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[demon]

I'm taking a trip with a friend to Chicago over the Thanksgiving break. It'll be from this tuesday to next sunday or monday. Particularly because I haven't gone on nearly enough trips like this (or of any sort) in a realy long time, and because I'm been very fun-deprived, I want to have as much fun as possible during these five or so days. I'm quite familiar with Chicago since I grew up near it and worked in the Loop for a couple summers, but I never really explored it like this or spent a while downtime having fun, particularly at 21+ of age.

So, what is there to do downtown? Aside from the obvious, that is....I've been to the art institute many times (in fact I was there with her earlier this year), I'm aware of the other major museums/etc like the Shed aquarium, and I hate Navy Pier. Like, are there any cool/interesting more obscure places or areas worth checking out? Anything interesting more on the outskirts of the city (since I'm much more familiar with around the loop area)? Any really interesting/unique yet inexpensive restaurants we should check out (particularly asian)? Anything cool going on next week? We'll have a car, btw.

Plus, she's only been to Chicago three or four times in her life, so because I grew up near there (Oak Park) I think she thinks I'm more familiar with what there is to do in Chicago than I really am, so I'd like to know of some fun things to check out and do. And because I've done most of the typical things to death (although I enjoy doing stuff like that with people who haven't yet), I don't want to make this trip dull and predictable for me, if ya know what I mean.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[reggieandTFE]

Not knowing what you're look for in a bar scene, I'd suggest hanging out in Wicker Park. There's a lot of trendy fucking hipsters, but you can meet a ton of cool people who are ten times less fake than the yuppies that populate the Wrigleyville bars.

 

[thefit]

hookers maybe? Local hookers.

 

[Xenon]

Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
1801 S Indiana Ave
Chicago, IL 60616-1308
Phone: (312) 326-0270

Not exactly a fun place to go, but very cool.

Seven Treasures in china town

get the BBQ pork with fried egg over rice! Its super cheap, greasy as fuck, and tastes great.

or if that scares you.

Try the Joy Yee Noodle shop in the new section of china town. Always busy, good food and moderately priced. They have bubble teas with the tapioca balls and fruit smoothies. Just be prepared to get close with the other patrons. It is REALLY tight in there.

 

[dog$]

South Side has plenty of bars... Bourbon Street in Marionette Park (115th & Kedzie) seems to get more popular by the day, and there's plenty others around (especially all down Western, of course).

Speaking of Asian, I'm still eternally pissed that the Jade Garden on Wentworth died. Now I have no place to get Shredded Crispy Beef.

Well if you're gonna go to Chinatown, head south on Archer and try visiting the original Gerties for some good ice cream while you're at it. Otherwise, it seems that there's a lot of newer (though maybe more upscale and thus prohibitively expensive) asian food spots coming up near Wrigleyville. Otherwise, trip up to Arlington Heights (Mitsuwa marketplace).

... oh and if you want to go downtown one time, if I were with you I'd insist going here:

It's on S. Clark, right at the edge of the brown line and near the Harold Washington library (across from the Municipal Correctional Center).

Best chicken evar.

 

[demon]

Thanks guys, keep'em coming!

Otherwise, trip up to Arlington Heights (Mitsuwa marketplace).

Dude, my friend has been wanting to go there for months and she wanted to know where it is and what exactly it's called. Thanks man. What is it like exactly?

 

[dog$]

np

The address for the place is:
100 E. Algonquin Rd / Arlington Heights IL 60005

They're open 9a-8p every day. It's a neat lil store complex that has a bookstore, a supermarket, and a bunch of restaurants in the middle of it. There also used to be a gift/model/game/etc import store in there, but they got too big for their own good and moved (just down the street at the intersection of Algonquin & Golf, so it's not far away). Not sure if the new place will give them the traffic they desire but they certainly needed the space.

If you head down there, head eastbound on Golf just a hair. Across from a McDonalds there's another International Marketsquare type place that has more korean and other ethnic restaurants.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

My god, I never thought I'd see Mickey's pimped on The Innernets.

I work right around the corner from there. My co-worker, who loves it, refers to the fact that they ought to serve defribulator paddles with the food.

Cool things to do:

See Blue Man Group at the Briar Street Theater

Go to Chicago Comics on Clark just north of Belmont. One of the best comics stores for alternative/odd stuff in the country. That whole neighborhood is interesting, also.

Go to Quimby's Queer Store in Wicker Park, on North Ave. Owned by the same folx, it is Zine/alternative press heaven.

Go see "Too Much Light Makes the baby Go Blind" at the Neo-Futurarium if you want weird funny theater. @ Foster and Ashland. Show is 30 "plays" in 60 minutes, you roll dice to see how much you pay to get in, and they order pizza for the audience if they sell out (they always do)-- but just one pizza! They also perform the skits in the order the audience calls them out. It's a relly good time, sorta like improv in tone, but scripted, and the material is always new.


Take a river architecture tour.

Visit the top of the Sears Tower or Hancock Tower.

Shop Michigan Avenue is you want upscale holiday madness.


Mitsuwa marketplace is indeed very cool.

I'm not the bext person to ask about Asian food, but there is Viettown (aka Little Chinatoan) at Broadway and Argyle. Lots of Vietnamese food there.

There's also a great Korean BBQ on California north of Lawrence, but I don't remember the name.

 

[demon]

Thanks again.

What time do bars close in chicago, by the way?

 

[Tortfeasor]

Some 2am, some 3am, some 4 or 5am.

The city that never stops drinking.

Oh, and make sure to hit Mr. Beef (650 or so N. Orleans) for the world's best beef sandwhich.

 

[BigGreenMat]

Also if you are into comedy clubs North Wells St has Zanies and Second City. Always a good time. I suggest John Hancock at the Bar on the 98th floor over Sears and go at night when it is clear, stunning views. There is Ice Skating at Millenium park now from 10 am to 10 pm. There is a lot to do if you look. Check out metromix.com