First Time in Chicago - Please help us !!!

Hi Everybody,

My wife and I will be going to visit Chicago from June 17th to 21th ...

I%26#39;ll attend a congress during these days so I just have 1 afternoon (sunday) and 3 nights (monday to wednesday) to enjoy the city attractions, but my wife will do the ';tourist program'; during the day period ... Unfortunately she will know Chicago better than me ...

What are the places that we can%26#39;t miss in Chicago ?

We previously selected Sears Tower, Millenium Park, John Hancock Observatory, Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Buddy Guy%26#39;s Legend ...

Did we forget something ?

Which of these attractions can be visited during the night ?!?

Thanks in advance

Ricardo

First Time in Chicago - Please help us !!!

%26lt;%26lt;Hi Everybody,

My wife and I will be going to visit Chicago from June 17th to 21th ...

I%26#39;ll attend a congress during these days so I just have 1 afternoon (sunday) and 3 nights (monday to wednesday) to enjoy the city attractions, but my wife will do the ';tourist program'; during the day period ... Unfortunately she will know Chicago better than me ...

What are the places that we can%26#39;t miss in Chicago ?

We previously selected Sears Tower, Millenium Park, John Hancock Observatory, Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Buddy Guy%26#39;s Legend ...

Did we forget something ?

Which of these attractions can be visited during the night ?!?

Thanks in advance

Ricardo

%26gt;%26gt;

I would personally recommend the Hancock Observatory over the Sears Tower observation deck, and you really do not need to see both.

While it may be something to consider at night, Navy Pier doesn%26#39;t really offer the visitor a terribly memorable experience. While it does have a few positives, if you have a limited amount of time here, your time would best be spent elsewhere.

Keep in mind that the Museum of Science and Industry is rather far South of the city, and you will need to budget extra time in order to get there and back.

The museums do close at approximately 5PM (although the Art Institute is open on Thursday and Friday evenings, but unfortunately, it looks like your dates do not include a Thursday or Friday.)

The Chicago Cultural Center (which also houses a City Visitor%26#39;s Center) is a very nice place to stop and browse around for a little while and see the exhibits; it%26#39;s located directly across of Millennium Park.

A night suggestion may be to go see a baseball game at US Ceullar Field. The White Sox play the Florida Marlins at night on the 18th and 19th at 7:11PM each night. Tickets are still available for both games. I would suggest seeing the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, but during your dates, the only time they will be in town is on the 17th for a day game, and you would want to spend your free day at the open museums. You could also see a play at night at one of the downtown theatres, although tickets for some of the bigger shows (';Wicked';, for example) may be difficult to get.

Another option to consider (and these do run into the evening hours) are the two boat tours (you would choose one of the two, no need to see both) that run from the Michigan Ave. bridge. There is the Chicago Architecture Foundation Tour (architecture.org) or the Wendella Boat tours (wendellaboats.org.) If the Chicago Architecture Foundation tour does not have any availability for the next tour, you could go across the bridge to the Wendella Boats. The boats provide a guided tour and some very good photo opportunities.

Additionally, the Hancock Observatory is open later into the evening and Buddy Guy%26#39;s Legends is open at night.

First Time in Chicago - Please help us !!!

Ricardo, even though you have limited time to explore due to your filled days, I%26#39;m sure that you%26#39;ll still have a wonderful time here.

First, I believe that Buddy Guy%26#39;s Legends is now closed - does any local know for sure? I don%26#39;t see anything on the calendar after May.

Things to do:

I truly, truly recommend that you consider going on the Chicago Architecture Foundation%26#39;s River Cruise on the Sunday you arrive, if at all possible. It appears that the last cruise commences at 5:30 p.m. Sundays, so you have a few time options available that afternoon.

Go to the Art Institute on Sunday afternoon. It closes at 5 p.m. , so the other days you are here, you wouldn%26#39;t have the opportunity to enjoy it.

Bobby%26#39;s Bike Hike has night tours. Take a look at the website for details.

