April Sunday in Chicago - Where to Go for Brunch and a Stroll?
Mar 24th, 2010, 07:42 AM
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April Sunday in Chicago - Where to Go for Brunch and a Stroll?
I am deeply ashamed to say I have never been Chicago, other than to the suburbs for business and occasional layovers at O'Hare. Luckily, my crime against traveldom is finally to be rectified as my husband and I are planning a long weekend there next month!
Can anyone recommend an area of town for Sunday brunch or hearty breakfast where we could enjoy a walk around the neighborhood, with some shopping or nice houses to see? Any favorite restaurants? Doesn't have to be gourmet, but we want someplace better and with more Chicago flavor than Denny's! I have a lot of atmosphere I need to soak up in a short time! Thanks for your help!
Can anyone recommend an area of town for Sunday brunch or hearty breakfast where we could enjoy a walk around the neighborhood, with some shopping or nice houses to see? Any favorite restaurants? Doesn't have to be gourmet, but we want someplace better and with more Chicago flavor than Denny's! I have a lot of atmosphere I need to soak up in a short time! Thanks for your help!
Mar 24th, 2010, 08:03 AM
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Bistro 110 and The Park Hyatt's NoMi, both adjacent to the Watertower are well known for their brunches. If you would like to do a neighborhood walk, after brunch, walk north up Michigan Avenue to the Gold Coast neighborhood, filled with brownstones from the 1880s. Location is roughly Division St. to North Avenues, Lakeshore Drive to Dearborn Pkwy.
After seeing the Gold Coast, you can walk north into Lincoln Park. Do make sure you visit Millenium Park south of the river as noted by above the previous poster, during your visit. There is a pedestrian bridge from the park to the Art Institue of Chicago, a gem.
After seeing the Gold Coast, you can walk north into Lincoln Park. Do make sure you visit Millenium Park south of the river as noted by above the previous poster, during your visit. There is a pedestrian bridge from the park to the Art Institue of Chicago, a gem.
Mar 24th, 2010, 08:19 AM
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I agree that Millennium Park is a great walk but the Signature Room at the Hancock is better for a cocktail. The prices for Sunday brunch are high and the food only so-so.
If you want to get away from The Loop and Mag Mile, you could take the Number 22 bus northbound on Dearborn to Andersonville. It's a neighborhood about 8 miles north and has several restaurants and shops.
At the far north end of Andersonville is M Henry at 5707 N Clark (www.mhenry.net). Big Jones at 5347 N Clark serves southern-inspired dishes and has gotten good reviews (www.bigjoneschicago.com).
Svea at 5236 N Clark serves dishes with a Swedish influence and Ann Sather at 5207 N Clark (www.annsather.com) is known for its cinnamon rolls. (There are also 2 Ann Sathers in the Lakeview neighborhood). In addition there are at least a dozen other restaurants and the Swedish American Museum within the few blocks that comprise Andersonville .
If you prefer to stay around the center of the city, there's Lou Mitchell's at 565 W Jackson or The Original Pancake House at 22 E Bellevue Place.
If you want to get away from The Loop and Mag Mile, you could take the Number 22 bus northbound on Dearborn to Andersonville. It's a neighborhood about 8 miles north and has several restaurants and shops.
At the far north end of Andersonville is M Henry at 5707 N Clark (www.mhenry.net). Big Jones at 5347 N Clark serves southern-inspired dishes and has gotten good reviews (www.bigjoneschicago.com).
Svea at 5236 N Clark serves dishes with a Swedish influence and Ann Sather at 5207 N Clark (www.annsather.com) is known for its cinnamon rolls. (There are also 2 Ann Sathers in the Lakeview neighborhood). In addition there are at least a dozen other restaurants and the Swedish American Museum within the few blocks that comprise Andersonville .
If you prefer to stay around the center of the city, there's Lou Mitchell's at 565 W Jackson or The Original Pancake House at 22 E Bellevue Place.
