Chicago - any help with alternative for Grand red line stop?
Jul 24th, 2010, 05:07 AM
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Chicago - any help with alternative for Grand red line stop?
I'm staying at The James Hotel (E.Ontario) in a week and am battling plantar faciiitis, so suddenly have to limit walking. The elevator & escalator being closed at this stop is a big problem for me (coincidently read about it on another posting). It's not feasible to cancel the trip as I'm meeting others there, we've been planning for many months, not everything is refundable, etc., etc.
I will also call the hotel, but does anyone know if there are buses to connect with other L stops, do I need to consider taxis, any other suggestions? Thank you for any help.
I will also call the hotel, but does anyone know if there are buses to connect with other L stops, do I need to consider taxis, any other suggestions? Thank you for any help.
Jul 24th, 2010, 05:41 AM
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Hi Travelottie,
Where are you coming from?
You may just want to consider getting out at the Chicago stop (also on the red line) and grabbing a quick taxi to the James.
From the Grand, you would have had to go up steps to street level, then walk about 2 - 2.25 blocks to the hotel; from the Chicago stop (with elevator), about 5-6 blocks. Cabs are plentiful on Chicago Ave. and probably would only cost about $6 to get you to the door of the hotel.
There are lots of buses that go north/south on MIchigan Ave that would take you 1-2 blocks from the hotel -- let us know where you're coming from and maybe that's an option.
Where are you coming from?
You may just want to consider getting out at the Chicago stop (also on the red line) and grabbing a quick taxi to the James.
From the Grand, you would have had to go up steps to street level, then walk about 2 - 2.25 blocks to the hotel; from the Chicago stop (with elevator), about 5-6 blocks. Cabs are plentiful on Chicago Ave. and probably would only cost about $6 to get you to the door of the hotel.
There are lots of buses that go north/south on MIchigan Ave that would take you 1-2 blocks from the hotel -- let us know where you're coming from and maybe that's an option.
Jul 24th, 2010, 07:10 AM
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Thank you so much ChgoGal for taking the time to share these alternatives. I've been very upset about this complication regarding the Grand stop.
Originally was planning to purchase a 3-day transportation pass and use it to and from various locations, as this is the way we like to tour big cities. This is our first time in Chicago. I don't need it coming from just one place, although no elevator/escalator will make a difference on arriving from Midway with luggage.
The buses on Chicago Ave should help and it's good to know that cabs are plentiful, in case I get into difficulty.
Originally was planning to purchase a 3-day transportation pass and use it to and from various locations, as this is the way we like to tour big cities. This is our first time in Chicago. I don't need it coming from just one place, although no elevator/escalator will make a difference on arriving from Midway with luggage.
The buses on Chicago Ave should help and it's good to know that cabs are plentiful, in case I get into difficulty.
Jul 24th, 2010, 08:07 AM
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That was my post on the other thread, but in the past I've usually stated at State and Superior so always took the Chicago exit for the Red Line. Whenever I emerged from the elevator at Street level, it seemed a cab driver pulled near by looking to give me a ride -- but I was only one block away so never did. I really don't think you'll have any problem getting a cab at State and Chicago.
By the way, be aware from the Red Line you take two elevators up to the street, you change elevators at the "lobby" level. The first time I did it, I was surprised when the elevator only went half way up, then found the other elevator. which is just outside the turnstiles.
By the way, be aware from the Red Line you take two elevators up to the street, you change elevators at the "lobby" level. The first time I did it, I was surprised when the elevator only went half way up, then found the other elevator. which is just outside the turnstiles.
Jul 24th, 2010, 08:28 AM
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NeoPatrick, It's encouraging to read your response - thank you.
I've followed some of your posts on other boards. Looks like we'll both be there the weekend of 8/1. We're doing the main attractions/tours since we're first time visitors. Considering a play - Do you have other recommendations beside Aida and Parallelgram that have been mentioned here?
I've followed some of your posts on other boards. Looks like we'll both be there the weekend of 8/1. We're doing the main attractions/tours since we're first time visitors. Considering a play - Do you have other recommendations beside Aida and Parallelgram that have been mentioned here?
