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Traveling to Chicago

KidcloudkickerKidcloudkicker Posts: 414
edited December 2011 in All Encompassing Trip
I'm going to be in Chicago tomorrow for a show at Lincoln hall and was looking for some ideas on things to do before the show and Sunday before we leave. I've been to Chicago a few times but very short trip and haven't really had the chance to do much so I'm not as familiar as I should be.

We're staying at the Doubletree on the corner of E Ohio Street and N Fairbanks Ct.

My first question is regarding parking. We're driving from Cleveland and will need to park our car. From everything i've read this is going to be expensive. Does anyone have any recommendations for the cheapest possible parking? I don't mind parking the car and walking a bit back to the hotel.

Things of interest would be some good eats and pubs. Near the hotel as well as Lincoln Hall in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

I'd also like to hit a record store at some point.

Really open to any ideas or suggestions. We should be arriving around 11a - noon.

Thanks.
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Comments

  • Mamasan23Mamasan23 Posts: 16,389
    Parking is a beast everywhere in the city...I'm sure someone will be able to get you some good info here. But if you're looking for a great place to eat in Lincoln Park, I absolutely LOVE RJ Grunts on Lincoln Park West:

    http://www.rjgruntschicago.com/

    The price of their soup is based on what the temp of the lake is that day and their shakes are INCREDIBLE! Great salad bar, and a small bar inside too. Check out the Lincoln Park Zoo across the street too, it's free!
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  • RKCNDYRKCNDY Posts: 31,013
    paging the zombie smoking baby...zombie smoking baby...please pick up the Chicagoland Newbie courtesy phone...
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  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    Hit the signature room on the 95th floor of the hancock for a beer.

    Get yourself some lou's pizza

    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.
    81 is now off the air

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  • KidcloudkickerKidcloudkicker Posts: 414
    81 wrote:
    Hit the signature room on the 95th floor of the hancock for a beer.

    Get yourself some lou's pizza

    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.


    Hancock tower sounds good. Wanted to try that the last time I was there but didn't have time.

    I've had Giordano's pizza before but not Lou Malnati's so might have to give it a try.
    Columbus 6/24/03, Pittsburgh 9/28/05, Cleveland 5/20/06, Pittsburgh 6/23/06, Chicago 8/5/07, New York 6/24/08, New York 6/25/08, Hartford 6/27/08, Mansfield 6/28/08, Mansfield 6/30/08, EV D.C. 8/16/08, EV Chicago 8/22/08, EV Baltimore 6/14/09, Chicago 8/23/09, Philadelphia 10/27/09, Philadelphia 10/28/09, Philadelphia 10/30/09, Philadelphia 10/31/09, Columbus 5/6/10, Indianapolis 5/7/10, Cleveland 5/9/10, Buffalo 5/10/10, EV Detroit 6/26/11, Toronto 9/12/11, Hamilton 9/15/11, Pittsburgh 10/11/13, Buffalo 10/12/13, San Diego 11/21/13, Los Angeles 11/23/13, Los Angeles 11/24/13, Cincinnati 10/1/14, Detroit 10/16/14, New York 9/26/15, Greenville 4/16/16, Hampton 4/18/16, Columbia 4/21/16, Philadelphia 4/29/16, Chicago 8/20/16, Chicago 8/22/16, Denver 9/22/22, Los Angeles 5/21/24
  • JTHJTH Chicago Posts: 3,238
    Lou's is good, but you're going to be staying near Uno's & Due's. I'd go to one of those before I'd go to Lou's. They're about a block apart (Ohio & Wabash/Ontario & Wabash). I prefer Due's because it's usually much less crowded.

    Head to Delilah's before or after the show. It's on Lincoln just south of Diversey, a few blocks to the north of Lincoln Hall.

    For records, there are lots of options. Jazz Record Mart is near your hotel. There's also a Reckless not too far away.

    For garage parking, this site is helpful.
  • Mamasan23Mamasan23 Posts: 16,389
    JTH wrote:
    Lou's is good, but you're going to be staying near Uno's & Due's. I'd go to one of those before I'd go to Lou's. They're about a block apart (Ohio & Wabash/Ontario & Wabash). I prefer Due's because it's usually much less crowded.

