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Things to do in Chicago

I'm going to go to Chicago for several days this summer and wanted to know if anyone here lives there or has been there and has some good suggestions. Things to do, places to walk around, restaurants you don't want to miss, etc.

I'm basing most of my choices off random websites with lists of touristy things to do, so I was wanted to ask and see if there were a few hidden gems as well.

  • Art institute of Chicago museum (3 hrs?)
  • The Field Museum (3 hrs?)
  • Chinatown
  • Lincoln Park Zoo (3-5 hours)
  • River walk (1 hour)
  • Drive around and look at the city (?)
  • Chicago river architecture tour? (90 min)
  • Skydeck Chicago (1.5 hours?)
  • Restaurants?
 
If you're looking for some bomb ass burgers hit up Billy Goat Tavern and get a "triple cheese". Only been to the one down the street from the United Center but I think there's one closer to the more touristy areas.
 

cr0w

Old Member
Find yourself a legit italian beef sandwich. Find yourself a legit Chicago deep dish pizza. Find yourself a legit Chicago hot dog. Take a shot of Malort. Ask anyone on the street about the Victory Auto Wreckers commercial.

The most important thing, though, is to just enjoy an incredibly unique city while you have the opportunity. I left in '94 and want to go back so badly my fucking bones ache when I think about it.
 
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Ask anyone on the street about the Victory Auto Wreckers commercial.

Yeah but what about this classic




Also to OP, if you came out here a few years ago you could have saw this majestic painting of Jonathan Toews while cruising around.


ept_sports_nhl_experts-419546220-1270683223.jpg
 
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cr0w

Old Member
Yeah but what about this classic



lol god damn I remember that one...they ran like 6-7 commercials over and over during The Bozo Show every morning. That one, Victory, First Chicago Bank (the jingle is still stuck in my head) and there was a used car commercial with a guy that would drive around in a convertible with like 6 girls in bikinis draped all over the car. Oh! And the Lincoln Park Zoo one with the singing cartoon animals.
 
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SpiceRacz

Member
It's a little bit of a drive, but go to Galloping Ghost Arcade. Largest arcade in the US and they have some pretty obscure stuff like SegaSonic The Hedgehog and Super Ninja Baseball Batman. Hell, they even have this:

w7pfge3nsyg21.jpg
 
Find yourself a legit italian beef sandwich. Find yourself a legit Chicago deep dish pizza. Find yourself a legit Chicago hot dog. Take a shot of Malort. Ask anyone on the street about the Victory Auto Wreckers commercial.

The most important thing, though, is to just enjoy an incredibly unique city while you have the opportunity. I left in '94 and want to go back so badly my fucking bones ache when I think about it.
Is Al's from this video any good? Because when I was watching this my mouth was WATERING

 
It's a little bit of a drive, but go to Galloping Ghost Arcade. Largest arcade in the US and they have some pretty obscure stuff like SegaSonic The Hedgehog and Super Ninja Baseball Batman. Hell, they even have this:

w7pfge3nsyg21.jpg
Hell yeah, that sounds fun.

I'm having arcade flashbacks of holoseum
 
I'm going to go to Chicago for several days this summer and wanted to know if anyone here lives there or has been there and has some good suggestions. Things to do, places to walk around, restaurants you don't want to miss, etc.

I'm basing most of my choices off random websites with lists of touristy things to do, so I was wanted to ask and see if there were a few hidden gems as well.

  • Art institute of Chicago museum (3 hrs?)
  • The Field Museum (3 hrs?)
  • Chinatown
  • Lincoln Park Zoo (3-5 hours)
  • River walk (1 hour)
  • Drive around and look at the city (?)
  • Chicago river architecture tour? (90 min)
  • Skydeck Chicago (1.5 hours?)
  • Restaurants?
Check Please! WTTW Chicago
 

AJUMP23

Parody of actual AJUMP23
Stay in populated areas and try not to get murdered.


Chicago, the only place where I saw a woman pleasuring a man on her knees in a horse drawn carriage in broad daylight. It really was a magnificent mile for one guy.
 
