Rainy day...Art Institute, Field Museum...

Just curious...do you really plan to go to Hot Doug's? There's a special place in my heart for Hot Doug's, but since it's so far from downtown it's usually out of the way for visitors. If you do go, don't go for the hot dogs...get sausages. Depends on when you go, but be prepared for a lengthy wait in line. It's also cash-only enterprise.

After Doug's, a stroll through Roscoe Village might be fun for you -- Roscoe Street from Western Avenue to Damen Avenue. Many nice shops and a couple of good bars for afternoon beer. You could then take the Damen Ave bus (or a cab) south to Wicker Park or north to Andersonville.

Just throwin' out ideas for you since you mentioned you enjoy getting out into different neighborhoods. I do too, and always do when I travel to new cities.

bookmarking for later planning. Am reading Lonely Planet's Chicago and enjoying it as a source.

BTW, LP says Art Institute free on Thursday and Friday from 5-9-anyone know for sure???

Looking forward to hearing about your trip when you return!

Still liking the Red Head Piano Bar- here is the link to my post about it:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...t=0&dirtyBit=1

jmsvss,

On a rainy day, go to the museums.



Author: jmsvss
Date: 10/19/2008, 09:21 am
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?

Don't worry too much, the long range weather changes everyday you look at it. If you take a look today now its just partly cloudy for Sat and Sun. Temps do seem to start dropping Monday. Have a great time. We will be in town this weekend too.

The Art Institute has free Thursday evenings 5 to 8pm, but not Friday right now.

jmsvss, you might want to keep an eye on the weather forecast from the Chicago Tribune online (Tom Skilling's 7-day forecast). Unfortunately, it's showing the probability/possibility of rain/drizzle/cool temps. for many of the days you are here.

You'll want to save going to either the John Hancock Center or the Sears Tower (you don't have to do both, by the way, and recommend the JHC over the Sears Tower) when it is clear. Same for the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise.

Speaking of the Chicago Architecture Foundation, their ArchiCenter is located on S. Michigan Avenue, across the street from the Art Institute. Not only do they have many walking tours (both inside and exterior) but also a very nice selection in their gift shop. I particularly wanted to mention one item for you: "Richard Nickel's Chicago: Photographs of a Lost City".

Richard Nickel was a Chicago photographer and historian who had realized that our society was losing architectural treasures because of urbanization in the 1950's-1970's. He attempted to preserve and documented the architecture of Louis Sullivan (and others) before it was lost to future generations. He tragically lost his life in 1972 at the Adler & Sullivan-designed Stock Exchange Building, which was scheduled for demolition, when a stairwell collapsed upon him. (The entire Trading Room of this building is now installed at the Art Institute.)

If you are interested in this and unable to find this book at the Archicenter, the Prairie Avenue Bookshop, 418 S. Wabash, is another excellent place for locating this and other items of architectural reference.

Richard Nickel's and Louis Sullivan's graves are both located at Graceland Cemetery. The Chicago Architecture Foundation has tours of the cemetery but if you wanted to DIY, you can obtain maps and booklets at the cemetery's office, just inside the gates, to your right.

Chicago has many, many museums, only a few of which you see usually mentioned here. Those main museums will probably be pretty crowded on rainy weekend days. So my suggestion is, if you are going to a museum then (such as the Art Institute), go as soon as it opens.

But I do urge you to go to the Art Institute, especially since the Henri Cartier Bresson exhibit will probably be of great interest and inspiration to you. Keep in mind that some of the galleries will be closed because of the construction on the new wing and 92 of the AI's master artworks are on loan - until December. You can view their website to see what is open and available for viewing for your visit.

Some of the lesser known museums, though, may hold special interest for you. For example, the Museum of Contemporary Photography located at Columbia College (600 S. Michigan). This would be about 2 blocks south of the Art Institute. Free admission. There are currently exhibits which are in association with the 50th anniversary of Jack Kerouac's novel "On the Road".

Down in Hyde Park are the Oriental Institute and the Smart Museum of Art, located at the University of Chicago campus. The first, for example, has photography (from the 1840's) of archeological monuments and sites.

The Newberry Library is one of the world's leading research libraries. However, it also has very interesting exhibits, lectures and concerts (special kudos to the Newberry Consort, which - unfortunately for you - has just had their first concert last weekend). For example, just in time for Halloween, on October 28 at 6:00 p.m., there is a lecture of the book "New Annotated Dracula by Bram Stoker". Take a look at their website, as I think you might find the details of this lecture interesting. Free.

The Loyola University Chicago Museum of Art (LUMA) is located at 820 N. Michigan Avenue. Their "Suitcase Paintings" exhibit will be ending on October 26, though.

Other suggestions and comments:

Restaurants:
Gaylords (assume that you mean Gaylords India Restaurant) - the River North location closed several months ago and was supposed to reopen at 100 E. Walton sometime in October, but I'm not sure if it is yet. Metromix and the Chicago Reader both show it's still closed. I'd call first to make sure.

I agree that Hot Doug's is an excellent choice and am glad you chose to include it; however, I also agree with the previous poster that since it's so out of the way from your other activities, you'd probably want to take a cab there and back. If and when you go, get one of the specials. Doug Sohn, the owner, will wait on you himself and if you are uncertain how you want your encased meats, just ask him for suggestions.

I was trying to get an idea of the type of restaurants which might interest you but couldn't tell why this group is chosen. Location? Menu? Budget? If you give a little insight, I could make some other suggestions for you.

