Attention Chicago & Colmbus ENWorlders

[MavrickWeirdo]

I'm going to be visiting Chicago on vacation from Friday, October 13th to Friday, October 20th.

So what is fun to do in Chicago?
Anyone interested in meeting up?

Note: I am already planning to visit Games Plus on Thursday the 19th for their boardgame night, and yes I am aware that the Chicago Gameday is 1 day after I leave, but I can't change my plans because

From Friday, October 20th to Monday, October 23rd I will be just outside Columbus Ohio for The Ohio Valley Filk Festival.

ENWorlders in Columbus: I will probably spend most of my time in the Clarion Dublin Hotel, although if you can recommend any good restaurants in that area I might go out. Of course, if any other ENWorlders are at OVFF be sure to say Hi. My Badge should say Maverick Weirdo.

 

[kenobi65]

MW,

Where are you going to be in Chicago? Downtown? If you're in the downtown area, I could likely meet you for lunch on a weekday (I work just off of North Michigan Avenue).

As far as cool things....

- The Museum Campus (Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium) is just south of downtown. Field currently has a very cool display of artifacts from Tut's tomb.
- Museum of Science & Industry is several miles south of the other museums, but is also very geek-a-riffic.
- Sears Tower Skydeck or John Hancock Observation Deck are cool, if you like the idea of being 1000+ feet off the ground. Don't go up if it's a cloudy or hazy day; you won't be able to see squat.
- If you're into sports, there's not much in town that week, unfortunately. The Blackhawks have a home game on that Wednesday, vs. Montreal. The Bulls have a preseason game vs. Minnesota on Friday. The Wolves (minor league hockey) have home games on Saturday and Sunday; they play out near O'Hare.
- The "biggest tourist attraction" in Chicago is Navy Pier, but it's pretty dang touristy...lots of overpriced restaurants and attractions.

 

[BOZ]

you'll be *just* missing the chicago enworld gameday, which is on the 21st...

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

MW,

Where are you going to be in Chicago? Downtown? If you're in the downtown area, I could likely meet you for lunch on a weekday (I work just off of North Michigan Avenue).

As far as cool things....

I'll actually be staying someplace in Mount Prospect, but I plan on checking out the city during the day. I could definately meet up for lunch.

Thanks for the suggestions

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

you'll be *just* missing the chicago enworld gameday, which is on the 21st...

I Know

 

[paradox42]

As long as Kenobi mentioned the museums and the Tut exhibit, I may as well mention that Science & Industry had an exhibit on the history of video games (with plenty of playable ones set up as part of it). I don't know if it's still there, I haven't been to it in months- but that's certainly one of the most geek-a-riffic things in town.

Also, if you and/or those with you like amusement parks, Six Flags Great America is up in Gurnee about an hour at most from Mount Prospect (depending on how you travel to get there and the traffic). They'll be open on Saturday and Sunday for the Halloween-theme days, Fright Fest (they do it every weekend in October except the first one).

Also, if you're any kind of theatre buff, downtown has lots of great theatre, from Wicked to Blue Man- though getting tickets at the last minute may prove difficult.

 

[kenobi65]

I'll actually be staying someplace in Mount Prospect, but I plan on checking out the city during the day. I could definately meet up for lunch.

Cool...at this point, any day that week would work for me.

Drop me a note offlist, and we can make arrangements.

 

[freebfrost]

ENWorlders in Columbus: I will probably spend most of my time in the Clarion Dublin Hotel, although if you can recommend any good restaurants in that area I might go out.

What kind of food and price range are you wanting?

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

What kind of food and price range are you wanting?

How low can you go?

I'm not as concerned with "type" of food, as long as it is good . Even if it is something I'm not a fan of, someone else at the con might.

 

[freebfrost]

OK, well there's the usual chains - you're best bet is to hit up the mall at Tuttle Crossing. It's located off of I-270 and there are a number of eateries in that area.

If you want something a bit different, I recommend driving a bit further down to the Hilliard suburb, where you can find one of the great authentic mexican restaurants in Columbus - Casa Fiesta. (and cheap too)

In the same area, you can find a displaced pizza shop from Eastern Ohio that serves pizza the "Ohio Valley" way - the crust, sauce and a layer of cheese are cooked, and toppings are put on after being removed from the oven - DiCarlo's Pizza. Most everyone here thinks it's strange the first time they see it, but they get hooked on how good it is.

Hope that gets you started. Let me know if you are looking for anything else more specific.