    Head to Delilah's before or after the show. It's on Lincoln just south of Diversey, a few blocks to the north of Lincoln Hall.

    For records, there are lots of options. Jazz Record Mart is near your hotel. There's also a Reckless not too far away.

    For garage parking, this site is helpful.

    I've spent a night or many at Delilah's myself...if you like whiskey it's definitely the place to be.
    Also agree about the 'za...Lou's is totally overrated (sorry 81!)
    WI '98,  WI '99 (EV),  WI '00,  Chgo '00,  MO '00,  Champaign '03,  Chgo '03,  WI '03,  IN '03,  MI '04,  Chgo '06:N1 & 2,  WI '06,  Chgo '07,  Chgo '08 (EV:N1),  Chgo '09:N1 & 2,  Chgo '11 (EV:N1),  WI '11:N1 & 2,  Philly '12,  Wrigley '13,  Pitt '13,  Buff '13, Detroit '14, MKE '14, Wrigley '16: N1 & N2, Seattle '18 N2, Wrigley '18: N1 & N2, Fenway '18 N1, STL '22, St Paul '23 N2, Chgo '23: N1 & N2, Wrigley '24 N1 & 2
  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,874
    Kidcloudkicker wrote:
    81 wrote:
    Hit the signature room on the 95th floor of the hancock for a beer.

    Get yourself some lou's pizza

    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.


    Hancock tower sounds good. Wanted to try that the last time I was there but didn't have time.

    I've had Giordano's pizza before but not Lou Malnati's so might have to give it a try.


    Definitely give Lou's a try. Having a drink on the 95th floor at the hancock is a great idea too.

    Like everyone else has said, parking is a bitch downtown. Especially at the hotels....you may be able to find it somewhat cheaper at a regular parking garage as opposed to your hotel.
  • JTHJTH Chicago Posts: 3,238
    OH! Frontera Grill is within walking distance of your hotel.

    Try to get there when they open.
  • rival.rival. Chicago Posts: 7,775
    check out reckless records on 26 east madison street. found plenty of gems there, and a 2 block walk to millenium park.

    madison is located between state street and wabash street.
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    Indifference71 wrote:
    Kidcloudkicker wrote:
    81 wrote:
    Hit the signature room on the 95th floor of the hancock for a beer.

    Get yourself some lou's pizza

    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.


    Hancock tower sounds good. Wanted to try that the last time I was there but didn't have time.

    I've had Giordano's pizza before but not Lou Malnati's so might have to give it a try.


    Definitely give Lou's a try. Having a drink on the 95th floor at the hancock is a great idea too.

    Like everyone else has said, parking is a bitch downtown. Especially at the hotels....you may be able to find it somewhat cheaper at a regular parking garage as opposed to your hotel.


    if he wanted to be super cheap....he could always park up west of wrigley (or some other non stickered neighborhood) and catch the brown line down. cost of 2.25 each way per person.... :lol:
    81 is now off the air

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  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,874
    81 wrote:
    if he wanted to be super cheap....he could always park up west of wrigley (or some other non stickered neighborhood) and catch the brown line down. cost of 2.25 each way per person.... :lol:



    Don't recommend that....then he'll be parking on my street! I live right by the Paulina brown line stop and there's always a bunch of assholes parking my street when I leave for work in the morning...I wish my street required stickers.
  • iamicaiamica Chicago Posts: 2,628
    Parking sucks, especially downtown. Garages downtown are ridiculously expensive. You'd almost be better off finding a residential area with no permits, street parking there and taking the El to your hotel (but that could be confusing if you're not familiar with the area).
    If you're going to be in Lincoln Park, I'd recommend Stanley's. There's a nice Italian restaurant down the street from there too on Lincoln, can't remember what it's called but it's not far south.
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  • unlost dogsunlost dogs Greater Boston Posts: 12,553
    Whatever you do, don't tailgate or cut off zombie babies driving red pickup trucks.

