I am trying to put the details to my October 25-30 first time to Chicago trip. We are late 40's, active, enjoy good food and wine, comedy clubs, photography. No particular budget restrictions. Any and all advice is welcome.

This is what I have on my list:
Staying at Hotel Monaco
Things to do:
- Art Institute
- Architecture Cruise
- Hancock vs. Sears
- Millennium Park
- Chinatown, Little Italy, etc

Restaurants:
- Gaylords
- House of Blues (this will be required for business)
- Wildfire
- Atwood Cafe
- Hot Dougs

Other stuff
- Fados Irish Pub sounded fun
- Would like to find a good comedy club/live act. The Second City offering doesn't sound that appealling to me but maybe I'm wrong.

Questions
- Need a pizza rec. I read a review of one such place but they didn't serve beer. I much prefer my pizza with beer.
- I keep reading about BYOB in restaurants - what is that about?
- I enjoy just getting out into neighborhoods. Any suggestions? I do not plan on renting a car but can if we find we need to.
- A read a wonderful review by a 20 something couple that got the Grand Menu at Charlie Trotters. I would love to do this and while cost isn't a number one consideration I would like to be prepared. Any idea what we can expect?

Thanks

Most of your questions have been answered at length and some recently. Do a search in the forum, this forum. Chicago Pizza will get you the past conflicts etc.

There are also Hancock vs Sears threads and Milennium Park is just a no-brainer. You walk through and all becomes obvious.

Cultural Center on Washington may give you some daily tips or heads up or whatever you need to know on the fly.

Art Institute is free from 5pm to 8pm on Thursday nights- so if I were you and it works- I would fit that in then and save yourself the entries.

For restaurant reviews here- search Chicago Steak or Chicago restaurant and see the long, long review threads. www.metromix.com and other sites have them too.

These are super subjective, IMHO. Most of the restaurant other Fodorites like the most, I like the least. LOL!

Frontera Grill is probably an absolute must. I have eaten at Atwood Cafe several times. It's ok, but just status quo. Good salads.

I am not a foodie, but there are lots of good restaurants under very different price ranges downtown, River North, and in fairly close access to where you are lodging.

Don't go by Second City's descritpion of their shows to decide whether or not to see one. I've been twice, and was underwhelmed by the description both times, only to thoroughly enjoy myself. Take a chance!

The Architecture Cruise is a must, IF it's still running by that date. If it is, dress warmly.

Thanks, I certainly appreciate your responses. Yes, I have searched through the threads but was hoping for something a little more recent - plus you never know when you might catch a newbie-in-the-know's eye and ilicit a new comment.

I did check on the architectural cruise and they are still running in late October - just not as frequently. I'll have to rethink Second City.

Thanks!

I'm not that crazy about Wildfire, but it's OK. There are better steakhouses in town.

I second Frontera Grill/Topolobampo.

Hot Doug's is great, a true Chicago experience, and I love that it's on your list. Just note that it's far from downtown and not super convenient re: public transit. If you're taking a cab and don't mind that expense, no problem then.

Fado is OK I guess if you like the chain "Irish pub" thing. A much better bar is the Clark Street Ale House just up Clark Street from Fado.

Many Chicago restaurants are BYOB b/c it's kind of difficult to get a liquor license in Chicago. I don't know the details but a bartender told me about it last year, and they basically have to jump through hoops to get one. Something about being grandfathered into the license. Maybe other posters can tell more.

I think that Trotter's menu is like 170 and then wine on top. Not sure, but I think that's the ballpark.

Other neighborhoods to explore...Wicker Park/Bucktown; Roscoe Village; Andersonville; Lincoln Park; Hyde Park; Old Town.

I live in Andersonville, as do a few other posters. If you want details and suggestions let us know.

Okay - so how does the BYOB thing work in a restaurant? First, of course, would be where can we purchase wine/beer since we are staying at Hotel Monaco. Then, do you just arrive at your restaurant with bottle in hand? I'm sorry, this is a new experience for me. Can you do this at any restaurant or just certain ones?

Next - Where is "Koreatown?" I read a reference to it on another post but cannot find it in the "official" touristy info - only reference to the standard "Little Italy" and "Chinatown." I enjoy all of these ethnic communities but I would really love to find "Koreatown" having lived in Korea for a few years. I haven't been able to find good Korean food in the US.

