Just east of the Lombard Commons–the park with the pool. Say, St Charles & Grace. And you?
BTW, “Just your average white, suburban, middle aged, middle class, straight, atheist, male, husband of one, father of three, dog lover whose hobbies include golf, gardening, and streetfighting?” Except for the hobbies we could be clones.
Once again, many thanks to everyone. I’ll certainly be taking along your recommendations.
I would definitely try to meet up, but as I don’t know when I’ll get any free time I don’t want to make any concrete plans. If a break does look likely, I’ll post here rapidly.
And if any of you good people are ever in my neck of the woods (London) I’d be happy to return the favour.
To second the recommendation, I would direct you to the Museum Campus for the Saturday or Sunday afternoon that you have off. There are a million things to do in the city and since you’re in the burbs you don’t want to be spending all your time in cabs and trains. For a good solitary afternoon you could take the train into Union station and a cab or L over to the museum campus and from there theres more than a days worth of activities in walking distance. Its a great view of the city and lake, you might want to grab a slice of 'za and Chicago dog and grab a bench for a hour and just soak it in. Then climb up the steps into the Field Museum, and then walk over to the Shedd Aquarium. From there stroll out to the Adler Planetarium and maybe stroll around Soldier Field. If that doesn’t completely kill your day start walking north along the lake shore to Buckingham Fountain, and watch it spray infront of the sunset. This is an easy 8 hrs of stuff to see with less than 30 minutes of walking.
I’m in Glen Ellyn, about 1/2 mile south of the train station. For 10 years I lived just west of you, on Prairie, right behind the Lombard post office. Small world, huh?
I just learned that my wife will be on a business trip during part of your visit to Chicago. While that info is meaningless to you it means to me that I’m a free man for awhile. Actually, my wife likes showing out-of-towners around as well so either way will work. In fact, after a meeting that collected people from our company worldwide my wife has found a special fondness for the British (apparently their fondness for the local pub matched hers).
So, if you’re game, feel free to drop me a line (my e-mail address is in my profile) if you’d like a guided tour of Chicago. I love this town and would be happy to show you around. I can easily collect you from your hotel or a train station…whatever works for you.
The architecture tours in Chicago are quite good and worthwhile. Bars and restaurants are also quite good here as well so no problems on that count. Unfortunately Chicago isn’t as big on cafes as New York or most of Europe seem to be.
Hopefully we can collect some other fellow Dopers as well.
One Last Point
The Untouchables was mentioned as a movie worth watching that took place in Chicago and it is a good one. However, while many movies have been filmed in Chicago, only one movie really does the town justice. Even if you’ve seen it already (and especially if you haven’t) I highly recommend watching The Blues Brothers. That whole movie is 100% cough factual cough so it will give you an excellent feel for our great city.
If, by any chance, you are talking about the Cadillac Ranch, (which you probably are, as AA & AC people pretty much keep them in business) avoid it at all costs. Trust me.
Cadillac Ranch – that’s the one.
Unfortunately, the London mob I’m travelling with has every intention of taking advantage of generous non-London beer prices.
Why the warning?
And I spent seven years in the Kenilworth Arms, AKA “The Slums of Glen Ellyn,” that big, white apartment building along the tracks by the Wheaton border.
Small two small towns right next to each other, at least! 
I’m surprised there aren’t more Chicago area types here, this being Home o’ the Dope, and all.
mattk, there is nothing wrong with Cadillac Ranch, if your only intention is going out and getting pissed. Just remember it is a terrible bar, by 99% of America’s standards…and you’ll be surrounded by other AC/AA folks, which can be a good or bad thing…
Is this Cadillac Ranch the one up by Villa Olivia or is it a new one close to that hotel Mattk’s staying at? Or is it one of the “gentlemen’s clubs” in that area? Was it EVER by Villa Olivia, or is that just some of the mounds of misinformation I picked up over the years? And it IS a country joint, I assume–pee-yewwww!
Mattk, go to any decent bar or club downtown that you’re likely to find rather than stumble upon and throw in a tip on top of the price and hey presto, London beer prices!
If you need to see any footy games, Sedgwicks Bar, on Sedgwick and Armitage (brown line) in Lincoln park shows live premiership games, almost irrespective of the KO time. And it’s a fun place to get drunk with other exiles;)
No, you are right, Cadillac Ranch is near Villa Olivia. It isn’t real close to where he is staying, but at AA/AC the place has become a legend…and luckily they don’t play country on the all-you-can-drink night…
I hope they have a bus, because carloads of drunken Londoners finding their way back to Lisle will keep me off the road.
I think you may be screwed. but if you do get into the city, try a Brew & View at the Vic (belmont and Sheffield) and/or Uncle Fun’s on Belmont
They won’t have a car, unless they pay extra to rent one…AA/AC were always cheap bastards…
Goodness me ! I think I went to the Cadillac Ranch once. If it’s the same place…as you walk in, the main bar is over to the right, the stage for the band is to the left, there’s a large dance floor and the place has a high (almost) barn type vaulted ceiling ?
It’s a big place as I recall (hazily, by the time we arrived much brew had been sampled) and if not a meat market then damn close. It was country night, pretty sure it was a Friday. Some people were wearing hats.