joelb wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:53 pm If you want to walk to food/bar entertainment from where you are, find Randolph and Fulton streets, both of which run west from downtown. Just walk them a mile and you'll pass dozens of restaurants, bars, breweries etc. Take your pick. The Loop and River North, on the other hand, is largely filled with restaurants that cater to tourists, conference attendees, partiers, etc. There are gems here and there but it's not where I'd wander.

Millennium Park/Maggie Daley Park/Buckingham Fountain/Grant Park/the Lake. Yes touristy, yes very much worth spending as much time as you want walking/biking around. The skylines around the park are breathtaking, take a moment. And speaking of tours, the Chicago Architecture Foundation river tour is completely 100% worth it.

Enjoy being outside in the city while you can, cause winter will be here soon enough.

Lots of good advice here. If you’re staying downtown, the West Loop (the Randolph and Fulton area) is very close.

As far as museums go, if you only have the time or inclination to visit one, make it the Art Institute. The aquarium is fun, but a lot of cities have them. The AI is just really special.

You're visiting Chicago during the best time, IMO. Right before fall actually happens. It's nice and mild.

1) Definitely go to the lake.
2) Since you'll be close by, there's tons of great food on or near Randolph. My choices would be: sushiDOKKU (not cheap, but one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the city - stick to the upstairs), Ramen Takeya, Publican (if you're super into meat), Little Goat.
3) If you feel the need to try deep dish, go to Pequod's (Pizzeria Uno if you must stick downtown).
4) Reckless on Milwaukee for records.
5) If you like beer, there are so many great breweries in Chicago so it's hard for me to pick. Let me know if you want recommendations based on a style. But Hop Leaf is one of the best beer bars in the world. They also have food. Cannot recommend enough.
6) Garfield Park Conservatory (already mentioned)
7) Museum of the Art Institute (also already mentioned)
8) It would be a trek, but Devon Ave for Indian food.
9) If you want to go way up in a skyscraper go to the John Hancock's 96th floor lounge. For less than the Sears/Willis Tower you'll only be a floor or two lower, but you can get a cocktail or a dessert for less than Sears price of admission. Arguably a better view too!

joelb wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:53 pm And speaking of tours, the Chicago Architecture Foundation river tour is completely 100% worth it.

Agreed. I met my parents in Chicago years ago and we took that tour. I expected touristy cheese, but it was a delight.

Dave N. wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:32 pm

joelb wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:53 pm And speaking of tours, the Chicago Architecture Foundation river tour is completely 100% worth it.

Agreed. I met my parents in Chicago years ago and we took that tour. I expected touristy cheese, but it was a delight.

Thirded. The one I went on was full of crazy mob stories.

Danylo wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2021 10:04 am but especially for some good bars to have a bite at or close out the evening with. And if anybody wants to meet up for a Malort or three, I'm game.

I already mentioned Hop Leaf (which is not in the areas you mentioned) so I'll add some other bars:

West Loopish:
I'd say avoid Kaiser Tiger. It's in you area, but full of douche bros who treat the female staff disrespectfully. It's hard to watch.
Maybe check out Haymarket instead. The salmon BLT is bonkers good if they're returned to full menu.
Or Lone Wolf can be hit or miss. They sometimes have food through a partner.
The Aviary has pretty bonkers cocktails, a bit upscale though.
Lazy Bird and Moneygun can be great too, maybe too trendy. More date spots.
Twisted Spoke and Aberdeen Tap are a little further north or these but less trendy. Both have food.

Nearish Schubas:
Corridor Brewery - yes food
Delilah's - a Chicago classic, no food
L&L Tavern - super diviest of Chicago dives. Canned beer and shots. More of a place to go if you're near it and want cheap drinking. I wouldn't go out of my way for this place. Fucked up Chicago trivia: both Gacy and Dahmer frequented this spot.

penningtron wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:46 pm

Dave N. wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:32 pm

joelb wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 12:53 pm And speaking of tours, the Chicago Architecture Foundation river tour is completely 100% worth it.

Agreed. I met my parents in Chicago years ago and we took that tour. I expected touristy cheese, but it was a delight.

Thirded. The one I went on was full of crazy mob stories.

YES! Do this! There are a few. Go to the one where actual Architects are the docents.

tommy wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:00 pm Delilah's - a Chicago classic, no food

Probably my favorite bar in Chicago. Probably the deepest bourbon and rye shelf in the upper Midwest. So if that's your thing, get there and bring money.

zorg wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 2:06 pm

El Protoolio wrote:South Loop Club

I don’t think I could ever imagine recommending this place to anyone. When I used to go in here, it was a hang out for wayward Columbia students and pimps who still dressed like Huggy Bear and their “ho’s”. Perhaps its like a BW3 franchise now.

That’s why I recommended it. You want some flavor while you’re staying nearby? Check it out.

I’d also recommend going to any Billy Goat Tavern location later at night. I did that last July after a White Sox game at like 10:30 pm with my friend at the Madison and Ashland location. We were two of four people there. It’s a huge room. Cheap beers and awesome burgers. Parking lot all full of potholes and low light. It was fucking awesome.

That’s Chicago. Not the pricey square hip joints. I used to go to Tuman’s when the urinal was ripped off the wall and you had to piss in the drain in the center of the room.

tommy wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:01 pm

penningtron wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:46 pm

Dave N. wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:32 pm

Agreed. I met my parents in Chicago years ago and we took that tour. I expected touristy cheese, but it was a delight.

Thirded. The one I went on was full of crazy mob stories.

YES! Do this! There are a few. Go to the one where actual Architects are the docents.

+1 on this. Took a buddy from out of town on one over the weekend, I'd never done it myself, it was cool as hell.

mrcancelled wrote: Tue Oct 05, 2021 8:23 pm

tommy wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:01 pm

penningtron wrote: Thu Sep 30, 2021 3:46 pm

Thirded. The one I went on was full of crazy mob stories.

YES! Do this! There are a few. Go to the one where actual Architects are the docents.

+1 on this. Took a buddy from out of town on one over the weekend, I'd never done it myself, it was cool as hell.

The boat tour was amazing, even with high expectations it still blew me away. I doubt I would've gone without the recommendation so thanks to everybody for that especially.

And I figured I'd belatedly share my reckless records souvenirs for everybody who of course recommended them:

• James White and the Blacks - Off White
  Xaddax - Counterclockwork
  Vaz - Chartreuse Bull
  Hungry Man - Eater
  US Maple - The Wanderer
  Club Foot Orchestra - Kidnapped
  Chicha Libre - Quattro Tigres
  Greys - Age Hasn't Spoiled You
  Of Cabbages and Kings - Basic Pain Basic Pleasure
  Brain Tentacles split w/ Wild Jesus

Plus three Plainfield 7"s: Not Enough Food b/w Little Man In Da Boat; A Tribute To Britpop; and BC Locker Plant b/w My Trunk -- including a receipt from Blackout Records from 1994, sounds like a cool place... somebody bought this last and another Plainfield 7", New Bomb Turks - So Young So Fair So Debonair, and the What Are You Pointing At? 10" Comp, looks like it's long gone tho