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OT - Chicago Visit and Tourney

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GimmeSomeMore

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Jan 26, 2006
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Travelling to CHI tomorrow (Wed) for a few days with my 8 year old son. With all of the basketball our wandering time is a bit limited, but we plan to do our best [heading out on Saturday .... unless ...]

Any advice would be most welcome, as my prior experience in Chicago is pretty limited.

Staying in the Loop, and on the agenda so far:

HOOPS:
RU game Wed evening
Day games (including RU) on Thurs
Some combination of day and night games Fri

FOOD:
Dinner at Giordano’s / Lou Malnati’s - been told LM the better choice
Lunch at Portillos
Could use another good dinner spot [burgers/less formal steakhouse]
Could use a breakfast recommendation

OTHER:
Millennium and Grant Parks/Field Museum/Shedd Aquarium
Willis Tower sky deck [better daytime or evening?]
Navy Pier

Thanks all -
 
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Couple of blocks away from the United Center is the Billy Goat Tavern. Famous from the old Saturday Night Live, chee-burger, chee-burger skit. It's walking distance. Good stop for dinner before going in.
 
GimmeSomeMore said:
Travelling to CHI tomorrow (Wed) for a few days with my 8 year old son. With all of the basketball our wandering time is a bit limited, but we plan to do our best [heading out on Saturday .... unless ...]

Any advice would be most welcome, as my prior experience in Chicago is pretty limited.

Staying in the Loop, and on the agenda so far:

HOOPS:
RU game Wed evening
Day games (including RU) on Thurs
Some combination of day and night games Fri

FOOD:
Dinner at Giordano’s / Lou Malnati’s - been told LM the better choice
Lunch at Portillos
Could use another good dinner spot [burgers/less formal steakhouse]
Could use a breakfast recommendation

OTHER:
Millennium and Grant Parks/Field Museum/Shedd Aquarium
Willis Tower sky deck [better daytime or evening?]
Navy Pier

Thanks all -
Click to expand...

Have a wonderful trip. Nothing better than a trip like this. Kid is spoiled lol.
 
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Thanks. Its an annual (this is year 2) tradition we are starting. Last year was NYC for the Big East tourney [schedules did not permit us to make the B10 tourney]. We're excited.
 
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GimmeSomeMore said:
Travelling to CHI tomorrow (Wed) for a few days with my 8 year old son. With all of the basketball our wandering time is a bit limited, but we plan to do our best [heading out on Saturday .... unless ...]

Any advice would be most welcome, as my prior experience in Chicago is pretty limited.

Staying in the Loop, and on the agenda so far:

HOOPS:
RU game Wed evening
Day games (including RU) on Thurs
Some combination of day and night games Fri

FOOD:
Dinner at Giordano’s / Lou Malnati’s - been told LM the better choice
Lunch at Portillos
Could use another good dinner spot [burgers/less formal steakhouse]
Could use a breakfast recommendation

OTHER:
Millennium and Grant Parks/Field Museum/Shedd Aquarium
Willis Tower sky deck [better daytime or evening?]
Navy Pier

Thanks all -
Click to expand...


Some threads in the past:

https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/ot-chicago-vacation.99689/

https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/ot-chicago.112266/


https://rutgers.forums.rivals.com/threads/ot-chicago.124198/
 
Go see the Northwestern campus if never have. Need to visit all B1G schools.
 
GimmeSomeMore said:
Thanks. Its an annual (this is year 2) tradition we are starting. Last year was NYC for the Big East tourney [schedules did not permit us to make the B10 tourney]. We're excited.
Click to expand...
went to every bowl trip with my son ...and a number of Big East Tourneys. ....the greatest. once they grow up, go to school and get jobs....
 
Original billy goat tavern is basically below the Wrigley bldg. if you go it will look just like the SNL set.

The Hancock tower has much more spectacular views than the Willis tower. Navy pier is nothing interesting in my opinion.

At night Catching a show at second city is always fun.
 
GimmeSomeMore said:
Travelling to CHI tomorrow (Wed) for a few days with my 8 year old son. With all of the basketball our wandering time is a bit limited, but we plan to do our best [heading out on Saturday .... unless ...]

Any advice would be most welcome, as my prior experience in Chicago is pretty limited.