Mar 24th, 2010, 09:09 AM
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If the weather is nice, consider the North Pond Cafe for brunch, with a stroll around North Pond, south through LIncoln Park Zoo, east over the North Ave. bridge to Lake Michigan, and continue walking south to Oak St. X Michigan Ave. south to your hotel. This is my favorite walk -- very scenic.
Mar 24th, 2010, 10:02 AM
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I agree the Signature Room in the Hancock Building is expensive for Sunday brunch, IMHO you can't beat it for lunch on Saturday. They have a buffet for $18.00pp that is quite good but the reason we go is for the view!!! Chicago is at your feet! http://www.signatureroom.com/Home/
Mar 24th, 2010, 08:46 PM
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First, if you mean Easter Sunday, then you are dealing with a totally different kettle of fish than on other weekends.
However, assuming it is *not* Easter Sunday, wherever you go for a Sunday brunch, you should anticipate a wait if you are not willing to get there *early*.
The issue with M. Henry, is that you'll be using a local bus and it will take you quite some time to get there and back (plus any potentially long wait and eating time), so mark off a really big chunk of a morning into afternoon. IMHO, that wouldn't be what I'd recommend for a first-timer.
If you wanted to explore my neighborhood (the Boystown area of Lakeview), you can take the Red Line 'L' to the Addison station. You would be immediately across the street from Wrigley Field. I have heard and read that Wrigley Field will be undergoing changes due to new ownership. The Wrigley Field of this year may not be the same as next.
Which brings me to the buried lead of this section: There are tours of historic Wrigley Field. They only give them on certain weekend days - when the Cubs are not playing at home. In April, there are two days (April 24th & 25th). They often sell out. If you are not coming at that time, but *ARE* coming when the Cubs have a home game - even if you don't have tickets, you might want to see what the atmosphere is like around the ballpark, especially pre-game.
From Wrigley Field, there are several areas where you can go:
Five blocks west of Wrigley Field is the N. Southport corridor. The N. Southport corridor has boutique shops, restaurants, the historic Music Box Theatre* (which, BTW, is one of the stops of TCM's "Road to Hollywood" event next week where Robert Osborne and Eva Marie Sainte will be having Q&A), as well as the Southport Lanes & Billards (an old Schlitz brewery house), where the pins are still set by hand and which has been several things in its past, including a house of ill-repute.
There is a Julius Meinl (Austrian kauffehaus) right on the corner of Addison & N. Southport. The Southport Grocery & Cafe is just to the south of that intersection.
If you walk east over to N. Halsted (where the largest concentration of gay clubs in the city are located on this street mostly between Belmont and north of Addison), going north, you could go to Hearty (the Hearty Boys - of the Food Network). To the south on N. Halsted is The Chicago Diner, still meatfree after all these years. A little further south is Nookies Tree (solid neighborhood spot) and further south is Yoshi's Cafe. Yoshi's used to be a private dining club but went more casual many years ago.
If you go further east to N. Broadway, just head south. There are many, many restaurants (everything from fast food - i.e., the great chicken at The Chicken Hut, corner of N. Broadway/Belmont - to sit down) and stores in this area. For example, Angelina's Restorante has a $20 mimosa deal for brunch. The original locations of Intelligentsia (coffee) and Pastoral: Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine are located on this street, as well.
There are also some architectural areas of interest near Wrigley Field. The Alta Vista Terrace district, the Street of 40 Doors, is close to Wrigley Field. And the Hawthorne Terrace district - the east end of which is immediately across Lake Shore Drive from Belmont Harbor, a sailboat harbor - is to the east of N. Broadway.
In fact, if you wanted to take the Red Line up to the area, you could either take the #145 or #146 express bus route back south from any bus stop on Sheridan (aka inner Lake Shore Drive) north of Belmont to the top of the Magnificent Mile. Since you are traveling along the lakefront, ***this is one of the most scenic bus routes in the entire city***.
OR you could take the #151 (Sheridan) from any of the bus stops along Sheridan (aka the inner Lake Shore Drive) south to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Since you are traveling through Lincoln Park, ***this is another one of the most scenic bus routes in the entire city***.
