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Attn Chicagioans (Chicagoittes?)
Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 1:18 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> can anyone give me a list of MUST SEE in Chicago during the Spring or summer?
Which month is best to visit? How is it there in mid June?
planning on passing thru and visiting Cincinatti, Ohio and Fishers, Indiana during the same trip |
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Shelly Castellano, Photographer
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Huntington Beach | CA | USA | Posted: 2:22 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> The Second City Main Stage http://www.secondcity.com/
I try to see a show every time I visit. Tonight was no exception. Good Times as usual. Also Garrett's Popcorn www.garrettpopcorn.com/ for the folks back home. Last summer we got on a boat and toured the lake, great views from the water too.. Enjoy! |
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Dennis Wierzbicki, Photographer
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Plainfield | IL | USA | Posted: 8:33 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> Debra - I'm gonna guess you mean what is there to see/do that is uniquely Chicago? It depends on what you're looking for, but here are the things people I know bring their visitors to while they're in town.
First of all, of course, there are the ballparks (Wrigley and US Cellular), which are, IMO, definitely must sees, especially Wrigley (sorry White Sox fans) since it's one of the last surviving old-time parks in professional sports still in use in the US.
June is a good month. Normally not as hot as July and August and surely not as cold as April or even May.
Second City is great (many other night spots: do a search on "Old Town Chicago" and "Rush Street Chicago"). But, many cities have clubs.
How about food? Deep dish pizza (yes, Chicago is the original home of deep dish pizza - deal with it, New Yorkers ;) ) and Chicago Style hot dogs are a local treat that must be seen, smelled and eaten to be believed. Chicago's Chinatown is one of the best (just South of downtown) and there are numerous other areas with their colorful restaurants and shops (Little Italy on Taylor Street, Greektown, etc)
Now, what I think is particularly great about my home town is the lakefront. More so than anything else about the city, the long, clean, park-like lake shore is Chicago's signature "look" and you could spend an entire day going from South to North without even going in a single building, including Grant Park, Buckingham Fountain, Millennium Park, etc.. But don't miss the buildings, especially the Museums (Field of Natural History, Science, the Art Institute), the Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium... Again, other places have museums, etc., but few are grouped in such a great setting.
For shopping, the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue (only a few blocks from the lake) is a real experience.
I'm sure others will chime in with their suggestions, and if I think of anything else, I'll post again. |
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Peter Wine, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Dayton | OH | USA | Posted: 8:38 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> If you enjoy plants and flowers, the Chicago Flower Show at Navy Pier (March 7-15) should be fun, though not quite as much as a few years ago when there was a 50 foot train display inside.
If you like trains, though, visit the Chicago Botanic Garden starting May 9th, to see a large outdoor garden train display. (Created by Paul Busse, who also does the NY Botanical Garden's Holiday Train display.)
Near Cincy is the brand new EnterTRAINment Junction, with more than 80 g-scale trains running all over the place.
Not into trains? Well, head to Dayton and the National Museum of the United States Air Force and feast on SR-72 Blackbird and other treasures. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 8:57 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> Grant Wood's 'American Gothic' at the Art Institute of Chicago, and all the art located in this wonderful institution. They have one of the finest photography collections in the world.
Any place with live Jazz.
All the Frank Lloyd Wright's homes located throughout the Chicago area. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 9:09 AM on 01.03.09 |
| ->> Chicagoans; or as we're fond of calling them down here this time of year, Eskimos. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 9:17 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> Oh, and check out the "Big Butter Jesus" on I-75 between Cincinnati (3 "n's," one "t") and Dayton.
http://tinyurl.com/yzxf9d |
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David Bernacchi, Photographer
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Milwaukee | WI | USA | Posted: 9:23 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> Debra,
Being the wonderful concert photographer you are, you might want to schedule your trip around June 25 - July 5, and take the short 1 1/2 hour drive up to Milwaukee for Summerfest
www.summerfest.com
David |
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Philip Johnson, Photographer
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 10:31 AM on 01.03.09 |
| ->> If you have the time in between the sights, get some ribs at the Twin Anchors. Small neighborhood bar on the corner of Sedgwick and Eugenie. The best baby back ribs I've ever had. |
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Kevin Seale, Photographer
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Crawfordsville | IN | United States | Posted: 10:40 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> The view from the lounge at the top of the John Hancock building is awesome. From what I have been told and it has been confirmed by several friends I have taken there that the view from the women's restroom is one of the best in the city.
