Where to stay in Chicago for Aug 31 PJconcert?

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RodrigoDu
RodrigoDu Posts: 140
in The Porch
Dear Jammers,

I'm headed to Chicago with my 11-yr old kid (his first ever PJ Concert and my fisrt in Chicago!)
We are staying a couple of nights for the concert and go visit the city.
Which hotels do you recommend?  either close to Wrigley or good spots in downtown?  also, unmissable places to eat!

Thanks!

Du 
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  • chispider22
    chispider22 Posts: 20
    If you're flying into O'Hare, I would get a hotel out there and then you could just hop on the blue line train and see the rest of the city. All the hotels around Wrigley or close to downtown will be more expensive than the ones by the airport.
  • JeBurkhardt
    JeBurkhardt Posts: 5,321
    edited June 2024
    The Congress Plaza is downtown across from Grant Park. It is an older hotel, but it is pretty reasonable and close to the red line train that will take you up to Wrigley. 
    Post edited by JeBurkhardt on
  • dwjmu84
    dwjmu84 Posts: 408
    We’re staying at the Ritz on the magnificent mile. We have family in the condos above. 8/31 is my 40th and we will have our 6 mo old girl in tow. Not to the show obviously. She will hang with grandma and grandpa while mom and dad rock out! But, I have her PJ onesie ready to roll. 
  • curmudgeoness
    curmudgeoness Brigadoon, foodie capital Posts: 4,130
    I'll recommend visiting museums and/or zoos, depending on your kid's interests. The Field Museum is awesome; the Shedd Aquarium and the planetarium are within walking distance from the Field. I haven't been to the Museum of Science and Industry in forever, but my kids loved it when they were younger. Chicago also has great zoos and the Art Institute of Chicago, which has an amazing art collection (admittedly not every eleven-year-old boy's idea of a good time, but it's a great collection). 
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  • gotthebottle
    gotthebottle San Diego Posts: 3,738
    dwjmu84 said:
    We’re staying at the Ritz on the magnificent mile. We have family in the condos above. 8/31 is my 40th and we will have our 6 mo old girl in tow. Not to the show obviously. She will hang with grandma and grandpa while mom and dad rock out! But, I have her PJ onesie ready to roll. 
    He did not ask what you were doing.. he asked where he might stay. Sounds like you're bragging....
  • Indifference71
    Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,909
    Yeah I'd definitely stay downtown somewhere near the Red Line so you can take that right to Wrigley for the shows.  And I second that comment about the museums here.  Some amazing stuff.

    If you're going full tourist mode and want to eat deep dish pizza, go with Lou Malnati's. It's the best!
  • Ray J. T.
    Ray J. T. Posts: 4,130
    Indifference71 said:


    If you're going full tourist mode and want to eat deep dish pizza, go with Lou Malnati's. It's the best!
    Absolutely. This is always a must go to when I am in Chicago. Will be making a stop there sometime in the weekend this year. 
  • RatherStarved
    RatherStarved Posts: 5,766
    Near the airport is cheaper and closer to the venue, however, there isn’t a great train link without going through downtown to my knowledge and then it’s almost an hour more out to OHare after changing lines.  So downtown is probably the best unless someone knows of a good link from Wrigley to OHare after the show? There’s basically nowhere to stay near Wrigley.  Maybe one hotel that is either sold out or $800 per night or something stupid like that.  
    PJ: 2013: London (ON); Buffalo; 2014: Cincinnati; 2016: Sunrise, Miami, Toronto 1-2, Wrigley 2; 2018: London (UK) 1, Milan, Padova, Sea 2, Wrigley 1-2, Fenway 1-2; 2021: SHN, Ohana, Ohana Encore 1-2; 2022: LA 1-2, Phx, Oak 1-2, Fresno, Copenhagen, Hyde Park 1-2; Quebec, Ottawa, Hamilton, Toronto; MSG, Camden, Nashville, Louisville, St. Louis, OKC; 2023: St. Paul 1-2, Chicago 1-2; Fort Worth 2; Austin 1-2; 2024:  Vancouver 1-2, LV 1-2, LA 1-2, Napa, Barcelona 1-2; Indy; Chicago 1-2; MSG 1-2; Philly 2; Boston 2; Ohana 1-2; 2025: FL 1-2, ATL 1-2, Nash 1-2, Pit 1-2.
     
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  • Gern Blansten
    Gern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 22,167
    RodrigoDu said:
    Dear Jammers,

    I'm headed to Chicago with my 11-yr old kid (his first ever PJ Concert and my fisrt in Chicago!)
    We are staying a couple of nights for the concert and go visit the city.
    Which hotels do you recommend?  either close to Wrigley or good spots in downtown?  also, unmissable places to eat!

