lou Malnati's. I don't get it.

Pizza: Uno's and Due's or Lou Malnattis (just to irritate you :p )

so. goooooood :)

Lou Malnati's is overrated.

Pizzeria Uno and Due are decent but they have them all over the US including FL.

A safe bet is Gino's East (Wells & Ontario?). And don't make the mistake like so many people do of ending up at the "Original Ginos East" which is a dump and not the same company.

Man I could really go for a stuffed Giordano's or Edwardos Pizza now. Mmmmmm

Long Live Gino's East!

Went to Chicago for the weekend. Saturday Lunch at Gino's East. Dinner at Gene & Georgetti's (incredible steak) then went to see Blue Man Group.

Next day - back to Gino's for lunch - and got one to go for the flight back home.

Oh yeah ginos is great too.

I like riding the L. For good times, take the red line to 95th & Dan Ryan.

^ Oh yeah, good times. An experience you'll never forget.

A great steak house in chicago is Joes...

You have to go to Portillo's for a Chicago Dog or Italian Beef sandwich. Giordano's would be the place to go for pizza and Garrett's for popcorn.

I'm originally from Chicago and when I visit, there's always a stop at Portillo's and Gino's East. Both have great food. Walking downtown is fun, FAO Schwartz rewinds the time, Navy Pier, Sears and John Hancock, of course. The L is fun. Just for kicks, check out a McDonald's--some have pizza.

Oh, by the way, the rock n roll mcdonalds is thankfully closed.

unthankfully, they are rebuiling it to be twice as obnoxious and lame.

I think Uno's is the worst pizza in chicago. If you want the best pizza for the area you are staying in ask someone and then open the phonebook. I find that the best places to get pizza in chicago are the little hole in the wall places that only the local people know about. My personal favorite for stuffed is Coluta's near the corner of Belmont and Harlem.

good point. my personal all time favorite is Villa Rosa on Archer and Long. i dont think they do deep dish, but the regular is just awesome, imho. wash it down with a cold RC cola. so good.

Very true. We have about a dozen Mom-n-Pop places within a couple of miles that are amazing. I really like Taylor St Pizza which there are a few of around the Chicago area. I've found most out-of-towners like to go to the well known places like Ginos just to say they've been there.

Buddy's Guy's blues bar....a bit of a dive but great music there usually.

Tigster, what'd you end up doing while you were in Chicago?

Here is a list of the places I remember going, we had alot of Red Bull's and vodka so I forgot the names of a few places.

1. Hard Rock Hotel bar (we stayed there)
2. Rockit (over by the mile of shopping)
3. O'Callaghan's (withing stumbling distance of above bar!)
4. a "famous" german restaurant in the Loop I forgot the name
5. Sears Tower
6. Car Show
7. Saw the musical "Menopause" (the only thing that wasn't sold out)
8. Rode the L, that train / subway is gross
9. went back to Rockit and Ocallaghans :D
10. went back to the hard rock bar
11. shopping on the mile of shops
12. went to Marshall Fields in the loop

Now like the shampoo bottle says rinse and REPEAT!!

Sounds like you had a decent time. Rockit is pretty cool. Seems to be where some of the celebs have been hanging out. The L is an acquired taste. No pizza?

Heh...think that's bad...try the NY subway. :D

And your German place is the Berghoff(sp). They have the very first liquor license.
http://www.berghoff.com/