new chicago questions - Omni Ambassador East hotel and Lincoln Park

Oh, one more thing. Does anyone know of affordable parking in this area? I usually park at Millennium Park, but not this time!

I did a walking tour of the area around the Omni Ambassador East earlier this year, if you haven't done any exploring in that area, it's a nice place to have a look around with all of the mansions in the Gold Coast area. Our tour started at Chicago & Dearborn and headed north, turning right on Goethe (pronounced Gerta if you are not familiar with the German philosopher) and left on Astor. Among the impressive things I saw along the way were:

The Newberry Library-Walton & Dearborn

James Charnley House-1365 N. Astor St., designed by Adler & Sullivan in conjunction with Frank Lloyd Wright, free tours on Wednesday at noon, Saturday tours are $10 and include the Madlener House and an exterior tour

Elinor Patterson-Cyrus McCormick House-20 E. Burton/1500 N. Astor, the largest mansion in the area, currently divided into condos which would still be pretty nice sized

Cardinal's Residence-North Avenue between Astor & State

Another area just to the north of where you are staying is Old Town roughly between Division St. (south) and Eugenie St. (north), between Halsted (west) and Clark St. (east), full of shops, restaurants and entertainment.

Places to eat: Twin Anchors for ribs, Bistro Margot for French bistro fare, Adobo Grill for upscale Mexican, Salpicon also upscale Mexican

Entertainment/things to see: Second City comedy club, Zanies comedy club, visit St. Michael's church and Second City does a walking tour that was kind of fun.

You might also have a look at Bobby's Bike Hikes which explores that area, I thought that as a native Chicagoan that I might find this tour a little dull but the tour actually took me by a few places that I had heard of but had never seen (Playboy Mansion, Cardinal's residence, Abraham Lincoln statue) and a few hidden corners that I had not explored. It's $25 which includes a spiffy no speed blue Schwinn complete with a bell and pedal brakes but you can bring your own bike and get a $10 discount on the price of the tour. I would have found the pace frustrating had I been on my 10 speed Trek. It meets at Water Tower and the
website is www.bobbysbikehikes.com

Thanks for the tips! I've been wanting to see more of Old Town, so will probably head there for some shopping and a meal. We love Adobo Grill, but others sound fun too. Unfortunately, we've seen both of the current Second City shows, but we'll figure something out for the evenings.

The bike tour does sound fun if it's not too hot (which is probably not promising given this summer so far). Is it at all uncomfortable riding in traffic (vehicle or pedestrian)? I haven't been on a bike in years, and have always been uncomfortable riding around cars, but would like to try it all the same.

We did an early morning bike trip and the traffic was not bad, they actually stopped to let the whole line of bikes through. Most of the ride was on side streets or along the lakefront so I didn't think traffic was that much of an issue.

Second City's Romeo & Juliet is over at Navy Pier again this summer (check the dates) and of course the fireworks are July 3rd and the Taste of Chicago is June 24-July 6.

I've stayed at the Ambassador East several times, it has old world charm and an old world elevator...small and busy! It is also home to the famous Pump Room, we always stop for a drink.
Your also a short walk to my favorite place to have breakfast when I'm in town, the ORiginal Pancake House, its on Bellevue across from the Sutton Place Hotel. Cash only and don't let the line deter you, it moves fast.
Its also a short walk to the lakefront for great summer strolling and as other mentioned..Old Town. Enjoy!

jlm_mi, you're in a great location at the Omni Ambassador East. Very close to the Magnificient Mile, very close to the beaches, in a wonderful historical area in the Gold Coast and so close to Old Town and Lincoln Park.

Things to do: It wouldn't be the 4th of July weekend without a picnic, would it? That's why I recommend that on Saturday, you head up to the Green City Market (along the path between 1750 N. LaSalle and Stockton in Lincoln Park). Pick up some fine fixins for your picnic--and while you are there, check out the chef's demonstration. Check their website for details.

