Need ideas - hGirls' trip to Chicago

Old Oct 27th, 2014, 09:06 PM
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Need ideas - hGirls' trip to Chicago

Will be traveling to Chicago in early November for a girls' getaway. We are all early 40s. Looking at staying in the Magnificent Mile area. We basically just want to relax, shop, and have some good food/beverages. Nothing touristy.
We don't want a car.

Is MM the best area to stay? Can you recommend some fun places to go during the day/night in the area? We don't want to do anything too fancy and won't be up for the club scene at night , but we are always up for a place with a good bar/restaurant for a glass of wine and some tasty appetizers or meals. Also would be interested in any must go's for shopping or other places we should check out.

Thanks!
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Old Oct 28th, 2014, 09:44 AM
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The Magnificent Mile is the portion of North Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street. Check http://www.themagnificentmile.com/ for stores and restaurants. To the east, between Michigan Avenue and Lake Michigan is Streeterville. To the west is River North. The three areas have the greatest concentration of hotels and restaurants in the city.

You can find listings of restaurants by price, cuisine or neighborhood at www.chicagomag.com or www.chicagoreader.com.

As for other places to check out, what are your interests? How much time do you want to spend? The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers multiple architectural tours on boat foot or bus that last from one to three hours. There's the Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Oriental Institute, Frank Lloyd Wright District in Oak Park, several live theatres, The Loop shopping district, Blackhawks hockey and 23 miles of lakefront trails for walking, biking or skating.
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Old Oct 28th, 2014, 11:14 AM
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This is always fun.

http://www.thebatonshowlounge.com/
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Old Oct 28th, 2014, 02:01 PM
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I really enjoyed a performance at Second City with a friend last year. Very reasonably priced, and a good way to spend the evening.

http://www.secondcity.com/
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Old Oct 28th, 2014, 04:03 PM
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The Aroma Workshop in Lincoln Park followed by lunch or dinner at Summer House is a fab girls' getaway morning or afternoon.

http://hermagazine.ca/chicago-travel-guide/
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Old Oct 28th, 2014, 04:40 PM
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Look at the Palomar Hotel and the James. Both centrally located.
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Old Oct 29th, 2014, 05:07 AM
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Seems like there has been similar questions in the last 6 months (girls trips). Try a search for Chicago or click on the Chicago tag and you might find some useful info.
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Old Oct 30th, 2014, 07:15 PM
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Hi, Okie.
There are so many good restaurants, I'd plan your events, and then ask for reccos for restaurants and bars that are convenient (but I'm not a foodie, and when I travel, it's more for theater, museums, etc.).

RE: Theater
I'm partial to theater but I saw a show recently as Steppenwolf which was fantastic. 'The Night Alive.' Very unsettling (actually terrifying) and thought-provoking, and you can buy 1/2 price tickets an hour before showtime during the rush ticket sale or try for the "Twenty for $20" ticket when the ticket office opens at 11 am. This would be a great night for you and your girlfriends. And you can have a meal in the neighborhood (at Vinci or Balena or Dawali). Balena would be a nice place for a glass of wine afterwards.

Or catch a mainstage show at Second City in Old Town and have dinner there (at Adobo Grill or Topo Gigio).

I'd really encourage you to do the Art Institute. You just missed the amazing Magritte exhibit but that museum is so thrilling each and every time you go, even if you don't think you care all that much for fine art. I'm certainly no expert but it is a wonderful place to visit and sit for a cup of coffee with friends.

And in that neighborhood, you have Millenium Park with all the incredible sculpture. One of the best sights is the new Jaume Plensa enormous head there only through December. It's wonderful to see. The Gehry auditorium and the reflective "bean"/Cloud Gate.

So much shopping and eating to do--in one block, you have Eataly, Last Call Nieman Marcus, Room and Board. There's a brand new Shake Shack (which will likely be crowded).

