Planning A First Time Trip to Chicago - Neighborhood Info.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by richrf

Don't bother walking North on Clark. Instead walk North on Broadway. You'll pass by my favorite organic tea place, Loose Leaf Lounge, and then a couple of blocks further is Intelligensia which some consider the best coffee in Chicago. Along the way there are tons of shops. A new stand-up comedy theatre just opened up just south of Belmont on Broadway.

Metropolis is the best coffee in Chicago.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by knitgirl

Great idea - you should have a terrific time! If you need any ideas of things to do, do a search for threads by Mo Italy or maybe it's MoItaly. He really has gotten around in his visits here and always reports back on his impressions.

Yeah, I think this is the thread you're thinking about. A very good (and thorough) recap.

[SonySegaTendo617]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

The buses are great too but are usually harder to figure out for first time visitors.

In honesty, the routing of buses, and the hours they run, aren't that tough to figure out. You can pretty much find bus frequency info, and a pdf of the exact bus route, at transitchicago.com The only thing that I often get confused about, is knowing where the exact routes of the express buses running on Lake Shore Drive(lmao). Most CTA buses run at least till 9:30-11pm at night(though there are some exceptions, where the routes stop running after like 7-8pm), select ones run till midnight or till around 1am, and a limited number run 24 hours a day. From where you'll be staying, the Clark and Sheridan buses are 24/7(Belmont bus is also 24/7, in case you head a little north), Broadway runs till I believe 1am everyday, Diversey runs till 11pm on weekdays, but be warned that it ends earlier on weekends(9 or 9:30 on Saturdays, and 8pm on Sunday).

Oh, and CTA Bus Tracker and Train Tracker remain the VERY BEST THING CTA has come out with in years. Use it all the time if you have a cell phone and are riding the buses, so you don't wait unusually long at a bus stop. CTA is slowly rolling out bus tracker displays on the side of bus stop shelters, but not many have those displays yet. Anyway, bus tracker is such a great program, that it'll even show upcoming buses for different routes heading to that same stop(i.e. if you're waiting for a southbound #22 bus south of Diversey on Clark, and are getting frustrated how long the wait for the #22 is, it'll show upcoming #36 Broadway buses about to make it to that bus stop as well, or ditto anywhere else where more than one bus route stops at a bus stop).

[traveler36]

My ticket is booked and il'l be there in 2 weeks, thanks for all the suggestions I made a list and mapped everything out hopefully I can fill my days with fun!!

[It'sAutomatic]

You picked a good place to stay. I hope you choose to walk around and see that neighborhood and others, checking out what Chicago has to offer to residents and not just tourists. You'll be in the middle of the safest part of the city, you can go anywhere within a few miles and be fine. The area around the Armitage brown line is pretty nice, like a mini business district with nice old architecture centered around the station.

[Aenej4]

I recommend buying a CTA unlimited ride pass if you plan on riding the L and buses. I have done this before and it is very convenient and hassle free. You don't have to keep adding money to your CTA pass and you will end up saving money in the end.

http://www.transitchicago.com/travel...ridecards.aspx

[marothisu]

Good area you picked. Lot of restaurants and stuff in the area too..

[rca215]

You'll be about a block from Half Shell, which is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon chowing on some seafood on their front patio.