OT: Chicago overnighter suggestions

[Steve in SLO]

Hi all,
Later this month, my son and I will be riding the Southwest Chief from LA to Chicago. We will be (hopefully) arriving Thursday afternoon at Union Station and flying out of O'Hare Friday early evening. So, I am looking for some low key activities for Thurs night (prob at least part of the time at a blues club) and for Friday prior to flight time. Of importance is that my son is 22 y/o with moderate autism. He loves trains and anything mechanical/transportation related. He also loves BBQ. He'd be happy riding public transport all day on Friday, but I'd like to break that up a bit. Don't have a hotel room yet, so location is fluid.
Any food/activity suggestions from those in the know?
Thanks in advance.

[Dino Suegiù]

That train ride is great. I did it years ago. You and your son will enjoy it.

If the evening weather is nice, check to see if anything interesting is happening at Millennium Park.

[speedevil]

For breakfast, Lou Mitchell's on Jackson. The best breakfast anywhere.

Unless you're Steven Wright, in which case I'd go with "french toast during the renaissance".

For a steak dinner, Morton's Steakhouse can't be beat, but it is $$$$.

Slightly less expensive but also very good is Lawry's.

Pizza is a specialty, I like Uno's personally. Due's is superb as well.

[madsciencenow]

For pizza I'll throw Lou Malnati's Pizza into the mix. I'm a fan! There are several locations around and within Chicago.

[nalax]

The Museum of Science and Industry has train and transportation stuff. Also a replica coal miners train and a pretty big model train layout. It's on the south side of the city. Smoque is a good BBQ place but they are on the north side and in the loop.

[pdonk]

For eating we enjoyed lo gian and eagle, girl and the goat and publican. All maybe s bit much if your son does not like crowds or too much noise.

For activities we did a self guided walking tour of oak park for flw buildings and his studio.

[nickl]

May have been mentioned earlier but check out TripAdvisor or Yelp for good pizza restaurants near where you are staying. Chicago deep dish pizza is usually quite good and not very expensive at most places. Also the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum of Natural History are some of the best experiences in the city in my opinion.

[tab123]

Given your son's interest in trains, make sure to take the L around the Loop itself and, if you can, over the river to the Merchandise Mart. I second the suggestion of the Museum of Science and Industry.

And it wouldn't be a visit to Chicago without a walk along the lake, say from the Lincoln Park Zoo to Oak Street beach or from Oak Street to Millennium Park. If you want to see the prairie in the city, walk around the Magic Hedge near Montrose beach (off the beaten path for tourists). Enjoy the view to downtown and the migrating birds (the area is along a major flyway for migrating birds).

If they are still running, a ride on a water taxi is always fun.

Try Country BBQ on Taylor Street. Publican's food is outstanding. Chicago Cut has delicious steaks. (I find the food at Girl and the Goat to be too heavy.)

[Doug Fattic]

I second the idea of going to the Museum of Science and Industry. There is lots of fun mechanical stuff inside.

[Irishgirl]

There are some duplicates which reinforces the recommendations from earlier posts


Chicago pizza - a must with many debating on which deep dish is best. personally Lou Malnatis gets my vote..get the butter crust.

https://www.loumalnatis.com

Chicago Beef - also a heated debate is the best place for a beef. Portillo’s is one that many visit - the Chocolate cake is amazing and the chocolate cake shake may put you in food comma or at the very least motivate you to ride the bike when you get home

https://www.portillos.com/index.html

BBQ - Green Street Meats is a personal favorite - this is Texas style BBW

http://greenstreetmeats.com

Late nite - Wiener Circle this may not be the best for your son - it is an experience

https://youtu.be/33zPlnhymCU

Locations to visit

Museum of Science and Industry would be top on my list of suggestions

The Planetarium is a cool visit too

The Willis Tower Watson Tower - formerly know as The Sears Tower- and locals only know it as The Sears Tower provides great views - grab the tickets online

Water Taxis looks fun - lived here my entire life and no actual experience

Train Museum - I’ve never been and I’ve heard people that love trains recommended this. It is a bit of a distance.

https://www.irm.org


Try Hotels Tonight to grab a room once you narrow down your location and budget.

