Kibby

My hubby and I will be visiting Chicago, arriving Saturday noon and leaving Tuesday evening, staying in loop.

We have checked out lots of info in Fodor's and have some related questions.

Any recommendations for special November activities?

Reservations needed for architectural river cruise on Sunday??

Best neighborhood to explore for a flea market?

Best walking tour of the loop?

A not to miss Irish pub in the loop or River North area?

It's supposed to rain on Monday. Ideas for rainy day activities?

Thanks for all and any input.

cheribob

Here is a link to the Chicago Architecture Foundation website. They organize walking tours as well as boat tours. I don't believe you need a reservation for these tours.
Whenever I have taken a walking/boat tour I have always gone with the CAF.

http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx

If you google "Chicago walking tours" a number of sites will come up. However, I am not familiar with these companies.

Sorry, I can't help with flea market or Irish pub.

For a rainy Monday HIGHLY recommend the Impressionist Gallery at The Art Institute. Also don't miss Edwin Hooper's "Nighthawks", Grant Wood's "American Gothic" and the Thorne Room Miniatures.

http://www.artic.edu/aic/visitor_info/index.html

Welcome to my hometown and Enjoy!

cd

RE: 'Reservations needed for architectural river cruise on Sunday??'

I would recommend reservations althrough at this time of year I'm sure you could just buy them at the boat. However, the conceiage at your hotel will make them for you and is what we did. We were just in Chicago and went on a river and lake tour. It's great seeing Chicago from the Lake, just dress warm, it is cold. We went with Windella because they offer the river and lake tour combined for $20.00. and it is interesting going thru the locks to get to the Lake if that is something you have never done before.

JJ5

Starting this week there is a new Field Museum Exhibit that sounds interesting, especially for anyone who travels.

It's a huge history and example laden study of MAPS and map-making. Geographical societies are coming in, just for this exhibit alone.

It's supposed to have both old, old and new state of the art examples that are magnificent.

You could walk.

Don't want to be a downer, but you do know, don't you- that the CTA is geared to close 39 lines starting Monday. You are going to hear a whole lot about it, if you are here, and it completely happens. So if I were you, I would stay downtown- as I think there will be enough stranded people within their workworld commutes, as it stands now.

Maybe the governor will raid another pension fund or sell another priceless entity. Who knows, but a recall election is really in the cards here.

I hope people are still affable. But rain or not, you will have a great time downtown despite any weather- and more than enough to do for twice that length of time.

Triple check on that river cruise- as I thought formerly that they only ran through October.

And of course, even for an hour or two, the Art Institute is just not to be missed.

cd

JJ5
We asked how long the river and lake cruises ran and they told us (at Wendella) that they run till the week of Thanksgiving.

exiledprincess

<Any recommendations for special November activities?>

The Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park will be transformed for the "Artic: Soundscape" exhibit on November 3 and 4th (and on the 10th & 11th as well). Millennium Park is immediately north of the Art Institute on S. Michigan Avenue.

<Reservations needed for architectural river cruise on Sunday??>

You have to purchase the tickets, not just reserve them. They are good, rain or shine. And, with all due respect to others, go on the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise.

<Best neighborhood to explore for a flea market?>

Sorry, the City's an expensive place to live - and operate a business. There are several 2nd hand or consignment stores sprinkled around Chicago. There are boutique shops (most more upscale) in the neighborhoods of Lincoln Park, Old Town and Lakeview (on N. Southport). "Trendy" shops in Wicker Park/Bucktown areas. "Eclectic" shops in Lincoln Square, a few in Andersonville. More "alternative" places in the Boystown area of Lakeview (from around the Belmont El station - such as "The Alley" and Uncle Fun - going north on Halsted - kitschy places such as GayMart and Flashy Trash), as well as home decor shops on N. Broadway.

<Best walking tour of the loop?>

For guided tours, the Chicago Architecture Foundation is the one to go with. Their main location is at the Archicenter (in the historic Sante Fe building right across the street from the Art Institute) and they have a blackboard with all of the tours immediately happening. For a self-guided tour, the Chicago Loop Alliance website has three, free downloadable walking tours (Art, Theatres and Landmark buildings). In addition, most of the theatres have their own tours, although you'd have to check their calendars to see if they are available this coming weekend. NOTE: There is major construction in the Loop at the area fka "Block 37", bounded by Washington, State, Dearborn and Randolph.

<A not to miss Irish pub in the loop or River North area?>

There aren't any "not-to-miss" Irish pubs in these touristy areas - only chains and faux pubs. However, Kitty O'Shea's in the Hilton on S. Michigan would be the best of the lot. IMHO, the best Irish pubs are Chief O'Neil's and The Abbey Pub, both of which are cab rides away.

<It's supposed to rain on Monday. Ideas for rainy day activities?>

We have a few museums here. The Museum of Science and Industry has the "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination". The Field has a nice exhibit on Darwin. The Shedd Aquarium is excellent as well. But, if you can only pick one place, go to the Art Institute - it's a gem.

TwoFatFeet

I'm not very familiar with the Loop, but the Irish pubs I've been to in River North are the generic brand of Irish pub that dot the landscape all over the world.

I can recommend, however, the Clark Street Ale House, on Clark and Superior. Excellent selection of beers, good service, free pretzels, good crowd.

exiledprincess

To JJ - and the OP: The first round of the CTA "Doomsday" is scheduled for Sunday, November 4 - although, it will be particularly felt on Monday.