If you wanted to go into the neighborhoods: On Monday, June 18, the Northalsted Merchants Association has the Halsted Tastes Better event at the corner of N. Halsted and Aldine (in the Boystown neighborhood on the northside of Chicago). $25 in advance or $30 at the door includes 12 tickets for food/beverage purchases (additional tickets are $10 for 5) . Take a look at the Northalsted Merchants Association%26#39;s website for the list of all the restaurants which will be participating and for the entertainment scheduled. If you wish to go, you can either take the Red Line El to the Belmont Station, walk east to Halsted (2 blocks) and Aldine is two blocks north. If you would like to take a more scenic way north, the #146 NB CTA bus goes from stops on N. Michigan Avenue, express on the outer Lake Shore Drive north to Belmont. (Aldine is the second street north of Belmont and Halsted is the first street west of Broadway.) I would caution you on taking this bus route during the rush hour, though, because of traffic congestion (after 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.).

If, indeed, Buddy Guys Legends is closed, you could combine the above with a trip to one of the blues clubs on N. Halsted Street in Lincoln Park. (They are about 1 mile south of N. Halsted and Aldine, but you can easily pick up a cab in this area and the #8 SB CTA bus runs often - not sure how the route will be affected by the street event though - take a look at the CTA website for details, if you are interested.)

On Wednesday, June 20, there is a free concert at the Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park by the Grant Park Orchestra. Take a picnic and enjoy it on the great lawn. Then go to Buckingham Fountain for the nighttime light show (on the hour every hour until 11pm).

Agree with the John Hancock Building (and you might wish to go to the Signature Lounge instead of the Observatory) in favor of the Sears Tower, although both are open until 11 p.m.

';First, I believe that Buddy Guy%26#39;s Legends is now closed - does any local know for sure? I don%26#39;t see anything on the calendar after May.';

Stiil open - http://www.buddyguys.com/

Thanks, Dave. For some reason, I couldn%26#39;t get the Buddy Guy%26#39;s June 2007 page to completely open first time around. Had the headline but the rest of the page was blank.

I do see, however, that the July page is for July 2006, not 2007.

Yes, I also noticed that. Their web site has never been that great.

Is Buddy Guy%26#39;s Legend someplace for a 16 year old who loves music? Is the food any good? My son plays blues piano and guitar and we are planning a weekend trip in July.

Sarah

Thanks Dave and ChiTownFriend !!!

Your tips were very usefull ... I really think that we%26#39;ll enjoy great days in Chicago !!!

Regards

Ricardo

I dont know your age and preferences, but I%26#39;m still in 20%26#39;s and I take all my friends visitng Chicago to Hancock instead of Sears. And we do not go to the Hancock Observatory. Instead we go to the Bar located on the 96th floor(which is couple floors above the observatory). We usually go around sunset time so they get day and night view. The bar has glass doors everywhere. And as a perk to your wife.....the ladies restroom is known for its view. The website below is for the Fine dinning on 95th floor. It will give you an idea of the view to expect. The bar is on 96th floor.

http://www.signatureroom.com/

The view is much better from the Hancock then the Sears... in fact, the best view in town is from the ladie%26#39;s bathroom of the Signature Room Lounge... seriously... it%26#39;s floor to ceiling... and overlooks all of downtown / lake / west... it%26#39;s amazing on a clear sunset!!!!

Now, if your wife wants some cute shopping, send her to Armitage... they%26#39;ve got some great stories... and she can shop her heart out... cute little boutique style (i%26#39;m a sucker for 1154 LIll and Lori%26#39;s)

Navy Pier isn%26#39;t that great, unless you are looking for a fabulous skyline view.... Millenium is nice, check the concert or concert rehearsal schedule so that you are there during one of them... if you don%26#39;t have kids, go to the Field%26#39;s instead of the Science and Industry... the Shedd%26#39;s is nice, but pricey... walk through Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville... and catch a game if you have time... Chicago sports are fun!

Also, if you want to see a show... Wicked releases tickets throughout the day, so your wife could head over in the middle of the afternoon to see if there are some available... if so, they sell them for half-price.... we got AMAZING seats in the 5th row center 2 hours before the show in December.

Great restaurants... Guoradano%26#39;s (I can%26#39;t spell) for deepdish... Shaw%26#39;s if you want a nice seafood meal that won%26#39;t break the bank... I';m still trying to get the significant other to go to Charlie Trotters... If you have time hit up the CHocolate Lounge at the Penninsula on Saturday night.... Chinatown isn%26#39;t nearly has big as other places but has some great restaurants, and my favorite meal in town... The Signature Room at the Hancock.

I may have missed, but nobody has mentioned the Planetarium? My hubby is psyched about visiting it. Any thoughts about it?

mybelle