For great food, think about Slurping Turtle ramen (1 bowl of ramen can be shared by 2-3), Purple Pig, Sable, Beatrice, Xoco. Volare is good for lunch, but not my favorite for dinner. Eataly is good for a coffee/pastry but maybe not to sit down.

If you post your itinerary, maybe we can help guide your day as to restaurants so you're not backtracking all over.

I posted on shopping recently for a woman and her teen daughter, but you may find that info. helpful.

Hope you have fun and the weather isn't terrible! But be prepared for a cold wind and rain, just in case.
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Old Oct 31st, 2014, 06:34 AM
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Drinks at the Signature Lounge in the John Hancock tower.
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Old Nov 1st, 2014, 03:38 AM
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You are wanting to stay in the most touristy area in the city - but do nothing touristy.

I assume it's your first time in Chicago from the way you have phrased some of your inquiry. And, like most people, you *will* be doing at least some touristy stuff your first time around. For example, most first-timers/tourists do go up to the Signature Lounge for drinks.

However, this is also a very good opportunity for you ladies to experience something completely new, something completely different. And you have so many opportunities to do so. Just remember that Chicago is a very large city with many neighborhoods (portions of the city proper, not the suburbs). So please just don't confine yourself to a very small area.

Since you are coming in November, it is a good idea to plan a substantial amount of indoor activities. You *might* get a spell of good weather (for the time of year) but don't plan on it. Just have a flexible schedule.

A big yes to the Art Institute. IMHO, a gem.

It is located immediately to the south of Millennium Park. Whereas during the summer months, there are free concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Frank Gehry, architect), during the fall and winter months, there are many music and dance performances held at the Harris Theatre in Millennium Park. Take a look at their calendar.

Immediately to the west of the north end of Millennium Park, on Randolph, is the Chicago Cultural Center, which has many free exhibits, concerts and events. I suggest that you look at their calendar to see what is happening when you are in Chicago.

Cross Randolph to the north of the Chicago Cultural Center and you will find the Hottix location, where you can pick up discounted next-day and same-day of performance tickets for a great variety of shows. Suggest that you take a look at their website to get an idea of the many choices you have there.

The main location of the Chicago Architecture Foundation is across Michigan Avenue from the south end of the Art Institute.

If you wanted some suggestions nearby for dining: For breakfast/brunch/lunch, Toni Patisserie & Café (on Washington, across the street from the Chicago Cultural Center); Russian Tea Time (1/2 block west of the Art Institute on Adams); Acanto (across Michigan Avenue from Millennium Park) HUGE selection of wine; and in the historic Blackstone Hotel, Mercat a la Planxa (upscale, tapas). I also like to go the original location of Heaven on Seven (111 N. Wabash, 7th floor), particularly for a bowl of their gumbo and a jalapeno corn muffin.

I'll throw out a few suggestions for things to do a little further away for you:

The Newberry Consort is an early music ensemble, which plays on instruments of the period. Their first concert (¡Música Barroca Mexicana! Music from the Durango Cathedral Archives) is on November 7 at the Church of the Ascension (1133 N. LaSalle St.). newberryconsort.org

This is in the Gold Coast neighborhood. If you were looking for a very good restaurant close at hand: Chicago q (on Division, just south of Division).

NeoPatrick recently made a trip report, following another thread with dining suggestions. Please take a look at it.

He attended (again ) a performance of "The Million Dollar Quartet", which is playing at the Apollo Theatre in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. You often find reduced priced tickets for it with Hottix. Although he dined at Lou Malnatti's, my suggestions for you ladies would be Sapori Trattoria for more upscale or Simply It! for more casual.

For your shopping, if you are accustomed to the offerings of the Magnificent Mile (most found at most larger suburban malls - but take a look at their own website to see what there is), my recommendation is that you go into one of the outlying neighborhoods for boutique shopping.

If you take the Brown Line 'L, there are a couple of choices easily available to you.