As a native of Chicago (suburbs) Chicago is a great city...hopefully our weather will be good for you and your son....sounds like a great trip!!









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[Steve in SLO]

Thank you all. Some great-sounding suggestions so far.
Sounds like it’ll be a fun couple of days.

[oliver1850]

I haven't been to the MoSaI since I was in grade school but recall interactive exhibits (impressive stuff for the 1960s), walking through the WWII German submarine, and Chris Karamesines's "ChiZler" fuel rail dragster. The ChiZler is apparently no longer on display (hope the sub is), but I'm sure there are plenty of interesting exhibits.

I haven't checked the train schedule, but you might consider taking the Chief to Galesburg or Mendota, viewing the steam engines and other exhibits at either location, and taking one of the local trains on to Chicago.

http://mendotamuseums.org/UDRR.htm

http://www.galesburgrailroadmuseum.org/

The stats on the 1930 Baldwin Hudson class 4-6-4 on display in Galesburg are pretty impressive. Built for the CB&Q in 1930, it logged nearly 2.5 million miles before being gifted to the city of Galesburg (site of one of the largest yards on the CB&Q, and still a major yard for the BNSF) by the CB&Q in 1962. It weighed around 365 tons with tender and had a top speed of 110 mph.

http://www.galesburgrailroadmuseum.org/media/site_assets/9172e3b9f854759e88eb81bf47664c13/assets/the_3006.pdf

[charliedid]

This is all I got....have a great time in Chicago


https://media.timeout.com/images/101494231/630/472/image.jpg

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/05/ab/5a/c2/mr-beef.jpg

[nalax]

The MSI also has a bicycle exhibit. Lots to see there.

[Ken Robb]

The Museum of Science and Industry has train and transportation stuff. Also a replica coal miners train and a pretty big model train layout. It's on the south side of the city. Smoque is a good BBQ place but they are on the north side and in the loop.

I have loved this place since I was a kid. It's easily reached by El/subway or bus. I recommend the bus because you get to see quite a few interesting neighborhoods on the ride from The Loop. Besides the railroad stuff you can take a thorough tour of the exterior and interior of a WW II German U-Boat.

[Jaybee]

I asked a similar question (https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=238465&highlight=chicago) in June.

My wife and I ended up spending 1.5 days at the Art Institute, which is amazing, ate at Topolobampo, Portillos, and Girl and Goat - all wonderful. We also spent some time at the Museum of Natural History, caught a Chicago Symphony concert in Millennium Park, and took a nice walk along the river/lakeshore. I wanted to get to MoSaI, but we were so in love with the Art Institute that we never found the time.

[josephr]

since the kid loves techy stuff....the museum of science and industry would be the bomb-diggity. sounds like a great trip!

[Steve in SLO]

MSI it is!
Sounds like a great place for both of us. Thanks also for the great dining recs...We'll have fun with that.
Howsabout a casual blues club without the 'scene' that my son can be comfortable just sitting and listening for a bit?
Thanks!

[Irishgirl]

Jazz/Blues - GreenMill - it’s one of my favorites...I’ve stumbled out of there a few times.

http://greenmilljazz.com

Untitled- Another favorite “stumbling” place and bonus if you are into Whiskeys (see link for an extensive list)

https://www.untitledsupperclub.com/calendar/

https://www.untitledsupperclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WHISKEY-LIST-10.1.19.pdf






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[beta_hat]

Another vote Science and Industry Museum. Architecture tour along the river is also fun and worthwhile.