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drwin

Neo Member
Art institute of Chicago museum (3 hrs?)
  • The Field Museum (3 hrs?)
  • Chinatown
  • Lincoln Park Zoo (3-5 hours)
  • River walk (1 hour)
  • Drive around and look at the city (?)
  • Chicago river architecture tour? (90 min)
  • Skydeck Chicago (1.5 hours?)
  • Restaurants?
Those are the big tourist highlights (and all worth doing, but I'd skip skydeck personally). I'd also recommend spending some outside of the loop and lincoln park, get some food or drinks in wicker park/logan square area, see a show at some place like the empty bottle. Pequods is the best pizza in Chicago but also not true Chicago style pizza so...
 

cr0w

Old Member
Is Al's from this video any good? Because when I was watching this my mouth was WATERING



I never went there when I lived there unfortunately (I was a kid and couldn't exactly go out on my own for the most part) but it looks like it's legit. A rule of thumb I always try to follow when it comes to food place...if there are several older black men or women in a place eating at any given time, it has to be fucking legit because they know their food.
 

Dural

Member
Personally I prefer Portillo’s over Al’s.
Pretty much great food everywhere at any price point in Chicago.

Same here, Buona's good too.

I'm going to go to Chicago for several days this summer and wanted to know if anyone here lives there or has been there and has some good suggestions. Things to do, places to walk around, restaurants you don't want to miss, etc.

I'm basing most of my choices off random websites with lists of touristy things to do, so I was wanted to ask and see if there were a few hidden gems as well.

  • Art institute of Chicago museum (3 hrs?)
  • The Field Museum (3 hrs?)
  • Chinatown
  • Lincoln Park Zoo (3-5 hours)
  • River walk (1 hour)
  • Drive around and look at the city (?)
  • Chicago river architecture tour? (90 min)
  • Skydeck Chicago (1.5 hours?)
  • Restaurants?


Chicago is one of the best foodie cities in the US, so if you're into food there is a lot to try. Try the classic deep dish at Gino's East or Lou Malnati's, get the italian beef at Portillo's or Buona, and get a Chicago style hot dog at Superdawg or Portillo's. Since you're going to be there in the summer you might want to go to the beach too. You could hit the Lincoln Park Zoo then walk right to the beach. You could get a drink at Bar94 in the Hancock instead of doing the skydeck, the drinks are expensive but the view is unbelievable. The Chicago river tours are really good, I'd definitely do that. For a good view of the skyline go out by the Adler Plaentarium at night, there usually aren't a lot of people out there and you can get some good pictures. You'll also be right by Soldier Field if you care to see it. I wouldn't do Shedd aquarium, been there several times and have never been impressed. The Field Museum is great though. I'm a huge White Sox fan, so would recommend going to see them as they'll be in the World Series this year ;). Not a Cubs fan, but I have to admit that the atmosphere around Wrigley on gameday is second to none. Even if you don't go to a game, go to Wrigleyville on gameday.
 

*Nightwing

Banned
Heard Subway sandwiches are irresistible in Chicago at 2:30am when it’s 20 below freezing if your out late one night and full lake effect arctic blast in full swing. Looks like you got most of the scenes from Ferris Bueller already set to go which was my suggestion and what I did last time I was there. I like old gangster movies and next time I go will look up historical gang related places to see but too lazy to research specific places for you right now myself, gotta be some good Capone museum or something
 

ntropy

Member
Adler planetarium (you can walk here from the Field Museum), it has a great view of the skyline
wndr museum

great Ethiopian restaurants in Edgewater (north Chicago)
Del Seoul, Korean food in Lincoln Park
Au Cheval , good burger joint, West Loop
 
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Heard Subway sandwiches are irresistible in Chicago at 2:30am when it’s 20 below freezing if your out late one night and full lake effect arctic blast in full swing. Looks like you got most of the scenes from Ferris Bueller already set to go which was my suggestion and what I did last time I was there. I like old gangster movies and next time I go will look up historical gang related places to see but too lazy to research specific places for you right now myself, gotta be some good Capone museum or something
I'm really curious if that particular Subway has a reputation due to Juicy.
 

SinDelta

Member
Field Museum is incredible. The Tsavo lions lurk somewhere within. (Watch the Ghost and the Darkness or Google them for their history.) Also don't forget to say Hi to Sue.

Deep dish pizza at Uno's is great.

The Ballpark the White Sox play at is amazing. Could not go to a Cubs game since they were out of town when we went unfortunately.

Steak houses are out of this world. There was one that had three stacked inside a building. Food was divine.
 
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