Baba Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 We're spending a week in Chicago during half term (from end of next week) Usually spend that week in New York but decided to try somewhere new, even though we'd happily have returned to NYC again this year. Any tips for things not to miss whilst there would be much appreciated - with suitability for pre-teen children a consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjazzbassist Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 Millennium park - the bean Giordanos deep dish pizza Goose island brewery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baba Posted May 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 Millennium park - the bean Giordanos deep dish pizza Goose island brewery Thanks Mark, I'll check those out. Parks are always a winner for us, spend loads of time in Central Park normally so will be doing the same in the many Chicago parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 Goose Island is from Chicago? That stuff knocked me out on my last flight over, loved it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjazzbassist Posted May 22, 2016 Report Share Posted May 22, 2016 Thanks Mark, I'll check those out. Parks are always a winner for us, spend loads of time in Central Park normally so will be doing the same in the many Chicago parks. Millennium park is huge and beautiful. The bean is an art piece in that park your kids will love. It's a massive "bean" that's one piece of metal. Fun to look into and take pictures and play around. Giordanos deep dish pizza is excellent. Takes an hour to make it so be aware before going that it will take a while, but it's delicious. Kids might like a ride on the L train. Above ground train in a lot of movies. There's a lot of shopping on Michigan ave too for the wife. Great city, people are very friendly and helpful if you get lost or need directions. Baba 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Never been to the USA myself but I hear that Chicago is a beautiful city. Whatever you do there, have a great time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baba Posted May 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 Never been to the USA myself but I hear that Chicago is a beautiful city. Whatever you do there, have a great time. Thanks Rubecula. I'd never been to the USA either until about 6 years ago and had always thought that it wouldn't be for me. My wife persuaded me as she had been many times to various places, so I gave it a go and was more than pleasantly surprised so have been back every year since. U.S. cities seem to have something that our admittedly grander and more historic cities like London, Rome, Paris etc. don't have. Probably partly due to the scale (NYC especially) and the fact that we grew up watching movies and TV shows where NY, LA, SF etc. were the backdrop - and back then far more aspirational than the grey and dull terraced streets or prefab estates where many of us spent our childhoods. rubecula 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddock Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 It's supposed to be windy so take a warm coat. Myou're very welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 It's supposed to be windy so take a warm coat. Myou're very welcome. I always took "windy city" to mean they farted a lot . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddock Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 I always took "windy city" to mean they farted a lot . The farts are cold up thrre Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted May 25, 2016 Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 only due to eating frozen sprouts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith B Posted May 29, 2016 Report Share Posted May 29, 2016 Millennium park - the bean Giordanos deep dish pizza Goose island brewery All of these are great suggestions. I would add that if you are into art, the Chicago Art Institute has a wonderful collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 Don't know if it is true or not but I am sure I was once told that Chicago is second largest city in USA. So I am assuming it has an awful lot of ethnic diversity too. Should make for a great choice of restaurants for evening meals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 Don't know if it is true or not but I am sure I was once told that Chicago is second largest city in USA. So I am assuming it has an awful lot of ethnic diversity too. Should make for a great choice of restaurants for evening meals. Can't be second I don't think; third after NY and LA perhaps but surely not bigger than either of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjazzbassist Posted May 30, 2016 Report Share Posted May 30, 2016 NY LA Chicago Houston Philadelphia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baba Posted May 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2016 Referred to locally as '2nd city' by some though, harking back to a time before LA had grown to what it is now I suppose. Similar to brummies calling Birmingham the English 2nd city when Manchester, Liverpool, probably Leeds and maybe Sheffield would all consider themselves to be higher in that pecking order, maybe not for population size but rather for culture, history etc. Very wet here this evening, hoping it'll stop before we leave for dinner at 7. Can't complain about a couple of hours rain though, been 25 - 30 C since we arrived and will be good again from tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddock Posted June 1, 2016 Report Share Posted June 1, 2016 Referred to locally as '2nd city' by some though, harking back to a time before LA had grown to what it is now I suppose. Similar to brummies calling Birmingham the English 2nd city when Manchester, Liverpool, probably Leeds and maybe Sheffield would all consider themselves to be higher in that pecking order, maybe not for population size but rather for culture, history etc. Very wet here this evening, hoping it'll stop before we leave for dinner at 7. Can't complain about a couple of hours rain though, been 25 - 30 C since we arrived and will be good again from tomorrow. What did you have for dinner? Things like this are important to a foody like myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baba Posted June 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2016 A rustic penne pasta dish with Italian sausage, white beans, roasted cherry tomatoes and garlic in a tomato sauce. Didn't finish it all as it came in a bowl about as big as our bathroom sink, and had already had a sandwich the size of a bike wheel for lunch and a breakfast omelette of 5 (probably dinosaur size) eggs plus pancakes etc. Portion size is way off in USA. Kids had chicken nuggets again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markjazzbassist Posted June 1, 2016 Report Share Posted June 1, 2016 Yes the portions are massive over here. The idea is people want "more bang for their buck". They want to buy one entree and call it a day. Not a starter, salad, entree, dessert. Just one big plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baba Posted June 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2016 Yes the portions are massive over here. The idea is people want "more bang for their buck". They want to buy one entree and call it a day. Not a starter, salad, entree, dessert. Just one big plate. That's where I'm going wrong then; I'm having all the courses... Starter of bruschetta tonight was 9 large slices of garlic bread, each piled high lol. Paying for entry to museums is strange as well, but then again I think it's the same in some continental European countries. The zoo was free though; can't figure that out either. markjazzbassist 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith B Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Chicago has higher end restaurants that are more in the European style of more appropriate portion sizes. Alternatively, you and a friend can order one deep dish pizza and eat until you're sick and you still won't be able to finish it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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