I guess we can use that extra hour gained by the time change for the commute!

The second round of CTA bus elimination is scheduled for early January 2008. That's when the majority of busses will be eliminated.

Citylghts

To add to the travel info, there will be major construction on the Red and Blue Line subways this weekend causing trains to be rerouted or suspended.

The Blue Line will not operate between Jefferson Park and Harlem beginning 9 pm Nov 2 through 1 am Nov 5. The CTA will run shuttle buses between those two stations.

The Red Line will follow the Brown/Green Line elevated tracks between Fullerton and Cermak. In the loop, you'll be able to catch Red Line trains on the Wabash or Lake L tracks.

The Map exhibit to which JJ5 referred actually involves several institutions in the city and each is presenting a different aspect. The Newberry Library has an exhibit and the Historical Museum's exhibit includes globe manufacturing and maps from its collection of the Chicago Fire and the street renumbering plan of 1910.

JJ5

I know the first cuts on the buses will start on Sunday, but I don't think it will really be massively felt until Monday- especially as this is a bye week for the Bears.

If you go to CTA's webpage you can see the 39 routes that are geared to be cut. There is a good blog www.ctatattler.com too that may give you information related to neighborhood roaming and this time frame- if it is an issue.

The question about the river cruise is differing in part because I believe different people are posting about different river and architectural cruises.

And it is supposed to be coldish Sunday (47-52 at the most)-so if you go- wear warm clothes and shoes. Layer.

JJ5

I'm going downtown next week for a day and to see Jersey Boys. And while searching for some details, and listening to Chicago Tonight this week, through both, I found this blog.

www.chicagoist.com

It's good for up to the minute- and might have some ideas re wine flights/dinner specials or some other couple dinner or entertainment ideas- that are more outside of the more popular www.metromix "usuals". And some of these are just a stone's throw from the loop, but might be doable for you.

That Millenium Park Ice Sculptor etc. looks like its going to be nice when we are at freeze.

This just isn't a very good time to look for flea markets, IMHO. But it may be a good time to look for vintage clothes stores, as in Oak Street area. I'm not a shopper but others have charted walk/shop for those shops here- an entire route and more- look for it on a past thread using the search feature, if you are interested.

Jen

Chicagoist is a indeed a good resource. Along those same lines is gapersblock.com.

And yes, the Architectural Foundation is the way to go for river cruises and walking tours.

cd

Also with all due respect why is the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise better then Wendella's or Seadog? It is more expensive and only goes on the river, does not go into the lake as the others do. We have taken Seadog in the summer (speed boat, too cold now)and just recently Wendella. Both of these cruises not only do the river but take you thru the locks into the lake. For those who profess that the Chicago Architecture Foundation River only cruise is better, I would sincerely like to know why? We were scheduled for the Fondation's Cruise and cancelled when we found out they did not go into the Lake. Do they go farther down the river then the others?

JJ5

cd, they are completely different kinds of tours. It takes much more time to get through the locks and into the Lake.

I have read heated discussion on Fodors, several times on this. And I know someone who is a docent for the Arch. Found. but not on the river tour but on one of the el tours.

It's a matter of detail and information re the architect and architectural firms and their history, plus the time put into detailing these, building to building, as a Chicago overview.

And I have also heard a working architect say that a private one, not C.A.F. he took, was better.

But anything that goes out into the lake takes much longer and is more for views and water experience than it is for a context lecture.

Best viewed before visiting, the PBS classic that puts that all into perspective:

The City of the Century

It's on VHS and DVD and most public libraries will have it or get it for you.

alex

Just as an update, the Tribune just posted that the CTA cuts were averted so service should remain the same for your visit.

cd

Thanks JJ
For us it's all about views and being on the water with some architectual information thrown in Hey, that Trump Tower is going to be something else!

Citylghts

cd, I took the Seadog tour in summer 2006 with friends who were visiting the city. Some of the info the guide was gave was flat-out wrong. He named the wrong architects for buildings and gave incorrect dates.

Even when I questioned him after the tour about what he'd said, he stood by it.

JJ5

Yes, I've heard that too, Citylights. Honestly, I do think some of it is also in which docent or tour guide you happen to get, but I absolutely love C.A.F. for using some of the best ex-professors and ex-builders in just the most adventageous ways to get accurate information throughout, for the most part.

I, myself, once- got to experience something I will never forget. I got to actually lay on my back at the very top of a small deck of a private Lake ship, The Musette, and go down the Chicago River miles and miles. And the undersides of some of the bridges were literally within a foot of my nose, and some of the bridges had to be raised. And it is looking at the city, not just downtown, another whole way- totally different dimension and angle, as well. And nearly everyone waves.

I think we ended up on the Sag Channel, as it was going to the Mississippi to go South, for winter docking.

Glad to hear the CTA cut and stoppage was averted for awhile.

I know that means we will be having casinos downtown now.

Jen

Seems like we get these doomsday scenarios once every few years from the CTA... they never pan out.

The info Citylights offered about the construction on the blue and red lines is still in effect, though...

ORDgirl

The Museum of Contempory Art, just off Michigan Avenue, is celebrating it's 40th anniversary, and admission is FREE thru Nov. 14. They are currently running an exhibition, Sympathy for the Devil, Art and Rock 'n' Roll.