Yeah, show up at the restaurant with your own booze. If it's wine, there may be a "corkage fee." Call the restaurant ahead of time to find out. They usually pour and do all the work, they just can't sell the actual alcohol.

If the restaurant sells alcohol, you can't bring your own in.

Ask concierge where you can buy alcohol. Grocery stores sell. Maybe check out a Binny's.

Koreatown is Albany Park. It's a trek from downtown. I've never eaten there.

If the restaurant sells alcohol, you can't bring your own in.

Just curious, is this the law or typical policy? Here in California, we bring wine to restaurants all the time, and expect to pay a corkage fee. We don't do it to save money, but to bring in the wine we want to drink. It isn't that uncommon here.

If you enjoy good food & wine, do not miss Charlie Trotter's.

It is simply an extraordinary experience.

For pizza just off Michigan, Gino's East.

And definitely take an architecture cruise.

Enjoy!

Charlie Trotter's degustation menu features either the "Vegetables Menu" or the "Grand Menu."

It's not inexpensive, but it's worth every penny.

Figure $400+ per person without the high-end wine pairings.

I think my party of 4 two weeks ago was about $1600, but I don't recall. I'll know when I see the credit card bill.

Again, it's worth it, and I'm a New Yorker with high expectations.

Another question -
I have an architectural cruise planned. They are still running in late October. As I continue to research I learned there is more than one company that does these. I guess I should've realized that. (Can you tell I've been living in a small town for a while!)

Anyway - There is:
Shoreline Cruises
Chicago Line
Chicago Cruise on "Chicago's First Lady"

There may be others that I haven't found yet. Does anyone have a recommendation of one over another?

The Chicago Architecure Foundation cruise is highly recommended.

http://www.architecture.org/tour_view.aspx?TourID=8

Go with the CAF tour on the First Lady

If you're looking for pizza and beer, Lou Malnati's has a bar and I think Giordano's serves alcohol.

bookmarking

The Hotel Monaco is a very nice, boutique hotel, with lovely rooms and good service. Just make sure you ask for a room "with a view" b/c some of them face an alley way and an old industrial bldg. which is very dreary. The staff is very accommodating.

There's a nice Italian restaurant/pizza place a block or two from the hotel. I can't think of the name of it but if you walk toward Michigan Ave., past the Scientology Church, you should come to it on your right. If I remember the name I'll post it. I ate there twice and really enjoyed it.

You don't need to rent a car. You can take the bus or train to outer areas. Lincoln Park is nice and easily reachable by bus. Also, there are some interesting old homes in the neighborhood right behind Lake Shore Drive, just past the "Miracle Mile". I walked it and along the river for hours and enjoyed it. You can get to Wrigley Field by train. There's a station right near the Monaco.

Chicago is a great city -- a lot like my hometown, NY, but smaller, cleaner, quieter, and more civilized. I think you'll love it. I did. Enjoy your trip.

I was in Chicago 3 years ago with my college girlfriends. It's a great city. I agree with others that the CAF architecture cruise is a must. We ate at Atwood and loved it. As far as neighborhoods, try Lincoln Park. We ate pizza at Lou Malnati's. It was good, but I live in Buffalo where we have great pizza so I didn't get what all the excitement was about Chicago pizza.

Definately the Chicago Architecture Foundation cruise - other boats we saw had roof structures that must have spoilt the view.

Atwood Cafe was lovely for lunch but just make sure you get a table with chairs and not one of the benches round the outside - they are about 6" lower than the chairs and it felt real odd.

Am sure any of the rated pizza places will be great - we did Gino's East and had a great time and the graffiti everywhere was unique.

The elevated train is very easy and great for getting out into other neighbourhoods. Make sure you by a visitor pass - they do various numbers of days and its good for all trips on the bus too, and it's cheap.

As for food we went to Alinea and it was the most awesome experience ever - but you had to book way in advance - plan it for your next trip.

Thank you for your kind replies. I'm checking out the long range weather and they are calling for rain on the days I hope to do the architectural cruise. (I don't think I mentioned, DH is attending a conference Mon-Wed so we only have the weekend to do things together.) Anyway, its still going to be great!

Any ideas on what to do on rainy days?

I'll look into the Italian place near the Monaco. If you remember please let me know.