Hi, time for another quick trip to Chicago. We get in on Thursday, May 8th, around 10pm at Midway so looking for restaurant suggestions - ones that will be open late. We are staying at the Chicago Hilton so something not too far from there would be good. Also looking for any less expensive overnight parking options since we will be checking out the next morning.Any parking garages in the area?
Any suggestions for parking & activities for the day on Friday wold be appreciated as well. We did the Art Museum, Architectural tour & Millenium Park last time. Is Navy Pier worth a visit? We like being outdoors although with my teenage daughter with us, some shopping will have to be included! Thanks.

If it were me and my family, and we only had one day, we'd walk up and down the Magnificent Mile, the Gold Coast, Streeterville and the lakefront, maybe through Lincoln Park. Navy Pier is a waste of time IMHO.

Are you renting a car because you're heading elsewhere the following day? If you're only staying in the city, a car is more of a burden then a help.

You can park at one of the Grant Park garages around $25 for 24 hours. The South Garage is $25. To reach the entrance from the Hilton, head north on Michigan Ave. The entrance is 3 blocks ahead on the left, just past Jackson. The East Monroe Garage is $20 for 24 hours and is about a half-mile. Head east on Congress or Balbo to Columbus and make a left. The garage entrance is just north of Monroe Street.

You'll have no problem finding a restaurant at that time of day as many places are open for the after theatre crowd.

Yes, we are driving to Champaign the next day for my son's graduation at the University of Illinois. I should have rented the car the next day maybe, but I figured we would need the car for the empty bags we will be carrying to fill with his stuff and bring back!
The last time we did not find many restaurants open past 11pm (since it took forever to get the rental car), that's why I wanted to have a few names, just in case.
Thanks so much for the garage suggestions, I hate paying $40-50 for parking when the car rental is $20 per night! How far would you say is the South Garage form the Chicago Hilton? Any ideas as to what to do on Friday?
Also, can anyone suggest the best way to get to Champaign on Friday evening from a traffic perspective.
Thanks.

Are you staying at the one at 720 S. Michigan? If so, Kitty O'Shea's is in the hotel. Since it's an Irish bar that, I think, has music every night, I'm guessing they'd still be serving food that late. I've only had appetizers there. But they were very good.

What about Cheribob's walking tour of Loop art?

1. Start in the lobby of the Sear's Tower & view the Calder Mobile.

2. From there walk east (toward the lake) on Adams until you reach Dearborn. Make a right (south) on Dearborn. About 1/2 block will bring you to Federal Plaza. The Kluczynski Building was done by Mies van der Rohe. The Calder Flamingo is a vibrant red against the black of the buildings surrounding the plaza.

3. Turn around & walk back the way you came (north) on Dearborn. Until you reach Monroe Street. Here you will find the Chagall mosaic The Four Seasonsin the plaza. (It used to be the 1st National Bank of Chicago, now I think it is Chase.) The mosaic is decorated on all sides (including the top for the people in the tower).

4. Walk further north on Dearborn until you reach Washington Street. You are now in front of the Daley Civic Center (named after the current mayor's father). Here you will find the Picasso. On the other side of the street is the Miro.

5. Walk west to Clark Street. Then turn north. Walk up to Randolph Street. Here you will find the James R. Thompson Center (named after a currently imprisioned former governor). It was designed by Helmut Jahn. In front is the Dubuffet Monument with Standing Beast. During Business hours you can enter the lobby. This lobby was used in the movie "Running Scared" with Gregory Hines.

6. Walk west to the next street. This is LaSalle street. It is the financial heart of Chicago. AS you walk down this street you get the impression you are walking in a canyon. This was done deliberatly by the architecs. As you walk south you will see a building at the end of LaSalle Street. The statue on top of this building is Ceres. This is the Chicago Board of Trade. It is the world's oldest futures & options exchange. If you are here during business hours you can go into the building to the visitor's gallery & watch the trading.

This concludes our walking tour. I hope you enjoy your stay in my beautiful city.

The South Grant Park Garage is about 3 blocks north of the Hilton. You can drop off luggage and part of your group at the hotel, then someone else can park the car.

Not sure how big a meal you want that late at night, but I think Giordano's should be open late. In addition to pizza, they have sandwiches and salads. There's one in the back of the Prudential Building or Jackson & Wells, about 8 blocks west of the hotel. Bennigan's is also known for late hours. There's one on Michigan & Adams.

As for Cheribob's tour, I'm not sure if the Board of Trade still has a public gallery but, if it's on Friday I recommend going to the top floor in the Dirksen Federal Courthouse. There's a display of memorabilia and photos from the old building that was demolished to make way for the new complex. While the new buildings are nice, the old courthouse had a dome larger than the US Capitol. #39;(

I live very near the Hilton at 720 S Michigan. Here are some restaurant suggestions that are nearby:

Bar Louie (in Dearborn Station at Polk and Dearborn. Walk west on 8th Street to State. Turn north. Walk a few feet to Polk Street. Turn west. Bar Louie will be on your left).

Hackney's Pub (on Dearborn just north of Bar Louie)

Yolk - near 11th and Michigan. (walk south from your hotel and it will be on your right. there is a giant yellow sign). Yolk serves breakfast and lunch and is amazing.

Eleven City Diner - 1112 S Wabash. open early, open late, serves breakfast all day, also has a giant menu of non-breakfast things. Walk south on Michigan to 11th street. Turn right (west). Walk to Wabash.
the diner is on the west side of Wabash Ave, just north of 11th Street.

enjoy your stay!

sorry - that should read that Eleven City Diner is just south of 11th street, on Wabash.