Jul 24th, 2010, 09:20 AM
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Have you seen Billy Elliott? That would be my first choice of the "biggies".
And of course, Shrek, the musical which really should be great fun.
The Farnsworth Invention at the very good TimeLine Theatre should be a good production of a very interesting play.
And anything at Looking Glass Theatre (in the Water Tower building) is creative and wonderful. They are currently doing Looking Glass Alice -- think of it like a Cirque version of Alice in Wonderland.
And of course, Shrek, the musical which really should be great fun.
The Farnsworth Invention at the very good TimeLine Theatre should be a good production of a very interesting play.
And anything at Looking Glass Theatre (in the Water Tower building) is creative and wonderful. They are currently doing Looking Glass Alice -- think of it like a Cirque version of Alice in Wonderland.
Jul 24th, 2010, 12:26 PM
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I like all those suggestions and will look into ticket availability. Thank you again.
Any restaurant comments for 3 nights/4 full days? We like ethnic cuisine and avoid chains- we're considering:
drinks @ Signature Room/Hancock
Park Grill
Mr Beef or Joe Bastini's
Cafe La Guardia (Armitage)
Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour (includes deep dish)
someplace for Red Hots
someplace in Greektown Greek Islands (Halsted St)
Billy Groat Tavern
lunch @ Bergohff?
Any restaurant comments for 3 nights/4 full days? We like ethnic cuisine and avoid chains- we're considering:
drinks @ Signature Room/Hancock
Park Grill
Mr Beef or Joe Bastini's
Cafe La Guardia (Armitage)
Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour (includes deep dish)
someplace for Red Hots
someplace in Greektown Greek Islands (Halsted St)
Billy Groat Tavern
lunch @ Bergohff?
Jul 24th, 2010, 12:43 PM
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Any point in looking for reduced price tickets to Billy Elliot? Does Chicago use The Playbill site? I don't want to spend time waiting in line for last minute tickets, if that's the only option.
Thanks again, Travelottie
Thanks again, Travelottie
Jul 24th, 2010, 02:01 PM
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Hi travelottie,
There's $25 limited view seats avail. at 10 am or 11 am. They usually say there's only 10, but I think they sell more than that -- I've stood in line for "Jersey Boys" for $25 tix and they sold way more than 10. But -- you do need to get there early to line up (1 hr before). Here's a link w/info:
http://www.chicagoloopalliance.com/news.php?newsid=114
Hottix.org may sell 1/2 price tix for Shrek (unlikely for Billy elliot) on the day of the show -- and they often sell Sat/Sun tix beginning on Friday.
Don't worry much about transportation - the buses are great at Michigan Ave. and your hotel is across the street from a Trader Joe's and a Starbucks so you can get coffee/bfast and groceries very easily.
Hope you have a great time!
There's $25 limited view seats avail. at 10 am or 11 am. They usually say there's only 10, but I think they sell more than that -- I've stood in line for "Jersey Boys" for $25 tix and they sold way more than 10. But -- you do need to get there early to line up (1 hr before). Here's a link w/info:
http://www.chicagoloopalliance.com/news.php?newsid=114
Hottix.org may sell 1/2 price tix for Shrek (unlikely for Billy elliot) on the day of the show -- and they often sell Sat/Sun tix beginning on Friday.
Don't worry much about transportation - the buses are great at Michigan Ave. and your hotel is across the street from a Trader Joe's and a Starbucks so you can get coffee/bfast and groceries very easily.
Hope you have a great time!
Jul 25th, 2010, 10:36 AM
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Lottie, all CTA busses are handicapped accessible. They have "kneeling" busses on the routes which you will probably be using to access the usual tourist sites.
Also, I don't know if you've already gotten the tickets for the food tours, but have you checked with them exactly how much walking you'll need to do? This may be an issue for you.
If you want to go on the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise (highly recommended), there are flights of stairs at the Michigan Avenue Bridge (boarding area is Michigan & Wacker, SE corner, look for the blue awning). However, if you go to the west on Wacker to State Street, you can access the River Walk via ramps from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza (Wabash Plaza). Then you can just walk east about 2.5 blocks to get to the boarding area.
