Visited Chicago for the first time!

greyford1979

Just got back from our first ever visit to Chicago the other day, well except for just passing trough at O'hare. Had a nice time. Didn't get to do quite as much as we wanted to, but we did get to see quite a bit of the city, and got to eat some real deep dish pizza:cheesygrin: Rode the L train most of the time as it was much better than sitting in traffic. Did a nice little Architecture boat tour on the river, just wish it could have lasted longer. No pics of my fiance for the polky pervets this time though

sandworms

Thats 1 city on my short list of must see places, thanks for sharing

mudwrx

I've been to Chicago once and enjoyed it. Unfortunately, it was for a work trip and was during 9/11, so that threw everything for a loop. But the few days there before 9/11 were great, we got to see some of the city between work stuff and it was really cool. I'll go back some time to truly enjoy it.

Clipdat

Great city. Hopefully you also got a chance to check out Lower Wack.

SCompRacer

I live close to Chicago and try to avoid it...:cheesygrin: Lots to see and do there. I hear you about the traffic. Sail boat rides (we were on a 148 footer) on the lake are fun too. They let you pull on the rigging if you want. It was powered so if the wind dies, no manning the oars (I avoid them on the streets too):twisted::cheesygrin:.

hochpt21

Only a three hour drive for us, so it's a nice little getaway for the wife and I. We try to go every one or two years. I enjoy trying to find live music any time we go. We especially like the hole-in-the wall places. I've seen some of the most engaging live music in that town...mostly because your sitting ten feet away from the musicians.

Lonnie Walkers Underground Wonder Bar is a really fun little place with live blues/jazz etc. Roy's is a great steakhouse to eat at.

I've yet to hit up Buddy Guy's, but thats on my to do list.

adb3da

Chicago is alot of fun. Where did you get pizza?

I always grab a burger and a beer at the Billy Goat when I'm in the area.

greyford1979

We definitely had fun just not enough time. Walked around a good bit of the city.

adb3da@yahoo.co wrote: »

Chicago is alot of fun. Where did you get pizza?

I always grab a burger and a beer at the Billy Goat when I'm in the area.

We got the pizza at Giordano's since it was close to the Willis Tower(formerly Sears Tower) and it was getting late and didn't wanna go any where else Was good, except for the next day after giving me the runs:sad: My fiance is not a big thick crust type of pizza fan but we had to try it:cheesygrin: We saw the Billy Goat and were gonna check it out but forgot about it after the boat ride:redface:

cnh

greyford1979 wrote: »

No pics of my fiance for the polky pervets this time though

Good call! Chicago is a nice city, and that from someone who spent 12 years in NYC. I have relatives in the 'burbs' so we go out quite often. I've also attended many conferences in the Windy city!

Nice pics!

cnh

greyford1979

cnh wrote: »

Good call! Chicago is a nice city, and that from someone who spent 12 years in NYC. I have relatives in the 'burbs' so we go out quite often. I've also attended many conferences in the Windy city!

Nice pics!

cnh

Thanks! Yeah this was for a conference but took the fiance with me and spent some extra time there and made it into a little vacation.

newrival

adb3da@yahoo.co wrote: »

I always grab a burger and a beer at the Billy Goat when I'm in the area.

Really? It's fun to do once for the Belushi nostalgia, but the food is not that good. Chicago is one of the best Cities in the country for food - including hamburgers - it would be a shame to miss out. But I see your from St. Louis, which may explain it. I've been down there every other week for two months and I haven't found a decent meal yet!

That's only half true. But seriously, my client is in Lake of the Ozarks and I've tried all the big name places and it has been disaster after disaster, except this bbq place that I can't remember the name of. It's funny that for a lake full of money, their fine dining is horrible. St. Louis was better... occasionally.

newrival

greyford, glad you enjoyed our fine city. The architectural boat tours is one of the best. Next time you're out this way, let us know and us Chicagoans can give some tips on things to do and places to go. Giordano's is a decent representation of Chicago style deep dish, although I prefer Uno's. And don't be fooled, those Uno's pizzaria chains are NOTHING like the real Uno's or Due's.

Thorton

newrival wrote: »

greyford, glad you enjoyed our fine city. The architectural boat tours is one of the best. Next time you're out this way, let us know and us Chicagoans can give some tips on things to do and places to go. Giordano's is a decent representation of Chicago style deep dish, although I prefer Uno's. And don't be fooled, those Uno's pizzaria chains are NOTHING like the real Uno's or Due's.