    Crazy ratfucks, those.

    :crazy:
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  • KidcloudkickerKidcloudkicker Posts: 414
    Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.
    Columbus 6/24/03, Pittsburgh 9/28/05, Cleveland 5/20/06, Pittsburgh 6/23/06, Chicago 8/5/07, New York 6/24/08, New York 6/25/08, Hartford 6/27/08, Mansfield 6/28/08, Mansfield 6/30/08, EV D.C. 8/16/08, EV Chicago 8/22/08, EV Baltimore 6/14/09, Chicago 8/23/09, Philadelphia 10/27/09, Philadelphia 10/28/09, Philadelphia 10/30/09, Philadelphia 10/31/09, Columbus 5/6/10, Indianapolis 5/7/10, Cleveland 5/9/10, Buffalo 5/10/10, EV Detroit 6/26/11, Toronto 9/12/11, Hamilton 9/15/11, Pittsburgh 10/11/13, Buffalo 10/12/13, San Diego 11/21/13, Los Angeles 11/23/13, Los Angeles 11/24/13, Cincinnati 10/1/14, Detroit 10/16/14, New York 9/26/15, Greenville 4/16/16, Hampton 4/18/16, Columbia 4/21/16, Philadelphia 4/29/16, Chicago 8/20/16, Chicago 8/22/16, Denver 9/22/22, Los Angeles 5/21/24
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    not sure how you plan on getting to the venue, but i would suggest the red line.
    81 is now off the air

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  • Indifference71Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,874
    81 wrote:
    not sure how you plan on getting to the venue, but i would suggest the red line.


    Yeah, its a short walk from the Fullerton stop to Lincoln Hall.
  • KidcloudkickerKidcloudkicker Posts: 414
    Indifference71 wrote:
    81 wrote:
    not sure how you plan on getting to the venue, but i would suggest the red line.


    Yeah, its a short walk from the Fullerton stop to Lincoln Hall.


    Yeah we are planning on taking the red line from the hotel to the venue.
    Columbus 6/24/03, Pittsburgh 9/28/05, Cleveland 5/20/06, Pittsburgh 6/23/06, Chicago 8/5/07, New York 6/24/08, New York 6/25/08, Hartford 6/27/08, Mansfield 6/28/08, Mansfield 6/30/08, EV D.C. 8/16/08, EV Chicago 8/22/08, EV Baltimore 6/14/09, Chicago 8/23/09, Philadelphia 10/27/09, Philadelphia 10/28/09, Philadelphia 10/30/09, Philadelphia 10/31/09, Columbus 5/6/10, Indianapolis 5/7/10, Cleveland 5/9/10, Buffalo 5/10/10, EV Detroit 6/26/11, Toronto 9/12/11, Hamilton 9/15/11, Pittsburgh 10/11/13, Buffalo 10/12/13, San Diego 11/21/13, Los Angeles 11/23/13, Los Angeles 11/24/13, Cincinnati 10/1/14, Detroit 10/16/14, New York 9/26/15, Greenville 4/16/16, Hampton 4/18/16, Columbia 4/21/16, Philadelphia 4/29/16, Chicago 8/20/16, Chicago 8/22/16, Denver 9/22/22, Los Angeles 5/21/24
  • KevinmanKevinman Atlanta, GA USA Posts: 1,921
    Best record store in the city, and free arcade games when you buy anything.


    http://logan-hardware.com/


    Enjoy your stay.
    I am lost, I'm no guide, but I'm by your side

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  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    81 wrote:
    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.

    This was single-handedly the worst part about my first and only visit to Chicago back in 2009. The parking was fucking horrendous, and the prices were criminal.

    Other than that, I loved Chicago and had a great stay.

    81, you might want to give people tips on how to piss people off at red lights. :lol:
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  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    dcfaithful wrote:
    81 wrote:
    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.

    This was single-handedly the worst part about my first and only visit to Chicago back in 2009. The parking was fucking horrendous, and the prices were criminal.

    Other than that, I loved Chicago and had a great stay.

