Chicago Questions
Sep 11th, 2014, 03:55 AM
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Chicago Questions
Will arrive at Midway at 6:30 PM on a Wednesday in late October.. We are staying at Hyatt Place River North (Illinois and Clark). I'm assuming we'll take the Orange line to Clark/Lake and walk. How long a walk is this -- like 10 minutes or more? No checked luggage so, I'm hoping we can get from landing to the hotel in an hour. Is that realistic?
What does anyone know about Topolobampo? Had lunch there quite a few years ago, and we managed to get an 8:15 reservation for our arrival night. Should there be any problem getting there? Hopefully not -- as we don't want to pay the $50 per person if we don't cancel more than 24 hours ahead. But there are no "reasonable" hour reservations available our other two nights. Meanwhile we're still trying to figure out the menu. There are all these categories -- but when you choose three (or five) for a set price is that any three from any category, including the desserts? Or three of what actually sounds like main courses? And with two people do you each choose three different ones and share all six?
Any one know of any exciting special events in Chicago on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday (during the day only) Oct. 23 -25? Otherwise we're mainly planning on hitting the art museums.
What does anyone know about Topolobampo? Had lunch there quite a few years ago, and we managed to get an 8:15 reservation for our arrival night. Should there be any problem getting there? Hopefully not -- as we don't want to pay the $50 per person if we don't cancel more than 24 hours ahead. But there are no "reasonable" hour reservations available our other two nights. Meanwhile we're still trying to figure out the menu. There are all these categories -- but when you choose three (or five) for a set price is that any three from any category, including the desserts? Or three of what actually sounds like main courses? And with two people do you each choose three different ones and share all six?
Any one know of any exciting special events in Chicago on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday (during the day only) Oct. 23 -25? Otherwise we're mainly planning on hitting the art museums.
Sep 11th, 2014, 06:24 AM
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Patrick, yes, probably just over an hour. It's a good hike through the terminal and parking garage at MDW to reach the Orange Line Station, about 45 minutes on the train, then about another 10 minutes when you exit. Just head north on Clark Street and cross the river.
Sep 11th, 2014, 08:28 AM
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I was just in Chicago last weekend and I didn't time it but I would estimate the travel time on the Orange line from Midway to downtown to be more like 25-30 minutes than 45 minutes. It is a bit of a hike from the terminal to the orange line, maybe 15 minutes depending on how fast you walk.
Sep 11th, 2014, 08:41 AM
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Big Russ, elberko's comment makes perfect sense. There IS an actual set tasting menu (7 courses, I think), which is totally different from picking and choosing your own dishes. Why does that not make sense?
Normally, though, I'm not that big on "tasting menus" as you get a tiny portion of each dish they put before you. The idea of picking dishes appeals more, as does the probability that you get more than just a "taste" of the three dishes you pick -- surely they are larger than the portions on the fixed tasting menu? If I taste something wonderful, I was enough to savor it, not just get teased by it.
Regarding the travel time, sounds like we're OK. Yes, I've only flown into O'Hare before, too. But we have a total of an hour and 45 minutes from our landing (assuming it's on time -- and a check shows that actually it's usually a little early) until our dinner reservation. I was guessing the walk from Clark/Lake to Clark/Illinois would be about 10 minutes, so glad it appears it is about that.
Normally, though, I'm not that big on "tasting menus" as you get a tiny portion of each dish they put before you. The idea of picking dishes appeals more, as does the probability that you get more than just a "taste" of the three dishes you pick -- surely they are larger than the portions on the fixed tasting menu? If I taste something wonderful, I was enough to savor it, not just get teased by it.
Regarding the travel time, sounds like we're OK. Yes, I've only flown into O'Hare before, too. But we have a total of an hour and 45 minutes from our landing (assuming it's on time -- and a check shows that actually it's usually a little early) until our dinner reservation. I was guessing the walk from Clark/Lake to Clark/Illinois would be about 10 minutes, so glad it appears it is about that.
Sep 11th, 2014, 08:50 AM
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Thanks, Patrick. In addition, this was a few years ago, and I suspect they might have had a more "regular" menu at that time. Lots of higher-end restaurants have changed to a more pre-fixe type of menu, as has, apparently, Topolobampo.
~Liz
~Liz
Sep 11th, 2014, 08:59 AM
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OK, Here is the dinner menu (but it will change September 20):
http://www.rickbayless.com/wp-conten..._MENU__PDF.PDF
In looking at it again, while the first "the perfect 7" appears to be a tasting menu, I'm thinking they probably aren't actually smaller portions but the chef's selection of 7 dishes as the "perfect tastes" of the chef. You can order any 7 dishes from the menu for the same price as that, so I'm guessing the portions are the same. Still I don't normally do desserts, so the "perfect 7" is not perfect for me as it includes TWO desserts, and I won't be ordering anything from the Enchanting or Luxurious selections.
http://www.rickbayless.com/wp-conten..._MENU__PDF.PDF
In looking at it again, while the first "the perfect 7" appears to be a tasting menu, I'm thinking they probably aren't actually smaller portions but the chef's selection of 7 dishes as the "perfect tastes" of the chef. You can order any 7 dishes from the menu for the same price as that, so I'm guessing the portions are the same. Still I don't normally do desserts, so the "perfect 7" is not perfect for me as it includes TWO desserts, and I won't be ordering anything from the Enchanting or Luxurious selections.