The RANCH (Racine, Armitage, North Ave., Chicago River and Halsted) triangle in the DePaul University area of the Lincoln Park neighborhood has many more upscale boutiques. This would be slightly to the south of the area where the Apollo Theatre is located. It is also just to the north of the Steppenwolf (on N. Halsted, to the north of North Avenue).

If you wanted a breakfast/lunch option in this area, look at Blue Door Farm Stand or perhaps at Nookies Too (a local chain), close to Oz Park. It's named Oz Park because L. Frank Baum lived in this neighborhood - it has statues of the famous characters from his books. And, one of the best options in Lincoln Park is a quick cab ride away - Knife and Tine.

At the Southport station, you are on what is referred to as the N. Southport Corridor in the Lakeview neighborhood. Many restaurants, boutique shops and the historic Music Box Theatre (built 1929) - which shows indies, foreign, silent film (with organ accompaniment), docs, classics and so forth. In this area, you might consider Tango Sur (Argentinean steakhouse) - no reservations, but BYOB, very popular so can be substantial waits at busiest times; Southport Grocery and Café (very nice breakfast selections); Julius Meinl on the corner of N. Southport and Addison for your coffee stop. Unfortunately, the Mercury Theatre is dark during your visit because they are going to have performances of "The Christmas Schooner" starting Nov. 26. (Hope you don't mind my mentioning this for the sake of others.

And I'm going to put in a plug for my old neighborhood: the Boystown area of the Lakeview neighborhood. This would be to the east of the N. Southport Corridor several miles (Lakeview is a big neighborhood). Many restaurants and boutique shops on N. Broadway, although if you are looking specifically for clothing that has rather limited choices in the area.

But easy to get to: A quick cab ride east or take the #52 EB Addison bus from Southport/Addison to N. Broadway/Addison. From the south by 'L: Red Line to Belmont, walk 3 blocks east to N. Broadway. By bus: #146 NB express bus with stops on Michigan Avenue (runs local until Walton, then is express to Belmont along the outer Lake Shore Drive, then becomes local again). I like to suggest disembarking at LSD/Hawthorne Place and walking west through the historic district to N. Broadway, then south.

In the immediate area, (for the time being, until they perhaps move to Andersonville) the TimeLine Theatre performs plays based on historic events. They currently are performing "Danny Casolaro Died for You". You can see the press reviews on their website.

Dining in the area: Great amount of choices but take a look at: Try the cinnamon rolls at Ann Sathers (various locations) for breakfast; Wood on N. Halsted (really, really nice); Bar Pastoral on N. Broadway; Stella's Diner; the original location of Intelligentsia coffee; DryHop Brewers

One of the most iconic music venues (jazz) in the city of Chicago is the Green Mill, which is located in the Uptown neighborhood. It has quite a history, which you can view on their website. On Sundays, it has the Uptown Poetry Slam followed by jazz performance. Red Line to Lawrence - only a block away - although *strongly* recommend that you take a taxi back.

Once you get your itinerary more solidified, please come back and tell us so we can make more viable suggestions.
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Old Nov 1st, 2014, 03:45 AM
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I got so enthused with giving you suggestions, I totally forgot to mention an important point:

Everyone has different interests, so sometimes it's difficult to suggest something that everyone would find equally as entertaining. So it's up to you:

Go to the Choose Chicago website and use the search function specified to your visit dates to see all your options. Then your party should choose what is the most interesting to you.
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Old Nov 1st, 2014, 04:03 AM
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Ooh, I proofread, read and read - and still I miss something. UGH!

"Chicago q (on Division, just south of Division)." That should be on Dearborn, just south of Division.

Sorry.
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Old Nov 1st, 2014, 01:37 PM
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21 foot waves in Chicago....wow
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Old Nov 1st, 2014, 04:11 PM
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LonelyAngel, there is a special place in Hell waiting just for you!
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Old Nov 2nd, 2014, 01:47 PM
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Many thanks for all of the wonderful ideas and the time you put into your replies. We are going to work on our itinerary bases on these fantastic suggestions. Thank you!!
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