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?
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.
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.
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.
That’ll keep you busy!
Best regards,
Mooney252
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.
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.
What to eat? I assure you, you won’t have to settle for crayons at this place. You’d better like meat though.
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:
I’m happy to give you more ideas, but there are so many - what do you like to do/see/eat?
It’s raining right now, but if the weather improves, then take a tour of the city. They do a fantastic job of exploring the city’s history.
I second the lounge at the Hancock. Yes, you’ve seen similar to it, but the lounge is free (you don’t even need to order a drink; just go to the windows and take a look around. If you don’t stay too long they won’t care). Really, it’s a great view at sunset or even in the evening.
Just a simple walk along the lake would be great (again, weather permitting).
You’re unlikely to get Cubs tickets so don’t bother. However, my beleoved Yankees are here beginning today through Thursday if you want to go to a Sox game. The Sox are under-rated and shouldn’t be. Near the Stadium is Chinatown.
For food and nightlife, go to metromix.com and take your pick.
I would personally stay away from Navy Pier (the poor man’s Boardwalk) but some folks like that sort of thing.
The area around the Museum of Science and Industry can be very nice (don’t stray too far!) and you can even see where jeevmon and I got married if you go to Promontory Point (57th and Shore St). 
There are great bookstores in that area, too.
Gah! That’s what I foregot to do. I was going to print out the forecast.
What to wear… What to wear…
I can hear my arteries clogging as we speak…
:mad: It’s gonna rain the whole time I’m there!
Coming from a town that doesn’t allow buildings to be taller than three stories, seeing the Sears Tower on my visit to Chicago last Thanksgiving was astonishing. BTW, I rollerskated in the parade!
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).
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.
I’ll third (?) the lounge in the Hancock. The Art Institute is a given. Those and the Dr. Scholl museum - entirely unintentionally hilarious.
Would it be that busy if Mom_Crayons and I went on a weekday? Schools are still in session, right? Would there still be a lot of classes on field trips filling up the Aquarium?
What’s the Field Museum? (The name makes me think of Wrigley Field which brings to mind something like the Hockey Hall of Fame here in Toronto).
TheField Museum is a large museum adjacent to Soldier Field and right near the museum of Science and Industry. It was endowed by department store magnate Marshall Field.
Oo! Dinosaur bones! Do they have a fake bat cave? In the Royal Ontario Museum there is a “bat cave” with fake bats and sound effects. It’s all dark. Sniffs_Markers took her 75-year-old step dad, and when they were in the bat cave she ran her fingers through his hair… He screamed like a little girl! Scared the crap out of some little kids who were standing in front of him.
I spent 2 and a half weeks in Chicago on vacation and it is the greatest! I wish I could move there tomorrow.
I went to the Art Institute on 3 of the 15 or so days I was there - and I’m no art fan! It was incredible!
Too many must-see places to mention, but you simply MUST go to this place