Hi All
Blue_Kangaroo is in Chicago from tomorrow until (I think) Sunday. She hasn’t had time to post a thread, but she’d really like to get together with some of the Chicago Dopers. She has a few limitations on her time (she’s there for Grad school things) but I frankly am not sure what they are. She’ll post tomorrow to clarify.
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
Well, it’s probably the wrong time to bump this, but just in case it’s not too late for the evening.
I’m in town from tomorrow until late Saturday. I leave at ~7pm, so I have to be at O’Hare at ~5pm. I have a meeting in Hyde Park at 9am on Friday, and I don’t expect it to go longer than an hour or two. (And two is at the very outside.) I have another meeting that isn’t set yet on one of the other weekdays. I need to be at the Field Museum every day (except Saturday, I’m pretty sure, assuming I can otherwise get to the airport) at 4:00-4:15pm. Presumably if I found some other place to sleep (and knew about it in advance enough to plan it), I could hang out later, but I don’t want to bet on it.
I’m there to scope out UC and UIC. I’d love to meet some fellow people of SDMB. I’d like to do fun things, but I have to make sure I get into grad school.
So, if you’d like to hang out, please let me know. If you have suggestions of things to do, they are welcome. I just don’t know how much time I will have. I’ve never been to Chicago, so I don’t know anything about it.
Thanks! And thanks to Ginger for starting this thread!
Oooh, you’re thinking about going to UChicago? I just graduated from UC with my MA. 
Too bad I don’t live there anymore; I’d love to show you around campus.
I get off work at 10am on Tues and Thurs, and I work in the Loop; I could do brunch or lunch. Or dinner. On Weds I’m usually pretty dead after teaching three classes. I don’t know what the other Chi-dopers are up to. Anyone?
Oh crap I have to make this pear stuff on my own. Have fun in Chicago!
I don’t know what the loop is, HazelNutCoffee, but I’d love to see about coffee. I can’t 100% commit right now, until I know when I have one last specific meeting, but can we tentatively agree to meet sometime after you get of on Thursday?
Ginger, I’m sorry about the pear stuff. I’ll make something else with you (or more pear stuff) when I get back.
Sorry, I can’t make it. Work sucks right now 
Hi Blue_Kangaroo,
I was in Chicago for a week last month and had a great time.
The Loop is roughly downtown Chicago, a bit north of the Field Museum. Here’s a description. Should be easy to get to from the Field.
I was there with a group and sightseeing was our main agenda item. Here are some of the places we visited:
Shedd Aquarium (a bit pricey, but lots to see; you can get a City Pass and go to several attractions for a reduced price, if that’s your thing)
Museum of Science and Industry (some very cool exhibits - we liked the U-Boot the best)
Art Institute - You can get lost for days in there
Millenium Park (we caught a couple of free concerts - don’t know if there are any left; it’s worth walking through in any case)
Architectural Tour on the River - there are at least 2 different tours like this; it really interesting to hear the history behind all the different buildings along the river and learn about how development strategies have changed over time)
Lincoln Park Zoo and then a walk up the beach back downtown (it’s free)
Sears Tower observatory (the view from the Hancock Tower is supposed to be nicer, but my group wanted to go to the Sears first and we never made it back to the Hancock).
Best food we had was breakfast at Orange, on Harrison (not far from the Art Institute).
It’s really easy to get around Chicago, both on foot and on buses and el. I’ve got a list of things I want to do and visit next time I go.
There are lots of Chicago Dopers who helped out with suggestions on what we should do. I’m sure if you have specific questions, someone will be by to answer them.
Hope your visit is fun (and successful!).
GT
Thanks GardenTraveler! I’ll look into some of these things, for sure. I’m just so exhausted, and have more time than I thought, due to certain appointments falling through. I don’t want to waste my time, but I also must get some GRE studying done.* And I have one appointment, as I said, that’s still up in the air. I’m going to try to nail it down tomorrow. And if it doesn’t happen tomorrow, I have no plans for tomorrow. So, yeah.
*Argh!!! GRE!!! Why do I have to take the damn exam again?? I have a Masters of Science in this field already. I have shown an aptitude for grad school! WHY!!!
The Loop is the city center. Where Millennium Park is. About 20 mins north of UChicago. Hey, PM or email me when you know when you’ll be free.
Will do. I hope to send an e-mail your way tomorrow, probably in the evening.