Chicago!

[Laurie]

I'm so excited about my upcoming visit to Chicago in July. I'm going for the Pitchfork Fest, which will obviously take up a lot of time, but I will be taking an extra two days and hope to squeeze in as much as possible.

I've already made reservations for 24-course meal at Alinea and booked my room at the James Hotel. Where else should I eat? Shop? Galleries? I want to check out GARDENfresh for sure! Also, I'm  probably going to have brunch at Hot Chocolate. Ooh, and Rotofugi looks like a super-cool store.

Chicagoans: Tell me the can't-miss places and experiences. THANKS!

[todd]

All those places you named are pretty solid bets.

I know you're into comics, so check out Quimby's, Chicago Comics and Brainstorm. I hear the museums are all pretty good if you're into that kind of boring shit.

What kind of stuff are you looking to do? Shop, touristy stuff, restaurants?

[Laurie]

All three things!

[Andy]

I have an aunt with a condo up there that they use about 3 weeks out of the year.  I'm thinking about asking if I can crash at their place so that I can go to pitchfork fest.  talk about a stellar lineup.

[dania]

Laurie, there's a mess of good places right by that rotofugi place:
Permanent Wax (near Chicago and Damen), awesome record store, they also host great in-store shows that are always free and they'll most likely have one during or around pitchfork fest. 
Atomix- a swell eatery that I like, nextdoor to rtfgi
There's also a few polish delis just west of there..
Sprout- a garden store just south on damen a little bit, they have a lot of cool stuff but i've heard it's expensive. 

there's just too much good stuff.  I can't do it....

[todd]

As far as touristy shit goes, my parents were just in town, so these are fresh in my mind:

The Wendella architecture boat tour is kinda cheesy but you get to ride a boat up and down the river, which goes right through the city. It's only $20, takes an hour, and they point out all the famous buildings and give some historical context.

Don't go in the Sears Tower, go to the Hancock. It's almost as tall, has a better view, and it's free - but with a two drink minimum. So you still end up paying $25 to get up there, but you get two free drinks out of it.

The restaurants you listed are great. Have a hotdog with a bunch of weird vegetables on it just to say you did it, but those hotdogs and deep dish pizza are pretty gross. Theres a place called Hot Dougs on the northwest side that has fucked up hot dogs like "Brandy-Soaked Portuguese Linguica with Saffron Rouille and Queso Arico Cheese" or "Bacon Sausage with Wine-Infused Grainy Dijon Mustard, Herb-Garlic Eurocrème and Caramelized Onions." Yes, that's right, someone found a way to make hot dogs pretentious.

Or go to Weiner's Circle (theres a This American Life episode about it) and get called a "cunt" by middle aged black women. Good times.

[Fig Neutron]

Since you'll be downtown:

- Chicago Hot Dogs:  Gold Coast Dogs - 159 N Wabash Ave (or at Union Station)--get the cheese fries
- Comic Books:  Graham Crackers - 77 E. Madison St.
- Pizza: The Art of Pizza has about the best, but that's way up north (Ashland and Belmont).  Forget pizza, you can get stuffed pizzas all around now.  But Uno, Gino's and Giordano's are the big names for stuffed / deep dish pizza.
- Record Store:  Reckless has a downtown location - 26 E. Madison (near Graham Crackers).  Dusty Groove is good, but at Ashland and Division.

If your extra two days happen to be BEFORE Pitchfork, The Art Institute has free evenings on Thursdays.  (was just there last Thurs.)  I couldn't find any other free days during that time-span.  All the museums used to have free days each week, but no more!

And stare at the Picasso for a bit (50 W. Washington St.):



(I used to work in the building across the street from the building behind this).

And just behind him, across the street to the left is this crazy/cool building:





And of course, the obscenely over-priced (EDIT: cost to the city--free admission), most massively delayed (yet absolutely stunning) project ever, Millennium Park:



(EDIT 2:  Quite the massive pic, requires left-rightscrolling)

That's about all I can think of right now.

[TL]

I know people dis it, but I don't know why: the Chicago Diner never fails to deliver great food, all vegetarian, mostly vegan, including amazing vegan cheese cake (I like the reuben and the mac and cheese) - check it out:  Chicago Diner.  Also, Earwax, in Wicker Park, has decent iced coffee and decent grub, and is near good record and clothes shopping.
As cheesy a they may be, boat tours of almost anywhere I've ever been are usually worth it, and I also agree with Todd's "go to the Hancock, not the Sears Tower" sentiment!

[Emerson]

Chicago Diner is good, just slightly overcrowded and overpriced, considering what else can be had in Chicago. I'm a Handlebar guy: http://handlebarchicago.com

The Chicago/Damen corner (with my beloved Atomix and Permanent Wax, which helped finance my move with its generous buying policies) and the North/Damen/Milwaukee "crotch" (with Quimby's, Earwax, the crushworthy Myopic Books and a lotta bars) are both near enough to Union Park. If you're find yourself Clark/Belmont, check out the L&L (a classic old-Chicago dive smack in Gentrification Central) and Chicago Comics (lots of cool local stuff on consignment).

[Laurie]

Thanks for the tips, pals!

[TL]

I'm a Handlebar guy: http://handlebarchicago.com

Thanks for the tip on the Handlebar - I've never been there - looks good!

[todd]

Handlebar blows Chicago Diner outta the water. You'd like it.

[Laurie]

Handlebar is going on my to-visit list for sure. I hope all of the staff are required to grow elaborate mustaches and ride recumbent bicycles.

[henry]

soul veg is good.  it is might be out of your way  but if you have extra time it is worth the trip.

http://www.kingdomofyah.com/Soul%20Vegetarian%20Worldwide.html

if you make it to the south side you should stop at the dog factory and get a fresh one at best kosher.  and for heavens sakes get some mexican food while your in chicago. 

[dania]

oh!  mexican food in chicago is THE BEST. 
My favorites:

El Cid
Taqueria Moran
Arturro's (open 24/7)
Irazu (not mexican, but costa rican; still excellent)