Chicago for 21st birthday

Old Dec 30th, 2013, 12:56 PM
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Chicago for 21st birthday

We are taking my boyfriends daughter and a few of her friends to Chicago for her 21st birthday in January (and I know weather will be horrible but thats where she wanted to go). I've never been to Chicago and have tried to do some research but it all seems so overwhelming. We mainly plan on eating, shopping and of course, drinking! We are going from a Friday to a Monday so I need to find three places for lunch and dinner and any cool bars that we need to hit for a fun 21st celebration.

A few things that may help:
We are staying on Michigan Ave.
We definitely want to go to at least one italian resturant, one steakhouse and one pizza place.
We don't mind spending money on food but since we will be with 21 year olds we don't want to go to a $50 entree restaurant every night we are there.
So far I've looked into Gibsons, RPM Italian, Luxbar, and Lou Mallnati's.
I've heard there are a lot of bars on Rush and Division.

So any help at all would be greatly appreciated!! And sorry for being so vague.
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Old Dec 30th, 2013, 06:44 PM
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My best advice is not to drive a car into the city even if the driver is not drinking. Take an Amtrak train or the El depending on where you are coming from. Have at least one Chicago style pizza which helps soak up some of the booze.
What are you shopping for that you can't find elsewhere for the same or less.
Be prepared for wind chills in the single digits if not below zero.
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Old Dec 31st, 2013, 05:31 AM
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There are literally dozens of restaurants within a short walk of Michigan Avenue. You can search www.chicagoreader.com or www.chicagomag.com by price, neighborhood or cuisine.

Both sites also have listings of events and nightspots.

If you are planning to drive into the city, you would do best to park your car and walk or use public transit until you depart. Parking at most hotels is around $50/night. You don't say where on Michigan Avenue you're staying, but the garage at Millennium Park is $30/day, check www.millenniumgarages.com. If you're arriving in the evening, you may also find a good rate on www.chicagoparkingmap.com or www.spothero.com.
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Old Dec 31st, 2013, 05:32 AM
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For transit info, including maps and a trip planner, check www.transitchicago.com. You can purchase fare cards at any rail station, or most CVS and Walgreens stores.
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Old Dec 31st, 2013, 07:12 AM
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Hi, nmbook.

Don't know if you'll be north or south of the Chicago River on Michigan Avenue, so will try to suggest places that young adults (and their parents) might enjoy by location.

If you reply back with approx. where you'll be staying on Michigan, that might help provide some more convenient, better recommendations & itineraries. You'll be able to pop into stores to warm up and use the restrooms, but because it will be so cold, it is a good idea to plan your shopping/eating areas each day. Michigan Ave. is fairly long stretch in cold weather; in summer, it's not really at all.

Here's just a few quick thoughts... but a location & itinerary will help, as there are SO MANY places to eat.

South of River/the "Loop" - better for lunch & casual, unless you have a specific reason to be in the Loop for dinner (like theater):

LUNCH:
Vapiano (Italian; casual but bright & nice; near State Street Shopping)
State Lake (Midwestern; in the Hotel Wit; near State Street Shopping)
Pret A Manger (fresh, better-made sandwiches & salads, only the location on Michigan Ave. with great view of Art Institute; nice place for lunch; near Millenium Park, State Street shopping)

North of River/"River North," "Mag Mile," "Gold Coast," "Streeterville"

LUNCH:
La Madia (pizza)
Eataly (Italian, busy, 2-level gourmet grocery/"food court" w/panninis, pizza, etc.; Mario Batali concept)
Slurping Turtle (Japanese; ramen & other bites; fun place for young adults)

DINNER:
Sable (American; in Palomar Hotel)
Volare (Italian; doesn't look like much from outside, but good; okay for lunch, too)
Bistronomic (French)

As for specific reccos for Italian, pizza (can't help with steak as I never eat it, but)...
Italian: Volare
Pizza: Lou Malnati's (@ 1120 N. State Street, Gold Coast location)
Bars: The Division street bars are plentiful and places to DRINK. Noisy, not fancy, crowded, moderately priced. If the 21 year old enjoys crowds and noise and lively, lively places, she should have fun there. If she is more the type to want a more sedate glass of wine or a tasty, well-mixed cocktail, I'd go to a restaurant-lounge, like Vertigo, Epic, ROOF, Rockit. (Check Chicago Yelp for reccos by location.)

Post back and maybe we can provide better help! Sounds like a nice (somewhat pricey) weekend!
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Old Dec 31st, 2013, 09:43 AM
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Thanks everyone! We are staying at the Westin on north michigan ave. We have points there so that helps with the cost of the trip. We are flying so no need to worry about a car. I saw the rates at the hotel for their parking garages and it wasn't much more for us to fly! Plus we save 5 hours.
As for lounge v bar: We'll do both. Have to experience it all! Except when it comes to clubs..... Then she's on her own. Lol
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Old Jan 1st, 2014, 09:06 AM
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Oh, great location at the Westin, nmbook.

