vibes Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Mrs. vibes and I are planning a long weekend in Chicago in April. I know there are a lot of you out there who either live in Chicago or have spent considerable time there. I'd like recommendations on: - Places to see jazz - Restaurants - Music shops - Interesting things to do/see Thanks in advance. Quote
GregK Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 too bad the plugged nickel isn't around anymore Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 I suggest working for JRM/Delmark for a year, start your own label and live the rest of your life with the consequences. Quote
JSngry Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Don't forget to see Wrigley or Comiskey - but not both. You can't do both, it's against the rules. Quote
JSngry Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Chuck Nessa said: I suggest working for JRM/Delmark for a year, start your own label and live the rest of your life with the consequences. Now THAT'S what I call a dream vacation! Quote
The Mule Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Jazz Showcase, Green Mill, Jazz Record Mart, Art Institute, and venture into the near-Western suburbs to Elmwood Park for Johnny's Italian Beef (7500 W. North Ave.) and get a beef sandwich (sweet & hot peppers, dipped) and an Italian ice to go... Quote
vibes Posted January 12, 2004 Author Report Posted January 12, 2004 Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep 'em coming! Quote
BERIGAN Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 JSngry said: Don't forget to see Wrigley or Comiskey - but not both. You can't do both, it's against the rules. See Wrigley!!! I saw it about 20 years ago, and it is well worth seeing, besides, some day they will tear it down. Who cares about a new baseball stadium anyway? Quote
vibes Posted January 12, 2004 Author Report Posted January 12, 2004 BERIGAN said: JSngry said: Don't forget to see Wrigley or Comiskey - but not both. You can't do both, it's against the rules. See Wrigley!!! I saw it about 20 years ago, and it is well worth seeing, besides, some day they will tear it down. Who cares about a new baseball stadium anyway? I checked into seeing a game, and neither the White Sox nor the Cubs will be in town on the weekend we're going to be there. So, we're going to see a Bulls game instead. I was really hoping to go to Wrigley - the only other time I went to Chicago, about 15 years ago, the Cubs were away then, too. Either way, we're not really sports fans, but we like to go for the experience. Bulls it is. Quote
Uncle Skid Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Hi vibes, Me, Mrs. Skid and the skid family youngsters always enjoy: The Art Institute of Chicago The Field Museum Shedd Aquarium Museum of Science and Industry If you're into Japanese food, there's a terrific restaurant/sushi place called Hatsuhana, at 160 E. Ontario. Chicago area Sushi bars -- mark Quote
sheldonm Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 *Jazz Record Mart (freakin' fantastic ) *Dusty Groove Records (not a huge jazz selection, but always something I don't have) *Willie Dixon's Blues Foundation (cool) *Art Institute (1st class) *Jazz Showcase (Jazz, the best place in town to see the true legends). *Buddy Guys's Legends (Blues) Quote
minew Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 Jazz Record Mart is a must-see landmark. And don't forget Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge. Get some ribs from Fitzee's next door to take in. And try to catch the $3 Vandermark show at the Empty Bottle. If you like Mexican food, try to hit Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 12, 2004 Report Posted January 12, 2004 And believe it or not, their address is just this simple: http://www.architecture.org. They have about 50 different tours available throughout the year, including three or four that are available every day of the week. My wife and I spent two weeks in Chicago on vacation in about 1998, and we discovered that if you just join the Chicago Architecture Foundation, that the tours are all free!! (We went on about 6 different tours during that two-week period, so it was cheaper just to join.) Anyway, the two tours I highly recomend most of all are... 1. Historic Skyscrapers The prototype of the modern industrial metropolis arose from the charred landscape left by the Great fire of 1871. Discover the historic beginnings of the Chicago School of Architecture and the earliest skyscrapers, built between the 1870s and the 1930s. This tour features the art deco Chicago Board of Trade Building; the Auditorium Building, a Louis Sullivan masterpiece; and the Rookery, a National Historic Landmark. and 2. Marvel at Chicago’s soaring towers while enjoying a 90-minute, narrated river cruise. This tour spotlights more than 50 