Will be in Chicago next weekend for a wedding. The ceremony's Friday nite and we're going to the Cubs-Yankees game Sat. afternoon, but beyond that my wife & I have no firm plans. We head back to N.Y. late afternoon on Sunday.

For a newbie to Chicago, what would you recommend doing, seeing, etc.?
-sites, tours, places to walk around,....
-restaurants; dinner on Sat., brunch on Sun.

I know it's impossible, but hoping to get a nice feel for the city in a day-and-a-half.

Thanks in advance for all of your help!

Hi Doug-Chicago is great. If you are staying in the city I would walk along Michigan Avenue to sightsee and shop. There are tons of shops and big dept. stores. Lake Michigan is nearby so you can walk east a few blocks and walk along the lakefront. The John Hancock building is also on Michigan so perhaps go up to the bar on the 95th floor and have a drink and see the view. You can also walk over to the Rush Street /Gold Coast where there is more shopping and nice architecture (brownstones, etc) to look at. You could also catch a cab and go up to Lincoln Park to walk around. It's not far and won't be an expensive ride at all.

For restaurants there are just so many to choose from. In the Michigan Avenue area you could try Bistro 110 (maybe for brunch would be better), Blackhawk Lodge, Ralph lauren's restaurant (forgot the name), Gibson's, Morton's. Or, I like to go to Bucktown, which is a funkier area of the city (also a non-expensive cab ride) to eat. I just went to Cafe Absinthe, which was good, and other people rave about Spring. I think with the time you have you can definitely get a decent feeling of the city but you'll want to go back soon! Have a good trip.

Hey Abby,

Thanks for the reply. We're staying at the Fitzpatrick....the wedding's at the Peninsula and we heard the two are close to one another.

Not knowing Chicago at all, are we close to the things you mentioned (Michigan Ave., Rush Street/Gold Coast, J.H. building,....)?

How about the restaurants....are we within walking distance of the ones you mentioned?

Have heard good things about Gibson's but is it worth going to being that we're from N.Y. and have some pretty good steakhouses here to choose from.

If we wanted to stick to restaurants that are uniquely Chicago, which would you recommend?

Thanks again and any additional reponses are very much welcome.

The Peninsula is right in the center of things. If I had to suggest a walk-to restaurant for Saturday night, my choices would be Spiaggia, 980 N. Michigan, 312-280-2750, for marvelous Northern Italian, or Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, 445 N. Clark, 312-661-1434, Rick Bayless's casual (Frontera, no reservations) and semiformal (Topolobampo, reservations required) Mexican restaurants.

You'll be in a walkable neighborhood around Wrigley on Saturday, and maybe head back to the neighborhood for Sunday Brunch, either at Yoshi's or Jack's (which has music), both around Belmont and Halsted, a short cab ride from your hotel. If you want to walk, the Ritz and the Four Seasons both have nice brunches.

If you have time for a tour, how about one of the Chicago Architecture Foundation's boat tours on the Chicago River (www.architecture.org)

Thanks for the reply Marilyn.....sounds like some great things to check out. I'll probably have some questions for you in the near future.

In the meantime, any other Chicago advice out there?

Please.....

Doug,
Chicago is one fine "walking city".

Take the downtown walking tour of the various sculptures, Calder, Picasso, Miro, et al.
Walk the path of Ferris Bueller!

Get "MapEasy's Guidemap to Chicago" from your bookstore. Outlines a lot of good stuff in Chicago.

Who'd you mug to get the Yank/Cubs tics?
We tried to get some since the schedule came out and were shut out.
Have fun.
One of our favorite cities. Met a lot of good people there...and you know who you all are!
>- "Two more beers, please"

Hi Doug-I am from NY as well. I haven't been here, but I hear MK is also really good. One poster in another thread highly suggested Spring in Bucktown, but you will definitely need reservations for either place. Marilyn's suggestions were also good. As I am swamped with something at work right now my head is kind of clogged, but go to citysearch.com/chicago and look for some "hot" restaurants. You can't really go wrong in Chicago-they have the best restaurants anywhere! Perhaps also check out Lettuce Entertain You's group of restaurants as they are quite unique with different themes (Italian, etc.) Also look into the Randolph Street area, which is down west of the Loop (business district) but has some GREAT places-Vivo (Italian), Marche (French), Blackbird. All are fabulous and cool. Oh, and the food is good as well! If you really want a unique Chicago experience hit Charlie Trotter's in Lincoln Park. It could be impossible to get a reservation but it doesn't hurt to try. It's very expensive but a one-of-a-kind experience.

Sounds like a great weekend!

For some really "unique" restaurants, I too would suggest taking a quick cab ride to Randolph Street. Try to get a reservation at either Marche (French - a little more expensive) or Red Light (Pan-Asian) which is kiddy-corner to Marche. Both have the most amazing decor ... lots of eye candy, great vibe ... and excellent food. Four or 5 blocks away (at Randolph and Ogden) is a place called The Tasting Room, a very cool, romantic wine bar where you can try different "flights" of wine. Of course, across the street from the Tasting Room is Onesixty Blue, the restaurant Michael Jordan is part owner of. It is really excellent as well.

MK, mentioned above, is also a great restaurant (highly acclaimed chef), or you might try Kevin in the River North area. I've heard many people say it's even better than Spring (mentioned above) and I am actually going there tonight with my husband for my birthday!

