The wife and I will be stopping off in Chicago for a night on the way back to Japan.Where would people recommend to stay?I don't fancy the "Magnificent Mile" but would prefer somewhere a little more boho-good record stores/cafes/bars/2nd hand shops.Never been to Chicago before and in fact have not travelled much in the US at all so any thoughts appreciated.Sadly I don't think I can convince the "cheese and kisses" that a side trip to Electrical would be a highlight

"cheese and kisses"?

for what you're asking for, you're basically looking for the wicker park / ukranian village area (for a concentrated area of record stores, book stores, bars and restaurants). i know others will disagree with sending you to wicker park (re: yuppies & etc), but as far as one walkable area, i don't think you'll do as well.

unfortunately, i don't know of hotels there.

i DO know that when bigger rock bands come to town, ay of them stay at the days inn on diversey (in lincoln park). it's no magnificent mile, but isn't exactly "boho" either. there are a bunch of restaurants and stores nearby, though i can't say that i've ever been to any of them. it's a short walk to the lake or to the reckless records on broadway.

i hope someone comes up with better advice than me. this is something, anyway.

"cheese and kisses"=missus (cockney rhyming slang).Thanks for the info,BTW are the public transport connections okay from the areas you mention as we need to get out to O'Hare airport fairly early?

ratite wrote:"cheese and kisses"=missus (cockney rhyming slang).Thanks for the info,BTW are the public transport connections okay from the areas you mention as we need to get out to O'Hare airport fairly early?

You'll want Wicker Park for that one. Damen stop (or Division stop) are right on the Blue Line to O'Hare.

i've NEVER heard 'cheese and kisses' for 'the missus' before...

try the HoJo on van ness? i stayed there, there's a lovely little diner by reception, it's near the blue line for damen and all the cool record shops..

it's not van ness though. what the hell is it? the big road....by the crazy big macdonalds and the hard rock cafe and teh sports place? anyway, there.

Mike Greenlees wrote:

ratite wrote:"cheese and kisses"=missus (cockney rhyming slang).Thanks for the info,BTW are the public transport connections okay from the areas you mention as we need to get out to O'Hare airport fairly early?

You'll want Wicker Park for that one. Damen stop (or Division stop) are right on the Blue Line to O'Hare.

But as my friend Jay has mentioned...I don't know of a hotel located near those stops...

After some more research I notice almost no hotles in the "Wicker Park"/"Ukrainian Village" areas.anyone know anywhere nearish?Also what's the geographical distinction between the two?

If you search on line for bed and breakfasts in chicago, there are 2 in the Wicker Park neighborhood. One is called the House of Two Urns, at 1239 N. Greenview. The other is called the Wicker Park Inn, at 1329 N. Wicker Park Ave. Both are very close to the Blue Line out to O'Hare. The Wicker Park Inn is in a slightly better area for nightlife and restaurants, and there is a Reckless Records in that area also. I think there are some other record stores also, but I don't know the names.

Yeah,I got that far but both ask you stay for 2-3 nights minimum.They both looked very cosy too...

There is nowhere to stay in Chicago except the expensive asshole hotels downtown or the days inn which is pretty expensive as well.
I'd try and find someone to let you crash at their pad for a night, people in Chicago are generally cool with that sort of thing.