View Full Version : The Windy City
datachicane
08-03-16, 01:10 AM
I'm gonna be in Chicago for a long weekend for the first time since I was a kid. I'll have my teenaged science-geek daughter with me, so I assume we'll probably hit both Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry, maybe Adler planetarium. If I had time I'd love to hit Robie House and the FLW Home & Studio, but that's probably pressing my luck.
Any suggestions for food, budget-friendly lodging, or anything else we shouldn't miss?
chop456
08-03-16, 02:17 AM
Hotel? Hotwire.
If you're going to hit the things you'd mentioned, get a City Pass. Check Groupon Chicago. I know those were on sale within the last week or so. Sears Tower Skydeck is worth it, as is the John Hancock center, and that one has a bar. :D A lot of good restaurants around Wrigley Field. Catch a game and walk around. The Art institute is great. See who's playing for free at the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, or who's at Ravinia. You can take the train there from downtown.
Food? Almost impossible to answer. Depends what you like and how much you want to spend. A beef sandwich, a hot dog and a stuffed pizza would be your cliched, touristy options. The (original location), Billy Goat Tavern would fall under this heading, as well. Rick Bayless' Xoco is cool. If you want to drop coin, there are some great mid-to upscale places, but you may want to make reservations now. Girl and the Goat would be one. Check Yelp.
Robie house is very near MSI, so you could easily fit that in. Henry Moore's sculpture Nuclear Energy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Energy_(sculpture)) is right there, too, as is the Oriental Institute (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago_Oriental_Institute), which is very cool.
If you're really looking to get your FLW nerd on, the Johnson Wax and Wingspread buildings are 75 miles north in Racine, WI. PM me if you're interested in those, specifically.
Beware that the Field and MSI could take up a day each if you want to see everything.
And this place rules: https://www.sciplus.com/OurStores
Napoleon
08-03-16, 05:52 AM
The Robie House is really neat and it is not that far south of downtown Chicago, and it is real close to the MSI.
Manny's deli for lunch
http://mannysdeli.com
Napoleon
08-03-16, 07:16 AM
PS, the FLW Home & Studio is a bit of a trek out to the suburbs. If you did that you might as well hit Unity Temple as well.
datachicane
08-03-16, 11:10 AM
As Nappy will attest, I have no problem getting my FLW geek on, but I'm trying (really) to restrain myself from monopolizing the whole 2-3 day stay. I'm painfully aware how close Johnson Wax and Wingspread are. I've been threatening to do a full-on FLW pilgrimage for years, gotta make that happen someday.
This is actually a side-trip from a visit to Dayton, where I have a relative who's a fairly important research scientist who's offered to mentor my daughter a bit.
Napoleon
08-03-16, 11:37 AM
You may want to make a special trip for the spring (I think it is the first weekend in May) homes tour that is done in Oakpark of FLW (and some others') homes. I have done it twice (the line up of homes changes yearly).
For example, taken by me:
872
KaBoom21
08-03-16, 02:23 PM
The architectural boat tours are a good time, provided the Dave Matthews Band is not in town.
Chop456 is right about American Science & Surplus. I was a big fan of the nesting dolls of Soviet dictators.
datachicane
08-03-16, 02:32 PM
Heh, I've bought from AS&S for years, forgot they were in town.
Yeah, my daughter and I are both museum-heads, I suspect we'll end up burning the bulk of a day each on Field and MSI.
Don Quixote
08-03-16, 03:09 PM
provided the Dave Matthews Band is not in town.
:rofl:
Napoleon
08-03-16, 03:44 PM
I second the architectural boat tour.
Check out the Picasso at the Honorable Richard J. Daley Plaza. :cool:
The architectural boat tours are a good time, provided the Dave Matthews Band is not in town.
Hey the 'aroma' is quite interesting when DBM is around. :D
datachicane
08-03-16, 05:57 PM
Hey the 'aroma' is quite interesting when DBM is around. :D
Well, I'm from Oregon, so...
http://www.chicagofoodtruckfinder.com/
Italian beef sammich is a must. Not really a fan of deep-dish pizza, but it's the Chitown way. Of course there is always the $1M Mile.
chop456
08-04-16, 01:50 AM
Invaluable resource: http://greasefreak.com/
Invaluable resource: http://greasefreak.com/
First rule of law...you don't order Whitey C's other than the original and a chocolate shake.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=white%20castle%20chicago
Sack o'10, please.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZK9T7meW_4
:)
chop456
08-04-16, 04:03 AM
If you're only in Chicago for a weekend and go to White Castle, you're doing it wrong.
If you're only in Chicago for a weekend and go to White Castle, you're doing it wrong.
Meh. It's a good lunch...that keeps on giving. :gomer: :D
chop456
10-17-17, 03:16 AM
As Nappy will attest, I have no problem getting my FLW geek on, but I'm trying (really) to restrain myself from monopolizing the whole 2-3 day stay. I'm painfully aware how close Johnson Wax and Wingspread are. I've been threatening to do a full-on FLW pilgrimage for years, gotta make that happen someday.
http://www.scjohnson.com/en/company/visiting/CAB_tours.aspx
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.