Chicago at Thanksgiving-Suggestions Needed
 

Family of four--kids 9 & 14 are going to Chicago (we were originaly going to New York but decided to cancel we went last year ) for Thanksgiving and I need help in planning our trip. We are booked at the Four Seasons Hotel and thats it!! I need suggestions for dinner in the evenings and for Thanksgiving. Looking at the upcoming events the things that stood out were the 2 new exhibits-VanGogh and Cleopatra--we have seen Blue man and would love to see a Broadway type show--Do you know anything about the Miracle on 34th Street Musical?? Please give me any advice I do need it---Thanks so much!!

I suggest the Museum of Science & Industry because of the ages of your kids - it's great.

Thanksgiving is a nice time to visit Chicago, VERY COLD but a lot going on. Definitely stroll by the windows if MArshall Fields on State Street they decorate in a different theme every year and it is amazing. I also secind the Van Gogh exhibit. I toured this with my mother when she was in town recently and we loved it;however, not sure how excited kids 9&14 would be. Try to maybe ge tin a Christmas or holiday show while you are here, can't comment on the Miracle on 34th street but seein "A Christmas Carol" at the Goddman Theater would be a good idea and would get you in the spirit. For a "traditional" Thanksgiving spread with all the trimmings, check out some of the larger hotels as they have lavish buffets. The Drake has a famous one, not sure but the Four Seasons may have one as well. I fyou haven't been the Museum of Science and Industry earliernoted is a good bet as well as the Field Museum. Have a great trip, you are staying in an EXCELLENT location!

It looks like the major theaters are not running anything Thanksgiving week but you could try for "A Christmas Carol" at the Goodman which was previously suggested or the Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet which starts on Fri Nov 23 which is at the Auditorium. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is starting at the Royal George this week so there aren't reviews yet but that might be fun for the kids and adults. <BR> <BR>If you are in town the weekend of the 17-18, there is the Magnificent Mile Light Festival, more info at this website <BR> http://chicagotribune.com/entertainm...main.htmlstory <BR> <BR>If you are here the weekend after, there's a Christmas market at Daley Center starting on the 22nd. Daley Center is over near the State Street shopping district-Marshall Fields flagship store is over here with it's decorated windows. There used to be a skating rink over there as well, not sure if it's being resurrected this year. <BR> <BR>I'm not sure what the demand for Cleopatra or Van Gogh/Gaugain are but sometimes tickets, especially in the holiday periods, are sold out in advance. You might try calling the info line for the Field Museum and Art Institute to see if you want to get tickets in advance. It might not be necessary but if you have your heart set on either one... The Art Institute has a free day on Tuesday and the Field on Wednesday so you'd only pay for the special exhibition portion of the ticket on those days. <BR> <BR>Kids will also enjoy the Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry. MSI has an Omnimax in addition to the museum. If the weather is nice, the Lincoln Park Zoo starts the zoo lights festival on the 23rd. Also up in the Lincoln Park area is the Peggy Notebaert Science Museum. They have a wonderful butterfly garden that will stay open in the winter and there's a grossology exhibit that I think kids would enjoy. <BR> <BR>Restaurants kids might enjoy: The Cheescake Factory in the bottom of the Hancock (near Water Tower), Ed Debevic's (640 N. Wells) for hamburgers and sassy waitresses and pizza (take your pick, many good places in the city). My niece and nephew really liked the Rainforest Cafe (605 N. Clark) but they are younger than your kids (6 and 8).

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!!!

If your kids are girls there is an AMerican Girl store/restaurant that my nieces went beserk over. Add Chicago deep dish pizza to the list of foods--at Uno's or Due's or Giordano's. The Chicago Tribune publishes a list of restaurants offering traditional dinners--you might try their website. Enjoy and check the weather just prior to packing--it's Chicago so you never know what it will be!

Consider going to some restaurants that are Chicago-specific, not chains that are available in other locations. My kids (6 and 2) liked Heaven on Seven (new location just off Michigan Ave.), it's great Louisiana-style food; Thai Star Cafe; and an Indian restaurant that I can't remember the name of. If you're in Lincoln Park, a very popular restaurant with the locals (I used to live there) is Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder. If you go, you must get the mediterranean bread. The pizzas are "pot pies." It gets packed in the evening, but they're open for lunch on the weekends, and open at 4 on the weekends if you want to eat on the early side.