[gdnyc]

Thinking of heading to Chicago for a weekend in September. Check out the City and the nightlife. From doing research, there are so many areas. I was looking at staying somewhere in the Loop at W hotel (Chicago Center) Figure its close to all the sites and hopefully not too far from from the bars and clubs.
Any Chicagoans have suggestions?

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by gdnyc

Thinking of heading to Chicago for a weekend in September. Check out the City and the nightlife. From doing research, there are so many areas. I was looking at staying somewhere in the Loop at W hotel (Chicago Center) Figure its close to all the sites and hopefully not too far from from the bars and clubs.
Any Chicagoans have suggestions?

My brother lives in Chicago, if you have any specific questions, send me a message, I'll give him a buzz...

[hotsand5]

Just tell me exactly where you are getting a hotel and I'll let you know where to party. There isn't really too much right in the loop...some bars, but nothing worth noting. The further north that you go, the better it gets and the amount of bars/clubs increases. If you were to get a hotel in the loop, then I'd suggest that you hit up the Gold Coast---Rush and Division streets. They are lined up with nothing but bars and clubs. That is like a 8 min taxi ride. I really Wrigleyville and Lincoln Park area though. Wicker Park is nice too, but a little farther. Any of these is going to be a 20 minute ride from the loop. If you leave really late---after 1130pm, then the streets are jammed around there, and might take even longer to get there. If you have any questions and are sure where you are going to be, PM me, or try posting on here and I'll give you some suggestions which bars./clubs you want to visit while in Chicago.

[aapriadi]

i just got back from chicago last weekend, get a hotel close to michigan ave maybe heh
went to sound bar, pretty nice...2 floors, upper for trance/techno and lower for hip hop/rnb

[just4kickz]

eat pizzas everyday

[thedean786]

Here check this out and use it to your hearts content - http://www.metromix.com

Also, check out the The Reserve, Hard Drive, and Sushi Samba Rio which has a killer lounge on the roof and tons of hotties after 9....

[XxLancaxX]

Stay at the Drake hotel. Oldest hotel in Chicago I think and its the nicest one. Go see the hancock building and navy pier. See if you can get tickets to a white sox game (Screw the cubs). Theres tons of stuff to do in chicago. Its a blast. I think Navy pier also has their firework show on sat/sun. Theres little italy/greek town/china town.... PM me if you have any questions also.

[XxLancaxX]

Originally Posted by just4kickz

eat pizzas everyday

You want geat pizza? Go to NY Im origanlly from NYC andstill get pizzas shipped to my house from NY. Its great they overnight them frozen and they kick ass. I order like 12 at a time lol.....

[gdnyc]

Originally Posted by XxLancaxX

You want geat pizza? Go to NY Im origanlly from NYC andstill get pizzas shipped to my house from NY. Its great they overnight them frozen and they kick ass. I order like 12 at a time lol.....

I'm from NYC. Definitely not going to Chicago for pizza. Like you said, nothing beats a NYC pizza

[XxLancaxX]

Originally Posted by gdnyc

I'm from NYC. Definitely not going to Chicago for pizza. Like you said, nothing beats a NYC pizza

NYC Pizza = lol

Yea its great getting it shipped. Just throw it in the oven and BAM NY pizza

[XxLancaxX]

Im origanlly from queens. I also lived in massapequa. Bunch of family in Manhattan too. Typically ny family i guess lol

[just4kickz]

iono... i eat pizza for pizza... i dont knwo a good pizza from an okay pizza but i know what a shitty pizza tastes like.

[shragon]

thin crust pizza is where it's at. chicago pizza ftl.

but... chicago has a lot of good restaurants!

[E36_325i]

You can go to wrigleyville and check out the bar scene there. Lots of fun if thats your thing. As others have said, Navy Pier is cool and check out the firworks show.

[gohawks23]

I recommend downtown:

-Original Uno's/Due's for awesome Chicago pizza
-Harry Caray's for steak or chicken vesuvio
-Carson's for ribs
-Any place in Greek town for lamb...

[tl_boy]

I actually didn't like NYC pizza. I had John's, that was supposed to be a very good place I heard from locals [feel free to chime in new yorkers]. I didn't like it though. Good, but not great. Reminded me of my local Sam's Club pizza (its actually not as bad as you'd think).

I luv Chicago pizza though.

[ages944]

NYC = best pizza??? Whatever.