As for Pizza since it has not been mentioned. Pequod's in Lincoln Park is worth the trek if you are staying downtown. Hands down, best in term of Chicago deep dish, although they don't call it that. Live here my whole life and tried them all, several times actually, Pequods still edges here for the win. Other pizza place are good, don't get me wrong but if I had one last weekend in Chicago, Pequod's would be on the list.

https://pequodspizza.com

Someone mentioned Green Street Smoked Meats for BBQ. Pricey but definitely the better BBQ in the city.

https://greenstreetmeats.com

If you are staying north of Chicago, there's also wonderful BBQ spot called Smoque.

https://smoquebbq.com

[IJWS]

Museum of science and Industry seems like a no-brainer

Green Street at the end of the night

Walk around Millennium Park including the bridge that takes you to the lakefront

take the trains everywhere. The Red Line has especially good views including going past Wrigley field.

Taking the elevator up to the Signature room at the Hancock tower is fun, the view around sunset is nice because all the city lights of the city turn on and you can see the grid.

Uno's is my favorite deep dish but coming from L.A. anything with butter in the crust and sauce on top is going to blow your mind.

For the train:

It's a long ride and you're not in Europe. Bring a pillow and a blanket and bring lots of food that you would be happy to eat. There is microwaved food and beer (probably also microwaved) in the dining car but in my experience, you're going to want to have a little control over your diet if you want to be comfortable and stable for the trip. Pro tip, but possibly not applicable, you can bring your own drinks--alcohol included. I would check to see if there are phone/device chargers on the train. If not, buy one of those battery pack thingy's

Chicago is a great city so you really can't go wrong with anything you do. Look at everyone's recommendations and make a schedule that has you starting and stopping where you want. Nothing in Chicago is really out of the way so you can see a lot very conveniently.

Bring your camera!

[yngpunk]

For Blues, I'd recommend this hidden gem:

https://rosaslounge.com/

Likely to be much less of a "scene" compared to Green Mill, and a place you can just sit and listen


Jazz/Blues - GreenMill - it’s one of my favorites...I’ve stumbled out of there a few times.

http://greenmilljazz.com

Untitled- Another favorite “stumbling” place and bonus if you are into Whiskeys (see link for an extensive list)

https://www.untitledsupperclub.com/calendar/

https://www.untitledsupperclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WHISKEY-LIST-10.1.19.pdf






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[yngpunk]

Second the recommendation of Mr. Beef on Orleans (666 Orleans to be precise)

While Al's Beef and Portillios are acceptable, they are still a franchise...go to the one and only Mr. Beef


This is all I got....have a great time in Chicago


https://media.timeout.com/images/101494231/630/472/image.jpg

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/05/ab/5a/c2/mr-beef.jpg

[Web1111a]

Is Buddy Guy’s club still around

[charliedid]

Is Buddy Guy’s club still around

Yes

I still like Rosa's or my suggestion of B.L.U.E.S but nothing wrong with Buddy's place. Most touristy but so what :-)

[Ralph]

Another vote for Museum of Science and Industry. My wife's Dad was a Chicago rail road man. So have been there. Awesome.

[robin3mj]

The best pizza in Chicago is not deep dish, and can be found at Spacca Napoli up in Ravenswood. From there it's a nice walk up thru Lincoln Square.

[verbeke06]

For BBQ:

Smoque is off the beaten path but good. Lillie's Q is more standard BBQ and in a nicer setting, if that's what you're into. Green St can be crazy busy and a bit expensive, but it's probably the best in the city. Any of these 3 will be good though.

If you have time the newly redone Chicago riverwalk is nice if you are downtown. When you head to O'hare take the blue line to get in more train time.

For Blues: I personally think that Kingston Mines is the place to go. Longstanding Blues Club that has live music every night of the week.

[yngpunk]

The best pizza in Chicago is not deep dish, and can be found at Spacca Napoli up in Ravenswood. From there it's a nice walk up thru Lincoln Square.

That's fighting words to some :fight::)

Several good options in the Lincoln Square area if you want "wood fired oven"/Neapolitan style pizza in addition to Spacca Napoli

Pizza Art Cafe - https://www.pizzaartcafe.com/ - Right off the Rockwell brown line stop.