You may want to recommend the young women center their shopping/dining by day.

North Michigan Ave Shopping (900 - 1200 North Michigan Ave, Rush & State St.):
900 N Michigan Ave Bldg/Mall: Bloomingdale's, J Crew
(walk east on Oak) Bravco Beauty is a fun beauty-supply store (that used to only take cash/check); plus lots of higher end boutiques;
continue east to Rush for middle-high end shopping (Henri Bendel, Barney's, Madewell, Urban Outfitters, Lululemon)
walk north on Oak for Frye Boots, Scoop NY, Barnes & Noble
Note: Don't spend too much time in Water Tower Place; it's a big shopping mall without much character; however, if the weather is really frigid, it does have lots under the roof: Macy's, Gap, J. Crew, the usual suspects)

North-Mid Michigan Ave (200-900 North Michigan Ave.)
(heading southbound from your hotel)
Anthropologie (on Chicago Ave), Topshop, Banana Republic, Victoria's Secret, Spitalfields, this is retail store after retail store. The Nordstrom Mall is around 600 North, and there is a food court on top floor if needed.

State Street Shopping (500 South - 200 North)
Like Michigan Ave, retail store after retail store [Macy's (formerly Marshall Field's), Sephora, Anthropologie, Eileen Fisher, H&M, Anthropologie, etc.]

Those are the big (3) areas for shopping.

B'fast/Lunch options near your hotel:
L'Appetito Deli in base of the John Hancock is great for Italian sandwiches, pizza slices, pasta, arancini, gelato. Casual, but good food and lots of selection.
Glazed & Infused Donuts are sold in the lobby of the Raffaelo hotel just east of your hotel
Bao Wao (1st floor Water Tower Place) offers Chinese steamed dumplings for takeaway or for dining on 2nd floor of Water Tower
The Original Pancake HOuse on Bellevue Place is a classic b'fast spot. Really crowded; might be a wait.

You may want to consider taking in "A Clown Car Named Desire" at Second City on North Ave. and Wells Street. Would be fun for everyone, I think. A full taxi from your hotel each way should be around $7-11, and would not be far. Plus, they have a full bar, plus there's lots of restaurants in Old Town along that street (Adobo Grill is lively, Mexican place that I like, plus the girls could have margaritas).

Can't help much with the bar scene... I was never that young... but I'm sure the young women will be spoiled for choice. I feel like the bars on Huron & Kinzie streets, between Wabash and Dearborn, are nicer (than Division Street) but they may skew a bit older (about 25-30) and be a swankier, well-dressed crowd that may/may not intimidate. The bars on Division draw a humbler, diverse, rowdier crowd for all ages (college frat boys up to sadder, middle-old age drinkers) that should offer a more relaxed place to share a pitcher of beer. In any case, the women will want their hotel address handy and keep their wits about them.

Hope you all have a great time!
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Old Jan 2nd, 2014, 01:14 PM
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New York Times' "36 Hours in Chicago" has some good suggestions:
http://nyti.ms/1eqaBdj
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 04:40 AM
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So I think this is my plan so far: (and I realize some things are very touristy but we've never been to Chicago so....)

Friday-
Lunch at Portillos for Chicago dogs and Italian beef sandwiches
Sight see a bit and stop by Garretts popcorn for snacks for the weekend
Dinner at italian restaurant (need help)
She turns 21 at midnight so out to the bars or clubs and we will see how long her dad & I last.

Saturday-
Lunch at Lou Malnati's
Sight see/ shop
Dinner at Luxbar and then comedy show/play Bye Bye Liver
Bars

Sunday-
Brunch (need help)
Shop
Signature Lounge for drinks
Dinner at Mastros (choose Mastros because they said they had a piano bar , lively crowd, and sushi which the 21 yr old loves but her dad loves steak)
Bed for early flight

So what do you think? Please let me know if I am going wrong somewhere. And if anyone has any recommendations for an Italian restaurant (a good pasta Italian place that doesn't break the bank, either $$ or $$$) and someplace for brunch on Sunday downtown close to Westin or shopping I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again!
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 04:43 AM
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Oh and we are going to stop by Eataly one day.
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 11:39 AM
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Hi, nmbook. Your itinerary looks quite good. I just hope the weather isn't too awful. Waterproof boots and warm socks for everyone! Every woman is in Sorel's nowadays.

FRIDAY: Once you check in to hotel, if you walk to Portillo’s, the nicer route is to walk south on Michigan; right/west on Chicago, south/left on State (pass Holy Name Cathedral and see the bullet hole in the cornerstone from when a 1920’s gangster was shot across the street); right/west on Ontario down to Portillo’s.

