We will be in Chicago during the Taste of Lincoln Ave. Celebration. Can someone tell me something about this festival and make suggestions for what to see and do on Sunday?

Is it easy to take the EL out to it? It is on Lincoln Ave. in between Fullerton and Wrightwood. We are staying at the Hyatt Regency. Should we take the purple, brown or red line to the Fullerton stop?

Thank you! Laurie

Here is a link to today's Chicago Tribune Friday Section, Highlight on Lincoln Ave. I have not read the article, just passing this along.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entert...chi-friday-hed

For the bus thingy, remember, in the loop, Dearborn runs one way south and Clark one way north.

Ops, disregard the north south thingy, it's wrong, the reverse if true.

FYI, the Taste of Lincoln Avenue is in Lincoln Park (Fullerton is 2400 North) and the article that scubatv forwarded is for Lincoln Square around 4600-4800 north, roughly 3 miles away if the 8 blocks to a mile rule holds true.

Lincoln Square though is a nice area that has undergone some gentrification and is worth a look for all the reasons mentioned in the article.

Thank you for the information, Chicgal, Kristi and scubatv.

Chicgal, thanks for the links to the El map. That really helps! Also, thanks for the tip about Sunday mornings! Maybe this would be a better time for us to take a boat cruise.

The Taste of Lincoln Ave Celebration sounds like fun. We will plan to go there on Sunday afternoon.

Thanks again for all your help! Laurie

Okay, Chicgal, thanks again. I love to learn about the architecture of the cities
we visit.

Also, We will try to go to Joe Bebops while we are there and will post a review when we return.

Thank you! Laurie

What are the dates of the Taste of Lincoln Ave. Celebration? Thanks. We will be in Chicago this weekend.

I was so excited to see the gorillas are coming back to LPZ, it just wasn't the same without them. I think the Tribune article said that it would be open to the public starting July 1.

bax, for festivals this weekend, take a look at Metromix, I haven't been to any of the listed ones so I can't tell you if they are any good or not

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/e...ront.htmlstory

You might also pick up a copy of the Reader once you are here(free at bookstores and record stores) or buy a copy of the Tribune or SunTimes Friday edition for their entertainment listings or the Red Eye or Red Streak (SunTimes and Chicago Tribune lite edition). Or better yet, stop by one of the tourism offices, either at the pumping station on Michigan Avenue (between Pearson and Chicago) or the Cultural Center on Michigan (between Randolph and Washington). The Cultural Center is a destination in itself, it's a beautiful building with a Tiffany glass ceiling on the third floor. They do free el tours and instagreeter tours from there in the summer.

http://www.transitchicago.com/welcome/looptour.html

http://www.chicagogreeter.com/Instagreeter.html

Chicgal, Thanks for letting me know about the food at Joe Bebops. We will stop and take a look at the menu. The atmoshere still sounds like something we would all enjoy! One more week until we go! Thanks for allyour help. Laurie

I have had decent meals at Joe's Bebop before but last Friday it was pretty bad, the pulled pork was tough and the 24 hour brisket wasn't tender at all, how do you cook something for 24 hours and have it still be tough??? We sat outside and the speakers were only picking up part of the sound so if you are there to listen to the music you might grab an inside table.

It's possible the kitchen was just having an off night but it wasn't overly crowded, we walked right in. Our first choice, Bubba Gump which is next door, had a 45 minute wait.

If you are looking to have cajun food, you might try Heaven on Seven instead, there's a location on Rush/Michigan that looks pretty festive, I've only eaten at the original on Wabash.

Hi Kristi, Thanks for the review of Joe Bebops. Maybe we should find another place to eat. We would like to eat at a restaurant on Navy Pier on a Saturday night before the 7:00pm performance of Romeo and Juliet.

We like to dine outside if the weather is nice. Something moderately priced and teenager friendly [for my daughter].

Can you recommend another place? What about Charlies Ale House? Thanks! Laurie

Chicgal, Thanks so much for your help! Don't worry, We will find something. We probably won't want to eat after the performance since my mom and teen daughter are not late night people and will be starving by then.

The good thing about dining so early is that many of the restaurants will not be busy yet. Anyway, thanks for all your suggestions! We are really excited about visiting Chicago next week!

Laurie

I'm not Kristi, but my girlfriend and her husband went to the Shakespeare theater and got a discount at Riva. Might be on the ticket?

Racy

Afraid I didn't keep my playbill and the Shakespeare website only mentions a discount at Riva for subscribers. I think Joe's Stone Crab is an excellent suggestion if you are willing to eat a little early, they have the best crab cakes I've ever had.

I have not personally eaten at Riva, we thought about it last time but the prices are a little high. I have heard good things about it from coworkers.

Bubba Gump had a 45 minute wait the other night, not sure if it would be the same if you went earlier.

The free trolleys serve Navy Pier so if you get a meal away from there you might grab a trolley. The Trolley runs up Grand where Joe's is located, I think Joe's is at Grand and Wabash or Rush, there's a trolley stop near Rush St.

http://www.cityofchicago.org/Transpo...olleymaps.html

Do get a reservation for Joe's if you go, even if it's early, it's a very busy place, you can reserve on this website

www.opentable.com

Thanks for the information, everyone! I do love crab cakes so maybe we will try Joe's Stone Crab.

We plan on using the trolleys so it sounds like it will be easy to find the restaurant. Thanks again! Laurie

Yeah, Riva's is kind of pricey and my kids couldn't find anything they liked there (it was our friend's choice for a special dinner.) Nice setting, though. Boston Blackie's is right on Grand Avenue, just east of Michigan, and convenient to the trolley. Check if they are open on Sundays, and if they have any prohibition against kids (it's a bar/restaurant.) Caliterra in the Wyndham Hotel is a more upscale choice in the same neck of the woods.