Chicago Update
 

I made my reservations and would like feedback on some of the details.

Our flight is for Wednesday morning, Nov. 22nd. We should arrive in Chicago at 9 AM. We plan on taking the EL to our hotel (or as close as we can get), the Sofitel. Can someone help with the details on the EL?
Our only plans that are etched in stone for Wednesday are seeing Wicked at 2 pm. We are thinking of going to Navy Pier and eating lunch at Bubba Gumps before the show.
Any suggestions for dinner in the area of the theater or our hotel? Perhaps Chicago Pizza or a good burger? This evening we have time for shopping. Any suggestions besides American Girl store?

Thursday we have reservations at 8AM for the King Tut exhibit. We also have tickets for seeing the Underground exhibit (is it any good?) at the Field Museum. We can either stay most of the day at the Field or also go to the Shedd Aquarium. Or the Science Museum is free that day. We have reservations for Thanksgiving dinner at 6pm at the Signature Room (I was able to get ressies when I called the restaurant directly).
The next day we will head home with our flight at 1 pm. What time should we head to the airport if we take the EL again?
Also, a friend has the book Wicked. Is it a bad idea to read the book before seeing the show?

THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!

Which airport?

A24...Bubba Gumps with all the fine restaurants in Chicago? Oy! #-O

Your hotel is near most the great pizza joints in Chicago, Pizzaria Uno, Due, Giordano's, Gino's East.

Your hotel is near Ditka's Restaurant, too. Good beef. The Rib eye is one of the best. I came close to getting "The Fridge" burger or the Char grilled meatloaf.

The Makai1s just stayed at Sofitel last week during our mini GTG. Maybe she'll see this and offer some suggies.

If you want to eat at the Navy Pier, try Riva's. Nice view of the city, too.

A GREAT walking city if the weather cooperates.((Y))

Buy a CTA visitors pass at the train station. You'll save time and money that way.

I too, am utterly baffled by the notion of Bubba Gump's, when you're in the greatest restaurant town in the country. There's a Portillo's on the Near North side where you can get a good Chicago hot dog or beef sandwich.

After, Giordano's is the best place to go for pizza. Avoid Uno's, an overrated tourist trap with lousy pizza.

Thursday, forget the Museum of Science and Industry, it's nowhere near downtown. You could easily spend the day at the Field Museum, but if it doesn't hold your interest for that long, you can easily walk next door to the Shedd.

I would be on the El no later than 11 if you're going to Midway, 10 am for O'hare.

Skip Bubba Gump's. Go to Giordano's for pizza. For a burger, try R.J. Grunt's along Lincoln Park West (151 bus, I believe) if you have time. They say they were the first to have a salad bar and, of course, they have good burgers. Plus, it's in one of the best areas of the city and away from the Michigan Ave. tourist path. Since you'll be at the Field, skip the science museum. It's great, but you don't want to be rushed there. Also, don't miss the aquarium.

I would rethink your arrival day slightly. By arriving at 9 A.M. collecting your luggage and taking the El, you'll be arrivng at your hotel around 10:30. If you go to Navy Pier, you'll have only a couple of hours for lunch and touring. What about walking/cabbing south to the State Street area and stopping for lunch on the way? The Christmas windows should be up, and there is a lot to see along the way.

After your show, head over to Navy Pier for a meal or a snack and tour there until you are tired. Giordano's Pizza is close to your hotel; you could stop easily on the way back.

Thursday looks full enough, and I think you will have a couple of hours to shop on Friday morning before your flight. This would be preferable to Wednesday night shopping because stores aren't open all that late on Michigan Avenue - many close at 6 or 7 P.M.

The reason for Bubba Gumps is that I have two children, 8 and 11, so gourmet restaurants are out of the question. BUT I appreciate advice on nontouristy casual eating choices. My older dd is a very picky eater so it can't be anything too fancy(pizza, fish and chips, burgers, chicken, etc). We are flying in/out of Midway.

I was in Chicago last weekend and recommend dinner at Quartino, a pleasant Italian place at State and Ontario (I think). Loud, raucous and good pizza.

Ashley, I agree that you should buy a CTA visitor pass. There is a vending machine at the transit center at Midway. The vending machine is separate from the regular farecard machines and accepts cash and plastic.

A 2-day pass is $9 and a 3-day pass is $12. A "day" is 24 hours from when the card is first used.

To get downtown take the Orange Line from Midway, follow the signs through the parking garage that say "CTA trains to City." At Roosevelt, transfer to the Red Line toward Howard.

Take the Red Line to Chicago Avenue. The Sofitel is two blocks north of Chicago just east of State. (The cathedral is on the SE corner.) The trip should take about 45 minutes.

While I understand about picky eaters, I also agree that there are better options than Bubba Gump's. Weber Grill on State and Grand has a good selection of steaks, burgers and seafood. There's also Harry Carey's on Kedzie and Dearborn. Both are a short walk to the theater and have moderately priced lunches.

