Any geek spots in Chicago?

[Sidekick]

hey there Chicago based Enworlders.

Mind i I hijack this thread? Nope, great.

I'm going to be coming to Chicago for a week early next year to train at the main school of my Hapkido organisation.

I'll hava couple of days off in which to sightsee and was wondering - what are the 'must see' things that I could get to any day of the week in 2-3 days?

Also I'm not one of these rush around to look up at a thing tourists. I'm more of a go there, properly see the attraction and then move on once I feel that I've come to appreciate it type tourist.

I'm not capable of seeing 4-5 things in one day. More like 2-3 (if geographically close).

So what are the top 5 places/things that one should do in Chicago?

 

[Zander]

Sidekick,

As a Londoner who has visited Chicago with a few days to spare, I recommend:

1. The Art Institute - one of the world's great collections
2. The Sears Tower for the views
3. River & lake architectural cruise if it's running, i.e. not too cold when you're there

For fun, I recommend:

1. Games Plus - it's easy to get to on the Metra (commuter train system). If you go on a weekend, the return ticket is only $5 (about £3).
2. The Magnificent Mile - part of Michigan Avenue known for its shopping
3. AMC cinema near Michigan Avenue. See films that haven't been released in the UK yet in a lavish theatre for half the London price - that's my experience when I saw X-Men 3.

For food, I recommend:

1. The Cheesecake Factory located at the base of the Sears Tower. They don't just do cheesecake but they're famous for it and rightly so.
2. Kinzie Chophouse for steak - most underated steak restaurant in town. Tip 1: go for the Delmonico cut. Tip 2: If they say they're full, ask if you can eat at the bar as the food is the same - this is true at most Chicago steakhouses.
3. Any of the better known Chicago style pizzerias such as Pizzeria Uno, Pizzeria Due, Giordano's or Lou Malnati's. Expect a 45 minute wait after you've ordered because of the way Chicago style pizza is made.
4. I went to a restaurant that does great burgers not far from Michigan Avenue and Ontario or Ohio Streets. Unfortunately, I don't know its name! But kenobi65 does if he sees this post.

Hope that helps.

 

[kenobi65]

4. I went to a restaurant that does great burgers not far from Michigan Avenue and Ontario or Ohio Streets. Unfortunately, I don't know its name! But kenobi65 does if he sees this post.

Grand Lux Cafe, on Ontario and Michigan. Owned by the same folks who own Cheesecake Factory.

(And, a small correction to my friend Zander's post...unless they've put a Cheesecake Factory in, and I'm not aware of it, the one that he's thinking of is in the lower level of the John Hancock Building, not the Sears Tower.)

Other advice...

A lot of what's already been listed are cool things to go see. On the one hand, the timing of your visit's good, because it's off-season, and it won't be crowded. On the other hand, the timing's bad, because it's winter, and the weather might really stink. It could be 35 degrees and sunny in January...but it could also be below zero, and / or snowing great guns. (I'm from Wisconsin, where it's even colder, and so I don't mind it so much, but a non-native might find it to be bitterly cold.)

They say that Navy Pier is our top tourist attraction. Unless you really feel like being stereotypically touristy, I might avoid it...it's basically a collection of overpriced rides, shops, and restaurants.

Both of the tall buildings (Sears Tower and John Hancock) have good observation decks; if it's cloudy or hazy (more likely this time of year), you may not be able to see very far, however.

 

[Zander]

Grand Lux Cafe, on Ontario and Michigan. Owned by the same folks who own Cheesecake Factory.

(And, a small correction to my friend Zander's post...unless they've put a Cheesecake Factory in, and I'm not aware of it, the one that he's thinking of is in the lower level of the John Hancock Building, not the Sears Tower.)

Oops! I stand corrected. Thanks, M.