We (me, husband, two kids) will be in Chicago for a short trip right before Thanksgiving - thanks to you all, we now know about the Parade of Lights. We lived in Lincoln Park long ago (pre-kid), and now live in a wonderful place that doesn't have much city life, so we need a Chicago fix every once in a while (luckily, the kids LOVE Chicago).

While Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder is a must, I'm struggling with the multitude of dinner possibilities for our two other nights (we'll do Chicago pizza for lunch). We're in the mood for Italian, as authentic northern cuisine as possible, preferably in Lincoln Park (but not ruling out the Mag Mile area, where our hotel is). How are Merlo and/or Trattoria Gianni? From the websites and reviews, they look like just the thing. (FYI, our kids are pretty sophisticated eaters and well-behaved as well, so we're not the Ed Debevic's types.)

Also, any suggestions for wine bar places (downtown or loop) where we could get drinks and appetizers before the Parade of Lights?

I like Cru Wine Bar which is not too far off of Michigan. My new favorite Italian is Follia on Fulton Market-very cool atmosphere, excellent food-they imported their pizza chef from Naples so needless to say it's excellent!

I second the Cru Wine Bar - very convenient to Michigan Avenue.

I just thought of another Italian recommendation since you want Northern Italian-what about Bice just off Michigan Ave. Excellent food.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I forgot about Bice, too - that's a good choice for closer to the hotel. As I remember it, it was a bit pretentious - is it still that way?

Thanks for the additional suggestions; a lot of them were reminders of places I've known and loved - Trattoria No. 10, Coco Pazzo, and one of my favorites, Bistro 110 (love the artichoke appetizer). I can only persuade hubby to go there occasionally. Maybe we won't do Italian in Lincoln Park after all.

Yes, Chicago has definitely stayed with me. But now I'm also a Rocky Mountain girl, and can't leave the mountain life. In my perfect world, Chicago would be located at the foot of the Rockies.

Chicgal - I don't remember when it became North Pond Cafe (maybe before we left Chicago), but I was there when the building was a wreck, and it's transformation into the Cafe Bauer. It was so nice to see the building looking nice again.