New York has very good thin crust, but NOTHING tops Chicago for deep dish. In a way, they're actually two different entities all together. However, deep dish is the superior species Get thee to Lou Malnatis, Uno's, Gino's East, etc. All of 'em are pretty damn tasty.

Oh, and don't forget about the other food item that is only worth having in Chicago: hotdogs

(OK, flame away! )

[chicagolab]

restaurants :Japonais(great), Tru, Roys, Parthenon(greek), Ginos East(Piuzza only get deep dish), Rezas(mediterainian), Tango Sur(Argentinian), Billy Goats(fast), Ann Sather(breakfast), Bongo Room (breakfast), north pond(nice), gejas(fondue), Boston blackies or Moodys for burgers, gene & georgettis for steaks. Wiener's circle for hot dogs

live music: Speakeasy Supper Club, Green Mill, Rosa's, empty bottle

clubs/bars: Level, Reserve , 96th floor of hancock for quick drink with a view, dannys, whiskey sky, Nomi, jet, bella lounge

coffee/desserts: ethel's choclate lounge, Julius Meinl, uncommon ground , metropolis

*take a sunset cruise or fireworks cruise, Wendella boats

*drive though some of these neigborhoods: Lakeview, Lincoln Park, andersonville, river west , gold coast, west town, bucktown, greektown, west loop, south loop , china town, logan square, wicker park, lincoln square, pilsen, little italy

*see millenieum park
*go to a show at second city
*take a swim in the art deco pool at the intercontinental hotel ( you can pay to just use pool/spa)
*visit Margies candies

hotels: best location & nice, Park Hyatt, Pennisula, intercontinental, drake, swissotel
fun: house of blues hotel, hard rock hotel


*there is more to do, but this will get you started

[gdnyc]

The best NY pizza comes from proprietor owned places. The chains are garbage.
You don't see deep dish pizza too much in NY. I'll give Chicago that.
You guys have been great with the suggestions. I have my trip all planned out.
Thanks!

[BMWoo]

I was in Chicago about a month ago. Stayed at the W. It was an incredible hotel, plus it had a couple spots in there that were PACKED, so you could get all hammered and just stumble up to your room. One thing though - if you need privacy in your bathroom, that place is NOT the place for you. Trust me, you can hear every noise - it's not a 'sealed' bathroom at all. It's DEFINITELY not good if you go with a girl you just started seeing. Trust me. But, there's a bathroom on the main floor you can use for privacy. Unfortunately, everything in there is under black light, so it's kind of weird. Eat corn the day before you go for a real visual bathroom treat.

We went to Japonais for sushi.... pretty expensive even for sushi, and the wine list really blew ($50 for Evolution!!!!)... but it was great food, and a great environment. I also went to Ditka's (I've been there before, but they really sucked it up this time), and to Mon Ami Gabi (that place is incredible, I'd recommend it, especially if you like steak).

Have fun, Chicago is a blast. Oh yeah, if you're down for something kinda stupid but fun, go to 10 pin at House of Blues. It's like bowling for rich people, but it's cool, and the two times I've been there, there were MLB players there hanging out.

[gdnyc]

Originally Posted by BMWoo

I was in Chicago about a month ago. Stayed at the W. It was an incredible hotel, plus it had a couple spots in there that were PACKED, so you could get all hammered and just stumble up to your room. One thing though - if you need privacy in your bathroom, that place is NOT the place for you. Trust me, you can hear every noise - it's not a 'sealed' bathroom at all. It's DEFINITELY not good if you go with a girl you just started seeing. Trust me. But, there's a bathroom on the main floor you can use for privacy. Unfortunately, everything in there is under black light, so it's kind of weird. Eat corn the day before you go for a real visual bathroom treat.

We went to Japonais for sushi.... pretty expensive even for sushi, and the wine list really blew ($50 for Evolution!!!!)... but it was great food, and a great environment. I also went to Ditka's (I've been there before, but they really sucked it up this time), and to Mon Ami Gabi (that place is incredible, I'd recommend it, especially if you like steak).

Have fun, Chicago is a blast. Oh yeah, if you're down for something kinda stupid but fun, go to 10 pin at House of Blues. It's like bowling for rich people, but it's cool, and the two times I've been there, there were MLB players there hanging out.

Did you go to the W Lake Shore or City Center?

[BMWoo]

Originally Posted by gdnyc

Did you go to the W Lake Shore or City Center?

Lake Shore. Trendy place if you like that sort of thing. Room was nice, wasn't too far away from the mag mile either, and it was overlooking the lake & beach, so it was a good place to stay.