In fact, if you wanted to do this last, what I'd suggest is this: You take the #151 to the 5-way intersection of Sheridan, Stockton, Lakeview and Diversey. Cross the street going south with the light, of course.
You will see the golden statue of Alexander Hamilton to your left ahead of you and immediately to your right is the Elks Memorial. It is open and free to the public. Stop inside for a little bit of time. (If you walked east from this point, you would be at Diversey Harbor, a motor boat harbor.)
Continue walking south on Lakeview to the next corner. You want to cross the street and then immediately turn left, crossing Lakeview. There is a bus stop kiosk to your right there. You now want to continue crossing Stockton so that you are on the eastern sidewalk - but be careful because traffic doesn't stop on Stockton.
Turn south (right) and continue. You will see the playground to your left ahead. Turn left there. You will see North Pond (restaurant right ahead of you), which a previous poster mentions.
If you continue south on this path, you will first see the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (to your left) and then, when you cross Fullerton (with the light), you will be at the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the north end of the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The #151 Sheridan bus can be accessed at any point along this route.
Now, getting back to restaurants, if you didn't want to go that far north, but to mosey around Lincoln Park, over by the park and Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, etc., I'd choose Perennial.
Perennial is very close to both the Gold Coast and Old Town neighborhoods as well. (Clark Street separates those two.) The Chicago History Museum is the large white building at the corner of Clark St. & LaSalle/North. There is an underpass under LaSalle/North so you can easily go from Lincoln Park to the Gold Coast without having to deal with traffic.
If you want to explore Lincoln Park, in the DePaul University neighborhood (Halsted/Armitage/Racine historic district), which has boutique shopping, consider Toast on W. Webster, maybe Nookies Two.
Let's say you wanted to go in a different direction, though. North instead of south. I'd suggest that you start in the South Loop and walk north on the Boule Mich (that's Michigan Avenue to you). There are many interesting sights down that way that we don't address often. For example, some outstanding outdoor public art in Grant Park:
Buckingham Fountain, which is located very near the start of historic Route 66.
The "Agora", located at Roosevelt (12th Street).
The entrance of the Van Buren Street Metra station is a replica of an art deco Parisian subway entrance - a gift to us from Paris, France.
There is the statue of Lincoln (seated) in Grant Park by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. We also have a statute of Lincoln (standing) by the same sculptor - it's just to the east of the Chicago History Museum mentioned above, very near the underpass I mentioned.
The statues of the Spearman and the Bowman (at Congress). Also at Congress is the Auditorium Theatre, designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, with Frank Lloyd Wright contributing.
Along this route you'll see the Fine Arts Building; the Symphony Center (where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs when not at Ravinia during the summer); the Santa Fe Building (aka Transportation Building), where the Chicago Architecture Foundation has its main location, the ArchiCentre - make sure you stop in there; the Art Institute of Chicago; Millennium Park; and the Chicago Cultural Center (which has two Tiffany domes and mosaics) and lots of free events/exhibits/etc.
When you get to the Chicago Cultural Center, you are three blocks south of the Chicago River. If you continue north, you will pass the Carbide and Carbon Building, with its wonderful art deco architectural style. And, when you are standing at the Wacker/Michigan intersection, just to the south of the Chicago River, look down at your feet. You will see the brass fittings in the sidewalk where Fort Dearborn was located. Across the River on the east side of Michigan is Pioneer Court - because this is where the permanent first settler, Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the "Father of Chicago", resided.
If you decide to turn left on Randolph at Michigan, though, you are three blocks from State Street and in the heart of the Loop Theatre District. In fact, if you stand at the corner of State and Randolph (at Macy's), looking north, you will see the historic Chicago Theatre (with the iconic Chicago marquee); to the west is the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (aka The Oriental Theatre), the Goodman Theatre and still further is the Cadillac Palace Theatre.
You could go to Eleven City Diner (that's on S. Wabash just south of 11th Street) for brunch before and then just go east to Michigan Avenue to start your explorations.
Good luck to you and have a great time!
*P.S. The Music Box Theatre (a 1929 mini movie-palace theatre) shows silent films as well. Next month (April 11), they will be showing, appropriately enough, "Chicago", with live organ accompaniment during the presentation and live jazz entertainment before.