architecturally significant sites where you will discover a new perspective on the city. Come aboard either of our well-appointed vessels,Chicago's First Lady or Chicago's Little Lady, where both open-air and climate-controlled indoor seating will make your journey comfortable. Snacks and beverages are available. Just go to their main site, and click on the "tours" link for more details. It looks like you can even buy your tickets on-line. The other thing to consider (if architecture's your thing), is all the Frank Lloyd Wright houses and buildings in Oak Park -- which is an easy ride to get to on the subway. You can tour Wright's home and studio (which is a National Trust for Historic Preservation site), and you can also tour Unity Temple - a Unitarian church that Wright Designed, which is often thought to be one of his best buildings (top-20, for sure). Quote
vibes Posted January 13, 2004 Author Report Posted January 13, 2004 Thanks again for all the recommendations. We'll for sure go to the Art Institute, the aquarium and at least one other place. I went to Gino's East for pizza when I visited 15 years ago, and I think we'll go there for dinner one night. We'll be seeing Herbie Hancock one night, too. Keep the recommendations coming! Quote
sal Posted January 13, 2004 Report Posted January 13, 2004 (edited) Vibes, I'll be at both Herbie Hancock shows as well! Which one are you going to, quartet or trio? Here's something special you can do while you're in town. Take the lady and go up to the ninety-sixth floor of the John Hancock building to the Signature Lounge for cocktails. If you like martinis, I think they have the best in the city, and the view is unparalleled. A very romantic place and a truely unique Chicago experience. That place has gotten me lucky with the ladies in the past.....just don't tell my girlfriend, because I took her there before we were dating too! Definitley visit the Jazz Record Mart....its the greatest music store in the world (bring lots of $). And if you've never had Giordano's pizza, go for that. Much better than Gino's East IMHO. Edited January 13, 2004 by sal Quote
vibes Posted January 13, 2004 Author Report Posted January 13, 2004 sal said: I'll be at both Herbie Hancock shows as well! Which one are you going to, quartet or trio? I'm actually going to the show at Purdue University. I didn't know he was going to be playing in Chicago until after the tickets were purchased for the Purdue show. To be honest, I don't even know who Herbie is playing with. The tickets were a Christmas present from my wife. Thanks for the additional recs. The lounge does sound nice, except for one thing - we don't drink. I'll have to find some other way to get lucky. Quote
GregK Posted January 13, 2004 Report Posted January 13, 2004 man I gotta move to Chicago. I've been kinda searching for jobs in that area lately Quote
Sundog Posted January 13, 2004 Report Posted January 13, 2004 All good suggestions. Not much to add except that when "new" used vinyl comes in the door at the "mart" it is catalogued in the extreme southwest corner of the store. This is the first place you should go if your interested in vinyl. I've found some pretty amazing albums in that part of the store. I can't believe I'm giving away my best secrets! It's all in the family though. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted January 13, 2004 Report Posted January 13, 2004 vibes said: The lounge does sound nice, except for one thing - we don't drink. I'll have to find some other way to get lucky. If you have the chance, take the elevator ride up and look at the view at night. Worth the effort. Otherwise, no poor advice given. Quote
The Mule Posted January 13, 2004 Report Posted January 13, 2004 GregK said: man I gotta move to Chicago. I've been kinda searching for jobs in that area lately It's a great city. Wish I still lived there! Quote
vibes Posted April 11, 2004 Author Report Posted April 11, 2004 I just wanted to say "thank you" again to all of the suggestions and information everyone provided me. My wife and I just returned from Chicago, and had a great time. Here's some of what we did/saw: Art Institute of Chicago Hancock Tower Dinner at Gino's East Pizza Dinner at Portillo's Shedd Aquarium Field Museum Bulls/Hawks game Adler Planetarium Museum of Science and Industry Jazz Record Mart The Jazz Record Mart was definitely a highlight for me. I had never seen so many jazz CD's/records under one roof, and there was a lot of OOP stuff, too (if anyone's interested, they have sealed copies of Walt Dickerson's "Impressions of a Patch of Blue," Jack Wilson's "Something Personal" and John Patton's "Understanding," among other things). I picked up a few CD's, including a sealed Conn of Ike Quebec's "Heavy Soul." Anyway, thanks for all the recommendations. Quote
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