Before I go to each individual website of the museums, Hancock, Sears, etc. or even Marshall Fields and stores on Michigan, does anyone know status of what is closed for Labor Day? Thanks a bunch

I don't believe any of those places are closed on Labor Day. I know Field's isn't, nor are the museums.

I don't think anything is closed in Chicago on Labor Day.

Thanks for your help. I didn't think so, just wanted to make sure to arrange my sights accordingly

The Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry and the Field Museum (don't miss the Fobidden City exhibit) are all open on Labor Day.

Thank you. Yes we'll try to do all we can with our 7 1/2 old in tow She's a trooper so making it to the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Shedd should be doable. We'll see how it goes for Museum of S&I and Art Institute since we also must do American Girl Place, Hancock Tower, Navy Pier, Blue Man Group, Lincoln Park Zoo, Garrett's and Marshall's, Jazz Fest and our list of restaurants. Yikes! We need more time!

Hi Chigal -- Thanks for the input re: the Planetarium. I wasn't sure if that would be a better pick over the Art Institute (if we have to choose). Our BMG tix are for 7:00pm Sat and I'm hoping to be at Hancock for sunset so I think those will have to be separate nights. We will be there for 5 days though, so I think we'll be fine. I will try Nuts and try to avoid the lines. I just found out Berghoff's isn't having Oktoberfest this year , but that's ok, plenty of other things to do. No, not a Labor Day baby , mid-September. In fact, I took myself to Chicago last year for my birthday and had such a wonderful time I'm coming back! Last time, 2nd row seats for Lion King (awesome!), Oprah tix, lots of sightseeing and shopping and great tip for Cafe Iberico, yum! By your post, you must be a Labor Day baby, so happy birthday to you early! I saw another post of yours just getting back from England. Glad to see you had a good time It's wonderful to be able to travel to Europe on a budget these days. I took a girls trip 2 years ago (London and France) and we're planning another for a year from now (France and Italy)...I can't wait!

If you are by the Nuts on Clark (on State), you are close to another Garrett's location on Randolph right across from the Marshall Field's on State. The line is never as long as the one on Michigan Avenue. The caramel corn and cheese popcorn are both delicious!

I agree with Chicgal about the Adler vs. the Art Institute, unless planets and stars are a passion, go with the Art Institute.

And when I was a kid the Museum of Science and Industry was a favorite, I loved Colleen Moore's fairy castle, always had to take a walk through the beating heart and there was always a lot of buttons to push and hands on activities. Now they have the Omnimax there as well. The U-505 sub is temporarily off display.

But if we end up with a nice Labor Day weekend and you'd rather be outside than in a museum, missing from your list is the Lincoln Park zoo which recently opened the brand spanking new ape house and a boat ride on either the river or the lake. Here's a good summary of the options available

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/boat_tours

A note about Navy Pier, we recently were there to see a play and grabbed dinner at Joe's Bebop. I've had decent meals there before but this time I thought it was pretty bad, the pulled pork was overcooked and tough, the 24 hour brisket was even tough.

Restaurants are a very subjective thing, what I might like, you might not, but I know poorly prepared food when I see it and Joe's Bebop had bad food the other night. I often think that restaurants get popular and they either can't handle the demand or rest on their laurels and figure people will come regardless of the food quality. I think that happened to Ed Debevic's for sure, when Melman ran it the food was much better, not great food but at least you didn't feel like you were being taken advantage of.

I tend to go back to places I really like a lot so when I give a rec usually it's some place that I've eaten recently. And I have a bundle of gem restaurants that the average tourist won't go to because of location, maybe we can swap names someday Chicgal. I've been known to go into iffy neighborhoods on occasion. A few of us from another travel website are getting together Sunday July 25 at Cafe Iberico, you are welcome to join us

BTW, Gary has an airshow this weekend, last year it was great and not at all crowded like the Chicago one. Since you ar familiar with NW Indiana, I figure Gary doesn't scare you.

Kristi and Chigal - Thanks for reminding me about Garrett's on Randolph, we will definitely go there (staying at Hotel Burnham, convenient!). Also, I did forget to mention that we will be going to the Zoo. It looks like the free trolley will take us to many of the places we want to go, just don't know how crowded it may be over Labor Day. I plan on checking the forecast just prior to leaving, but I have a good feeling it will be nice and sunny Thanks for help on the order of museum itinerary, part of my concern was what my 7 1/2 would enjoy too, your posts have helped Do you recommend doing the American Girl tea? My feeling is just visiting the store and picking up something is well enough, but appreciate your input. YES for additional restaurant rec's. So far my musts include Cafe Iberico, Berghoff's, Lou Maltani's. I've seen some other posts but haven't committed to anything yet, we're here in Seattle so no need for chains that we have here. Also, we won't have a car so please keep that in mind Thanks a bunch!

Chicgal, we stopped at Miller Bakery Cafe a couple of weeks ago, my first time believe it or not. There were some interesting combinations of flavors on the appetizers and oddly, they put walnuts in my shrimp linguini, but I enjoyed the meal overall, and the portion size was ample, enough for leftovers. The only thing I didn't care for is the banana bread pudding.

We were planning on trying Hot or Not over in Portage but they were closed that weekend, have you ever been there? The Times got it some favorable press recently. And have you ever tried Keith's in Whiting? I've had some good meals there.

We don't get new restaurants in NW Indiana very often, you must really have to work to find them! Sounds like a visit to Hot or Not might be right up your alley then, here's the website, if you type in Hot or Not in google you get a bunch of porn sites ;-)

www.hotornotcajun.com

We may try it tonight

HVC, yes, sorry for temporarily hijacking your thread, here are a couple of suggestions to atone for my sins

We ate at Leona's 3215 N. Sheffield when we went to see BMG. My 11 year old niece tells me that is her favorite restaurant. I don't think the pizza is very good option (much better places in Chicago) but the lasagna and ravoli are pretty tasty as are some of the appetizers.

Up near the zoo there's a good place for pizza called My Pie on Clark St. just north of Fullerton. A little bit of a walk from the zoo but not too far. There's also Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders at 2121 N. Clark, I've only been there once and wasn't wild about it but other people seem to really like it. And finally there's a branch of Emilio's Tapas on Fullerton (corner of Clark), I like Cafe Iberico better but that's another option for you for Spanish.

Chicgal's rec for the butterfly garden at the nature museum is good, Thursday is their free day. You can also pop in the Lincoln Park conservatory while at the zoo as it's very close and it is also free.

Greetings hijackers Thanks for the rec's! Chigal, Kristi gave me some good restaurant picks, as far as add'tl rec's--quality over quantity and location over price (i.e. places easy to get to from where we are staying or by what we're doing). Otherwise, anything goes (we love it all)! I especially like Thai, boyfriend and daughter Italian. I imagine there will be food booths at Jazz Fest as well? Thanks!

HVC, if you like Thai, I'll reiterate my earlier suggestion of Big Bowl. I've never had a bad meal there and they say they are kid friendly. There are two locations in downtown Chicago, one at 6 East Cedar (Cedar and State) which is a little north of the Hancock and the other at 60 E. Ohio (Ohio and Rush) which is in the middle of the tourist area north of the River.

www.bigbowl.com

We went up to the LP zoo yesterday to visit the new ape house, the new enclosure is soooo much better than the old one. We had dinner at My Pie, it's not as good as Lou Malnati's so if you are only doing pizza once, stick with Lou's. There is a location up in Lincoln Park bit it's a bit further than My Pie or Emilio's or Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinders

http://www.loumalnatis.com/locations...ncolnpark.html

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I'm looking forward to being there