Unfortunately, Pizza DOC has closed. :mad:

If you're down by the Museum of Science and Industry, might want to consider thin crust pizza on the south side

https://www.palermosof63rd.com/

[Gsinill]

Unfortunately, Pizza DOC has closed. :mad:

https://www.palermosof63rd.com/

When they closed, Himmels took over the location and even though they serve German food, they must have kept the original "pizzaiolo" since they served the same pizza.
That was years ago though, so maybe that has changed now too.

There is still Pizza D.O.C's sister pizzeria, Trattoria D.O.C in Evanston.

[Irishgirl]

What about Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder - home of the upside down pizza?

Pizza, Beef, and Dogs mixed with Cubs or Soxs can be passionate debates among the locals and visitors...good news is you will not be hungry when you leave!

OP - give an update after you get back on which places you made it to and what you ate.



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[charliedid]

Aurelio’s is the best pizza on earth. Mods please close thread[emoji2956]


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[likebikes]

your train will probably be very, very late arriving to chicago. i'd bet about 12hrs behind schedule.

[oliver1850]

your train will probably be very, very late arriving to chicago. i'd bet about 12hrs behind schedule.

Interesting comment. My farm is on the main line of the CB&Q/BN/BNSF and the Amtrak trains seem to come by at close to the same times every day. I'm not typically within sight of the tracks though when the Chief comes through. Last time I took the CA Zephyr to Denver we were on time within a few minutes. Next day (after VeloSwap) was a different story. We were only going to Granby, but there was a freight train broken down in the Moffat tunnel and we spent most of the day sitting there waiting for it the be cleared out. Where are the snags on the Chief's route?

[Steve in SLO]

Thanks again to everybody for the wonderful suggestions.
After a sleepless night on call, I got up early and put in a hilly 20+ mile ride before we drove the 3+ hours to LAX to drop off the car. From there we bussed it to Union Station, and have settled into our little sleeper compartment. Matt is ecstatic, and we are looking forward to a fun time on the train.
This trip is all about easy, so I decided to book the Essex Hotel in the loop, everything just fell into place. We should drive mid-afternoon on Thursday, so I figured we could walk around the area near the hotel on our arrival afternoon and have pizza at Lou Malnati’s, which is one block away from hotel. For entertainment that night, I got a couple of tickets to see Vintage #18 at Buddy Guy’s club, which is also a block away from our hotel as well. I listened to a few songs online from the band, and they seem like a very smooth, easy to listen to blues band, which is just what my son would like. I guess no hard-edged blues for me this night, but the trip is all for him, anyway.
Friday will be spent at the Museum of Science and Industry. We will figure out someplace close to there to eat lunch, will need to be at the airport by about 4:30 to catch our flight. I tried to make getting to Frank Lloyd Wright‘s home work, but just no way. Bummer because that’s something I would like to see some day. Big fan of his, along with Greene and Greene. Next trip.
So, looking forward to a good time. Will update if there is something of interest to share with the group. Again, thanks, all.

[Ralph]

Kid trips are best when you do what the kids want. Miserable if you don't. You will enjoy the museum. I know I sure did. I liked the "how things work" departments.

[Ken Robb]

The museum has so much to see I would just grab a quick lunch in the restaurant there. You will have a tough time seeing everything of interest in one full day. Do not miss touring the u-boat and the coal mine. The mine may sound corny but it will make you feel like you have really visited a hard-rock mine. I look forward to your report on the train ride because that sounds like something I might want to do too.

[charliedid]

Sounds like a great plan, enjoy!

[fishwhisperer]

Sounds like a great trip. If you want to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work (and you find yourself with a couple unaccounted-for hours), the Robie House is not far from the Museum of Science and Industry on the University of Chicago campus. It is a masterpiece and I believe part of the portfolio that just received UNESCO designation.

[charliedid]

Sounds like a great trip. If you want to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work (and you find yourself with a couple unaccounted-for hours), the Robie House is not far from the Museum of Science and Industry on the University of Chicago campus. It is a masterpiece and I believe part of the portfolio that just received UNESCO designation.

