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Hello Guys

At the debut of spring, i go for 10 days in the Illinois state, in Chicago. Could you indicate me some interesting places has to see and to visit?
That the first time i go to USA

first of all, i wanna see the Soldier Field ( i love Bears ) and it is possible top see a practice game?
Then I shall want to taste a true hamburgers, where i have to go ? In France we have just McDonald

I love Art, National parc, amusement parc, zoo et meet cool people

Thx to help me guys

I ain't no americans soz. but i can help you about chicago thing.
1. Pullman district.
2. Site of the St. Valentine's day Massacre.

I don't know how well off you are financially, but what Americans have achieved with corn fed beef makes for a mind-blowing eating experience.

If you have never had a "true" hamburger, then you likewise have never had a real steak.

Try to get to a Ruth's Chris, or Morton's steak house. There's a Ruth's Chris downtown, just off of Deerborn and Hubbard Street. There's a Morton's on N. State and another on Wacker.

Fair warning, these places will cost $50 and up, per person. But a true Prime American ribeye, medium rare or rarer, at a steakhouse that knows how to do it "right" is a great experience.

For a burger, you can hit up the Billy Goat Tavern; there's several throughout Chicago, just google it.

I'm glad to see you'll be visiting our wonderful city!

The best thing about Chicago really is our food. We've got plenty of classic, high-quality restaurants, but also tons of hip little places that serve amazingly good food. Don't you dare go to some chain restaurant or fast food joint when you're in town!

Sadly, you won't be able to see the Bears. Training camp doesn't start until late July, and the practice games don't start until mid-August.

Chicago isn't exactly a well-known hamburger city. But, we do have plenty of hamburger joints. I'm going to recommend Kuma's Corner (2900 W Belmont).

For other foods, you've got to try Chicago style deep-dish pizza. It's truly amazing. Best is definitely Gino's East (162 E Superior). I'm also a big fan of Art of Pizza (3033 N Ashland). They do stuffed pizza rather than deep dish. I know, it looks the same to a non-Chicagoan, but any true Chicagoan can go on at length about the differences.

We also specialize in the Italian Beef sandwich. It's like a Philly Steak sandwich, but without the cheese and a ton more sauce. Hot peppers are preferred, but you can go with sweet peppers if you want. Make sure to get it dipped! Best in the city is Al's Beef (1079 W Taylor).

The other main food in Chicago (and the mid-west) is a sausage of some kind. Chicago is best known for Polish Sausages, and all-beef Hot Dogs. I'd suggest either Portillo's (100 W Ontario) or Hot Doug's (3324 N California). Hot Doug's is by far the better option, but the line can get really long (expect to wait ~2 hours if you're going on the weekend, when they have their duck fat french fries). And, don't even think about putting Ketchup on your hot dog! I will personally run you out of town if you do!

And, if you want really fine dining, I'm going to suggest Charlie Trotter's (816 W Armitage) or Alinea (1723 N Halsted). They are both consistently ranked by critics as some of the best restaurants in the world. Trotter's is more classic fine dining, and it's actually going to close this year ( ), so get your reservation now if you want to go. Alinea is a very... surreal take on foods. Avoid it if that scares you, but if you're interested, give it a try.


Other than food, make sure to check out the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium (both right next to Soldier Field). Adler Planetarium is right there as well, but I've never been impressed with it. The Museum of Science and Industry is on the south side, but I've been disappointed with it. The Art Institute is an absolutely must see. Even if you're not into art, make sure to spend some time there. If you are into art, check out the Museum of Contemporary Art as well.

There's also the Lincoln Park Zoo (totally free and open all year round), Grant Park (with Buckingham Fountain), and Wrigley Field to go see. And, Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) to take get great views of the city. (The John Hancock building is almost as tall, and there's a bar on the top floor that's free to access if you get a drink.)

If you're into architecture, there's a ton of things relating to Frank Loyd Wright, and there's an architecture boat tour along the Chicago river.

If shopping is your thing, make sure to go down Mag Mile, and possibly hit up Navy pier.

I'd also recommend the Chicago Botanic Garden, but it's a ways north, and you'll need to have a car to get there.

Yes, you need to get an all-beef hotdog.

I try to always hit up a Chardog for a sausage and cheese fries whenever I'm in the windy city.

I would recommend the Shedd Aquarium. I went there a few years back, and it was really cool

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/contactus.html

Have some of the pizza here, check out some of the muesums Especially check out the science and modern muesum not the contemporary art one because that one is just bad...
Have some deep dish. Experience the horrible winter we have here. Mainly stay in the city its more exicting compared to the suburbs.

Grakmar wrote:
And, if you want really fine dining, I'm going to suggest Charlie Trotter's (816 W Armitage) or Alinea (1723 N Halsted). They are both consistently ranked by critics as some of the best restaurants in the world. Trotter's is more classic fine dining, and it's actually going to close this year ( ), so get your reservation now if you want to go. Alinea is a very... surreal take on foods. Avoid it if that scares you, but if you're interested, give it a try.