As for Sunday brunch, Chicago has some great, unique places. One of my favorites is called Wishbone at Washington and Morgan. (Another quick cab ride). It is a block away from Oprah's studio and supposedly one of her favorites too. It's kind of a southern/creole type of place, really fun decor. It gets really busy for brunch, so either go early (before 10) or be prepared to sit at the bar and wait (preferably with a bloody mary or a fruit smoothie!)

Within walking distance, I would try Oaktree which is at the top floor of the 900 N. Michigan Building (where Bloomingdales is) and is really a cute place with a great brunch menu. My husband and I go there every New Year's day after we (usually) stay at one of the hotels in the area.

Another great area to shop (aside from Michigan Ave) is the Halsted/Armitage area. Lots of unigue little local shops. Just have cab driver drop you the Halsted & Armitage intersection. Walk a few blocks north on Halsted and a few blocks west on Armitage.

If you do that, a great option for lunch is Tilli's, just a little south of Armitage on Halsted. Very cozy, great food.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions! I've lived in Chicago my whole life, so I know it pretty well.

Forgot to mention, a great source of info on Chicago events, restaurants, etc. is Metromix.com. You can read reviews of almost any restaurant there.

Also, another brunch option I forgot is the "Gospel Brunch" at House of Blues which would be a blast.

You can look up all these suggestions on Metromix.

Well then, Kal, you should be thrilled to hear that I am going to not one, but two of the Cubs/Yankees games that weekend (Friday on the rooftop).

I am a New York transplant and have been here for a little over 5 years. Thinking about what I would do if I only had 1 1/2 days in Chicago. I would go early for the game and go to some of the great bars around the stadium. I like the Trace, the Gingerman, The Piano Man, and Bernie's. Slightly west is Guthrie's. Also fun and a bit more touristy are the Cubby Bear and Murphy's Bleachers. But there are seriously tons of great places around the stadium to go for a drink first. It is a 12:15 start I think so some places may not be open although they should be!!! Sometimes I go with just my husband and we end up meeting great people so don't worry about it being just the two of you.

Then I would scout out the vendors around Wrigley and pick out my new hat/t-shirt/whatever. Then I would go watch batting practice and the game. After the game, you might want to head back to the bars since it should be over by about 3:30 (unless they take it to 17 innings - ha ha). Then I'd go to one of the restaurants around Wrigley like Tuscany, Heaven on Seven on Clark or Mia Francesa (does not take reservations). Everything around Wrigley should be really hopping. These are all casual restaurants - no need to go back to the hotel and change. All of the other suggestions that have been offered here are great (I love Wicker Park/Bucktown and people have suggested some really great restaurants) I am just talking about what I would do.

The next day, I would get up and go to brunch somewhere on Michigan Ave - you already have a bunch of great suggestions here. Then maybe hit one of the museums, shop the Mag Mile, or take the CAF Architecture River cruise before you have to head back. Maybe stroll out to Navy Pier. Another idea would be to head up to the Lincoln Park Zoo area and go to some place like Toast, North Pond or R.J. Grunt's (where Lettuce Entertain You all started) and then walk around the zoo (free). The hotel should hold your luggage for you until you are ready to head to the airport.

You really can't go wrong with any of the advice you have been given here. I would look at citysearch.com and metromix.com, read a little about some of the places that have been suggested and decide what is right for you. You will have a fantastic trip and I will be hoping for good weather for you!!!

YOu will have a great time. I live in Wrigleyville! The Peninsula is one of the top new hotels in Chicago-very swank! Both it and the Fitzpatrick are a few steps off Michigan Avenue. Your Friday night will be spent there, for late night try the RedHed Piano bar around the corner or have a drink in the Hancock on the 96th fl. metromix.com and choosechicago.com are great sites.

The game will rock. Get there a little early and stop in Murphys Bleachers or Bernies for a beer to get started! or start at Nookies on N Halsted for a great breakfast (may be a small wait) Afterwards you can fight the crowds or start heading back downtown. Check out Lincoln Park zoo on the way if possible (it's free!). The Gospel Music fest is in Grant Park, just S of your hotel. ALso fireworks at Navy Pier Saturday night. Pizanos pizza on N State for great old Chicago atmosphere and awesome 'za!

I second Wishbone downtown for brunch but you have to wait (no reservations), if you can do the gospel brunch at House of Blues its supposed to be amazing-may be sold out with the festival that wkend. you can also cab to Bucktown and try Feast or Toast and explore a more eclectic area.

Have a blast!

oh, and the architechural river cruises are wonderful, take about 2 hours!

Thanks everyone for all the great responses....I am definitely going to print out this thread before I leave on Friday. After reading them all, I really wish we were staying for more than the weekend. Will have to go return soon I guess.

Any other last minute advice out there?

And thanks again to everybody who responded....you're going to make for a great weekend.

alex, YOU GO GIRL!
Your hubby and I have to be the luckiest guys to have good lookin' wives who like baseball!

Give my regards to Pianoman Bar.
Just don't try and order a few glasses of Chardonnay like our friends did last time.

They had to track down the opened bottle, prob opened during the Carter Admin., and then dust off the wine glasses! Great locals bar tho.

Heaven/7 some of the best Cajun food outside of New Orleans.

There is also El Jardin w/ Everclear margarita's if you're so "reclined".

Man! Somebody give me a friggin'hot dawg!

Kal

ps...I'm typing on a corked keyboard. Please don't tell Commish Danny!
:-"