Sep 11th, 2014, 09:58 AM
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NP, having an ETA @ MDW of 6:30 p.m. and a dinner reservation for 8:15 p.m. is IMHO really cutting it close. Any little delay (weather, 'L problems, etc.) will be a problem.
Keeping in mind that it rarely happens that the Orange Line train leaves right after you step on board, I always include a little wait time there. Regardless, unless there are some problems on the track or at a station, I doubt that you would have more than 55 minutes invested from MDW to Clark/Lake, 5 minutes to get out of the James R. Thompson Center to the street, and another 10 minute walk to your hotel, depending on your speediness. You should be missing the worst of the rush hour so perhaps a very short cab ride would give you a few more minutes there, too.
How much time will Topolobampo hold your table? 10 minutes?
Exciting events: You mean heart-pounding, adrenaline-producing rush? Like taking a zip-line from the top of Big John down, as in "Divergent"?
Assuming that you aren't looking for something quite that intense:
So, no theatre this time around? I think that the Choose Chicago website gives a pretty good account of the individual general events in Chicago, although I use a couple of other sites for theatrical and musical options. I use it a goodly amount myself.
But I'll bring up one that they really don't touch on, and in which you might be really interested since art is the main focus of this trip: October is Chicago Artist's Month. You can pull up the calendar on specific events, based on your type of interest. www.chicagoartistsmonth.org
The closing night of the Chicago International Film Festival (50th anniversary) is the 23rd - in case you change your dining plans. www.chicagofilmfestival.com
The Chicago Cultural Center also has an exhibit, running until the end of October, on the Film Festival as well. In fact, they usually have free concerts and events for Halloween that time of year, although I don't see info up on the calendar quite yet. Give it about another week: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en...rschedule.html
If you are interested in theatre:
TimeLine has the Chicago premier of "Danny Casolaro Died for You". "King Lear" will be running at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre at Navy Pier. An encore performance of "Smokefall" will be at the Goodman.
Keeping in mind that it rarely happens that the Orange Line train leaves right after you step on board, I always include a little wait time there. Regardless, unless there are some problems on the track or at a station, I doubt that you would have more than 55 minutes invested from MDW to Clark/Lake, 5 minutes to get out of the James R. Thompson Center to the street, and another 10 minute walk to your hotel, depending on your speediness. You should be missing the worst of the rush hour so perhaps a very short cab ride would give you a few more minutes there, too.
How much time will Topolobampo hold your table? 10 minutes?
Exciting events: You mean heart-pounding, adrenaline-producing rush? Like taking a zip-line from the top of Big John down, as in "Divergent"?
Assuming that you aren't looking for something quite that intense:So, no theatre this time around? I think that the Choose Chicago website gives a pretty good account of the individual general events in Chicago, although I use a couple of other sites for theatrical and musical options. I use it a goodly amount myself.
But I'll bring up one that they really don't touch on, and in which you might be really interested since art is the main focus of this trip: October is Chicago Artist's Month. You can pull up the calendar on specific events, based on your type of interest. www.chicagoartistsmonth.org
The closing night of the Chicago International Film Festival (50th anniversary) is the 23rd - in case you change your dining plans. www.chicagofilmfestival.com
The Chicago Cultural Center also has an exhibit, running until the end of October, on the Film Festival as well. In fact, they usually have free concerts and events for Halloween that time of year, although I don't see info up on the calendar quite yet. Give it about another week: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en...rschedule.html
If you are interested in theatre:
TimeLine has the Chicago premier of "Danny Casolaro Died for You". "King Lear" will be running at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre at Navy Pier. An encore performance of "Smokefall" will be at the Goodman.
Sep 11th, 2014, 01:11 PM
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Bible Study. Wow. There's an offer I hate to refuse. I LOVE science fiction and fantasy theatre.
OK, I've canceled my Topolobampo reservation. I just don't want to get caught with a $100 fee if anything happens with our flight. We're thinking maybe we'll do lunch there at last seating (2 PM) on Saturday as we fly home Saturday evening.
So back to the drawing board for somewhere interesting for dinner on Wednesday upon our arrival without fines for missed reservations. Immediate area of Illinois and Clark. I know the River North area fairly well, but nothing exciting is coming to mind right now.
OK, I've canceled my Topolobampo reservation. I just don't want to get caught with a $100 fee if anything happens with our flight. We're thinking maybe we'll do lunch there at last seating (2 PM) on Saturday as we fly home Saturday evening.
So back to the drawing board for somewhere interesting for dinner on Wednesday upon our arrival without fines for missed reservations. Immediate area of Illinois and Clark. I know the River North area fairly well, but nothing exciting is coming to mind right now.
Sep 11th, 2014, 01:19 PM
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exciledprincess, yes -- I'm "Mr. Theatre", but Peter is less so, and I don't think I could get him to sit through King Lear again. Smokefall isn't doing much for him either. Nor the new show at Steppenwolf. But I've booked Million Dollar Quartet for Thursday night -- which he's not seen and will absolutely love. Fourth time for me, but it's fun and this is to be a FUN weekend (if you call Wed to Sat a weekend).
Actually I'd love to do the zip line, but again, Peter wouldn't consider it, and he'd probably forbid me to do it too.
Actually I'd love to do the zip line, but again, Peter wouldn't consider it, and he'd probably forbid me to do it too.
Sep 11th, 2014, 02:31 PM
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The Purple Pug sounds exciting and delicious, but not too keen on waiting an hour or more for a seat at a crowded bar, or for spending the evening screaming at each other if we want to talk.