    81, you might want to give people tips on how to piss people off at red lights. :lol:

    it appears stopping for them is the key.

    :lol:
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • dcfaithfuldcfaithful Posts: 13,076
    81 wrote:
    dcfaithful wrote:
    81 wrote:
    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.

    This was single-handedly the worst part about my first and only visit to Chicago back in 2009. The parking was fucking horrendous, and the prices were criminal.

    Other than that, I loved Chicago and had a great stay.

    81, you might want to give people tips on how to piss people off at red lights. :lol:

    it appears stopping for them is the key.

    :lol:

    What a jackass; getting pissed off at someone for driving smart and safe. It certainly rings true as someone just had to leave my office because their neice was killed in a wreck today. :cry::cry:
    7/2/06 - Denver, CO
    6/12/08 - Tampa, FL
    8/23/09 - Chicago, IL
    9/28/09 - Salt Lake City, UT (11 years too long!!!)
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    9/04/11 - East Troy, WI - PJ20 - Night 2
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    rival. wrote:
    check out reckless records on 26 east madison street. found plenty of gems there, and a 2 block walk to millenium park.

    madison is located between state street and wabash street.


    damn it wish id known about this last week. i was in millenium park sussing out the art and the gehry. so close...
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    catefrances wrote:
    rival. wrote:
    check out reckless records on 26 east madison street. found plenty of gems there, and a 2 block walk to millenium park.

    madison is located between state street and wabash street.


    damn it wish id known about this last week. i was in millenium park sussing out the art and the gehry. so close...


    Delorean%20back%20to%20the%20future.jpg
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    81 wrote:
    catefrances wrote:
    rival. wrote:
    check out reckless records on 26 east madison street. found plenty of gems there, and a 2 block walk to millenium park.

    madison is located between state street and wabash street.


    damn it wish id known about this last week. i was in millenium park sussing out the art and the gehry. so close...


    Delorean%20back%20to%20the%20future.jpg


    you built a time machine out of a delorean?     :lol: love that trilogy.
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • SawyerSawyer Posts: 2,411
    Oven Pizza and Grinder Company on Clark...go early....and trust me my friend
  • SawyerSawyer Posts: 2,411
    81 wrote:
    Hit the signature room on the 95th floor of the hancock for a beer.

    Get yourself some lou's pizza

    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.


    Im surprised someone from Chicago could give such lackluster cliche suggestions
  • elvistheking44elvistheking44 Posts: 4,457
    Kevinman wrote:
    Best record store in the city, and free arcade games when you buy anything.


    http://logan-hardware.com/


    Enjoy your stay.

    How is it that I've never heard of this place! Im going first thing tomorrow afternoon!!!!!
  • 8181 Needing a ride to Forest Hills and a ounce of weed. Please inquire within. Thanks. Or not. Posts: 58,276
    Sawyer wrote:
    81 wrote:
    Hit the signature room on the 95th floor of the hancock for a beer.

    Get yourself some lou's pizza

    Parking sucks....park yourself, don't valet.


    Im surprised someone from Chicago could give such lackluster cliche suggestions
    95th floor for a beer is cool.....no doubt about it. I wouldn't recommend it for dinner or lunch tho.

    And i am not from chicago.... ;)

    Go Ohio
    81 is now off the air

    Off_Air.jpg
  • JTHJTH Chicago Posts: 3,238
    ofthegirl99 wrote:
    Kevinman wrote:
    Best record store in the city, and free arcade games when you buy anything.


    http://logan-hardware.com/


    Enjoy your stay.

    How is it that I've never heard of this place! Im going first thing tomorrow afternoon!!!!!
    I was asking myself that very question. Apparently they opened almost exactly two years ago to the day and I've been completely oblivious.
  • dimitrispearljamdimitrispearljam Posts: 139,721
    everything happens for a reason..even this thread the day was opened..
    "...Dimitri...He talks to me...'.."The Ghost of Greece..".
    "..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
    “..That came up on the Pillow Case...This is for the Greek, With Our Apologies.....”
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