Live blues and jazz is very big in Chicago with several great venues with lots of personality.
While the pizza is great, I love Chicago for steaks. Lowrey's has great prime rib as does Houston's (Been several years ago since last at Houston's) and either the Kinsey Street Chop House or the Chicago Chop House serve up some great steaks. There are also all the mainstream upscale steak places like Ruths Chris, Mortons, Sullivans, etc.
Portillos for hotdogs is also at the top of my list and if you are looking for seafood, I find Shaw's hard to beat in the midwest.
If you are planning to do any photography there are some great spots along the road between the Shedd aquarium and the planetarium that provide great nighttime skyline shots and as Dennis mentioned, the close proximity to most of the museums makes visiting them much easier. The Shedd aquarium is my personal favorite.
They used to have organized tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright homes which was very interesting but am not sure if they still have them.
The various booze cruise boats that cruise along the shoreline offer some great views of the city, especially at sunset and after dark. They also used to have a big multi passenger speed boat that was one of the coolest things I ever did if you like that sort of thing.
I don't know much about Cincinnati. Fishers, Indiana does not have much to see other than is a good display of "Let's outdo thy neighbor" excessive spending. Carmel, its neighbor, tried a few years ago to implement a zoning ordinance that required all new homes to be built from brick, no siding allowed. Please keep in mind that this is INDIANA and not the Hamptons.
Hope that helps. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 10:44 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> thanks everyone,
I love these suggestions. The Chicago Lake front was definitely on my list of must see/photograph-I have seen it in MANY movies and since I love the water, it's definitely on my list. Wrigley Field also (and perfect timing for my thread-it's on the front page).
My husband would love the trains and the Air Force Museum (he is also a pilot)
The butter Jesus looks like a must see.
I'm not going to shoot a concert unless someone I haven't shot yet happens to be out that way. I have been re connecting with old friends this past year or so and want to take part of 2009 visiting where they live and and shooting the area.
Have been also thinking of traveling the entire Rt 66 so if anyone has done this recently please let me know. I saw recently because Susan Angstadt traveled it and shot it beautifully quite a few years ago and says some roads are no longer passable. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 11:05 AM on 01.03.09 |
->> I was going to suggest the Governor's mansion, but suddenly remembered it was in Springield.
Museum of Natural History is great. Take a point and shoot, they wouldn't let me in a couple of years ago with my gear. At least not on a pre-arrangement. I got the "we don't allow professional photography" letter. |
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Mark Deckard, Photographer
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Findlay | OH | USA | Posted: 12:19 PM on 01.03.09 |
| ->> I had no problem getting into any of the museums with my D300 this past summer, just took off the grip so it looked less professional. They do discourage flash photography, just keep that in mind. |
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Daniel Celvi, Student/Intern
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Carbondale | IL | | Posted: 11:03 PM on 01.03.09 |
->> On the museum camera thing, I've never had a problem with a camera in a museum, even professional ones or 'professional looking' ones. Concert venues on the other hand, I've had nothing but problems. Always, even when the camera wasn't a professional camera, just an SLR. And they (security, ticket takers, etc.) so far have never handled the situation pleasantly.
But as for things to do in Chicago—just to clarify on the food, you have to stop in somewhere and get Chicago-style pizza. The top 4 places usually tend to be Giordanos, Lou Malnattis, Gino's East, and Uno's. Everyone has their favorite place and swears by it, so it is a subjective matter. Only if you ignore the objective fact: Lou's is the best. The sauce is a chunky one, which I don't like usually, but I make the exception. The sausage is often a bit much for people not from around here, so maybe avoid that the first time around. Though there is likely to be a wait, cost isn't too bad (at Lou's: 15/medium pizza, which is plenty for 2 people). |
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John Plassenthal, Photographer
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Vandalia | OH | USA | Posted: 11:06 PM on 01.05.09 |
->> Most people like the view from the Sears Tower, but I like the view from the Hancock better as the Sears Tower is in the view.
Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park is great to see especially at night when it's all lit up.
There is a lot to do around the Navy Pier. Find the time to take a boat tour, the scenery is great.
There is always the beach, Watertower place, and you can go see the silver bean (not sure it's real name) or take in a concert at Millenium Park.