If you were looking for some evening entertainment and like jazz, then I have two recommendations: The Jazz Showcase is located at Dearborn Station in the Printer's Row portion of the South Loop. The Green Mill is located in Uptown (take the Red Line to the Lawrence stop) - although I'd recommend taking a cab back to your hotel when it's later, in either case.

Wow! Thank you so much. I really appreciate the detail and advice.

Regarding restaurants and preferences - we do not care for chains; fresh, well-prepared food is more important than the atmosphere; would like to keep it below $40 per before drinks if possible; we do not have many ethnic restaurants at home so I usually seek them out when I travel; I like tapa/small plate venues because I can try a lot of different things; ditto sushi - the "small plate" idea; quality is more important than quantity; we do not care for buffets.

Regarding the Restaurants I listed - Gaylord India and Atwood were recommended by folks here at home. Yes, I see Gaylords is closed and the reviews of Atwood aren't shining. I am open to ideas.

Thanks!

I felt Atwood was only so-so and very expensive for what it was, despite lots of raves here.

I'd strongly recommend Le Colonial on Rush. Really good Vietnamese with beautiful atmosphere. Lots of sharing, of course.

If you like tapas, Cafe Iberico is inexpensive and very good. It's in River North area at the corner of LaSalle & Chicago
http://www.cafeiberico.com/

I also like Gold Coast Hot Dogs. Good Chicago dog. There's one near Macy's, under the El, at 159 N Wabash.

Bring your ID if you go to Giordanos for pizza & beer. Without ID, our grey hair wasn't enough to prove that we were over 21 years old, so no beer for us.

"Bring your ID if you go to Giordanos for pizza & beer. Without ID, our grey hair wasn't enough to prove that we were over 21 years old, so no beer for us."

This is, unfortunately, true of many establishments here. Very irritating, but these places are scared sh*tless of serving underage so they just adopt a blanket policy.

Neo- didn't you recommend Frontera Grill and tobolo...something before? And I've heard of Bin ## as well. How's that for vague?

Frontera Grill and Topolabamba (sp?) are adjoining restaurants -- one more casual, one more formal and "gourmet". We've done both but liked Frontera, the casual one, more.

You've reminded me. I have yet to send a note to Carlos, the manager of Frontera to thank him for the personal treatment, calling EMS, and also picking up our full tab when Lee became ill there -- NOT the restaurant's fault!

"The Art Institute has free Thursday evenings 5 to 8pm, but not Friday right now."

Thanks, isabellasu. Are the Friday openings in the summer?

I know 2 Summers ago the Art Institute had Friday nights free, not sure about this past Summer, but it may have been free.

jmsvss, "small plates" can be mighty small in some places. And $40 pp (excluding drink) for a meal doesn't go too far when the small plates are over $10 each, but here are some suggestions which you might consider.

Russian Tea Time serves Americanized Russian cuisine; doesn't have small plates but does have several sampler platters for two which cost less than $50. It's about 1/2 block west of the Art Institute on Adams. It's very popular with the pre-Symphony, -Auditorium, -Harris Theatre crowds, so it would be best to make reservations as soon as possible if you are going in the evening.

Avec, which is located on W. Randolph Street ("Restaurant Row"), is a less-expensive sibling of Blackbird.

If you were looking for regional French, Brasserie Jo, which is a part of the Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises group, is located on Hubbard, just west of State Street.

If you are going into the neighborhoods:

On the N. Southport corridor in the Lakeview neighborhood: Tango Sur (Argentinean steakhouse). BYOB. No reservations taken for small parties. Doesn't have "small plates" but does have sampler platters for two. Very reasonably priced, which means that: Waits can be pretty long if you go at the prime time - but you could always go next door to Cullen's (great Irish pub) and get a drink or two. Cullen's has live music as well.

On N. Broadway, just south of Belmont in Boystown (you can take the Red Line to the Belmont stop and easily walk there - about 3.5 blocks): The Casbah Cafe. Meditteranean cuisine.

You were also asking about comedy clubs. Practically next door is the Lakeview Theatre, making a pretty healthy name for itself with its comedy offerings. Not too long ago, Robin Williams dropped in two consecutive evenings. Take a look at their website and see if anything looks interesting to you. (The I/O is not too far away either, being closer to Wrigley Field.)

On N. Halsted, just north of Belmont (also in Boystown): Yoshi's Cafe. Asian with French influences. Used to be a very exclusive dining spot but more casual now.

For breakfast and/or brunch, think about Fox & Obel Cafe (near Navy Pier), Yolk on S. Michigan Avenue, Flo (on W. Chicago), perhaps Heaven on Seven (cajun/creole). The brunch at North Pond in Lincoln Park is really quite wonderful, but it's the priciest option of these mentioned. The restaurant is lovely with its Arts and Crafts decor and beautifully situated in Lincoln Park.

Oops! A correction for the above post. It's the Lakeshore Theatre in Lakeview. Sorry I didn't see that before I posted my reply.

Thanks! I recently read about Fox & Obel and Brasserie Jo and was thinking of adding them to my list.

I'm not too confined to prices per person but we will be there five nights and we prefer not to spend $$$ for every meal but if there is something we shouldn't miss then I'm game.

Leaving in the morning!!!!

Jmsvss, When you get back, let us know how it went.

jmsvss -- I hope you didn't make the trek all the way to Hot Doug's this weekend, because it's closed until tomorrow, the 29th.