The Park Grill in Millennium Park, is also moderately priced and popular with families. You'd be able to watch the skaters while you eat.

For Italian, there's Italian Village on Monroe & Dearborn or Rosebud on Rush (at Superior St). If you want to search for more possibilities, a good starting point is www.metromix.com.

8 and 11 yr old kids rules out Riva's. ;)

Nice to see The Great Chicago Pizza Debate is still alive and kicking.

There's also a nice coffee shop near Sofitel, whose name I can't recall but Tempo or Tiempo rings a bell.

i'm making a very short visit this weekend, sun-mon. some good info in here, thanks.

and i plan to join the pizza debate soon enough. it's my first visit to chicago, i plan on trying Giordanos. would like to try others to compare, but i doubt the wife wants pizza at EVERY meal!

have fun ashley!

My Chicago pizza rating experience:
Ginos East was the best when I ate there.
Giordano's was the best when I ate there.
Uno's the best when I ate there.
Due the best when I ate there.
Last Friday night Lou Malnati's was the best. ;)

So...my fave pizza place is "Open".

With 2 kids, Giordano's. More room unlike the cavern at Uno's.

good point kal.

if you look on the internet long enough, you'll find each of those places called anything from "lousy overrated crap" to "without a doubt the best pizza in the WORLD."

Kal, you might want to know that the cavern at Uno's was nearly identical in the early '60's. Due's as well. My first husband proposed to me at Due's when I was 16. Oh, could I tell you tales of Diamond Jim Brady's too. Gone now.

Ashley,
There are nice places in close proximity to the theatre/Wicked. Don't eat at Navy Pier unless you go to Riva. Riva is fine with kids. I've done it with 2 toddlers. And Riva can be bested other places in Chicago downtown or River North proper, but it is heads over anything else at Navy Pier. You need to walk to the far end for Riva.

www.metromix.com for lots of choices and reviews.

My recs for VERY close to the theatre, and good for lunch or dinner:

Trattoria #10 - great butternut squash
ravioli- quiet, quiet below ground- elegant and great salads. Not high $$- moderate. 10 N. Dearborn

Petterino's- Part of Lettuce Entertain U group. Much better than Bubba Gump on the worst day. Great on a good day.

Golden Budha- 312 W. Randolph- great buy and good fresh Chinese at lunch or dinner.

Italian Village- my girlfriends' favorites are here (3 restaurants inside all different $$- some VERY reasonable)- this is budget Italian and better than about 75% of other Italian type American restaurants.

And deep dish, people either love it or hate it. There is no real consensus-it's personal choice. Done right it is heaven, and done wrong it can be sodden.

And my choice is just about exactly like yours, KAL. LOL! I will gladly eat them all.

One piece of advice, if you go for deep dish, underorder. It is extremely filling.

Golden Budha would be especially good for the kids. Also the food court within Watertower Place- if you find yourselves that far North before you know it. It could happen.

As a different type of pizza experience try Chicago Pizza and Over Grinder 2121 N Clark. (Lincoln Park )
Pizza comes upside down in a bowl of dough....I guess is the best way to describe it. Very good. Mediterranean bread is really good too.
Your kids might like this.

I swear on a stack of bibles that I got a mild case of food poisoning at Bubba's at the Navy Pier. Made for a lousy weekend with the kids. Their favorite place was Food Life at the Water Tower. This is no ordinary "food court". It has many many healthy choices and is fast and easy and there's something for every picky eater. I've had great tofu and veggie stirfry made fresh. They always want to go back 'cause there are no arguments! Here's some reviews:
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguid...life_chicago-i

Yes, I like it for the same reasons. Sometimes with kids, it is a very good option.

Wow... great suggestions here Ashley... you don't need my input w/ all of these recs! I will say that Due's has a great deep dish... LOVE it. If you need it served quick, they do individual pans w/ simple salad for 6.49 as I recall.

As far as the Sofitel is concerned... ooooohhhhhhhhlala. @};- LOVED this hotel. Pamper pamper... we loved everything about it. Most comfy bed... mr. mak wants to pitch our "new" mattress at home and redo like theirs... robes... slips... ((C)) the room service coffee was perfect. Every employee was a pleasure. Enjoy your stay here! It's really in a great spot.

Have a great time. Make sure you bring your scarves, hats and gloves... it WILL be chilly!

>:D< Enjoy our fine city... and make sure you try the local Goose Island beer!

<font color="orange">GO</font> <font color="blue">BEARS</font> <font color="orange">!!!</font>

Hellooooooo lil' mak! ;;)
((F)) ((F)) ((F)) ((F))


LL_C, If Foodlife is the place across from Mity Nice, ditto!

That place saved my life last year when we were starving and my buddy and I were waiting for his wife and Mrs Kal to finish shopping.

Fresh sliced flank steak, nice big Kaiser roll and a big ice cold water.

Good place...even a decent wine selection.