ZFS! Goes To Chicago
So, a month from now, I'll be invading Chicago with some friends. We've got very loose plans that are basically open to anything as long as it's a good time and, of course, cheap. The people I'm going with have been there before but I, personally, haven't had the pleasure. Being as how that's the case, I don't really know anything about Chicago except for what I've read in the sports pages and whatever information I've gleaned from repeated viewings of Ferris Buellers Day Off.I do know that I want to eat Chicago pizza, eat a Chicago-style hot dog and, if possible, check out a Cubs game or at least get a tour of Wrigley Field if the Cubs are on the road.
Other than that, I've got nothin'.
So, the planning begins... now!!! Readers of Zombie Fights Shark, I ask you this question: Anyone know what's good to see/do/eat/drink in the Windy City?
C'mon, help a Chicago-newbie out!!!
NOTE: I'll probably ask this again before the departure date, just to be irritating.
posted by Clinton at 2:57 PM
16 Comments:
Look up my Cousin's Larry and Balki when you get there.
Last time I heard from them they had just stopped working for one of the local papers out there and just bought a house.
I'll only meet up with them if you can give me a guarentee that shenanigans and hijinks will take place.
Otherwise, no deal.
Geno's Pizza = delish. There are 2 locations, Geno's and Geno's East. Let's see... you can go see Wicked at the Oriental Theater, I loved it.
Umm... I dunno, I can't come up with anything original or interesting. I still haven't gotten to see a Cubs game there, and I've been 4 times, lol. (Course, I'd probably get beaten down for wearing a Cardinals shirt, haha CUBS SUCK!)
Geno's, check. That will go on the list.
I actually saw Wicked already (I live in New York), so probably give that a pass. I thought it was okay; very awesome, visually.
things to do in chi-town (these are things that i do or things I would take an outta town guest to (and this list is by no means comprehensive))
Brew and View at the Vic (this is pretty near to wrigely and they show movies (big deal right? well they also serve pitchers of beer and you can smoke) www.brewview.com
See some improv (come on, they invented that shit here). Second City is the original, but I prefer Improv Olympic (which in now just IO thanks to those stupid olympic fuckers). this is cheap and they have booze. www.improvolympic.com
You could go to the top of a tall building but that's not too impressive for a new yorker.
If the weather is nice, millenium park is worth a walk through, it's real purty. Also, it's close to the Art Institute which is hella nice and pretty cheap.
I like bars too. The bars near wrigely are sports bars (and dirty ones at that, once you've seen one you've seen em all). I prefer the near west side for my drinking. I like the following spots in Wicker Park/Ukie Village:
Moonshine, Darkroom, Goldstar (pretty sweet dive), Tumans (used to be super awesome when it was Tuman's Alchol Abuse Center, now under new ownership and not as super sweet). www.metromix.com will have all the addresses and shit for these places and a million more.
Chicago is a great town, I'm sure you'll have a good time (or maybe not, if you totally suck ass)
Oh yeah, if you want a real chicago style hotdog and you also might like one made out of some gourmet meats (think duck sausage with blue chees) you gots to eat at Hot Dougs (the encased meat emporioum)www.hotdougs.com. they're only open for lunch and the line of the weekends is redic, but if you get a chance, heaven.
jeez, that's long- the things I'll do to avoid work, eh?
Go see a game at Wrigley and then suck it... cause then I officially hate you from my insane jealously.
Been to Fenway and I've heard Wrigley is the only thing that compares.
I'm such a city snob being from the NYC area and living here now... but I loooove Chicago. I'd actually live there id it wasn't so F'ing cold. Got big plans to run the Chi Town marathon in October (provided I cut back on the drinking). Tons of things to suggest but the one place you have to go to eat (cheap) is The Billy Goat Tavern!!
http://www.billygoattavern.com
Trust me... I know what I'm talking about :)
~Irish
Anonymous... Dude or Dudette, seriously, way cool!!! Tons of great stuff here. I'd actually heard about Hot Dougs already and that is so on my list; I love me some hot dogs and this sounds like my kind of place. Again, thanks tons for the info; you're now the best Anonymous person I know!
Scott... Yeah, my father's pretty much told me the same thing. He said if I don't bring back pictures and actually call him from the game, I shouldn't bother coming over to his house for Christmas this year.
Irish... If running a marathon means that you have to stop drinking, then it's not a marathon worth running. My drunken, fat-assed opinion, anyway. Also, thanks for the tip; adding it to the list!
Clinton,
Try Giordano's pizza as well...it's a bit touristy, but very tasty. And we all like tasty, don't we?
Navy Pier is only fun if you want to ride the ferris wheel or pay too much for damn near anything. It's worth walking around, but don't plan an evening around it.
Hot Dougs=mmm, but only on second-hand info.
If you're museumy, the Natural History museum is stunning.
Have dinner at the Pump Room inside of the Omni East on the gold coast. All of the great movie stars and singers of the last 70 years have made it their destination of choice.
That's all.
Peace,
Justin
Isn't there some big-ass mall or tower there? Or mall-tower? I'm sure that's nice.
Justin... Word to Giordanos; I think that's the place my already-been-there friends said they were taking me. Touristy I can handle when I'm not in NYC, for obvious reason. The Pump Room sounds expensive, though tempting (also vaugely homoerotic). Since I'm basically a 70's rock star anyway, it'd be only fitting that I go there.
Crimsonking... You know what they say, if you've seen one mall-tower, you've seen them all. Unless Chicago's has got a Gap. Then I'm totally there!
the natural history museum is a must. as is the art institute if you're artsy. and i think on thurs (tues?) it's free.
one thing that's really cool, but sounds really dorky, is the architectural boat tour of downtown chicago. it's a little pricey at $25, but it's very informative and if the weather's nice you can't beat it as a way to see all of downtown chicago. try to go at dusk.
other than that, there aren't any bad bars there, but if you get a chance find the green mill. good atmosphere and good tunes. and i would rec checking out the metro for any live tunes that happen to be playing while you're there.
you should check out second city just for the history of it. and i think it's pretty cheap.
and wrigley field is a must.
that's all i got.
go see oprah. maybe you can get a car. or a scarf. or hear all about "the secret."
other than that just eat a BIG fucking steak. i don't care if you are a vegetarian, the steak in chicago is as close to climax as you can get while dining.
D... The Natural History museum sounds cool, as does the boat tour; will bring that up with the other folk that are going. Hey, by the way, finally got around to checking out your blog... Dude, awesome art! Linkage forthcoming.
Ellagood... I'm so not a vegetarian that I bleed au jus. Will have to try to track down a steak, if my budget will allow it.
I have nothing to add. I've never been to the state of Chicago.
Camp out in the terminal at O'hare for 24 hours. Due to weather, I got the chance to do that. Good times.
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