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Chicago travel advice

post #1 of 18
12/13/07 at 11:11am
Thread Starter 
I'll be flying into chicago on valentines day and staying for a week to see a bunch of shows at the Riviera theater on Racine. Last time I was in chicago, I rented a car and then ended up spending more to park my car then I did on my hotel room, so I'm hoping this time I can get by without a car. Any advice? How's the area down around the Riv? Is public transportation any good? Would it be logistical to stay close to O'hare and take public transportation to and from the shows? How's the area around O'hare? I'd like to stay in a fairly nice hotel since I'm going to be there a week. Preferably something with easy access to cool restaurants/bars.
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post #2 of 18
12/13/07 at 4:11pm
I wouldn't stay around O'Hare if I were you. You're pretty much cutting yourself off from anything cool in Chicago if you're staying up on the Northwest side. Also, public transportation to the Riv will be difficult if you're staying up by there. You'll probably want to stay somewhere that's close to a Red Line train, since the Lawrence stop is right by the theater. I've never stayed in a hotel in Chicago, so it's hard for me to tell you exactly where to stay, but the Red Line runs over a wide area, from downtown up to Wrigleyville, and further up the lakeshore, so you should be able to find something. It also runs south of downtown, but that's sort of out of your way if you're going up to the Riv every night.

Are you going to see Wilco?
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post #3 of 18
12/13/07 at 4:27pm
I'm a total suburbanite and I drive everywhere, so I'm not much help with public transportation. But I have to reiterate Aaron's suggestion not to stay near O'Hare. You might save some money staying near the airport, but you'll probably give that money right back in transportation costs, not to mention the time you'll waste having to travel all the way to the Loop, switching trains, and then back up to the North side.
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post #4 of 18
12/13/07 at 6:10pm
Thread Starter 
Yep, I'm coming for the wilco winter residency. Scored tickets to all five shows yesterday morning.

Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate it.
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post #5 of 18
1/11/08 at 12:36pm
Well, I come to start a thread just like this and lo and behold, here it is! I'm potentially travelling to Chicago over President's Day weekend just for the hell of it and, while I enjoy traveling, I hate being a tourist, so I'm wondering: what are some cool things to do and places to see in the area?
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post #6 of 18
1/11/08 at 6:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The13th
Yep, I'm coming for the wilco winter residency. Scored tickets to all five shows yesterday morning.

Thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate it.
Jealous. What albums are they playing?
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post #7 of 18
1/11/08 at 7:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirby Drummond
Jealous. What albums are they playing?
As I understand it, they're trying to play as much of their catalog as possible, which I assume means no or few repeats per night. I'd assume they're mixing it up a bit instead of going through one-by-one. Not that they're bad albums by any means, but I wouldn't want to be in the audience that gets an evening of just A.M. or Mermaid Avenue songs, while another night gets all of YHF or Summerteeth.
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post #8 of 18
5/22/08 at 12:01pm
Bump.

I'll be in Chicago in late June for a work conference held at Roosevelt University. I'll be staying at a hotel near there. I'm staying an extra day to see the sights, but I know absolutely nothing about how far I am from any of the cool shit (e.g., Wrigley's field) and or how to get around (I will not have a car).

Advice?
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post #9 of 18
9/1/09 at 10:36pm
I have 10 hours left and I'm sick of my co-workers. What should I do? I'm at State and something. Erie, maybe. Drunk already, so be creative. Go!
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post #10 of 18
9/1/09 at 10:54pm
I'm kind of new to the area, so I don't think I can help you much. If you're looking to keep your drunk going and catch a flick or something you can go to the brew and view at the Vic. http://www.brewview.com/ I think it might be a bit of a hike though. I usually just hop on Red Line and wander around looking for the least douchey bar. What are you looking to do?
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post #11 of 18
9/1/09 at 11:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil View Post
I have 10 hours left and I'm sick of my co-workers. What should I do? I'm at State and something. Erie, maybe. Drunk already, so be creative. Go!
The giant AMC is nearby on Illinois and Columbus. There's a movie theater (duh), bowling alley, Irish pub and a sushi restaurant nearby. Not much super cool or unique in your vicinity besides lake/touristy stuff like Navy Pier. I'll do a happy hour in the Loop but I'll usually head off to a different neighborhood to keep the buzz alive. Shit usually closes early anyways. Downtown is like that.

Ach. Piper's Alley is close by (movie theater and improv club), as are a ton of restaurants if food is what you're about.
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post #12 of 18
9/1/09 at 11:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Diva View Post
Bump.

I'll be in Chicago in late June for a work conference held at Roosevelt University. I'll be staying at a hotel near there. I'm staying an extra day to see the sights, but I know absolutely nothing about how far I am from any of the cool shit (e.g., Wrigley's field) and or how to get around (I will not have a car).

Advice?
no need for a car my friend. Use the L, it'll get you anywhere you need to go. ANYWHERE

From what I can remember, Wrigley is off the red line. Addison I believe. I should just check Google...God I loved living in Chicago...
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post #13 of 18
9/2/09 at 10:29pm
I drank on the top of the Hancock Observatory, then played giant Jenga and drank with a United Arab Emirates flight crew til 6am. New BFFs.
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post #14 of 18
9/3/09 at 1:25am
That's awesome. I don't think I could have come up with anything to rival that.
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post #15 of 18
9/3/09 at 1:28am
Giant Jenga was at Mother's in the Gold Coast area, kind of a dump, but bars open til 4am are all right with me. And I love the view from that Hancock Signature Room lounge; I try to go once every visit.

Less awesome: getting literally 20 minutes of sleep and throwing up the whole plane ride home.
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post #16 of 18
9/3/09 at 1:40am
I need to check out the signature room lounge at some point, I didn't know it existed until just now, looks incredible. Bummer about the plane ride, although I'd be happy to be preoccupied with something other than visions of my own death on a plane.
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post #17 of 18
9/3/09 at 2:22pm
Eat at Kuma's Corner. That's your fucking Chicago travel advice.
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post #18 of 18
9/24/09 at 4:33pm
Alright, I'm heading to Chicago tomorrow to catch a Blackhawks game on Friday and a White Sox game on Saturday (fuck you long ass road trip, Cubs!) and frankly, that's all I have definitely planned. My back up plan when I'm not doing that is drinking. Like a lot. I'm talking late night shit so I can sleep during the day, wake up, go to a game and then drink some more.

My question is: what are some good (preferably on the cheap) places to drink into the wee hours of the morning? Dive bar, ritzy place, whatever. Any suggestions would be great!
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