Note: Since the movie "Transformers 3" is filming here - and specifically in this area of N. Michigan Ave. & Wacker - unknown how it may affect you next week. You'll need to check the CTA's website about any upcoming bus reroutes, and you'll need to check websites of any businesses which operate right in this area as well to see if and how they may be affected (i.e., river cruises).
With respect to ethnic restaurants, the better ones are much further away from your hotel in some of the outlying neighborhoods, but you may be interested in some of these:
Vermillion on W. Hubbard (Latin/Indian fusion)
Sayat Nova East on E. Ohio (Armenian)
India House on W. Grand - they have a *huge* luncheon buffet - and their menu has more than 100 items
About 1/2 block west on Adams from the Art Institute is Russian Tea Time.
If and when you go to the Park Grill, you want to eat inside, not outside. It's pricier but the food is better.
Also, I don't know if you've already gotten the tickets for the food tours, but have you checked with them exactly how much walking you'll need to do? This may be an issue for you.
If you want to go on the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise (highly recommended), there are flights of stairs at the Michigan Avenue Bridge (boarding area is Michigan & Wacker, SE corner, look for the blue awning). However, if you go to the west on Wacker to State Street, you can access the River Walk via ramps from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza (Wabash Plaza). Then you can just walk east about 2.5 blocks to get to the boarding area.
Note: Since the movie "Transformers 3" is filming here - and specifically in this area of N. Michigan Ave. & Wacker - unknown how it may affect you next week. You'll need to check the CTA's website about any upcoming bus reroutes, and you'll need to check websites of any businesses which operate right in this area as well to see if and how they may be affected (i.e., river cruises).
With respect to ethnic restaurants, the better ones are much further away from your hotel in some of the outlying neighborhoods, but you may be interested in some of these:
Vermillion on W. Hubbard (Latin/Indian fusion)
Sayat Nova East on E. Ohio (Armenian)
India House on W. Grand - they have a *huge* luncheon buffet - and their menu has more than 100 items
About 1/2 block west on Adams from the Art Institute is Russian Tea Time.
If and when you go to the Park Grill, you want to eat inside, not outside. It's pricier but the food is better.
Jul 25th, 2010, 12:41 PM
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exciledprincess, This is great info. I will print it out to take with me. I love the Russian Tea Time suggestion. My sister and I have been to Russia together. Thank you.
You are right that the food tour lasts 3 hours, eating on the go, with one sitting break, but only covers about 1 1/2 miles. I will have to see how things go this week with my PT.
Do you have an opinion about Greek Island vs Santori's or another Greek restaurant?
If you care to critique, this is our itinerary (depending on my foot), no tix purchased yet, and realizing that I may need to pass on parts:
SAT: arrive Midway 10:00 AM - Check into James Hotel/Cultural Center/Millennium and Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain @ dusk/possibly fireworks at Navy Pier.
SUN: 11:30 Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour/ride brown Loop "El"/cocktails @ Signature Room, John Hancock Bldg @ dusk.
MON: River Cruise/5:30 Downtown Deco tour
Tues: Armitage shopping/Mag Mile or Lakefront walk. I may skip this part.
We need to fit in museums - probably Art Institute and Bridge Museum. Adult niece is interested in Zoo.
You are right that the food tour lasts 3 hours, eating on the go, with one sitting break, but only covers about 1 1/2 miles. I will have to see how things go this week with my PT.
Do you have an opinion about Greek Island vs Santori's or another Greek restaurant?
If you care to critique, this is our itinerary (depending on my foot), no tix purchased yet, and realizing that I may need to pass on parts:
SAT: arrive Midway 10:00 AM - Check into James Hotel/Cultural Center/Millennium and Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain @ dusk/possibly fireworks at Navy Pier.
SUN: 11:30 Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour/ride brown Loop "El"/cocktails @ Signature Room, John Hancock Bldg @ dusk.