However, assuming it is *not* Easter Sunday, wherever you go for a Sunday brunch, you should anticipate a wait if you are not willing to get there *early*.
The issue with M. Henry, is that you'll be using a local bus and it will take you quite some time to get there and back (plus any potentially long wait and eating time), so mark off a really big chunk of a morning into afternoon. IMHO, that wouldn't be what I'd recommend for a first-timer.
If you wanted to explore my neighborhood (the Boystown area of Lakeview), you can take the Red Line 'L' to the Addison station. You would be immediately across the street from Wrigley Field. I have heard and read that Wrigley Field will be undergoing changes due to new ownership. The Wrigley Field of this year may not be the same as next.
Which brings me to the buried lead of this section: There are tours of historic Wrigley Field. They only give them on certain weekend days - when the Cubs are not playing at home. In April, there are two days (April 24th & 25th). They often sell out. If you are not coming at that time, but *ARE* coming when the Cubs have a home game - even if you don't have tickets, you might want to see what the atmosphere is like around the ballpark, especially pre-game.
From Wrigley Field, there are several areas where you can go:
Five blocks west of Wrigley Field is the N. Southport corridor. The N. Southport corridor has boutique shops, restaurants, the historic Music Box Theatre* (which, BTW, is one of the stops of TCM's "Road to Hollywood" event next week where Robert Osborne and Eva Marie Sainte will be having Q&A), as well as the Southport Lanes & Billards (an old Schlitz brewery house), where the pins are still set by hand and which has been several things in its past, including a house of ill-repute.
There is a Julius Meinl (Austrian kauffehaus) right on the corner of Addison & N. Southport. The Southport Grocery & Cafe is just to the south of that intersection.
If you walk east over to N. Halsted (where the largest concentration of gay clubs in the city are located on this street mostly between Belmont and north of Addison), going north, you could go to Hearty (the Hearty Boys - of the Food Network). To the south on N. Halsted is The Chicago Diner, still meatfree after all these years. A little further south is Nookies Tree (solid neighborhood spot) and further south is Yoshi's Cafe. Yoshi's used to be a private dining club but went more casual many years ago.
If you go further east to N. Broadway, just head south. There are many, many restaurants (everything from fast food - i.e., the great chicken at The Chicken Hut, corner of N. Broadway/Belmont - to sit down) and stores in this area. For example, Angelina's Restorante has a $20 mimosa deal for brunch. The original locations of Intelligentsia (coffee) and Pastoral: Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine are located on this street, as well.
There are also some architectural areas of interest near Wrigley Field. The Alta Vista Terrace district, the Street of 40 Doors, is close to Wrigley Field. And the Hawthorne Terrace district - the east end of which is immediately across Lake Shore Drive from Belmont Harbor, a sailboat harbor - is to the east of N. Broadway.
In fact, if you wanted to take the Red Line up to the area, you could either take the #145 or #146 express bus route back south from any bus stop on Sheridan (aka inner Lake Shore Drive) north of Belmont to the top of the Magnificent Mile. Since you are traveling along the lakefront, ***this is one of the most scenic bus routes in the entire city***.
OR you could take the #151 (Sheridan) from any of the bus stops along Sheridan (aka the inner Lake Shore Drive) south to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Since you are traveling through Lincoln Park, ***this is another one of the most scenic bus routes in the entire city***.
In fact, if you wanted to do this last, what I'd suggest is this: You take the #151 to the 5-way intersection of Sheridan, Stockton, Lakeview and Diversey. Cross the street going south with the light, of course.
You will see the golden statue of Alexander Hamilton to your left ahead of you and immediately to your right is the Elks Memorial. It is open and free to the public. Stop inside for a little bit of time. (If you walked east from this point, you would be at Diversey Harbor, a motor boat harbor.)
Continue walking south on Lakeview to the next corner. You want to cross the street and then immediately turn left, crossing Lakeview. There is a bus stop kiosk to your right there. You now want to continue crossing Stockton so that you are on the eastern sidewalk - but be careful because traffic doesn't stop on Stockton.