    Thanks!

    Du 
    Look for a place near the Chicago Theatre....lots of shit around there and easy access to the trains
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    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
  • Hankj25
    Hankj25 Posts: 388
    edited June 2024
    I would recommend staying out by the airport and renting a car. You’ll pay a bit to park but spot hero usually has event pricing with 5-6 blocks of Wrigley about $45-55. The red line is great going north of downtown so if you get a downtown hotel you don’t need a car.  

    Lou’s for Pizza. Portillo’s for Italian Beef.  
    Shedd and Field Museum
    architectural River Tours
    Beers before at any of the neighborhood bars around Wrigley.  
    Post edited by Hankj25 on
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  • elvistheking44
    elvistheking44 Posts: 4,540
    Do not stay out by the airport, or any suburb. You’re coming to Chicago and a concert at Wrigley, stay in the city. I would suggest anywhere in the mag mile area. Close walk to the trains, museums and tons of restaurants. Try deep dish, just to say you did. Go to the shed aquarium with your 11 year old. Tons to do.
  • elvistheking44
    elvistheking44 Posts: 4,540
    Do the architecture river tour
  • elvistheking44
    elvistheking44 Posts: 4,540
    What is your 11 year old into?
  • Indifference71
    Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,909
    elvistheking44 said:
    Do not stay out by the airport, or any suburb. You’re coming to Chicago and a concert at Wrigley, stay in the city. I would suggest anywhere in the mag mile area. Close walk to the trains, museums and tons of restaurants. Try deep dish, just to say you did. Go to the shed aquarium with your 11 year old. Tons to do.
    Thank you!  My head was starting to spin reading these suggestions to stay by O'Hare.  Do it right and stay downtown and enjoy the city in the summer!
  • Jim Tressel
    Jim Tressel Posts: 138
    Not OP (but he may benefit from question), but what does anyone know about Wicker Park area? I have lots of Hyatt points that is the closest one to Wrigley Field.  
    Good area? Thanks. 
  • Indifference71
    Indifference71 Chicago Posts: 14,909
    Jim Tressel said:
    Not OP (but he may benefit from question), but what does anyone know about Wicker Park area? I have lots of Hyatt points that is the closest one to Wrigley Field.  
    Good area? Thanks. 
    Yeah it's a cool area.  Plenty of good bars/restaurants.  More of a neighborhood feel than staying downtown.  
  • dwjmu84
    dwjmu84 Posts: 408
    gotthebottle said:
    dwjmu84 said:
    We’re staying at the Ritz on the magnificent mile. We have family in the condos above. 8/31 is my 40th and we will have our 6 mo old girl in tow. Not to the show obviously. She will hang with grandma and grandpa while mom and dad rock out! But, I have her PJ onesie ready to roll. 
    He did not ask what you were doing.. he asked where he might stay. Sounds like you're bragging....
    Boy, you sound like a miserable soul.  It's clear that I'm offering this as an option, and as another has posted in this thread, mag mile is a good spot to stay.

    Grow up.
  • RodrigoDu
    RodrigoDu Posts: 140
    Thanks everyone for your suggestions! This is really helpful! We will do a bunch of these activities and eats.  Is it worth going to see the Cubs?    
    "The ocean's made me, but who came up with love?"

    D.C. '00
    West Palm Beach '03
    Tampa '03
    Philadelphia '03
    Albany '03
    Mexico City 1,2,3 '03
    Pittsburgh '06
    Cincinnati '06
    NYC 2 '10
    Costa Rica '11
    Mexico City '15
    Dana Point '21
    Chicago 2 '24
  • elvistheking44
    elvistheking44 Posts: 4,540
    Jim Tressel said:
    Not OP (but he may benefit from question), but what does anyone know about Wicker Park area? I have lots of Hyatt points that is the closest one to Wrigley Field.  
    Good area? Thanks. 
    Wicker park is great. That hotel however is somewhat out of the neighborhood. Not much directly around it. You’ll need to walk a bit to get into the really good spot. Not far, and it’s safe but it’s kinda on an island. You also won’t be close to the train that runs to wrigley. 
  • elvistheking44
    elvistheking44 Posts: 4,540
    RodrigoDu said:
    Thanks everyone for your suggestions! This is really helpful! We will do a bunch of these activities and eats.  Is it worth going to see the Cubs?    
    Are you staying until Monday? Two events at wrigley only if you’re big cubs fan. Too much good stuff in the city to spend two nights at wrigley IMO.

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