From: dtokarew@tokafew.Doc.Provo.Novell.COM (Deb Tokarewich)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: Re: chicago, illinois
Keywords: Chicago
Date: 7 Jan 93 23:13:47 GMT
Organization: Novell, Inc.

In article <1993Jan07.172940.16610@watson.ibm.com> yonas@ynsa.kgn.ibm.com  
() writes:

[Many very good recommendations deleted]

> Architect??.....Check out Chicago Skyline from John G. Shedd Aquarium.
> Niceview. Walk through downtown Chicago and all the landmarks, 
> building and Architectural designs are there to discover. 

There are also guided architectural (bus and walking) tours of the  
downtown area.

Also, speaking of the skyline, at the Shedd Aquarium there's a launch site  
for Lake Michigan boat tours. They start from that southern point and go  
all along the skyline, north to (or just beyond) Navy Pier. Are also some  
boat tours through the city on the Chicago River (can't remember where  
their launch sites are).

> One notable person is Frank Lloyd Wright. He has one that I
> know Southside Chicago near Museum of Science and Industry
> or in the compound of University of Chicago. 

There are numerous houses designed by Wright, including his own home and  
studio, in the Oak Park area. There are guided walking tours for that, or  
you can get a taped tour and listen/walk at your own leisure. Excellent  
tours, both offered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in Oak Park.

> If must go during June-July. In June the have an event called
> Test of Chicago where some few hundred restaurants 
> participate. Great variety food. Chicago local Pizza,
> ela's Cheese cake.

Taste of Chicago *is* fabulous--not just the food, but also the music,  
etc. It used to be held on Navy Pier--may have been moved to Grant Park?  
(It's been a while since I've been home during it, alas.) Any type food  
you want, Chicago's got it. Yes, Chicago pizza's something to try--for  
atmosphere (of the downtown pizza places), I like Pizzeria Uno or Gino's  
East (both on north end). Eli's (also north, near Water Tower) is noted  
for its cheesecake, but also great for the rest of the meal too! And  
Chicago ribs are also a trademark (one of the more popular ribs places is  
Carson's, but just about anywhere will do). Ed Debevic's is a sort of 50's  
retro restaurant, with great food, great music, and great (and wonderfully  
"rude and boisterous") waiters and waitresses. The revolving restaurant  
atop the John Hancock Tower is an experience too. And before you leave the  
city, be sure to go to a Fannie May candy shop and try at least one of  
everything! My favorites are the Trinidads :-) (They even have the shops  
at O'Hare, in case you need just one more taste before you board the  
plane!)

> Music??.........There is Cotton Club on Michigan and twenty?? street. Or 
> you can go to Hardrock Cafe on Ohio and Dearborn??. Modern
> rock and Reggea go to Belmont & Clark street northside Chicago. 

Also many Blues and Jazz joints, as would be expected in Chicago. Best  
thing to do would be find their numbers in the phone book after you're  
there, and call and see who's playing where during your visit.

There are also two excellent zoos in the area. Linclon Park Zoo is in the  
city, and Brookfield Park and Zoological Society (as it's officially  
called...but it's just "the zoo" to us!) is in nearby Brookfield. Lincoln  
Park is smaller and has a children's zoo within it. Brookfield is larger  
and is noted for its "in the wild" atmosphere (it was one of the first  
zoos to have exhibits where animals and visitors are separated by only a  
fence or a moat, rather than obstructive, unnatural cages) and for its  
aquatic shows (people were enjoying the porpoises, seals, and other sea  
animals in Brookfield's daily shows long before places like Sea World  
became all the rage). But sorry, no whales at this zoo (not that I know  
of, anyway!).

As a different post noted, the Art Institute is a must. Its Impressionist  
collection would be hard to rival. But there's so much more than just the  
Impressionists...and more than just paintings, for that matter. And  
absolutely check out the paperweight exhibit room (believe me, you'll be  
amazed!). A fine gift shop, too.

If you're a sports fan at all, there's also always some Chicago team or  
another playing no matter what time of year you go. White Sox and Cubs for  
baseball, Bears for football, Blackhawks for hockey, and Da Bulls for  
basketball!

Of course, the obvious place every visitor tries to get to is the Sears  
Tower. Not only is the ride up (and down!) the elevator and the view (on a  
clear day or a full-moon night) a unique experience, but the short video  
presentation (named something like "Welcome to Chicago") on the main level  
of the Tower is a good intro to the city and its people and places. And a  
more lengthy/detailed presentation about the city is offered at the old  
Water Tower. And pretty close to the Tower is the heart of downtown, and a  
walk along State Street ("that great street") offers an array of people  
and sites and sounds and tastes--and a visit to Marshall Field's could  
last all day if you're a shopaholic, or at least long enough to catch a  
meal at one of the restaurants on its 7th (or is it 11th?!) floor. And  
lunchtime in any of the downtown plazas brings flocks of people and  
musicians and street vendors (some even brave it during the "inclement  
seasons"!).

Chicago is a great walking city. Walk around downtown and Oak Park. Walk  
along the river, lakefront, pier, and marinas. Walk through the museums,  
parks, and plazas. Enjoy, enjoy.

> more_info??.....Contact the Mayor's special events office. Lots of
> action!

Mayor's office is a good idea for special events. But don't know if they  
have more general info. Might also call the Convention and Visitors  
Bureau.

OK, so I could go on and on...but my boss would probably like me to get  
back to work. Any other questions, just post.

> Desperately_seeking_chicago,

Me too! Always and forever...