Hello folks, my wife and I are going to be taking a trip to Chicago for a few days next week. Leaving on Monday morning, stopping at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, getting to Chicago by Tuesday night. We've got tickets to catch the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon, which I really excited about, but that's pretty much it. So I've got a few questions:

1) Where should we stay? We're looking for a hotel for around $80/night. Since the only thing I know we're doing is going to the game, I suppose it'd be nice if the hotel was in the area. Or maybe that's not cool? I don't know. Please advise.

2) What the hell should we do? Are there any good shows going on between Wednesday and Friday? I could figure that out on my own, I'm sure. Other than shows, though, how 'bout good bars? Record stores?

3) Where should we eat? I'm supposed to want your fancy pizza, right? 'Cause I do.

Thanks in advance for your help. I know almost nothing about your city, so any quick lessons would be hugely appreciated.

Okay, thanks tons.

Record Store Recommendations:
Reckless Records (the Broadway location is better for CDs, while the one on Milwaukee seems to be better for vinyl --> www.reckless.com for info)

Pizza Recommendation:
The Art of Pizza (not sure about the address - it's in the Lakeview neighborhood)

Schubas is almost always a good show on fri and sat nights and usually not sold out. Tim Easton is playing the early show at 7:30 on Sat which should be pretty good. I might go if I can get my moving done by then and have any energy left.

There are a couple of good irish bars with good pub grub in wrigleyville, the Irish Oak, and there is another one down by where the tracks cross Clark St, with a red facade (dang it, I can't think of the name, but it's like McDugal's or some irish name.) I also like to drink at the Gingerman which is right next to the Metro

Make sure you read up on the CTA cards and use them for your transportation because it will be tons cheaper than cabs or parking your car somewhere.

I'm at a loss for hotels.

Art of Pizza is on Ashland a few blocks south of Belmont.

Lou Malnati's for pizza. Deep dish. Enjoy.

1. There's a Day's Inn in Lincoln Park on Clark, Broadway and Diversey, and another one in Gold Coast on Lincoln, Wells, and Clark. Check hotels.com for prices.

The Lincoln Park one is closer to Wrigley and near some good eats.

2. The Art Institute, and the rest of Museum Campus is cool. Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, Field Museum are all next to each other. You can get a pass that gets you into all of them that's good for a few days. If you're a teacher, or student, you can get in for free, just bring school i.d. or a paystub.

For shows try The Double Door, The Metro, Schubas, Empty Bottle, The Hideout, Bottom Lounge... www.metromix.com is a good website for that kind of shit.

The Botanical Gardens are in Highland Park, northern suburb, but gorgeous, and next to Ravinia, an outdoor amphitheater that does great classical and good pop/rock/folk shows, lawn seats are cheap www.ravinia.com

Wed - Sun in Grant park, 6 p.m. is a dance lesson, 7:30-9:30 is a live band. There are also movies in the park. That's at the Spirit of Music Stage right across from The Congress Hotel on Michigan. They also have movies in the park at The Petrillo Band Shell.

3. Chicago's, by the slice, till 5 a.m. on Sheffield and Wellington, bout .75 miles from wrigley field.

Heaven on 7 is good Cajun inspired food by Wrigley. Fogo de Chao is a pricey all you can eat Brazilian Steakhouse that will blow your fucking mind. Gaylord's is great Indian in the River North neighborhood. Nookie's for breakfast, near Wrigley on Halsted and Buckingham. Dos Amigos on Milwaukee west of California for Mexican.

www.transitchicago.com to plan on how to get around the city.

Hope this helps.

Oh, and in Cleveland on the other side of the river from the Rock Hall between Carnegie and Detroit is Great Lakes Brewing Company. Eat there.
http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/

Or Tommy's in Cleveland Heights on Coventry which puts you in spitting distance of two great record shops, CD Exchange, and Record Revolution. Tommy's is fantastic vegetarian, killer milkshakes.

phil, i love you, and chicago's is fine, but there's no way it's the best chicago-style pizza in chicago. as chain-y as it is, giordano's beats it by a country mile. if you could expect even acceptable service from gino's, so would they.

chicago's has spicier sauce.

I love you too, we shall always disagree.

Malnati's and Due's have big chunks of tomato in the sauce. I want a pizza, not a god damn salad.

