STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I live in Chicago and love showing it off (I get a lot of family out of towners that I take around the city. In fact, I've got a bunch coming in this afternoon!)  You are so going to get more info than you probably wanted here.

Do you know what area the hotel is in? By Michigan Avenue? We have a great transit system here so most things are accessible by the subway system (we call it the EL) and buses.  And taxis are everywhere.

What do you guys like? Museums? Shopping? Cute restaurants? Tours? I'll give you an over view and can get more details if there's an area you're really interested in.

Museums- My favorites are the Art Institute and The Field Museum of Natural History.
The Art Institute always has great exhibits going on (starting soon is a great photography exhibit on Henri Cartier-Bresson  that I'll probably see.)  The regurlar exhibits in the museum are pretty amazing too.  They have the largest collection of Impressionst artwork outside of Paris and  the Chagall windows (most people know them from Ferris Bueller's Day Off)are back up (they took them down when they were building the Modern Art Wing).  Thursdays are the free day and Thurs and Friday evenings they have a Happy Hour reception with a cash bar outside in the court yard.

http://www.artic.edu/aic/

The Field Museum- It's a great way to spend a few hours.  Sue the T-Rex is there (as soon as you walk in.  She's really hard to miss.)  They have exhibits on various cultures through out the place including a walk-in model of a hut the local indians used to live in.  It's on Michigan Ave as well and I believe the free trolley stops there.

http://www.fieldmuseum.org/


Shopping-
If you're staying on or near Michigan Ave, most of the major shopping is there.  It's like one large, outdoor mall. There is a huge H&M, the biggest Forever 21 I've ever seen, a 3 story Crate & Barrel and countless others.  If you want a discount place, like Nordstrom Rack, Filenes Basement, Lomeins or TJ Max, they are on State Street and within walking distance of the Art Institute.  Honestly, if you leave Chicago and don't buy anything, you just aren't trying hard.  But our sales tax is over 10% now, so be aware!

As for bridal shopping, I think the JCrew is one of the few that has a bridal salon, but you should probably double check on that.  Most of the places I've had to go for bridemaid dresses are chain places like David's.  I think the Macy's on State Street has a bridal salon there too with designer dresses if that's what your friend is interested in.  I'm not much help there.

Eating-

There are so many good places to eat here.  I'm just going to give you some of my favorites. 

Bin 36- great wine bar, small plates place just off the Chicago River.  339 N. Dearborn

Hub 51- broad menu and fun atmosphere.  Late at night there is a DJ downstairs.  51 W. Hubbard St.

Fonteria- Rick Bayless's less expensive place, but the food is still amazing there.  Some of the best and most authentic Mexican you will ever taste. 445  N. Clark

Rocket Bar & Grill- you can get food there, but really, it's a bar atmosphere.  A lot of celbs hit it when they come through town because they are friends with the owner.

Woa Bao- it's a little stand in the front of Water Tower Shopping Center.  There aren't any tables.  But you will never try anything quite like it.  tey are steamed balls of dough with soup inside that squirts out when you eat it.  Get some and eat outside.  Great for lunch when shopping on Michigan Ave.

Quartino- another small plates place with a great wine by the glass list (it's huge.)  626 N. State Street

Ghirardelli's Ice Cream- it's a San Francisco ice cream place, but the restaurant's cute, there 's outside seating and if you get it to go, you can eat ice cream by the famous Water Tower across the street.  830 N. Michigan Ave

Pegasus Restaurant - it;s my favorite in Greektown, but there are plenty of good greek restaurants to try there.  The roof top serves drinks only, but it's great place to get a drink then move downstairs for dinner.  Get the saginaki (flaming cheese!)
130 S. Halsted

If you have a splurge night- go to Canival.  I went there for my birthday last year and it was amazing.  It's nuevo latin (Brasil, Cuba, Colombian) food that focuses on using local ingredients(IL, WI, MI, IN farms.)  The inside is gorgeous with reds, yellows, textures and draping everywhere.  The staff takes great care of you. 702 W. Fullerton

Tours-

There are tours everywhere.  Bus tours on red double decker buses.  Trolley hop on hop off tours.  And boat tours.  I'm actually taking some people on a boat tour this Saturday (it's a 90 minute architecture tour  There are stands on Michigan Ave by the Tribune Tower (and the Chicago River.)  If you want me to look into them Saturday, let me know.

Honestly, feel free to PM or email me if you have questions.  I really love showing off Chicago and will be happy to help you plan a trip.

Thanks you guys! Boots, all that info was so helpful! You are the best!

GG- Hmmm....Gibsons is OK but it's a chain (I try to avoid those. I like the idea that the guy in the kitchen has a personal interest in my food because it's his or her place, you know?) For a good steakhouse I actually like Rosebud which is on Dearborn or Gene & Georgetti on Franklin (which is an old school steak house, but kind of expensive.) I've never eaten at The Chicago Chop House so I can't really say anything but I've heard good reviews on it.

Kelly- word to the wise. On Sat when I tried to get tickets for the architecture tour, they were completely sold out for the day. We took a different boat tour that took us down the North branch of the river then back and out to the lake. It was also 90- minutes and $25 as opposed to $32. It was a nice ride and worked fine for the 9 year old cousin I had with me. But if you want the more in depth tour from the Chicago Architecture Society, order your tickets on-line before hand.

I love all those places you visited with your CityPass. It reminds me how over due I am for a trip to Chicago. Maybe that should be my fall trip...