pbxn

If you are staying/visiting the downtown area, get a cab to go everywhere.
There's still plenty of area's downtown, that all it takes is one wrong turn, and you go from nice, to questionable.

Pirates_Ghost

Depends on what you want to see/do..
Avoid a cab actually. they just raised the price and are talking of a strike to have it raised again.

The "L" (elevated train/subway) is safe enough and a true "Chicago experience".

From what I've heard from coworkers who've been there, the "W HOTEL" on Adams (or is it Jackson) is a nice place and fairly reasonablly priced for the area.

Short walk (about 1/2 mile or 5 blocks (depending on how you want to look at it) to "The Mag Mile "(Michigan Ave) and the museum campus.

While "Macey's" doesn't have the same flair to it as Marshal Fields did...it's still worth checking out their' Xmas displays...and the building it's self is cool.

When you coming up? (I'm down town myself, as is Jack still I believe)

__________________
You can't wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you - Look, if I went 'round saying I was an Emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!

Pirates_Ghost

BTW...don't let this "junior member" tag throw ya...I've been in Chicago for 20 years and on this board almost as long

__________________
You can't wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you - Look, if I went 'round saying I was an Emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!

Pirates_Ghost

private Message me if you want more info...don't want to clog Rix's server with all of it.

__________________
You can't wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you - Look, if I went 'round saying I was an Emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!

monkeylizard

My wife and I stayed at the Sofitel Watertower in Mid-September.
Nice place and some rooms have a great view to the John Hancock tower and the lake. You can ask for one at check-in.

It's a block west of the Hancock and the northern end of Mag Mile.

We had dinner one night at a great place called Carmine's at 1043 N Rush St.
Rosebud Restaurants

Navy Pier is a waste of time.

bobmay

Back in 1982 I spent five weeks just outside Chicago in Downers Grove. It was for Rockwell Galaxy ACD school. Stayed in a Red Roof Inn that was so cozy I could answer the door, change the TV channel, and flush the toilet all without getting off the bed. Don't stay there.

papa-bear

I don't recall the name of hotel I stayed at 17 years ago but I do remember it was close to a hall where Elton John was playing. We had a number of WWF people staying in the hotel who were obnoxious and loud, the water pressure sucked and would either be so hot or cold you could barely take a shower.

Don't eat the breadsticks on the table. One Italian place we ate at counted them at the end and charged us for them. Food was good but no one warned us of the breadstick thing. Added about $15 to the bill.

pbxn

During the day, yeah take the L, go to lower Wacker to do the Blues Brother tour. BTW, the mall they drove through is in a S. Suburb, Harvey. Last I checked its still there and still closed, adorned with plywood and graffiti resembling the movie.
I suggested the cab moreso for the nightlife aspect. For instance, Hard Rock is just a mere block or two from alligator gardens, not sure if they closed that project yet. There's several other "bars" of choice that are popular that are around the same area. Back in my youth "no fear" days I repo'd cars and that was not exactly the best of times/areas Heck its Chi-town, during the day, take a walk you will see much more that way. Plenty of museums: Planetarium, Sci and Industry (coal tour is a must), Art, Shedd aquarium. North side has the usual staples close to Wrigley: Harry Carey's (cool sports bar), the Improv is in the same area, real cool place to go.
There is no shortage of things to do.

John_In_Dakota

Go downtown and check out the ESPN Sports Zone. My boys and I had a blasty blast there.

__________________
Fellas', I need more Cow Bell!