Back east bound (toward Michigan Ave) to 625 N. Michigan Ave. for Garrett’s. Then you can sightsee walking northbound on Michigan ave. back to the hotel. Snacks & waters/drinks can be bought at the Walgreen’s on Michigan X Chicago (on the way back to the hotel; or for better snacks, you can go downstairs to L’Appetito in the base of John Hancock for Italian sodas, waters, cookies, crackers, etc.

Dinner at Italian restaurant:
Carmine’s? (on Rush Street; popular place, plus well-positioned to spring the girls on Division Street for the bars there; but you’ll need to eat later if you want to go direct from dinner to bars; or kill some time at the Barnes & Noble bookstore close by)

Café Spiaggia? (love this place, and near your hotel, but this is a pretty “mature” setting… great food, but atmosphere is dimly lit, quiet conversation)

Volare? (warm, inviting “old school” Italian place, but this is south of hotel about .6 miles)

Bars for the young ladies… can’t really help… I’m tired just typing this.

SATURDAY seems fine… Lou Malnati’s (the 1120 N State location) is good, sighteeing/shopping on Rush Street & Oak street, Bloomingdale’s bldg, etc.

Dinner at Luxbar would be fine, or if you would rather eat near your theater, Uncommon Ground is a nice place I’ve been to several times. And there are lots, LOTS, of Wrigleyville bars for the girls (SmartBar, Piano Man, Gingerman Tavern), further south on Clark.
http://www.uncommonground.com/
On a Saturday, allow ample time to take the taxi up to north Clark for the theater. There should be plenty of taxis about after the show, especially if you wander south closer to Addison X Clark (where Wrigley Field & all the bars are), but also have a taxi phone number handy, just in case.

SUNDAY looks good. However, I might recommend you head south of the river to the loop to see that area of the city. Lots of shopping on State Street. En route to State street, maybe brunch at Sable, or State Lake restaurant…? (Or brunch near hotel = Original Pancake House, Hash House a Go Go, or Doc B's?)

On the way back to hotel to have your drink at the Signature Lounge, you can then pop in to Eataly to be overloaded.

Sounds like a fun weekend!
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 12:39 PM
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It IS touristy, but since you're on Michigan Avenue, I'd make some time for a drink on the 96th floor of the Hancock Building, across from Water Tower Place. The view is amazing and there's nowhere like it.
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 01:34 PM
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Carmine's was also considered touristy when I lived in the neighborhood. Usually full of convention goers
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 01:56 PM
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Yes, Carmine's is a bit of a touristy/business traveler sort of place. But the location is hopping and seems convenient for OP's needs. My vote would be for Volare or Spiaggia if I were staying downtown. My favorite Italian places are in neighborhoods further out, but might complicate the itinerary a bit on their first night in the city. But Carmine's is an enjoyable place.
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 02:14 PM
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ChgoGal has given you some great ideas. I just returned from a snowy NYE in Chicago. Cold does not really describe it but going in and out of buildings help.

I have to say that Volare is my favorite. Dinner entres and a glass of wine for 2 was $58. If the distance is too far, I would take a cab or the bus.

You do not mention a location for shopping on Sunday. If you find yourself in the Loop area, Miller's Pub on Wabash is fun and near Macy's State Street location. Don't miss the Tiffany dome in the cosmetic department near the escalators.
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Old Jan 8th, 2014, 04:06 PM
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Thank you all so much! Great info ChgoGal! We are going to try to fit in as much as possible. I'm really hoping the weather gets a bit warmer by next weekend but I'm not holding my breath. I'm sure we'll have a great time anyways though!!
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Old Jan 15th, 2014, 09:05 AM
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Just a few safety tips, more for the young ladies than you and your boyfriend.

Always cross at the intersection, and always look in all directions to make sure cars are stopping and/or not turning into you. Drivers here aren't the greatest, especially weekenders-coming-in-to-the-city. Don't assume you have right of way. I've seen cars go the wrong way down 1-way streets, turn where it's illegal, etc.

Never, ever, jaywalk/cross in the middle of the street. Always go to the corner and wait for the walk signals.

We've had two tragic drownings in the Chicago river last week due to "Phone-Dropping" (and alcohol-impaired judgement). Young, twenty-something dropped his smart phone in the river while taking pics. It landed on the ice, and he went over the fence to get it. He drowned, as did his friend who tried to save him. All three of the friends fell through the ice, only 1 survived it. Very sad.

If you drop your phones onto the subway track, never go after it. Get a CTA (chicago transit authority) person to advise what to do. Obviously, if it's in the river, let it go. If it's dropped in the street, careful, careful, careful.

Just some thoughts I've been having recently as I feel the streets (with all the ice and impatient drivers) are a little less safe than usual.

(Don't want to make anyone worry... just to be aware of the accidents that happen to even very sensible people here lately.)
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