Weird Chicago Recommendations

In My Humble Opinion
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So Ms. Absimia has quit her soul crushing job. Which is good. Just before the holidays, not so good. But I cannot deny that the three years or so that she’s been there has sapped the curious/creative/whimsical side of her that I loved so much, so I am happy. I want to celebrate, and what better way to celebrate the rebirth of one’s Spirit then by trying to juice it up with finding all the odd nooks and crannies of this city we love so much…Chicago.

I would like help and suggestions from Chicago Dopers, former Chicago Dopers, and if I must…Suburban Chicago Dopers, (another damn snobby urbanite :D) on places to take my sweetie. The theme is Hello From Chicago! as we’re going to take photos and I’ll take my handy dandy Mac and turn them into our Holiday Card for this year and make a scrap book for us.

The Rules of Attractions (awful movie reference) are:
Cheap, 'cause…hey no job.
Off-the-beaten-path
Strange or Beautiful or Both
Things that inspire you or intrigue you
Things that I already have on my agenda (to get you started)…

The Mallseum at the Cermak Shopping Plaza: I’ve driven past it, but never stopped. The thing that struck me are the crazy 5 or so junked cars that are all skewered on a gigantic needle. Its some sort of crazy Public Sculpture thing.

Hotel Intercontinental Pool (505 N. Michigan): People tell me it is beautiful.

Pisa plaza on Touhy: A 1/30 scale model of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Crazy thing. Proof that the SubUrbs aren’t nearly as dull as what some people say.

Museum of Surgical Science: ewwwww.

Osaka Gardens: If it isn’t too cold. It’ll get us our exercise for the day.
Any help is appreciated.

Absimia

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Uncle Fun at Belmont and Southport on the Northside. Take the red line to Belmont and then a cab west. (3.00 or so).

You will not only find extraordinarily cheap and fun Christmas kitsch, but if you can’t take a wacky picture in there, you can’t take it anywhere.

J

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You can head down to Hyde Park, home of the University of Chicago, which is a beautiful neighborhood in its own right. But the special attraction is a public sculpture by Henry Moore commemorating Enrico Fermi’s first sustained atomic chain reaction. I don’t know the exact location, but I’m sure any local could direct you.

As long as you’re in the neighborhood, the Museum of Science and Industry has some interesting exhibits, including the German U-505 U-boat, a walk-through heart and Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle (an unbelieveably elaborate dollhouse).

I’ll try to think of more.

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Here is a link to the TV show Wild Chicago which specializes in wacky stuff to do in and around Chicago. You might find something in their archives.

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Also on the subject of the Museum of Science and Industry, which h. sapiens mentioned, I believe that one day a week the admission is free (since you say cost is an issue). Used to be Thursdays, but call first; they might have changed that.

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There’s the Ba’hai temple in Wilmette, which is one of the most beautiful sights in the area, in my opinion. Imagine your average northern Chicago suburb, and then this stunning Arabian-looking white building. My husband and I were driving north near the lakeshore, sightseeing, and I swear he almost ran off the road when it came into view and he saw it for the first time. He had no idea the temple existed, and it caught him completely off guard.

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Great suggestions so far! Thanks everyone.

Ms. Absimia and I have explored the hell outta the Science and Industry Museum it is probably our favorite Chicago museum. I think one of my friends mentioned that now until December there are multiple free days to get into them, so maybe I will look into it again.

Jarbabyj-I think I was in Uncle Fun years ago, but I will add that to the list. In the same vein, I would have added American Science and Surplus on Milwaukee Ave, except we go there a lot already.

I have wanted to see the sculpture in Hyde Park. Another thing I had read about a while ago, but had forgotten. On the list it goes.

DeniseV-The Bahai Temple is beautiful. We had the same experience of driving up to Wilmette for some such thing and rounding the corner and pow a graceful and intricate white dome appears before us. The flower gardens around it are also very peaceful and wonderful. We haven’t been back there in a while, though. It would be worth the trip.

h.sapiens-Thanks for the Wild Chicago link. I was hoping that there was a resource like that out there somewhere. The closest thing for inspiration like that I had was an old paper promotion from Potlatch called Underground Chicago.

Please, keep them coming.

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Dammit, Denise. You beat me to it. I lived in Chicago for 18 or 19 years before I even knew that temple existed. 'Course my parents never went to the North Shore suburbs, so I have an excuse.

Other favorites? Hmm… If you want to be silly, there’s The Polka Hall of Fame Museum on the south side. Kedzie, I think. Are the NeoFuturists still around? They do Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, a bit of a Chicago institution. It consists of 60 plays in 60 minutes, and it’s a lot of fun, even for people who normally hate theatre. I can’t remember the address, but it’s up on the North Side, maybe in Andersenville. Anyhow, somewhere thereabouts. Check the Reader.

Two of my favorite Wicker Park institutions are gone, unfortunately. The Busy Bee Diner and Urbis Orbis cafe. However, if you like interesting pubs, I’d recommend The Map Room (somewhere on Armitage near Hermitage) and The Village Tap (something like 50+ beers on tap, plus an assortment of board games and the like. Very laid-back place, with a real pub feel to it.)
Also, you’d be missing out on Chicago history if you didn’t pop into The Billy Goat below the Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower. It’s nothing fancy, but it defines Chicago for me. It’s where I hang out when I’m back in town. (One more month!! Woo hoo!) Right around the corner, there’s also the Wendella Boat Tours along the Chicago River. It may sound very touristy, but in my opinion, it’s worth it and quite romantic.

During summer, Mario’s Italian Lemonade on Taylor Street is also a bit of an institution. It’s across the street from Al’s No.1 Beef. Al’s is a good Italian beef stand, and legendary, but it’s gotten so pricey and the sandwiches so small that it’s not really worth going to anymore.

