Thick-skinned people in the mood for a laugh might want to try a hot dog at The Wiener’s Circle, where they insult you as they feed you.
Check out our esteemed host, the Reader: http://www.chicagoreader.com/
This week there’s their annual review of outdoor dining.
I’m sorry, but Carson’s ribs are like gnawing on a $2 steak. Instead, try **Twin Anchors ** at 1655 N. Sedgwick. Their ribs are very meaty and literally fall right off the bone.
I think that the Garfield Park Conservatory is worth a visit.
Ah, the quintessential Jell-o rib I speak of. 
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you want honest-to-goodness barbecued ribs (which means hickory & oak smoke flavor and toothsome meat that still has some resiliency to it), then Twin Anchors (and Carson’s) is not the place for you. However, the Anchors do have their following in Chicago, (I believe Frank Sinatra was a fan of the establishment). I like their burgers, at any rate.
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge at Broadway & Lawrence.
This place is incredible…definitely “old chicago.”
Al Capone’s table is still there…a corner booth where he could see both entrances. Charlie Chaplin and Mae West also stopped here often.
They have some killer live jazz throughout the week, but on Sunday nights they have the country’s original “Poetry Slam.” I think it’s $10, and it’s a blast - even if you’re not a poetry fan. It’s just a good time.
You might also recognize this place from High Fidelity (Cusack’s character had drinks there alone) and the David Schwimmer movie, “Kissing a Fool.”
Oh, and if it’s taping while you’re here - how about some serious fine Chicago culture…the Jerry Springer Show.
I haven’t been there for years, but if it’s the same or better, Reckless Records is a seriously dangerous place. I haven’t been there for years because the last time I went I dropped $300.00 cash on used CDs. I’ve had many a “OHMYGOD!” moment there, finding something on CD that I never thought I’d see. They also carried tons of new and used vinyl. It’s like alcohol to an alcoholic, I just have to stay away for my own good (I already have over 1500 CDs). You can spend hours there just looking through the bins. They rotate stock from their stores in London and San Francisco.
Reckless is on Broadway at Belmont. Take any train (Brown, Red or Purple lines) north to Belmont and when you go downstairs and out of the station, turn right and start walking. It’s a few blocks east. You’ll pass Clark, then Halstead, then when you get to Broadway, turn right. It’s less than a block up, on the left (east) side of the street.
On the way there you’ll pass one or two record stores (I don’t know if the 2nd one, between Halstead and Broadway, is still there…it used to be a goth-type record store), plus, between the train station and Clark, just past the Ann Sathers restaurant (Swedish food), there’s a hole-in-the-wall Indian restaurant that has a fantastic lunch and dinner buffet. You have to keep an eye out because you can be past it without even realizing you passed it. It may not be the best Indian food in the city (there’s probably many places on Devon that are “better”) but it’s our favorite place. Good food, lots of it, cheap ($8.95 a person, I think), and easy for us carless folks to get to. We eat there at least a couple times a month. Warning though, they’re closed from 3pm to 5pm. The name of the place is Standard India and it’s on the same side of the street as the L station. Standard is a pretty good description of the food, but I think it’s delicious (I’m not a foodie though). Also, past Standard India, before you get to Clark, is a Japanese store, if you happen to be looking for anything Japanese-related, from fans to mayonnaise. It’s also on the same side of the street as the station and Standard India. You can’t miss it for all the Japanese stuff in the windows.
Whatever you do, don’t let ANYONE talk you into eating pizza at “Ginos” (East or West or North or South or anyplace). It’s where all the tourists go, thinking they’re getting good pizza. Our favorite pizza place was Carmen’s, but that’s way up north at the Loyola stop on the Red line, and we haven’t been there for years since we moved out of that neighborhood.
Have fun!
For truly top end dining, you can try Alinea. My review of it (with pictures) is here.
The blue man group is definately worth going to.
My son lives in the city and I gave him a gift certificate from Reckless for Christmas. I called them and the order was taken “by hand” and he wrote out the gift certificate by hand and *included the “paw prints” from my cats * on the “From:” line! I just loved that!
That book link looks very promising for a stop during future trips to chicago.
Thanks!
For future ref: generally, the “I’m travelling to…” threads go in the MPSIMS forum. In this case, I’ve let it stay in Cafe Society because the questions are specifically about food and music/theatre, both Cafe Society topics. But, really, travel threads belong elsewhere.
Sorry about that; I guess I was thinking of it in terms of food/entertainment options. Noted.
That’s odd, because I had heard just the opposite. Seems like I ate at one of them on a previous trip and wasn’t disappointed, but I’ll take your word for it.
All pizza suggestions are encouraged, as I think the whole crew of my graduating friend wanted the Chicago pizza experience; however, as I’m spending the summer perfecting my own ribs for potential competition purposes, I’m not likely to eat them anywhere else.
(I have been to Chicago before, but it has been a while. In fact, the last time, I was one of the last people to stay in the Blackstone Hotel before it was closed for safety violations. (I was less than surprised.))
Okay, so you’re back now. What did you do and what did you like?