And could grab lunch at Plein Air Cafe next door.

[Steve in SLO]

Sounds like a great trip. If you want to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work (and you find yourself with a couple unaccounted-for hours), the Robie House is not far from the Museum of Science and Industry on the University of Chicago campus. It is a masterpiece and I believe part of the portfolio that just received UNESCO designation.
That and the Plein air cafe sounds like a plan.

[rkhatibi]

Looks like you have blues scheduled, but in case you need more Joanna Connor still has a residency at Kingston Mines including 11:30pn and 1:30am sets.

https://kingstonmines.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QS4rfPE2k0

[djg]

And could grab lunch at Plein Air Cafe next door.

On a younger budget we used to like the Medici -- en route to Robie House and the U of C campus if you are walking from the museum.

[Steve in SLO]

Looks like you have blues scheduled, but in case you need more Joanna Connor still has a residency at Kingston Mines including 11:30pn and 1:30am sets.

https://kingstonmines.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QS4rfPE2k0

I wish I could, but I think after an hour or two my son will be cooked and ready to go back to the hotel. Adult trip will follow sometime next year.:banana:

[jfranci3]

Sounds like a great trip. If you want to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's work (and you find yourself with a couple unaccounted-for hours), the Robie House is not far from the Museum of Science and Industry on the University of Chicago campus. It is a masterpiece and I believe part of the portfolio that just received UNESCO designation.

This.
FWIW - The MSI has gone down hill a bit. Most of the stuff in there is still 1970s. The train in the lobby is being renovated, but the big miniature train is set is there, the 727 is there, the sub is there, the antique cars are there, and the bike exhibit is there (but 10yrs out of date). I'd recommend seeing what you want to see and get out of there.

If you don't mind a cab ride, this is a local lunch favorite - ricobenespizza.com - for the breaded steak sandwich

The Greenmill is a better experience than than Kingston Mines IMO, but you can easily do both. The Greenmill IIRC doesn’t get good until after midnight.

If it's your gig, maybe this is a good wander - old building parts. https://www.architecturalartifacts.com/

[charliedid]

On a younger budget we used to like the Medici -- en route to Robie House and the U of C campus if you are walking from the museum.

Still a great choice! I eat there regularly

[Steve in SLO]

The trip has ended and it was a good one.
The Southwest Chief was a great experience overall, and we saw a lot of new country and got a real sense of the size of this place. Our berths were comfortable, but that didn’t mean we slept particularly well either night. Thankfully, the food was good, the staff was friendly, and we met a number of nice people along the way. Scenery was great, with each region having its own particular beauty. At times that beauty even meant an authentic Indian village complete with concrete teepee.
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In true Amtrak style, we arrived fashionably late which basically scuttled our tourism plans for day one. We were, however able to eat some great deep dish add Lou Malnoti’s, and later went to Buddy Guy’s and saw a fun blues band and singer.
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The Museum of science and industry was awesome, and it probably took my son an hour to realize that there were plans hanging over his head above the model train set up.
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We went through the coal mine, along with about a dozen 6–8-year-old kids and then headed to the relative quiet of the U-boat, which was my favorite part of the museum. I am a sucker for early mid-century machinery.
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I expected the bike exhibit to be a little bigger, although it was a cool thing to see. That was true of many of the exhibits at the museum. Not super large either in number nor deep, but well thought out.
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We had a nice subway ride up to the airport, then a good flight home with my son reading his brand new global warming book.
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Again, a great thanks to everyone who chimed in and although I didn’t follow everybody’s recommendations (nor did I have time to even try) they gave me a good amount of comfort knowing there were a number of good options.

[clyde the point]

Looks like a great time. My fav part of the field museum is the Lions of Tsavo. The u boat was super cool too!

[OtayBW]

Sounds like a great trip!

Oh, and...
The best pizza in Chicago is not deep dish, and can be found at Spacca Napoli up in Ravenswood. From there it's a nice walk up thru Lincoln Square.I like your style!