Other good choices are Avec, Moto, Otom (a slightly more casual version of Moto), Lawry's, Frontera Grill (Or really, anything run by Rick Bayless), and The Publican. Sixteen in the Trump Tower has also gotten good reviews.

Grakmar wrote:
The Museum of Science and Industry is on the south side, but I've been disappointed with it.

I think its worth hitting up MSI if only for the U-505 exhibit, which is now inside, and one of the only intact Stukas left in the world.

Six flags might be fun for you. Brookefield Zoo is nice. The GW store in Downers Grove is massive if you want a pickup game. You should start fasting now, fasting or binge eating not sure what one would help you more. I miss my home town.

From DuPage?

Yup lived in Villa park/ Elmhurst most my life.

I've lived all over the suburbs and city, but probably spent the most time living in Lisle and Naperville.

How much time did you spend in Cabrini Green?

I had to get my crack somewhere.

dogma wrote:I had to get my crack somewhere.

They've actually been closed down for a while and were somewhat quietly replaced with mixed-income housing starting in the 90's. I used to live 4 blocks away from the development which made for an interesting experience. If I went 4 blocks in one direction, I was on the corner of one of the most famous Chicago housing developments. If I went 4 blocks in the other, I was entering the Gold Coast neighborhood which included the original location of the Playboy corporation (whose building has a great sushi place now!). Needless to say, when I had to choose a grocery store to walk to, I didn't go left towards Cabrini.

@ the OP:

I'd recommend the Field Museum and normally the Art Institute but the latter may be somewhat lacking given your country of origin (depending on your experience with French art museums). The other benefit to the Art Institute is that it is right off of the lake front and Grant Park and a short walk away from the sights there (including the Bean sculpture). Foodwise, I'd echo going to Pizzeria Uno or Due (two pizzerias owned by the same guy within a block of each other) near downtown or Lou Malnati's (sp?) in the suburbs as those two restaurants invented and perfected Chicago Style deep dish pizza. Navy Pier is a nice (but touristy) way to end the night with a full size Ferris Wheel that lets you see most of the city. The other iconic Chicago food is the chicago-style hotdog (with cuccumber, totato, peppers, onions, and mustard) for which I'd echo the Portillo's recommendation as well as Superdawg on the northwest edge of the city. The latter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdawg) has some iconic fast food architecture on the roof as well as an actual working drive in style eating/seating like the opening of Happy Days. There are plenty of other great restaurants that serve everything from Sushi to brazilian steak to pierogi but those aren't the things the area is famous for. I'd also echo the recommendation of the John Hancock building restaurant's view over the Sears Tower (especially now that the sears tower is no longer called that nor is it the tallest building in the world).

Gaming-wise (since we're on a gaming forum), you're actually close to a mecca (no gencon pun intended) of tabletop gaming. D&D was started north of Chicago in Lake Geneva and you could visit the birthsite of RPGs just to say you did. There's not much to see there yet (there will eventually be a dragon statue commerating it but it hasn't been built to my knowledge yet). Games Plus (www.games-plus.com) was the best store in the greater metro area while I lived there and could serve any gaming needs that may crop up during your time. There is also a GW Battle Bunker in the western Suburbs in case you've never been to one. Hope that helps!

By the way you should do the Ghosts of Illionis Tour it is fantastic!

Also check out the chicago battle bunker.

warboss wrote:
They've actually been closed down for a while and were somewhat quietly replaced with mixed-income housing starting in the 90's. I used to live 4 blocks away from the development which made for an interesting experience. If I went 4 blocks in one direction, I was on the corner of one of the most famous Chicago housing developments. If I went 4 blocks in the other, I was entering the Gold Coast neighborhood which included the original location of the Playboy corporation (whose building has a great sushi place now!). Needless to say, when I had to choose a grocery store to walk to, I didn't go left towards Cabrini.

That's like the jokes about U Chicago being one the world's best universities surrounded by some of the cities worst neighborhoods.

dogma wrote:That's like the jokes about U Chicago being one the world's best universities surrounded by some of the cities worst neighborhoods.

It's sadly no joke as it is in a rough area, as are most of the city universities. UIC (to a lesser extent), U of C, IIT, etc. Northwestern is in the near north suburbs and has issues if you stray too far from the campus. Note that my info in 3 or so years old, which is enough time for a neighborhood to change with the rapid gentrification of parts of Chicago.

UIC has seen a lot of redevelopment, and Northwestern has always been fairly safe. Evanston is a mixed town in terms of income, but not overly dangerous.

Northeastern, Loyola, and DePaul are alright too.

U Chicago runs into problems because holding up rich kids is quite the industry there.

Matters what part you are in though that would be considered dangerous. As long as you have a menacing black guy as friend of yours, you'll be fine.

Deathshead420 wrote:Yup lived in Villa park/ Elmhurst most my life.

Small world! Lived in Wooddale for my jr. high and high school years. Mother retired to Cookesville. Been there many, many times.

Edit: sorry off-topic!

On-topic: If you want a true Chicago hotdog, and that's all you want. Try Gene and Judes at Grand and River. It's not in Chicago proper, it's in the suburbs. But, it's rated as the best hotdog in Chicagoland!