MON: River Cruise/5:30 Downtown Deco tour
Tues: Armitage shopping/Mag Mile or Lakefront walk. I may skip this part.
We need to fit in museums - probably Art Institute and Bridge Museum. Adult niece is interested in Zoo.
Jul 25th, 2010, 01:49 PM
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Sat:
The Chicago Cultural Center is right across Michigan Avenue from the top of Millennium Park, so no problems there with lengthy walking.
You're going to have to walk to Buckingham Fountain and back (through Grant Park) from Millennium Park. Are you up to that?
Navy Pier. As you can imagine, lots of people want to see these fireworks. And they, for the most part, leave right after. So trying to go to the Pier right before or after - good luck with transportation. Coming back, a lot of people decide to walk that *mile* back to Michigan Avenue.
Sunday:
Are you talking about the Chicago History's Brown Line 'L' tour? They've canceled it for next Sunday.
Again, keep in mind that any walking tour (i.e., CAF) will be about 2 hours. BTW, are you getting a CAF membership? Might be worthwhile, depending on how many tours in which you are interested. And, you might be specifically interested in their bus tours, since walking is an issue.
When you say "Zoo", do you mean the Lincoln Park Zoo? Not the Brookfield Zoo (out in Brookfield, a suburb of Chicago)? The Lincoln Park Zoo is pretty compact and they do have areas where you can sit. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is immediately to the NW of the Zoo. The #151 NB from stops on Michigan Avenue take you there.
The Art Institute, too, has benches where you can sit - not a lot, but some. So I don't think that you'll have much problem there.
BTW, Russian Tea Time is more *Americanized* Russian cuisine. The owner came from Uzbekistan. Just keep that in mind.
No comment on Greektown restaurants - I haven't gone there in a *long* time so it wouldn't be fair. Things change too quickly with restaurants.
The Chicago Cultural Center is right across Michigan Avenue from the top of Millennium Park, so no problems there with lengthy walking.
You're going to have to walk to Buckingham Fountain and back (through Grant Park) from Millennium Park. Are you up to that?
Navy Pier. As you can imagine, lots of people want to see these fireworks. And they, for the most part, leave right after. So trying to go to the Pier right before or after - good luck with transportation. Coming back, a lot of people decide to walk that *mile* back to Michigan Avenue.
Sunday:
Are you talking about the Chicago History's Brown Line 'L' tour? They've canceled it for next Sunday.
Again, keep in mind that any walking tour (i.e., CAF) will be about 2 hours. BTW, are you getting a CAF membership? Might be worthwhile, depending on how many tours in which you are interested. And, you might be specifically interested in their bus tours, since walking is an issue.
When you say "Zoo", do you mean the Lincoln Park Zoo? Not the Brookfield Zoo (out in Brookfield, a suburb of Chicago)? The Lincoln Park Zoo is pretty compact and they do have areas where you can sit. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is immediately to the NW of the Zoo. The #151 NB from stops on Michigan Avenue take you there.
The Art Institute, too, has benches where you can sit - not a lot, but some. So I don't think that you'll have much problem there.
BTW, Russian Tea Time is more *Americanized* Russian cuisine. The owner came from Uzbekistan. Just keep that in mind.
No comment on Greektown restaurants - I haven't gone there in a *long* time so it wouldn't be fair. Things change too quickly with restaurants.
Jul 25th, 2010, 03:59 PM
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Again, thank you exilledprincess.
I saw that the Brown line 'L' tour was cancelled, plan to just ride it for the overview.
Was considering Lincoln Park Zoo -esp. African journey.
Navy Pier fireworks was not high on our list, so will rule it out, sounds too chaotic. Maybe Billy Elliot instead.
Good idea regarding CAF bus tours - I forgot all about that possibility. Lottie
I saw that the Brown line 'L' tour was cancelled, plan to just ride it for the overview.
Was considering Lincoln Park Zoo -esp. African journey.
Navy Pier fireworks was not high on our list, so will rule it out, sounds too chaotic. Maybe Billy Elliot instead.
Good idea regarding CAF bus tours - I forgot all about that possibility. Lottie
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