Turn south (right) and continue. You will see the playground to your left ahead. Turn left there. You will see North Pond (restaurant right ahead of you), which a previous poster mentions.
If you continue south on this path, you will first see the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (to your left) and then, when you cross Fullerton (with the light), you will be at the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the north end of the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The #151 Sheridan bus can be accessed at any point along this route.
Now, getting back to restaurants, if you didn't want to go that far north, but to mosey around Lincoln Park, over by the park and Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, etc., I'd choose Perennial.
Perennial is very close to both the Gold Coast and Old Town neighborhoods as well. (Clark Street separates those two.) The Chicago History Museum is the large white building at the corner of Clark St. & LaSalle/North. There is an underpass under LaSalle/North so you can easily go from Lincoln Park to the Gold Coast without having to deal with traffic.
If you want to explore Lincoln Park, in the DePaul University neighborhood (Halsted/Armitage/Racine historic district), which has boutique shopping, consider Toast on W. Webster, maybe Nookies Two.
Let's say you wanted to go in a different direction, though. North instead of south. I'd suggest that you start in the South Loop and walk north on the Boule Mich (that's Michigan Avenue to you). There are many interesting sights down that way that we don't address often. For example, some outstanding outdoor public art in Grant Park:
Buckingham Fountain, which is located very near the start of historic Route 66.
The "Agora", located at Roosevelt (12th Street).
The entrance of the Van Buren Street Metra station is a replica of an art deco Parisian subway entrance - a gift to us from Paris, France.
There is the statue of Lincoln (seated) in Grant Park by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. We also have a statute of Lincoln (standing) by the same sculptor - it's just to the east of the Chicago History Museum mentioned above, very near the underpass I mentioned.
The statues of the Spearman and the Bowman (at Congress). Also at Congress is the Auditorium Theatre, designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, with Frank Lloyd Wright contributing.
Along this route you'll see the Fine Arts Building; the Symphony Center (where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs when not at Ravinia during the summer); the Santa Fe Building (aka Transportation Building), where the Chicago Architecture Foundation has its main location, the ArchiCentre - make sure you stop in there; the Art Institute of Chicago; Millennium Park; and the Chicago Cultural Center (which has two Tiffany domes and mosaics) and lots of free events/exhibits/etc.
When you get to the Chicago Cultural Center, you are three blocks south of the Chicago River. If you continue north, you will pass the Carbide and Carbon Building, with its wonderful art deco architectural style. And, when you are standing at the Wacker/Michigan intersection, just to the south of the Chicago River, look down at your feet. You will see the brass fittings in the sidewalk where Fort Dearborn was located. Across the River on the east side of Michigan is Pioneer Court - because this is where the permanent first settler, Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the "Father of Chicago", resided.
If you decide to turn left on Randolph at Michigan, though, you are three blocks from State Street and in the heart of the Loop Theatre District. In fact, if you stand at the corner of State and Randolph (at Macy's), looking north, you will see the historic Chicago Theatre (with the iconic Chicago marquee); to the west is the Ford Center for the Performing Arts (aka The Oriental Theatre), the Goodman Theatre and still further is the Cadillac Palace Theatre.
You could go to Eleven City Diner (that's on S. Wabash just south of 11th Street) for brunch before and then just go east to Michigan Avenue to start your explorations.
Good luck to you and have a great time!
*P.S. The Music Box Theatre (a 1929 mini movie-palace theatre) shows silent films as well. Next month (April 11), they will be showing, appropriately enough, "Chicago", with live organ accompaniment during the presentation and live jazz entertainment before.
Mar 24th, 2010, 08:50 PM
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Oh, as soon as I posted that, I realized that I left something out above.
The Wrigleyville neighborhood surrounds Wrigley Field. Wrigleyville is sandwiched between the Boystown area and the N. Southport corridor, Boystown being to the east and N. Southport to the west. The #152 (Addison) bus route can be easily accessed to go between these areas.
