STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Right by the studio is a chain place called The Flat Top Grill. It's a make your own stir fry place. I think it's fun and it's certainly affordable. The address is 1000 W. Washington Blvd. Don't know how crowded it's going to get around taping. Also there is a place called Wishbone right by the studio that has a great breakfast (again, not sure how crowded it might be.)

You can take a short cab ride (like 5 minutes I would guess) from your hotel to Heaven on Seven at 600 N. Michigan. It's cajun food, casual and not expensive. I love their gumbo. They have another location a little south of your hotel at 111 N. Walbash. This one is near the Nordstrom Rack & H&M if that makes any difference (they are on State Street, less than a half a block down from Macy's.)

For a casual dinner, I've been to the Elephant & Castle. It's an English pub place that serves lunch & dinner. It's pretty crowded at night with after work drinks, but the food is good for pub food. It's at 185 N. Walbash, which is also not too far from your hotel, but you might want to cab it since it's not a straight shot down .

There are a few Potbelly's in the loop (it's a sandwich place that's pretty good, if you don't know what it is.) There is a Cheesecake Factory in the John Handcock Center on Michigan Ave if you wander down to the big shopping stretch on Michigan. Basically, Michigan Ave has a lot of places along it, stores and places to eat.