Thank YOU - 8 hours in Chicago (Madison, Grant Park: appointed, neighborhoods, restaurants)

[SummerShi]

Thanks to a couple of you, who provided me with information in which to better enjoy a short visit to your city.
I flew into O'Hare, found the blue line, had to ask a doorman if I was going the right direction to to the Art Institute. Made it to the Art Institute just before opening, amazed at the line. The Institute was amazing, needed more time. I left to try and find pizza for lunch, couldn't find it. Disappointed at the amount of chain restraunts on Michigan Ave...decided to walk in the direction of the water and it started raining and I became the only person on the sidewalk, wandered into Grant Park(?) ended up going back to the AI for lunch at the cafe because I was starving and wet. Continued my tour, loved, loved, it. Walked across the bridge to Millenium park, cool reflecting ball for photo ops. Fun watching the kids play in the fountains. Sleep deprivation and beginings of a migraine cut my day short and I rode the train back to O'Hare checked in at the Hilton, and fell asleep till wake up call for early am flight. I really enjoyed riding the "El" seeing the view of diff. neighborhoods out the window. Saw enough of your city to warrant another visit, but want to venture out of the tourist area and into some neighborhoods. I will check back here when I plan my return. Meantime, thanks and I'll beee baaack.

[alwaystraveling25]

Originally Posted by SummerShi

Thanks to a couple of you, who provided me with information in which to better enjoy a short visit to your city.
I flew into O'Hare, found the blue line, had to ask a doorman if I was going the right direction to to the Art Institute. Made it to the Art Institute just before opening, amazed at the line. The Institute was amazing, needed more time. I left to try and find pizza for lunch, couldn't find it. Disappointed at the amount of chain restraunts on Michigan Ave...decided to walk in the direction of the water and it started raining and I became the only person on the sidewalk, wandered into Grant Park(?) ended up going back to the AI for lunch at the cafe because I was starving and wet. Continued my tour, loved, loved, it. Walked across the bridge to Millenium park, cool reflecting ball for photo ops. Fun watching the kids play in the fountains. Sleep deprivation and beginings of a migraine cut my day short and I rode the train back to O'Hare checked in at the Hilton, and fell asleep till wake up call for early am flight. I really enjoyed riding the "El" seeing the view of diff. neighborhoods out the window. Saw enough of your city to warrant another visit, but want to venture out of the tourist area and into some neighborhoods. I will check back here when I plan my return. Meantime, thanks and I'll beee baaack.

Glad you had a great time here, and I just wanted to comment on one of your lines about "lack of chain restaurants". When I first moved here, that was one of the things I instantly picked up in this city - aside from some huge nationwide Fastfood chains (McDonald's, Taco Bell) and sandwich chains (Panera, Subway, Quiznos), Chicago is similar to NYC in that there are a lot more local/regionally based restaurants to eat in. There certainly is not an Applebee's or Chili's anywhere near me!

If you end up back here in the same area, I highly recommend Cafe Bacci at 20 N. Michigan Ave. I used to have lunch here often when I worked in the area, and it filled me up in a somewhat moderately priced meal.

[vandre]

Originally Posted by SummerShi

The Institute was amazing, needed more time. I left to try and find pizza for lunch, couldn't find it. Disappointed at the amount of chain restraunts on Michigan Ave...decided to walk in the direction of the water

Next time you are nearby, you could try Pizano's or Exchequers, both have decent pizza.

Pizanos is 2 blocks north and 1 block west from the Art Institute entrance (Madison and Wabash), whereas Exchequers is 1 block west and 1 block south (Jackson and Wabash)

[NYC2CHI]

AT25, I don't think there was a comment about the lack of chain restaurants. I took the poster's comment to mean (s)he was disappointed that there were *so many* on Michigan.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by SummerShi

Thanks to a couple of you, who provided me with information in which to better enjoy a short visit to your city.
I flew into O'Hare, found the blue line, had to ask a doorman if I was going the right direction to to the Art Institute. Made it to the Art Institute just before opening, amazed at the line. The Institute was amazing, needed more time. I left to try and find pizza for lunch, couldn't find it. Disappointed at the amount of chain restraunts on Michigan Ave...decided to walk in the direction of the water and it started raining and I became the only person on the sidewalk, wandered into Grant Park(?) ended up going back to the AI for lunch at the cafe because I was starving and wet. Continued my tour, loved, loved, it. Walked across the bridge to Millenium park, cool reflecting ball for photo ops. Fun watching the kids play in the fountains. Sleep deprivation and beginings of a migraine cut my day short and I rode the train back to O'Hare checked in at the Hilton, and fell asleep till wake up call for early am flight. I really enjoyed riding the "El" seeing the view of diff. neighborhoods out the window. Saw enough of your city to warrant another visit, but want to venture out of the tourist area and into some neighborhoods. I will check back here when I plan my return. Meantime, thanks and I'll beee baaack.

A few blocks away at Madison and Wabash there is a decent pizza joint and it is not too expensive. I just don't recall the name of it - Pizzanois or something like that. Next time just ask somebody that works there- they know where all the food joints are.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by vandre

Next time you are nearby, you could try Pizano's or Exchequers, both have decent pizza.

Pizanos is 2 blocks north and 1 block west from the Art Institute entrance (Madison and Wabash), whereas Exchequers is 1 block west and 1 block south (Jackson and Wabash)

That's the place I was thinking of! Not so pricey either.

[SummerShi]

Yeah, actually it was the existence of Subway, McDonalds, Bennigans, etc that disappointed me but honestly I probably just walked in the wrong direction to find something different. I was hungry and hurrying. I'll go back, and find some local places to eat. ;o)