I lived in the suburbs of Chicago for 5 years. Great city. I agree with you on the boat tours and Uno's.

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dorokusai

My absolute favorite city.

tonyb

Pizza joints are like beer, everyones tastes are different. Pizza in the deep dish, Lou Malnati's is tops. The jazz clubs rock and the city sure isn't short of things to do. Next time you guys are in and have some time, take in a concert at Ravina. Outdoor venue, lots of trees, lawn or assigned seating, decent food or bring your own food/wine and make a picnic out of it under the stars. You can rent chairs and small tables too for the lawn or just bring a blanket and sit.

pitdogg2

I hate Chicago wish we could sell it to Gary Indiana or give it back to Wisconsin.

Glad you had a good time
carry on

adb3da

newrival wrote: »

Really? It's fun to do once for the Belushi nostalgia, but the food is not that good. Chicago is one of the best Cities in the country for food - including hamburgers - it would be a shame to miss out. But I see your from St. Louis, which may explain it. I've been down there every other week for two months and I haven't found a decent meal yet!

That's only half true. But seriously, my client is in Lake of the Ozarks and I've tried all the big name places and it has been disaster after disaster, except this bbq place that I can't remember the name of. It's funny that for a lake full of money, their fine dining is horrible. St. Louis was better... occasionally.

Ouch dude! I like the atmosphere of the Billy Goat and a family friend took me there when I was young. Reminds me of those days. Plus, I'm usually right in that area when in Chicago.

Are you talking about bad dining at the Lake or in St. Louis? The Lake is not known for much other than bar food, but there are about 3-4 decent places to eat. Where in St. Louis have you eaten? It certainly not anywhere near Chicago with the number of quality restaurants, but there are many great restaurants.

Was Pappy's in STL the BBQ place? It's ridiculously good.

greyford1979

One place I wish we could have gone into was the library but we only were there at night when it was closed...my fiance loves reading and I just love architecture and thought it was a great building.

warren

I grew up there, graduated Austin High School, 1956 ... Great times!!

newrival

adb3da@yahoo.co wrote: »

Ouch dude! I like the atmosphere of the Billy Goat and a family friend took me there when I was young. Reminds me of those days. Plus, I'm usually right in that area when in Chicago.

Are you talking about bad dining at the Lake or in St. Louis? The Lake is not known for much other than bar food, but there are about 3-4 decent places to eat. Where in St. Louis have you eaten? It certainly not anywhere near Chicago with the number of quality restaurants, but there are many great restaurants.

Was Pappy's in STL the BBQ place? It's ridiculously good.

Ah, well nostalgia is definitely worth something I still go to a small hot dog joint in the area I grew up, even though it is always out of the way, but it was my dad's favorite and it's goo to relive stuff like that. invaluable. I retract my billy goat comment

However, I stand by all comments about the food in Lake of the Ozarks. haha. The places I went to that had both terrible food and service:
jb hooks
hk's at lodge of the four seasons
baxter's
the blue heron was ok service, just bad food

the bbq joint was on the lake and very good. I will look up the name. And I will definitely be trying Pappy's. I love bbq

newrival

If you're into architecture, chicago is a treasure trove, as I'm sure you began to notice on the boat tour.

The Herold Washington Library is a really cool building. If you dig neo-classicism, there are a number of other cool sites to stop by.

And for the record, tony, Lou Malnatti's thieved their recipe from Uno's!

mantis

I love Chicago. I found it to be one of the cleanest Cities I have ever been in.
Lots to do and the food is excellent. Hope you visited the Tilted Kilt , really cool place. Bubba Gump Shrimp factory is there which is way cool , Crystal Gardens , Harry Caray's storts bar was awesome , etc.
But was even more special was the Pizza. I live right outside of Phila , Pa and really close to NY which both claim to have the best Pizza in the world , which I use to agree until I had Deep dish and Flatbread Pizza in Chicago. It was all about the sauce or gravy depending on who you talk to.

I want to take my family for a week and really get to know Chicago. I was also there on Business but had a good few Nights to explore. We went out after training(Control 4) and learned all we could about this great city. Even the people where great , very friendly .

edwardm10

My home town, and one of the best cities anywhere. Fantastic mix of food, music, architecture and culture. And the BEST skyline hands down. Come back soon!

Oldmanind

Make sure you hit navy pier