The Wrigleyville neighborhood surrounds Wrigley Field. Wrigleyville is sandwiched between the Boystown area and the N. Southport corridor, Boystown being to the east and N. Southport to the west. The #152 (Addison) bus route can be easily accessed to go between these areas.
Mar 24th, 2010, 11:56 PM
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Thanks exiledp. What a great post for all of us who visit the windy city.
We have only been to Bistro 110 for brunch. Really enjoyed their original jazz group that roamed form room to room. Food was VERY good. Location easy.
I would skip hancock for brunch. Go for a drink at night.
We have only been to Bistro 110 for brunch. Really enjoyed their original jazz group that roamed form room to room. Food was VERY good. Location easy.
I would skip hancock for brunch. Go for a drink at night.
Mar 25th, 2010, 07:28 AM
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I agree with the previous poster who suggested North Pond Cafe. A gorgeous setting and amazing food. Can walk through the Zoo (free), by the Lake, through Lincoln Park or Lakeview. A perfect brunch spot.
Mar 25th, 2010, 10:38 AM
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If you are going to the Signature Lounge for the first time, I truly recommend going there just before dusk. In that manner, you see day, dusk (sunset) and nighttime views of the skyline.
BTW, a slight correction above: "Nookies Two" should be "Nookies Too". I missed that when proof-reading that long response.
The main point of my post was to illustrate that Chicago has many wonderful areas to explore. It's literally impossible for a first-timer with only a long weekend available to fully experience the extent of the city. And I've only mentioned a few of the choices above.
Sometimes, when the neighborhoods are more compact, such as Old Town or the Gold Coast, you can combine them with others. The larger neighborhoods, such as Lincoln Park or Lakeview, need more time to explore.
Of course, that's what return visits are for...aren't they?
BTW, a slight correction above: "Nookies Two" should be "Nookies Too". I missed that when proof-reading that long response.
The main point of my post was to illustrate that Chicago has many wonderful areas to explore. It's literally impossible for a first-timer with only a long weekend available to fully experience the extent of the city. And I've only mentioned a few of the choices above.
Sometimes, when the neighborhoods are more compact, such as Old Town or the Gold Coast, you can combine them with others. The larger neighborhoods, such as Lincoln Park or Lakeview, need more time to explore.
Of course, that's what return visits are for...aren't they?
Mar 25th, 2010, 11:01 AM
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My goodness, I'm bowled over by all the responses, particularly exiledpricess' detailed directions and explanations. Thank you all! Now, how to choose...
We will be in Chicago April 23-25, so I think we will look into a Wrigley Field tour (I've done the one at Fenway Park, so this will be a great comparison) North Pond Restaurant looks very appealing, but we're also considering Big Jones in Andersonville because our companions on the trip, my husband's son and fiancee, are huge Cajun/Creole fans. The Signature Room will be perfect for pre-dinner cocktails one evening. We're staying at the Inn of Chicago, so we'll have the Mag Mile covered easily and will also do one of the architectural river cruises. Absolutely too much to see in just a weekend, but nothing wrong with whetting the appetite for more returns trips. Thanks again!
We will be in Chicago April 23-25, so I think we will look into a Wrigley Field tour (I've done the one at Fenway Park, so this will be a great comparison) North Pond Restaurant looks very appealing, but we're also considering Big Jones in Andersonville because our companions on the trip, my husband's son and fiancee, are huge Cajun/Creole fans. The Signature Room will be perfect for pre-dinner cocktails one evening. We're staying at the Inn of Chicago, so we'll have the Mag Mile covered easily and will also do one of the architectural river cruises. Absolutely too much to see in just a weekend, but nothing wrong with whetting the appetite for more returns trips. Thanks again!
Mar 25th, 2010, 11:37 AM
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You are very welcome, tekwriter.
Look at the Chicago Cubs website for the information on the Wrigley Field tours. They do sell out.
If you decide to go to Andersonville, you could take the Red Line up to the Addison stop, walk west over to Clark Street and then pick up the #22 Clark St. bus going north.