Uno's, Giordano's, and Gino's East are just kind of bland. Edwardo's is pretty good though.

Additionally,


WEINER CIRCLE

yes... and or Hot Dougs.

Both definitely. Two of my favorite places in the world. the cheddar burger/cheddar fries is good for weiner circle then whatever crazy hot dog they have at Hot Dougs.

glad we agree.

I knew i liked you for a reason.

he Game of the Week
White Wine and Dijon Rabbit Sausage with Apricot-Orange Mustard Cream and French Morbier Cheese
$5.50

The Ricky Roma (Today's Celebrity Sausage)
Cognac & Cranberry Smoked Chicken Sausage with Fruity-Horseradish Mustard and Goat Cheese
$5.25

Other Specials
Apple Pork Sausage with Prosciutto Dijonnaise and Crumbled Blue Cheese
$6.00

Veggie Corn Dog
$2.00

Mint and Garlic Lamb Sausage with Curry-Saffron-Yogurt Sauce and Feta Cheese
$7.00

Green Onion Chicken Sausage with "Buffalo" Mustard and Cheddar-Jack Cheese
$6.00


seriously. crazy shit there.

i was also going to suggest the days inn at clark and diversey because then you can just walk or take the clark bus up to wrigley.


i don't know of any shows going on next wednesday through friday, other than the modey lemon at subterranean, but that's a weird venue that i tend to avoid. there's a country/western ("we've got both kinds") bar called carol's near me that's open til 4 every night. it's usually a combination of rednecks and hipsters, but cheap.


okay, breakfast is my wheelhouse. there's a place called orange on clark near belmont (about five blocks south of wrigley) that has tremendous pancakes. victory's banner (mostly vegan, excellent french toast) is on roscoe, not far from wrigleyville. tre kronor is a swedish place way out on foster, probably a bit far, but totally worth it. m henry on clark in andersonville has quite an eclectic breakfast too. (fellow obnite dmb04 and i have dined there, i think he'll vouch for it.) my other breakfast spots are just weekend brunches.

i'm going to default to someone else for other meals, except to mention handlebar (bucktown-ish, around 2300 north ave) and pick-me-up (on clark, a few blocks south of wrigley) as my favorites.

otherwise, have a good time.

Victory's Banner is definitely excellent, despite being vegan.

I don't think I've ever had a finer dining experience, James. This place is recommended. I will also recommend the Weiner Circle over on Clark. The charred hot dogs, or whatever they're called are amazing, especially if you're drunk.

np: Jr. Walker-Shotgun

Wow...thanks for all the suggestions. Very helpful. I'm a little bummed because it doesn't seem there are any interesting shows going on, but I'll live.

I like the pizza debae. I will eat at every place mentioned and report back with my opinion.

We totally screwed up getting our Cubs tickets, and we wound up buying individual seats, not particularly close to each other. We figure if it's anything like Shea, we'll be able to find two seats somewhere. Am I totally wrong?

This is a day game? Against who? I've only been there once this year, but I assume most all games are pretty packed still. I've seen people physically fight about seats there. If you ain't in your seat and you're in someone else's, some people can be pretty bogus. Don't let this discourage you though because I'm sure you'll be fine...

damn, why couldn't you come on August 20th when three awesome bands are playing at the Mutiny

Oh man...day game against the Reds. I certainly won't be getting into any fights over a seat. So maybe we'll just part ways for a few innings, then walk around, take it all in, etc. It's more about seeing the park for me anyway...just kinda getting a feel for it. I was just glad to be able to catch a day game at all.

I don't know. I'm definitely bummed about not having any shows to go to, though. Think any of the usual venues would be fun to just hang out at? I feel like I should at least go see 'em.

Shouldn't, like, Riviera be playing or something?

You'll be fine, especially since it's against the Reds! Enjoy the park because right now.....that's the only good thing about the Cubs.

np: Refused-New Noise

I think Phil and I may be the only two people in Chicago who think Chicago's makes the best chicago-style pizza.

Man, that was a lot of "chicagos" for one sentence.

guys, Old World Pizza has the best deep dish pizza in chicago, but none of you have ever had it and it's not even close to the city center.

I agree with Haq that Gino's and Giordanos' beats Chicago's.