I once ate 6 pieces of Giordano's at one sitting around 1 pm; saw an old friend from medical school for dinner at Catch-35 at 9 pm that nite and had room for only a cocktail for dinner.

Cereality is pretty out of the way for the things you're doing (I didn't know the location when i recommended it.), but it could work as lunch on the first day when you get in. You could still send a couple people to the hotel in a cab with bags while the rest walk from the train station to the restaurant. It will probably feel good to stretch your legs after a train ride. It should be under a mile walk.

It's not a far walk, then to the concert from there. You can sight-see a bit along the river as you go.

It's far from your hotel for breakfast the next morning, but if you wanted to hit a McDonald's, the rock and roll McDs at Ohio and Clark is really cool. They completely rebuilt it a year or two ago.

If you grabbed snacks or a breakfast somewhere closer to your hotel, you could make your way down Michigan Ave. to hit the stores you mentioned, then head 5 blocks west from Virgin till you hit McDonald's for lunch before the Art Institute. You could probably catch a bus from there to the Art Institute, or walk if you're feeling up to it.

Just a thought for a reworked itinerary - hopefully others can help you refine things more.

eRnO, you're capacity is legend. My youngest ate 6 once too when he was 21 or 22 and hadn't been home in a long time. Don't do that again!

Don't worry, edeevee- you can do it. I did it once with about 9 kids and the oldest was about 18 and it was in December. At least in March you can see a lot more- walking outside and Millenium Park etc. now. You'll have fun yourself, as well- I know you will.

Come back afterwards and tell us how the House of Blues show went and how much the kids actually ate. LOL! I mean it- because I might do it with a younger group soon and I want to know, circa 2006.

Circa 1959-1962 or thereabouts, my Mom used to do this with my Girl Scout Troup etc. We used to go into the Woolworth's on State, buy their delicious roasted chickens and potatoes, bring them up to the Marshall Field's Employees Dining Rooms (my Dad worked there part time at Christmas but they insisted we use it any time we wanted to- and shoppers were welcome too) and we would picnic there with what we had bought.

Then we would end up going to Fannie May and Garrett's. You can still get the Garrett's carmel corn- I think.

My Mom is really sick right now, and I'll tell her about your 12 teen venture. She will laugh and think about the legacy of some one else carrying on.

Don't forget. Bring this up and put on a trip report when you return for me, please. THANKS.

Buca di Beppo's family-style menu may be a solution. If you're leaning in that direction, Maggiano's at Clark & Grand is another option.

I haven't read through all the replies so forgive me if this has been mentioned.

We loved the Corner Bakery. They have great breakfast and lunch items and are reasonably priced. Be sure to stop in for some pretzel bread -- it is very good (and filling) for everyone, including teens!

Have a great trip. :)

Holy Cow! You guys have been busy!

We could pack sandwiches for the train and have pizza in the room! *smacks forehead* Why didn't I think of that? If I remember right, there's a Walgreens close by where we could pick up drinks (and napkins).

We learned our lesson about mini-bars 10 or 20 trips ago. Now I threaten to cut off the fingers of anyone who touches ANYTHING in there. It almost always works ;^)

Gold Coast Dogs, huh? Better than Portillos? Really?

About Corner Bakery -- the first time I took a bunch of kids to Chicago we ate at the one inside the Field Museum. One boy complained it was the worst pizza he'd ever tried. "Uh, that's not pizza," I said. "It's foccacia bread with sun-dried tomatoes." -- "Well," he answered, "in that case, it's pretty good." Kids. Gotta love 'em ;^) Is there a Corner Bakery near our hotel? We're close to Water Tower.

Y'know, if we do sandwiches on the train in, pizza in the room, Corner Bakery for breakfast and Gold Coast Dogs for lunch the next day -- there just might be -gulp- money left over!!!

I'd never thought of it before but, handing each one some cash and making THEM responsible for budgeting it is a great idea too.

I think I just might be able to pull this off, thanks to all of you!!

-darcy

P.S. JJ5 -- hope your mom feels better

P.P.S. eRnO -- *urp*

No offense to those who suggested Buca di Beppo and Maggiano's. I happen to like Buca myself (altho'I know many people don't), but neither it nor Maggiano's are my idea of budget restaurants. Our family of four never gets outs of Buca for under $100. Which is why we only go there for birthdays and such! Of course, my husband and I always get wine and we always go home with lots of leftovers. But still...

I wonder if Buca's have raised their prices over the years? We'd gone there a few times with groups and it was always really reasonable, but then I took my brother there in January and the bill for the two of us was $84. Maybe it was the wine?

Ask the hotel to clean out the mini bars ahead of time.

Some now only give you the key on request.

Darcy - You are one brave woman!! Good luck to you. And do come back with a report.

Darcy,

You'll only need to get two liter bottles from Walgreens or White Hen Pantry. Giordanos will set you up with all of the paper goods you'll need. Go for the stuffed pizzas, world class and lots for your money. I think a large weighs in at 4 pounds plus. I'm a meat lover myself but the stuffed vegetarian special is my all-time favorite.

With an order your size, I'd call ahead and talk to a manager before your trip and see if they have any special deals. To me, Chicago can't be beat for friendliness and you might get a 3 for the price of 2 deal that would really help out.

Good luck,

Kevin

Go Travel -- thanks for the mini-bar tip.

Tuckerdc -- not so brave. I've been doing trips like this (with a few less kids and a little more money) for a few years now. They are a good bunch of kids and I always thoroughly enjoy myself. Ahem, so far. Knock on wood. Cross your fingers and all that jazz ;^)

Chidad -- Thanks for jumping in with the pizza particulars -and everything else. Really, it's people like you who make these trips possible.

-d

I would second Chicago Place at 700 N Michigan. They have a food court on the top floor filled with fast food restaurants and other cheap eats. Very popular with the office crowd during weekdays. Fastest way up there is to use the express elevators on the Rush street side.

Another area is the concourse level at 111 E Wacker building (Wacker and Michigan) Bunch of cheap eateries there also.

Marshall Fields used to have a GOOD basement cafeteria where you can get meat and sides - example rosemary pork loin, new potatoes, asparagus. They also had fantastic pasta salads. It is a cozy place to sit down and eat real food and the prices were cheap for the city.

Current Chicagoans - is this still an option?

Well, nothing in Marshall Fields was as reasonable as those choices mentioned above-when we visited after we went to Wicked last fall with granddaughter. I was shocked at the prices on the "bargain" level you mention. Especially in their candy section, it was more than Cupids or about a Fannie May equivalent. Marshall Fields is really already not a fraction of what it was, IMHO. They used to have an employee cafeteria and lounge or picnic area that was tremendous, and before the era of spacious and wonderfully elegant women's washrooms in high end stores- theirs was the original epiphany. Now, barely holding status quo. Food, not expensive, but not cheap for a group.