Now I'm going to show what age does to one's brain. Re: Angelina Ristorante, it is a $18 champagne brunch, not a mimosa brunch. NOTE: brunch is cash only.
Look at the Chicago Cubs website for the information on the Wrigley Field tours. They do sell out.
If you decide to go to Andersonville, you could take the Red Line up to the Addison stop, walk west over to Clark Street and then pick up the #22 Clark St. bus going north.
Now I'm going to show what age does to one's brain. Re: Angelina Ristorante, it is a $18 champagne brunch, not a mimosa brunch. NOTE: brunch is cash only.
Mar 26th, 2010, 03:19 PM
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Just returned from a fantastic 5-day stay in Chicago, and I give a thumbs up to HappyTrvlr's post about NoMi at the Park Hyatt - if you like sushi, lump crab, the freshest of oysters, crab and shrimp, that's just one of the buffet stations to start. My husband had his fill of the oysters - so good! We were lucky that there was a last-minute cancellation when I called (this was a spur-of-the-moment trip). Otherwise, you would have to make advance reservations (may use Open Table too). NoMi's Sunday brunch is ultra-delicious, and is served in an elegant setting, to match its cuisine.
Mar 27th, 2010, 05:48 PM
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Exiled - You always have the best ideas! I hope you are in the hospitality industry in Chicago, otherwise they could sure use you!
I absolutely agree about your suggestions. Andersonville is such a gem and I feel it gets missed by many visitors. M Henry is one of my top 3 brunches in the city and I've tried just about every popular spot. Yes, I love to eat!
Big Jones is great too and they people who work there are so nice.
Definitely do the Wrigley Field tour.
If you are in the Wrigley area, I might also suggest Uncommon Ground for breakfast or lunch. It's another favorite...I find myself craving their menu items.
It is a little more time on public transit, but I always urge visitors to visit the neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong - downtown is nice, but the neighborhoods are what make the city.
Have a wonderful trip!
I absolutely agree about your suggestions. Andersonville is such a gem and I feel it gets missed by many visitors. M Henry is one of my top 3 brunches in the city and I've tried just about every popular spot. Yes, I love to eat!
Big Jones is great too and they people who work there are so nice.
Definitely do the Wrigley Field tour.
If you are in the Wrigley area, I might also suggest Uncommon Ground for breakfast or lunch. It's another favorite...I find myself craving their menu items.
It is a little more time on public transit, but I always urge visitors to visit the neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong - downtown is nice, but the neighborhoods are what make the city.
Have a wonderful trip!
Mar 28th, 2010, 02:57 PM
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That's very kind of you to say, Gina. Nope, not in the hospitality/tourism industries.
BTW, after I re-read my above lengthier posting, I see I do have another correction to make. The Metra station architectural style is art nouveau, not art deco. I guess I was thinking ahead to what I was going to say about the Carbide and Carbon Building when I originally typed that - although I have to admit sometimes my mind is a mystery to me.
I guess the moral of the story is to either not compose these replies late at night - or read them again!
Two buildings which I failed to mention in the walk northward along the Boul Mich (and which I should have) are:
The Blackstone Hotel (recently renovated) at S. Michigan and Balbo; and
The Spertus Museum (Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies), which is located at S. Michigan and Harrison.
If anyone is interested, if you go to the City of Chicago's website, there is a downloadabl 48-page guide of all of the public art available for viewing throughout Chicago.
BTW, after I re-read my above lengthier posting, I see I do have another correction to make. The Metra station architectural style is art nouveau, not art deco. I guess I was thinking ahead to what I was going to say about the Carbide and Carbon Building when I originally typed that - although I have to admit sometimes my mind is a mystery to me.
I guess the moral of the story is to either not compose these replies late at night - or read them again!
Two buildings which I failed to mention in the walk northward along the Boul Mich (and which I should have) are:
The Blackstone Hotel (recently renovated) at S. Michigan and Balbo; and
The Spertus Museum (Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies), which is located at S. Michigan and Harrison.
If anyone is interested, if you go to the City of Chicago's website, there is a downloadabl 48-page guide of all of the public art available for viewing throughout Chicago.
