Going to Chicago Tomorrow. What MUST I see?

[Eats_Crayons]

So tomorrow I'm driving to Chicago and I'm gonna have two-three days to kill. I was considering stalking Cecil, but since he can probably crush me with the power of his mind, I decided to go to the Adler Planetarium instead.

What else should I consider to be a must see/visit/experience?

[LifeOnWry]

If you can get over into Old Town, you can go see Second City.

http://www.secondcity.com/theatre/chicago/index.asp

If you wanna visit me, I'm about 40 miles west of the actual city.

Second City would probably be more fun, but I make better spaghetti.

[Kalhoun]

The Art Institute. Lots of the world's most recognizable, great art resides there. Ed Pashke, Georgia O'Keefe, Ivan Albright...they're all there.

Also, go in the Sears Tower. It's a real mutha.

It's hard to recommend somewhere to eat (there are so many good ones). You'll have to tell us what you like.

[David Simmons]

Since you mention the planetarium, the Field Museum is practically next door and the Lincoln Park Zoo is not far. If you go to a Cubs ball game, drive up North Clark St. (Wrigley Field is at N. Clark and Addison) where your will go by the site of the world famous St. Valentines Day Massacre (Al Capone gang v. Bugs Moran gang, film at 11) at 2500 something or other N. Clark. Along the way you will see the old water works which was one of the only things standing after the Chicago Fire.

[artemis]

Originally Posted by David Simmons

Since you mention the planetarium, the Field Museum is practically next door...

And so is the Shedd Aquarium! Those three museums sit on a "museum campus" by the lakeshore, and are all within easy walking distance of each other. And all three are well worth a look. Plan on spending at least a day there if you like museums (two if you want to do the Field right, as seeing all the interesting exhibits in that museum will take a full day in itself).

[Cervaise]

My wife and I did a week in Chicago last summer. Of the things we did, I can definitely recommend the Shedd Aquarium (though it was really really crowded the day we tried to go; it took an hour just to get in the front door) and the Field Museum.

Also, the Art Institute is one of the best art galleries I've ever visited. I spent four hours and feel like I could have done another forty. As it was, my wife was getting antsy. If you're an art-gallery fiend like me, set aside a whole day to do nothing but this. (Along the same lines, I also enjoyed the Museum of Contemporary Art.)

And we did an architecture tour as linked by jeevwoman. We did the boat version, and it was a great way to get to know the downtown area.

Plus, you have to have dinner in Greektown. MmmmmmmmMMMMMMMmmmmm.

[bonzer]

Originally Posted by David Simmons

If you go to a Cubs ball game, drive up North Clark St. (Wrigley Field is at N. Clark and Addison) where your will go by the site of the world famous St. Valentines Day Massacre (Al Capone gang v. Bugs Moran gang, film at 11) at 2500 something or other N. Clark.

2122. It's the front lawn of an old folks home these days.
I was once on the Clark Street bus with two fellow Brits on-route to my then flat - about two blocks north - and I nudged one of them and pointed it out. One of them, barely an hour off the plane, said in return "I knew you were going to say that". Just goes to show there aren't that many historic sites in the city that the average Brit might expect to have pointed out to them.

I'll third (?) the lounge in the Hancock. The Art Institute is a given. Those and the Dr. Scholl museum - entirely unintentionally hilarious.

[Mooney252]

1. 95th floor of the Hancock Building (the lounge) at sunset.
2. Wrigley Field.
3. The submarine (and the coal mine) at the Museum of Science & Industry. Don't miss the hatching chicks either.
4. Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago (since you're in the neighborhood at the Museum).
5. Cafe Iberico (dinner).
6. Cafe Lutz (dessert). This one deserves the weblink, as it's harder to find:
http://www.lutzcafe.com/

That'll keep you busy!

Best regards,

Mooney252

[Eva Luna]

Originally Posted by Mooney252

6. Cafe Lutz (dessert). This one deserves the weblink, as it's harder to find:
http://www.lutzcafe.com/

I love Lutz's, but Bittersweet is just as good (but in a different way) and much easier to find - it's just west of the Belmont El station:

http://entertainment.metromix.chicagotribune.com/top/1,1419,M-Metromix-Dining-!PlaceDetail-2590,00.html

I'm happy to give you more ideas, but there are so many - what do you like to do/see/eat?

[Eats_Crayons]

Originally Posted by Kalhoun

Also, go in the Sears Tower. It's a real mutha.

Eh, we've got the CN Tower and I find that you pay a lot of money to go up the CN Tower, or Empire State Building, or Sears Tower just to go. "oo, look at all the teeeeeesny little cars and weeeeeensy little people..." and then there's not much left to do.

Art instute is appealing though.

I am thinking about going to some architecture museum or something too.

Originally Posted by Mooney252

The submarine (and the coal mine) at the Museum of Science & Industry.

Oo! A submarine? Cool!

[Ferret Herder]

Originally Posted by Eats_Crayons

Oo! A submarine? Cool!

Not just any old submarine - a U-boat captured during World War II! However, the exhibit might not be in its usual place - the U-boat is being moved to a different spot on the grounds in preparation for building its indoor exhibit hall. It's been outside all this time, and they wanted to preserve it against the elements plus give it the attention it deserves.

[UncleBeer]

What to eat? I assure you, you won't have to settle for crayons at this place. You'd better like meat though.

[Blunt Longsword]

Find a record store [do those still exist?] and pick up a Chicago Reader.
Experience "The Straight Dope" in its original format...
[Geezer mode on] back when a "browser" was someone who
flipped through vinyl albums without buying one. [Geezer mode off]

[Mooney252]

There's a good bat cave at Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the last free zoos in the US.

Eats_Crayons --

The Lincoln Park Zoo recommendation is a good one, though it's one place to go early or late because it can be very crowded (just like the Shedd Aquarium and other places). My favorite: to go watch the cows being milked in the Farm in the Zoo.

We don't know how you're getting around but public transportation is very good. Even going to the South Side and the Museum of Science & Industry, you can take the South Shore commuter train.

Another option, if the weather allows. I think it's a very bikable city, being flat:
http://www.bikechicago.com/

You almost need to plan by neighborhood clusters. For example, here would be a bunch of suggestions for "near north" --

Lincoln Park Zoo
Bike ride along lakefront
Chicago Historical Society
Crate & Barrel (North Avenue)
Wrigley Field
River North Gallery District
Bittersweet

Best regards,

Mooney252