FOOD, DRINK, ART, VIEWS: MY 3 DAYS IN CHICAGO
Chicago is one of the best cities in America. Period. I grew up in the suburbs but have lived in Minneapolis since the early 2000s, I come at this like a tourist who also is a food critic. Highly walkable - easy to get around using the L and buses - and the food scene is exceptional.
THINGS TO DO
Skydeck Chicago: 103rd story views, the glass box / glass floor vibe of THE LEDGE, adult tickets start at $32 and are absolutely worth it. So cool. theskydeck.com
Art Institute of Chicago: I love the Art Institute. Incredible Impressionism collection, the original Hopper Diner painting, the iconic Seurat painting, American Gothic! Check out the guide of what you can see in an hour - and admission is free if you’re a member of the Walker Art Center.
Museum of Contemporary Art: this is a very avant garde museum with only temporary / seasonal exhibits. I loved it. Yoko Ono exhibit is next - they were installing it when we visited. This starts at $19 and is also free with your Walker Art membership! visit.mcachicago.org
Museum of Science & Industry / Field Museum: Griffin MSI (wasn’t Griffin when I was a kid) is one of the finest museums in the world. https://www.msichicago.org/ Interactive, fun, educational. Love it. The Field Museum is on the same campus - way more engaging than just dioramas of dead birds and bugs that I remember from my teenage years. https://www.fieldmuseum.org/
Architecture Boat Tours: I didn’t do one on this trip, but it is an awesome experience. Choose Chicago has a nice guide to the options [choosechicago.com] - I’ve done the Wendella Boat tour (a little more chill and fun) and I’ve heard amazing things about the Chicago Architecture Center tour architecture.org/city-tours/
CHICAGO RESTAURANTS - DERUSHA APPROVED
RIVER NORTH
Chris Zucchero, owner of Mr. Beef, currently lives in St. Paul!
MR. BEEF ON ORLEANS: best beef in Chicago, part of the inspiration for “The Bear” - owner Chris Zuccharo is an absolute gem, he fell in love with a Minnesota woman who dragged him back here, a story we’ve seen 1 million times here.
FRONTERA GRILL / TOPO / XOCO: I love Rick Bayless, I have all his cookbooks, the hospitality and creativity at this corner is still top notch.
WEST LOOP
DUCK, DUCK GOAT: Stephanie Izard’s “reasonably authentic” Chinese food - wonderful.
GIRL & THE GOAT: of the first restaurants on Chicago’s famed Restaurant Row in the West Loop, since 2010! Stephanie Izard’s Girl & the Goat made her famous, still amazing
TRINO STEAK: New in the West Loop, Chef Stephen Sandoval brings Argentinian steak plus Spanish and Mexican influences. Tons of flavor. Great vibes here.
BONCI PIZZA: Chicago is the only place outside of Rome you can get Bonci. Pizza is all the same price- you pay by the ounce.
Lemon - great service and loved the Emerald Isle cocktail
NEIGHBORHOODS TO WALK AROUND
Millenium Park
Grant Park
Riverwalk to Navy Pier
Magnificent Mile / Michigan Avenue
THE DETAILS
HOTELS: Alyssa booked the JW Marriott for work, it was great, location by the Chicago Board of Trade, not a ton immediately around there but close to all the major public transportation options. I took the Blue Line from O’Hare Airport and walked to the hotel. For our Thursday night we moved to Ivy Hotel, also downtown, but closer to the Magnificant Mile and Navy Pier. Very affordable and a great suite room!
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: I bought a CTA 3-day pass for $15 and then promptly lost the pass. I’d recommend buying a 1-day pass for $5 so if you lose it it’s no big deal. I used it on the city buses and the L to get around (a single ride is $2.50). We did not rent a car.
UBER / LYFT: Widely available and affordable. We took the train to get to Alinea for dinner (gotta save money when you’re spending $400/pp on the food alone) and then Ubered home at midnight.
FLY OR DRIVE: We drive to Chicago a lot - it’s an easy drive from Minneapolis / St. Paul - just about 6 hours. Flying was even easier - we flew out of MSP Airport, took the Light Rail from downtown Minneapolis ($2 ride) and didn’t have to pay to park. Win!
SAFETY: I felt SO safe in Chicago. Law enforcement at all the train stations, all over downtown. I spent all day walking around alone, at night Alyssa and I were together.