There is always shopping along Millenium Mile or taking a trip down along the L where the Blues Brothers was shot.
Chicago Bay from the Adler Planetarium is a great vanatage point for sunrise or sunset.
There are always shows and sports. The Chicago Air and Water show is in August this year, as is the Jazz Festival. Nascar is in Chicago in July. The Blues festival is in June. Take of Chicago is around July 4.
Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio is in Chicago, and there is a nice arboretum in Lisle west on I-88.
Photos to go with the rant: http://www.sportsshooter.com/jrplaz/chicago/ |
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Scott Strazzante, Photographer
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Chicago | IL | USA | Posted: 11:11 AM on 01.06.09 |
->> Debra, you'll definitely want to do a couple of touristy things like seeing Cloud Gate aka The Bean in Millenium Park, going to the top of the Hancock or Sears Tower, taking a stroll down the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue north of the Chicago River) and checking out the pieces of famous landmarks affixed to the facade of the Tribune Tower. You must also pop down to Lower Michigan Avenue (across from the Tribune Tower beneath the Walgreen's) and have a cheeseburger at Billy Goat Tavern, 430 N. Michigan.
The best sightseeing trip is the architectural boat ride down the Chicago River. A must for any visitor to Chicago.
However, once you do your touristy thing, sample some of the diversity in the neighborhoods of Chicago. Great Mexican food in Pilsen and Little Village. Excellent Italian on Taylor Street. Devon Avenue for Indian food. My favorite pizza place is Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co., 2121 N. Clark Street. It is much better than the tourist trap places like Gino's East.
There are a ton of great neighborhood music venues- like Schuba's, The Empty Bottle, Green Mill, etc. but my favorite is Hide Out at 1354 W. Wabansia Avenue. After, stop by Rainbo Club at 1150 N. Damen for a cheap beer and a stop in the photo booth.
For blues, the tourist's favorite is Buddy Guy's Legends at 754 S. Wabash but for the real experience go to Lee's Unleaded Blues, 7401 South Chicago Avenue in the shadow of the Chicago Skyway. If you like industrial skylines continue south east towards the Illinois/Indiana border and check out the bridges over the Calumet River including the one on 95th Street that Jake and Elwood Blues made famous in Blues Brothers.
Have a great time and if the White Sox are in town, US Cellular Field isn't Wrigley Field but it is a lot of fun and a great place to see a ball game. |
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Patrick Murphy-Racey, Photographer
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Powell | TN | USA | Posted: 3:48 PM on 01.06.09 |
->> you have to hit the chicago pizza and ovengrinder restaurant. it's at 2121 N. Clark street which is in the same block where the St. Valentines Day Masacre took place in 1929:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Valentine's_Day_Massacre
It's a block full of history and a place not many ever plunder as tourists. I grew up on Chicago's South Side in an area called Beverly. I would pass many pizza places to head to CPCO for dinner through the years...
Chicagoans give directions not with streets and roads but with restaurants, dives, and parish. You might also want to check out Fat Johnnie's Red Hot stand at 72nd & Western Ave., the only hot dog stand ever to gracve the pages of National Geographic. It's a trailer about 12' wide... best dogs on the planet!!!!
7242 S Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60636
Phone: (773) 737-6294
Because I'm a good south side irishman myself, you should consider hitting Top Notch Beefburgers, voted the #1 burger in Chicago for thirty years running
http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/3721647
Like I said, it's all about food in Chicago... Bon Petit!!
http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/3711244/chicago_il/fat_johnnie_s_famo... |
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Bradley Leeb, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 4:28 PM on 01.06.09 |
->> An earlier thread mentioned eating at Portillo's and it got my mouth watering. I moved to downstate Illinois over the summer, and one thing I miss is Portillo's "cake shake". They have the MOST amazing chocolate cake, and for the cake shake, they blend a slice up in with a chocolate milkshake. I don't know if it's even officialy on the menu board, but order it anyways. Also, even though I turned vegetarian seven years ago, I still yearn for their Italian Beef. Way awesome.
For entertainment, I would suggest heading north to Highland Park and catching a show at Ravinia. It's an outdoor pavilion, lawn area type place. They have quite a variety. Anything from the Chicago Symphony to Hootie and the Blowfish. Sitting out on the lawn having a picnic and listening to some great music is a terrific way to spend a summer night. |
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Michael Muszynski, Photographer, Student/Intern
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