Visiting Chicago is an excellent oppurtunity to visit all the places featured in John Hughes films.

There are excellent blues and jazz clubs in Chicago I remember that much.

You can visit the political buildings to get close to the seat of corruption in politics in the USA.

Grakmar wrote:Chicago isn't exactly a well-known hamburger city. But, we do have plenty of hamburger joints. I'm going to recommend Kuma's Corner (2900 W Belmont).

There are a ton of good Hamburger joints in Chicago. You should try Five Guys (2140 N. Clybourn St.; 773-327-5953) They even have free peanuts.

Grakmar wrote:For other foods, you've got to try Chicago style deep-dish pizza. It's truly amazing. Best is definitely Gino's East (162 E Superior). I'm also a big fan of Art of Pizza (3033 N Ashland). They do stuffed pizza rather than deep dish. I know, it looks the same to a non-Chicagoan, but any true Chicagoan can go on at length about the differences.

You really can not go wrong with any Pizza place in chicago, however, the best is Lou Malnati's. Get the Deep Dish with sausage.
D'Agostino's make a great pie as well. 1351 W. Addison Chicago, IL 60657 (3 Blocks from Wrigley Field)

Grakmar wrote:The other main food in Chicago (and the mid-west) is a sausage of some kind. Chicago is best known for Polish Sausages, and all-beef Hot Dogs. I'd suggest either Portillo's (100 W Ontario) or Hot Doug's (3324 N California). Hot Doug's is by far the better option, but the line can get really long (expect to wait ~2 hours if you're going on the weekend, when they have their duck fat french fries). And, don't even think about putting Ketchup on your hot dog! I will personally run you out of town if you do!

If you want a Chicago hotdog it has to be from Gene and Judes at Grand and River. it's rated as the best hotdog in Chicagoland! and it is 7 blocks from my place. I am so Lucky!


For Sightseeing do not forget to check out Water Tower Place, and the Tribune Tower.

The Water Tower place has some cool architecture.

The Tribune Tower also has some cool architecture, and you can see artifacts from all 50 states, and some other countries as well (Like a piece of the Great Wall of China), all at The Tribune Tower

DeathReaper wrote:

Grakmar wrote:Chicago isn't exactly a well-known hamburger city. But, we do have plenty of hamburger joints. I'm going to recommend Kuma's Corner (2900 W Belmont).

There are a ton of good Hamburger joints in Chicago. You should try Five Guys (2140 N. Clybourn St.; 773-327-5953) They even have free peanuts.

Five Guys is a nationwide chain and is about as "Chicago" as Burger King. If anything, the first McDonalds is in the near suburb of Des Plaines but sadly they don't actually do anything with it. It'd be nice if they actually ran it as a restaurant or museum but instead its just a building and parking lot with classic cars that is usually locked up most of the year. Five Guys do make good burgers for fast food though if the OP needs an example of a typical good burger.

While your here go to the Marano's in libertyville their prices are too die for! Also theres a GW right across the street and the longest stretch of car dealerships!

+1 for Gene and Judes.....ask for extra ketchup lol..j/k dont do that. As for the pizza i really like Girodano's stuffed. Makes sure to stop at a Portillo's to lots of good stuff but known for the beef.

warboss wrote:

DeathReaper wrote:There are a ton of good Hamburger joints in Chicago. You should try Five Guys (2140 N. Clybourn St.; 773-327-5953) They even have free peanuts.

Five Guys is a nationwide chain and is about as "Chicago" as Burger King.

I never said Five guys was "Chicago" I just said they make a good burger.

warboss wrote:If anything, the first McDonalds is in the near suburb of Des Plaines but sadly they don't actually do anything with it.

Sadly this is not true.

The first McDonalds restaurant was in California.

The McDonalds Museum/restaurant is in Des Plaines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_and_Maurice_McDonald

DeathReaper wrote:

warboss wrote:If anything, the first McDonalds is in the near suburb of Des Plaines but sadly they don't actually do anything with it.

Sadly this is not true.

The first McDonalds restaurant was in California.

The McDonalds Museum/restaurant is in Des Plaines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_and_Maurice_McDonald

It's the first store opened by Ray Kroc, the guy who bought out the Californians, and whose face is on a plaque in every McDonald's I've ever been in and who turned McDonalds from a local store chain into the ubiquitous international corporation it is (which can be seen as either good or bad depending on your opinion). Technically it was the 9th store but the 1st one in the chain of burger joints we know today. Either way, if you're going to do some sort of burger tourism in Chicago, Five Guys isn't a good destination choice but a decent choice if you're just plain hungry and there is one nearby.

If you really do want a Chicago burger, Paradise Pup, in Des Plaines, down the street, coincidentally, from the a fore mentioned McDonalds.

It is constantly rated as one of the best burgers in Chicago, and my personal favorite.

Yes Paradise pup has a great burger. (I live near there)

The Silverado Grill has a great burger as well. They butcher the sides of beef the same day as they make them into burger, very tasty.

The only downside is that they are at 447 Spring Road, Elmhurst, which is near O'Hare airport, but about 12 miles from downtown.
http://thesilveradogrill.com/menu.html