Goose Island Brewery tours. Brew-and-View night at the Vic (was it? Do they still have those?) The Old Town School of Folk Music.

Odd free things I like in Chicago: Three times I’ve walked from Evanston along the lake shore to downtown (Water Tower Place, to be exact.) It’s about a six-hour walk, but I find it particularly inspiring for some odd reason. Especially the odd bits of graffiti that decorate all the rocks along Lake Michigan. Also, watching the traffic along LSD at night on pedestrian overpass to North Avenue Beach is personally sublime. That’s one of my favorite views in Chicago, Lake Shore Drive heading into The Drake Hotel. Another great view is seeing the skyline from behind the Shedd Aquarium at night.

Nothing exciting, but if you ever want to see a statue of a giant native american advertising cigars (which makes a cameo appearance in the movie Wayne’s World, during the Bohemian Rhapsody scene) it’s on the corner of 63rd and Pulaski. I nearly fell out of my seat when I saw that scene, as that’s right in my neighborhood. There also used to be a midget bar on 63rd, which is long since gone.

Wild Chicago is an excellent suggestion for anything off-beat in Chicago. Also, one guidebook I found useful is called “An Insider’s Guide to Chicago.”

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La Lena (with a tilde, which I can’t figure out how to do here), Wednesday nights at the Old Town School of Folk Music (www.oldtownschool.org). Suggested donation of $5, but they’re very flexible. Different Latin music every week, and world-class!

If you like ethnic stuff, go grocery shopping on Devon Ave. between Western and McCormick on a Sunday afternoon. Within a few blocks, you can pass through India, Pakistan, the Middle East, ythe former Soviet Union, and Israel. Plus you can’t beat ethnic neighborhoods for cheap groceries! It’s a world voyage in a couple of hours.

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That’s La Pena with a tilde; La Lena with a tilde would be “firewood.”

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My husband’s been a resident of the Chicago area for over 30 years - born and raised here - and he just discovered it a few weeks ago on that drive. Meanwhile, I saw it in high school on a field trip, and I’m just a Cheesehead (now happily relocated). :smiley:

NeoFuturists are still around.

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Brew n View IS still around and promises me they’ll be showing XXX in the next couple of weeks.

That is one of the greatest places in Chicago.

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The NeoFuturists are very much alive and kicking, and they’re on Ashland & Foster in the NeoFuturarium, a short walk from me. Somewhat different show every week, so go if you haven’t in a while!

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Some excellent suggestions so far.

I haven’t been there in a while but Graceland Cemetery is beautiful and educational. So many historic people buried there, mostly dead too.

Go to a movie at the Music Box, sit in the middle row where you can stretch out and just enjoy the ceiling while listening to the organist.

Tuesday is free day at the Art Institute.

The Clarke House at 1827 South Indiana Ave. is the oldest house in Chicago. It’s near the Glessner House which is a museum now and a significant architectural building.

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I was gonna bring this same thing up, but you guys beat me to it. It’s always a good time to see the Neo-Futurists. I saw it three times this summer and it kicked ass every time, as usual. Plus, it’s CHEAP! :slight_smile:

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Hmm well…

Chinatown’s pretty cool…
The Twisted Spoke at Grand and Ogden has decent food, a lot of character and bloody awesome bloody marys
Don’t know when you’re going or exactly when it opens, but Skate on State is free iceskating in the winter…

Damn I can’t think right now… I’ll try to post more later

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Wait a sec. I said 60 plays in 60 minutes. Now that I’ve been musing about it, I think it’s 30 plays in 60 minutes.

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More wonderful suggestions. Thank you.

I’ve always been meaning to go to Billy Goat. Another one of those places I’ve walked past, but not done. On the list. I’ve never heard of the Map Room, so I’ll look into that.

I love Bloody Marys, but sadly Ms. Absimia makes a face and a disgusting wretching noise everytime I order one so I won’t be going to the Twisted Spoke. I’ll keep it in mind though for the next time she pops out of town.

NeoFuturists is an excellent idea and the Brew and View is practically our second home. Although I’ve been misreading the ads lately and showing up to see Spiderman only to find a concert.

photopat-Graceland is the one off of Clark right? The one on Ravenswood is Rosehill?

Pulykamell-Gigantic Cigar Indian!?! On the LIST!!! And I do like the Wendella tours. The Absimias have always been great appreciaters of Rivers. Don’t know why. We used to walk along the Illinois when we were back in Peoria.

Let me add for a bar, although a bit Yupped, Danny’s on Damen. Its full of little cubby hole areas where you can squester yourself away with your sweetie or friends and feel almost like you are alone. Plus they have (I forget what day) an electonica DJ playoff sort of thing. I believe it is a regular occurrence. I’m not too much into it myself, but one of our friends is and he’s taken us there now and again.

Please, keep adding. I’ll remember this list and refer to it the next time I’m planning something like this.

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absimia, that’s right. Graceland is at Clark and Irving. Rosehill is between Ravenswood and Western south of Peterson. Both full of cool old mausolea. I recall a baseball shaped marker in Graceland that sits above the grave of a onetime commisioner too, as well as the founder of Pinkertons.

The Red Lion Pub on Lincoln north of Fullerton is supposedly haunted. Whatever. It’s a good pub anyway.

Don’t forget the Picasso in Daley Plaza, and the other sculptures all over downtown.

The Actor’s Gymnasium at the Noyes Street Art Center in Evanston puts on some fun shows too. Not expensive.

I always like driving past the giant juicer in Wilmette that some people think is a temple.

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Hey!! I found a picture of our Indian friend.