Staying in the Loop, and on the agenda so far:

HOOPS:
RU game Wed evening
Day games (including RU) on Thurs
Some combination of day and night games Fri

FOOD:
Dinner at Giordano’s / Lou Malnati’s - been told LM the better choice
Lunch at Portillos
Could use another good dinner spot [burgers/less formal steakhouse]
Could use a breakfast recommendation

OTHER:
Millennium and Grant Parks/Field Museum/Shedd Aquarium
Willis Tower sky deck [better daytime or evening?]
Navy Pier

Thanks all -
Click to expand...

You forgot to mention watching RU play on Sat, and Sun! :scream::stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Joking aside. Have a nice trip. I've never been to that area so can't offer up my recco's, although maybe the rides/shops at the Navy Pier or catch a show at Second City?
 
I went to the The Big Ten Experience and enjoyed it. Here is a summary I found online:

The museum features 13 interactive exhibits that showcase the history of the conference back to 1896, the year it was founded. Audio and video experiences, radio and TV features, and interactive displays are part of the fun.

The exhibits include: This is B1G, a compilation of firsts, bests, icons and timelines; Game On, an interactive gaming area; Ubiversity Cubs; Big Ten Connect, for live footage and social media; Basketball Court with Interactive Radio Calls fwith 14-program-changing audio calls from men’s basketball games throughout the years; a Heisman Trophy Photo Op; a Big Ten Slideshow; Big Ten Impact, showcasing students and faculty making a difference; Current Big Ten Champions’ and the Big Ten Theater, with three-minute films from each Big Ten institution.

The museum, located in MB Financial Park at Rosemont, is well-placed between other entertainment venues and restaurants not far from O’Hare International Airport. It’s open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is free for all visitors. Go to www.mbparkatrosemont.com for more information.
 
I appreciate the feedback and the links to the prior threads on the subject. Cheers - and Let's Go Rutgers! clap ... clap .... clap-clap-clap
 
Hey,

I live in Chicago (former NJ) but can’t make the tourney as my FIL is in rough shape.

Famous breakfast place (if that’s what you are looking for). Food is just ok but a Chicago staple of sorts. I don’t eat breakfast out a lot in the loop so others should have better food destinations for breakfast.
http://www.loumitchells.com/

Real Good Burgers:
http://auchevaldiner.com/chicago/

You may have to get there early though as there is always a line but they have a quicker outpost here (the one located at 150 N Riverside is right on the River downtown) – this is a casual place though:
http://smallcheval.com/contact/


Good upscale bar fare here: It is right near Millennium Park.
https://www.thegagechicago.com/


If you like tortas then this is a great one and you can walk there from downtown
https://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/xoco/

Be sure to take a walk on the Riverwalk and the lake. The venues on the River aren’t open for the season yet but you can walk from the Lake all the way through downtown.

Enjoy. The weather is iffy here with rain for next couple of days. Go RU!
 
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reilly171 said:
Hey,

I live in Chicago (former NJ) but can’t make the tourney as my FIL is in rough shape.

Famous breakfast place (if that’s what you are looking for). Food is just ok but a Chicago staple of sorts. I don’t eat breakfast out a lot in the loop so others should have better food destinations for breakfast.
http://www.loumitchells.com/

Real Good Burgers:
http://auchevaldiner.com/chicago/

You may have to get there early though as there is always a line but they have a quicker outpost here (the one located at 150 N Riverside is right on the River downtown) – this is a casual place though:
http://smallcheval.com/contact/


Good upscale bar fare here: It is right near Millennium Park.
https://www.thegagechicago.com/


If you like tortas then this is a great one and you can walk there from downtown
https://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/xoco/

Be sure to take a walk on the Riverwalk and the lake. The venues on the River aren’t open for the season yet but you can walk from the Lake all the way through downtown.

Enjoy. The weather is iffy here with rain for next couple of days. Go RU!
Click to expand...

Similar situation as yours, and I’d add Twin Anchors to the restaurant suggestion list. With a kid, it may make more sense than Au Cheval and Bayless spots (ribs and fries are more appealing to kids, IMO)
 
My dad used to take me to the White Rose in Highland Park for greasy burgers a few times a week .That was our bonding experience. Miss ya pops.
 
It takes a little effort to get there from here, but Chicago is a terrific city. The Big Ten really ought to have their tournament there every year. Indianapolis? They might as well have it in Parsippany.

You can really have fun in Chicago for a few days, and the way it looks, your team has a shot to stick around until the weekend in the next few years. Win/win, right?
 
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