# Chicago: is there anything to do there? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135 "2007-03-16T02:28:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/1 "2007-03-16T02:28:46Z")
Need some ideas for something or things fun or uniquely interesting for this weekend. My girlfriend’s got a conference Sun - Tue so we’re going out Sat morning. Basically would have Saturday night, Sunday until 6, ditto on Monday. I’ve been there a couple times in the past - done the Science museum, think that’s about it. We wanted to do one of the architectural boat tours, but they don’t open until April. Not interested in the bar or music scene, other than that pretty game for anything. Famous bookstores, museums, places to walk or shop, cool places to eat, farmer’s markets, whatever. We’ll be staying at the Marriot on Michigan Ave if that helps. So how 'bout it? ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/2 "2007-03-16T02:32:31Z")
Sears Tower Observation Deck ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/3 "2007-03-16T02:35:51Z")
[QUOTE=cerberus] Sears Tower Observation Deck [/QUOTE] Not. Go to the Hancock Tower, take the elevator to the “Signature Room” – it’s a bar/lounge where you get a better view and you don’t have to pay for a ticket. Check out Dick’s Last Resort Restaurant, close to Navy Pier. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/4 "2007-03-16T02:39:59Z")
Lots to see just walking up and down Michigan Avenue. [Shedd Aquarium](http://www.sheddaquarium.org/) is fun. [Art Institute](http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.php) is great too. I’m sure lots of actual Chicagoans will be along shortly with suggestions. GT ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/5 "2007-03-16T02:41:47Z")
:rolleyes: Does the bar have a working museum/display that people might enjoy? Does the trip entail just one trip to just one observation deck? Giordino’s for deep dish pizza. And it’s fun to wander 'round the Loop. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/6 "2007-03-16T02:46:01Z")
I totally love the ribs at Portillos, on Ontario. Pretty cheap, fast, casual, falls off the ribs. And the Billy goat Pub(?) under 444 Michigan, take the stairs down from the sidewalk. Famous as the basis for “Cheesboiga-cheesboiga-cheesboiga” from saturday night ive fame. The burgers are actually not bad, but they’re what you’d think. And get an Old Style to complete the meal. I miss my old job that brought me there on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/7 "2007-03-16T03:01:52Z")
The [Old Water Tower](http://www.tonner.org/chicago/pages/DSC01072.htm) is a fascinating place to visit. Surrounded by glass & chrome modernities is a strange little building that looks like a place where Quasimodo would feel at home. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/8 "2007-03-16T03:14:09Z")
Museum of Broadcast Communications 400 N. State. Last time I went there it was free. There are a lot of old-time radio and TV exhibits there, including some of the old WGN shows that I remember from my childhood. Those won’t be as special to you, of course, but there are still a lot of fun things there. ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/9 "2007-03-16T15:32:41Z")
Cool, thanks for replies. Really want to see Art Institute - not sure how into it she’ll be. Is the water tower something you can tour inside? (although I guess I could just google it, can I be more lazy). ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/10 "2007-03-16T16:47:35Z")
Nope - nothing to see or do. Hope your hotel gets cable! More seriously, your hotel is pretty close to Navy Pier. If the weather cooperates (and if they have started yet for the season) you might enjoy renting a couple of bikes there. You might ride N up to Lincoln Park Zoo, and S past the museum campus and McCormick Place. Tho it might be a tad chilly… Your hotel is pretty much smack dab in the middle of shopping central, both the Magnificent Mile on Michigan, or the smaller boutiques on Oak Street. And from that area down through River North you are within walking distance of probably 75% of the currently popular restaurants. Personally, I could imagine worse ways to spend a couple of hours than strolling a couple of miles down Michigan to Madison or Roosevelt. Check out Millenium Park, Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and/or Adler Planetarium. And maybe walk back along the lakefront path. Many folk have enjoyed the walking architecture tours offered by the architecture foundation. Unfortunately - as you undoubtedly realize, late March isn’t exactly the best possible month for visiting Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-is-there-anything-to-do-there/396135/11 "2007-03-16T17:05:20Z")
[QUOTE=cerberus] Giordino’s for deep dish pizza. And it’s fun to wander 'round the Loop. [/QUOTE] Best pizza downtown is either Pizzeria Uno or Pizzeria Due, hands down. However, while I think the quality of Giord_ **a** _no’s varies, the one downtown (by Rosebud’s no less) is also pretty good. If you like thin crust, I would say go to Bacci’s, my new favorite (NY Style huge, but not really “thin.”) Oh, and wandering around, especially the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave), is pretty fun.