Best place for a picnic (once you get those fixins): the gardens between the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Conservatory - OR across the street same place OR just to the north of Fullerton along the lagoon (MUCH better on the east side).

Theatre: How low can it go? (The price, I mean.) Check out Theatre on the Lake. We are talking a whopping $15/pp. And those are performances by some of Chicago's best troupes at a venue right on the lake (for the fine breezes). When you are here, it is Lifeline's "A Long Way from Chicago". No guarantee whether you can get any tickets now as they usually go fast, but you might want to check into it.

We have lots of stuff north of Lincoln Park Zoo, too. If you are golfers, there is a driving range at Diversey and a golf course up at Waveland -- just north of our totem pole (at Addison). We also have a couple of doggie beaches (at Belmont and Montrose Harbors).

You might want to check out the Lincoln Square neighborhood. One of the most culturally mixed neighborhood in the city.

If you go over to either Old Town or Lincoln Square, check out what's going on at the Old Town School of Folk Music. They always have good things going on.

Funky neighborhoods: start at Belmont and Clark - go north up Halsted into Boystown. Lots of funky, fun places to check out. When you get to Addison/Halsted, you are only a couple blocks east of Wrigley Field, if you want to go visit the Friendly Confines.

Good eats: When going to the Music Box, Tango Sur (couple of doors to the north). Lincoln Park: Cafe Bernard/Red Rooster for fancier fare; Weiner's Circle for Chicago-style char-dogs with a side of sass (do a search to see what I mean - just want you to be prepared). Boystown: Chicago Diner (for vegetarian) and Nookies Tree.

Oh, yeah! The best coffee house in Chicago on Broadway, just south of Belmont: Intelligentsia. (There's another outpost at the Monadnock building on Jackson downtown.)

Have fun whatever you decide to do!

Thanks again for the many spectacular ideas! I've been researching breakfast places, and the Original Pancake House sounds perfect.

We definitely want to do a picnic. I was thinking of having it at the concert at Pritzker Pavilion on Saturday night, but now I'm wondering if that will be a total zoo because of taste (which we're avoiding this year - did it last year). Or, would the big concert happening that afternoon in Grant Park keep some crowds away? Any guess how early we should arrive for the 7:30 concert with taste going on?

jlm_mi, anybody's guess about what will happen at Millennium Park during the Taste because this is the first year they are open at the same time. It's my guess is that people will be milling between the two.

However, as a word of warning, July 2 is when Santana/Los Lonely Boys/Salvador Santantas Band are performing at the Taste (starting at 4:30 pm). You know what size the crowd will be and can pretty much figure when it will end. All those people are going to be going somewhere.

If you go to Pritzker Pavilion that evening, my recommendation is to get a seat DOWN FRONT to avoid the crowds and the distracting noise.

Yeah, we were at the taste last year and tried to see Counting Crows. The crowd was huge! And we had to leave before they even went on because we had to be somewhere else. We enjoyed They Might Be Giants though.

The Millennium Park concert is at 7:30, which I'm guessing is not long after the Grant Park concert will end, since they have 3 bands playing. I'm not 100% sure we'll go, but if we do we'll have to keep that in mind.

JLM, It sounds like the Taste crowds weren't your thing so I would avoid Millenium Park as well. Just north of the hotel is the south end of Lincoln Park and you're bound to find many of prime picnic spots there or on the lakefront. That area is one of my favorite areas - you'll find plenty of storefront restaurants to chose from down Halsted, Armitage, North and Wells, pick a street and wander. There are tons of cute shops too along that area. You may want to check out this link:
http://www.lincolnparkchamber.com/visitors/

It's not the crowds so much - we were just bored by the taste. I wouldn't go to a Grant Park concert again during taste though - you can't see anything on stage from the lawn area, and those crowds did make the concert experience less pleasant.

I'm sure we'll hit Millennium Park at some point, if only for a walk-through. My husband hasn't yet seen the Cloud Gate, and since it's been at least partially uncovered I'm sure we'll walk by it. But we'll also have plenty of time in the Lincoln Park area, away from the massive crowds as well.