we are thinking of three days over the Veterans Day Weekend in Chicago. The main concern is the weather-we are from Southern California. Dressing warm we can handle, we have been in N.Y. and Paris in the winter, just need to know if this would be a good time to see the city for the first time. I have looked at about the last 30 entries so I found out some things. What I like,and makes my wife cringe,is some suggestions for great local places for hamburgers or hot dogs-like Papaya King in N.Y. -suggestions?

I wish I could be specific about the weather, but having lived in the area all my 45 years, I can only tell you that Chicago weather is very unpredictable. It can be 60, 70, or 30! No one ever knows. You'll just have to check weather.com before leaving. However, there are so many indoor things to do in Chicago, the weather shouldn't stop you. There are several museums, the Planetarium, the Shedd aquarium, the art museum, not to mention great theater offerings. I would tend to avoid Navy Pier. We've gone there a couple of times, and it's just touristy and overpriced. There's all kind of great shopping on Michigan Avenue, and State Street. I would advise a hotel on the magnificenet mile if your budget allows. As far as food? There are so many restaurants to pick from, it would just depend on where you stay, and what you are doing at the time. But Billy Goat's Tavern is home of the Cheeseburga, cheeseburga, cheeseburga. Gino's East cannot be beat for real Chicago pizza!

Hi, Steffek - After the tremendous heat and drought we've had this summer, who knows what the winter will bring! Usually in November, we start breaking out the heavier artillery, but I wouldn't consider it "winter" weather yet (ie, it won't be 20 degrees out). That being said, watch it be -30 with a blizzard when you arrive. We never say never around here when it comes to weather (very corny saying, but it's true: if you don't like the weather in Chicago, wait a minute).

Hey, why didn't you ask about pizza? Lou Malnati's is the best. (Don't listen to those Giordano's or Uno's or Gino's fans out there!)

They also don't call it the Windy City for nothing! Don't listen to that Lou Malnati fan- Gino's is the greatest! (That being said, get a Chicago pizza at any of the above - you'll get a lot of advice on the best place, but we do have great pizza places!)

Aaah, Jabrown - Gino's is a very close second! >-

Steffek, just be sure to try our deep dish pizza!

When I think of our local treats, I don't think of cheeseburgers. Hot dogs, yes - but it must be Chicago style (Vienna dog, poppy seed bun, pickle slice, mustard, onions, tomato slice, celery salt, no ketchup).

Gino's is an overrated tourist trap with lousy pizza. Giordano's would be my first choice, but the other's are good too. As for weather, it should be comfortable, relatively speaking. There's a very good chance daytime temps. will still be above freezing, if just barely. It should be a downtime for tourism, just before the December holiday season. If you don't mind dressing warmly, it should be a good time to visit.

We are going to Chicago for a week from October 26 to November 2. Being from Florida I was a bit concerned so checked the historic figures from underground weather. I now know exactly what to expect. It will be between 20 and 80 degrees and may snow, drizzle, rain, or be sunny. Winds are possible if it isn't calm.
I can't wait to go.

Good one, Patrick!

I have a friend from Malibu who wears her fur coat to Chicago if she visits between October and April.

Patrick - I think you've nailed Chicago weather for about 9 months of the year. I hear Chicago does some pretty great Halloween things, so might be worth checking out what's available since you'll be there then.

steffek2 - Just to confuse the pizza issue, I'll say that I love Lou Malnati's, with Giordano's a close second. Gino's used to be good till they moved to the new location several years ago. I've never had Uno's in Chicago, so can't comment there. But, I did want to say that you'll be arriving a week before the unveiling of all the Christmas decorations on Michigan Ave. and State Street, so while you won't be able to enjoy them, you might miss the major Christmas season crowds.

ttt & good example of a travel thread...

Really, Patrick, we Chicagoans just like a lot of variety in our weather. Who'd want it to be like San Diego all the time??? B-O-R-I-N-G!

Actually, if there happens to be blustery weather when you are here, it usually only hangs around for a day (or, at most, two) that early in the season. What you usually do see is a cold front coming through with warm weather rebounding.

Anyway, Steffek2, what I'd recommend for some of the Chicago-type cuisine which would make both you and your wife happy: One of the iconic places in Chicago for cheezburgers is the Billy Goat Tavern (go to the one near the Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue). You are only a couple blocks south of Nordstrom's where you can "apologize" to your wife for putting her through such pain.

There are better burgers to be had in Chicago - Boston Blackie's on Grand, for example. And, in a recent Chicago Tribune expose of the notorious burger trade in ChiTown, Park Grill at Millennium Park came in as one of the best. So you can see the sights at Millennium Park, get your burger-fix, and then continue onto the Art Institute without much delay.

Italian Beef - another one of the main food groups in Chicago: I personally prefer Mr. Beef; some like Al's or Portillo's (where you can also get a dog-no ketchup tho!)--it's just all in the seasonings. The dress is casual, the cuisine sublime.

Be prepared to have fun while visiting!

I've been going to Chicago the week after Thanksgiving every year since 1988 (attending a convention). Believe it or not, it has more often been warmer than I expected than colder. There were more than a few years where the first day or two in Chicago were so warm that I wished I had brought a lighter coat. But though many times the week started warm, it usually ended cold. Only two or three times was it what I would consider REALLY cold and with any significant snowfall (more than a light dusting).
Chicago is great to see at almost any time. Actually, I'd rather be there when it's cold than when it's really hot and muggy. Brisk weather can be invigorating; hot and muggy weather can be enervating.

ttt

Just as an aside to the weather discussion, 2 years ago we went to San Diego after Christmas for a week. We returned on (I think) January 5th, and the temperature on the ground at Midway airport was 61 degrees. It was 57 degrees when we left San Diego. Global warming, anyone?

PC

We'll be in Chicago the weekend of November 18th. My son is interviewing at the Univ. of Illinois at Chicago! Wish him luck!

As an aside, we always refer to it as UIC. The main campus in Urbana-Champaign is "U of I" or just "Illinois".

I refer to it as UIC as well but didn't know if everyone on the board would know.

Thanks for all the information. I am not a pizza fan, is why I didn't mention it, but hava assured my wife we will have the famous pizza at least once. Maybe I will be a pizza convert and move to Chicago. Everyone has had great things to say about visiting your city, we are looking forward to it. By the way the good thing weather wise about San Diego is when you are still sleepy in the morning you don't usually need to check the weather just put on a shirt and pants.

Good luck to your son, Sandi!

Steffek2, you might also want to check out chowhound.com, the Chicago area boards.

FWIW, my vote goes to Giordano's. Especially their stuffed pizza.

Also, FWIW, Chicago was nicknamed "the windy city" (if I recall correctly, by a newspaper editor in New York City) for its politicians, not its weather. According to an old Fodor's guide I have, it's actually the 17th windiest city in the country!

What's the famous cheeseburger, cheeseburger joint made famous by Belushi and the gang of SNL and where is it?