Yeah tickets are outrageous since it’s Bears-Packers and we’re winning. We’re already planning layers.
Yeah bundle up. The wind really whips around up there. Not to be a wet (frozen) blanket, but it gets nasty up there in december. Bring face masks ect. It will be fun though. Just get the boy a lot of hot chocolate.
Planning to go to the Bulls-Thunder game on Friday. Is buying tickets at the United Center relatively painless or is it a cluster?
Fear of commitment.... might find something better to do. Although there probably won't be anything better to do this time of year. Good point though. I could always buy tickets online just before the game.
I don't know when Stubhub's cut off is (Cubs i think is 2 hours before the game) but being cold, semi-hard to get to and a Friday night so there will be high demand, it would be very annoying to go there and find out it is sold out.
Wrote a post a few weeks back about taking my son(12) to the Bears game Sunday. We’re staying at the Hilton on Michigan ave and only spending 1 night. Should arrive in Chicago around noon tomorrow, figure on showing him the bean, millennial park, and maybe walking to the start of the magnificent mile so he can see some of that. Figure we’ll walk back and have Lou Malnati’s for dinner, it’s right behind the Hilton. Sunday of course will be the Bears game and I was hoping to get him a Chicago style dog but the nearest Portillo’s is going to be too long of a walk after walking to the Bears game. Any good Chicago style dogs close to the Hilton and what would be something fun to do for a few hours before we have to go back to union station? Our train leaves at 9.
A lot depends on when and group size. I'd go bavettes but getting a table on a Saturday night takes a reservation weeks in advance. Same for Maple and Ash. Tango Sur is the best BYOB steakhouse you'll find.
Gibson's Italia is another steakhouse recommendation if you are ambitious. Otherwise Chicago Cut, Swift and Sons, Joe's, or RPM are good options too
I was standing on the platform and near the person who got hit and killed by the redline this morning. I didn't see it but 100% heard the thumps. I heard thought "that doesn't sound good" and turned around to see the train slamming on its brakes and the conductor yelling "oh shit oh shit". Not sure if it was a suicide or accident but being reported as an accident that the person was too close.
Just home from a great Chicago weekend. Thanks for the devil dog suggestion, although I’m not sure if my son was real keen on Chicago dogs. Looking to hone in my Chicago visiting plans. The last 2 times I’ve taken the Amtrak from Ohio and it’s alright but the limited times and delays have soured me on it. Thinking about driving to the 93rd stop on the Metra, parking and then taking the Metra into the Millennium stop. Looks like I could hit the 93rd stop early on a Saturday morning and then take it back from the Millennium stop around 6 or so on a Sunday. The Amtrak doesn’t leave until 930 Sunday night and it’s a lot of sitting and waiting after a Bears game, and my ass is getting too old to be driving at 3 o clock in the morning Ohio time. By taking the 93rd stop would I start to run into heavy Chicago traffic? I’m trying to make these get aways as stress free as possible.
Gibsons Italia is money and has one of the better views you'll find at a restaurant in the city. If you want to do fine dining, you'll almost certainly need a reservation. They do have several floors and one of them is typically more casual with high top seating and a lot of bar space, so you could theoretically walk in and get a spot in that area or have a couple of drinks while you wait to get a table in the main dining areas.
Still investigating my next Chicago trip, what Metra stop do you think would be better to drive to from Ohio and get on, 93rd or university park? Both have final stops of millennium park which is perfect because we’ll probably be staying at the Hilton on Michigan Ave. Are both mostly safe since I’ll be taking my teenage children?
No just trying to make it into downtown without having to put up with the stress and frustrations of driving. That’s one of the things I actually enjoy about Chicago compared to the west coast. Everything in CA is so spread out and the public transit sucks you almost have to drive. I actually enjoy letting the cabbies do the work.
That would be nice, I’m at the halfway point at work. 14 more years and I can draw a pension, and then they’ll be paying me to stay home.
No, when you get a pension that's when you move to Indiana and pay zero taxes on that shit. You have no idea how many old City workers move across the border and pay no taxes on their Chicago/Illinois pension
Huh, I never knew that, might be something worth looking into down the road. I can spend the money saved on season tickets for Bears and Bulls games....
Haven't been, but has been on the list of things to do with the gf for a while. Would be curious to hear about the experience if you end up going.
Yeah. It’s their flagship/showroom. https://www.restorationhardware.com/content/category.jsp?context=Chicago
We’ve been shopping all day. She was a trooper at the winter classic yesterday, so it’s the least I can do.