STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

bumblebee · Coach

Chicago recommendations?

member · Hermes

bumblebee wrote:

Hi--going to Chicago in about a month, and I am staying at the W City Center. I am looking for any recommendations for cool/fun restaurants or bars in the area, and maybe some low-key neighborhood-ish shopping within walking distance. We are going to the Cubs game on Saturday, so I think I have Saturday afternoon at the Wrigleyville bars covered--those are close to walk to from the stadium, right? Any particular ones anyone likes better than others? TIA!

You'll have a blast Sat at the Cubs game, and yes, the bars are literally across the street/surrounding the stadium. IMO, on game day, all the bars are pretty much the same - you should be safe in most any of them, but please stay out of High Tops and John Barleycorn. Both are horrible bars IMO.

The W City Center is actually in the Loop (this is where I and a lot of others work - lots of businesses down here). You aren't going to be near any neighborhoodish shopping w/in walking distance. All you'll be close to is State Street (Marshall Field's, Carson's, F21, H&M, etc) and Michigan Ave, aka, the Magnificent Mile. All the chain stores and dept. stores are there. If you are willing to cab it, PM me and I'd be happy to suggest areas to shop in.

Also, maybe some of the other chicago girls (shopgirl82, Farrah, Collette, etc) can recommend something I missed.

HTH! Have fun!

bumblebee · Coach

thank you, shopchicago. esp. for the warning about those bars--what is wrong with them? are they dangerous or something?

my brother was also telling me about a street where a bunch of more trendy bars/lounges are, and he thought we could walk there--now i can't remember the name of the street. it was maybe a state name? ring a bell?

member · Hermes

bumblebee wrote:

thank you, shopchicago. esp. for the warning about those bars--what is wrong with them? are they dangerous or something? my brother was also telling me about a street where a bunch of more trendy bars/lounges are, and he thought we could walk there--now i can't remember the name of the street. it was maybe a state name? ring a bell?

Oh no - they aren't dangerous at all - LOL. Sorry! I just hate the scene and the type of people that go there. All the guys there are on the prowl and the frat boy type (sorry if anyone likes frat boys ) I don't know what kind of scene you like, but these bars are not fun to me.

I think your brother may be thinking of the State & Rush area? It's got a bunch of restaurans and all the trendy bars. I don't think I'd really walk there from where you're staying though - I'd suggest cabbing it. The W Hotel you are staying at is on Adams, correct?

Collette · Chanel

Bumblebee I'll be at the Cubs game on Saturday as well! I agree with shopchicago at Barleycorn and Hightops. frat boy city. Alot of people go toe the Cubby Bear which is ight across from the Stadium, it will be packed but so are all places in the area. Shopchicago pretty much covered it all, unless you are willing to hop a cab for some better boutique shopping, if so you can PM me as well and I'll give you my suggestions as well! You're going to love Wrigley Field!

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

I actually like Barleycorns because when I go to Cubs games (they suck, by the way) if we go out afterward I just want to get drunk and stupid anyway. Of course, I am very good about telling nerd guys to beat it if they are bothering my friends and I. Oh and I had a drink with Jamie Denton (Mike Delfino) there after the Friday Cubs/Sox (go Sox) game so you never know who might show up.

I do agree that Hi-Tops is a serious pit though. You should check out Moe's Cantina. I have heard good things about it and it is just south of the Cubby Bear and Barleycorn's on Clark.

shopgirl82 · Chanel

Farrah wrote:

I actually like Barleycorns because when I go to Cubs games (they suck, by the way) if we go out afterward I just want to get drunk and stupid anyway. Of course, I am very good about telling nerd guys to beat it if they are bothering my friends and I. Oh and I had a drink with Jamie Denton (Mike Delfino) there after the Friday Cubs/Sox (go Sox) game so you never know who might show up. I do agree that Hi-Tops is a serious pit though. You should check out Moe's Cantina. I have heard good things about it and it is just south of the Cubby Bear and Barleycorn's on Clark.

oh Farrah, no you didn't!!! GO CUBS! (ok, yes, i too have boycotted buying any more cubs merchandise until they start giving me something back, but that's another thread).

i have to say while i agree with a lot of the advice Farrah gives, i think she should stick to the South Side. (you know i'm kidding).

i live walking distance from wrigley field and as far as the bars go, i like Murphy's for pre-game, and Bernie's (i love the outdoor beergarden), and Casey Moran's for after the game. Bernie's just has a chill vibe and you never know who you will run into there, Jamie Denton, Chubacca (definitely spelled that one wrong), etc..it has the sports bar feel, but without being too stuffy. Casey Moran's is a more sports bar version of John Barleycorn (which i consider John Barleycorn more of a nightclubish, frat boys, girls getting dressed up for the game, kind of place), it has a young crowd that is there to drink and be drunk. also, if you want food after the game along with beers, a lot of people go to the Southport area bars. Southport is the name of a street that is walking distance from Wrigley and has a ton of sports bars (and boutique shopping). The bars are a bit more smaller and have more of a neighborhood feel and a lot of them service good food. A lot of locals go there after the game if they don't want to fight the crowds at the Wrigleyville Bars. HTH!

also, i know that i have answered some recommendations for shopping, etc... so you might want to do a search, but if you have more specific questions let me know.

bumblebee · Coach

thanks, ladies, for all of the recommendations! a few questions:

1. will all of these wrigleyville bars (and southport bars) that you guys have mentioned be very obvious to an out-of-towner who has never been there before to find after the game? they're like right outside the stadium, right?

2. shopgirl82--what do you mean about "girls getting dressed up to go to the game"? that's not the norm, right? i was going to wear jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt. just making sure it's not like the vandy football games where you have to dress up and bring a date.

3. any recommendations of good restaurants that will be open on the weekend right in the loop? for lunch or dinner. thanks!

shopgirl82 · Chanel

they're all RIGHT by the field. murphys is behind the left field, and all the other are behind the right field on clark, which is a main street. i live half a block from sluggers, although, i don't really like that one either.

i would take the el (the train) the red line to addison, as it's cheap ($1.75) each way, and it will drop you off RIGHT at the field. cabs are not worth it, and it's hard finding a cab after the game.

jeans, tee, and sneakers is the uniform for a cubs game. its the people wearing high heels, going out tops, etc... that i find look out of place. it's just like any other baseball game.

another suggestion is to take the train (the brown line to southport) early to Southport, eat lunch at a sports bar there, maybe browse a couple boutiques before the game, and then walk two blocks to Wrigley.

as far as the loop lunch spots, the other girls would be much better since i don't eat lunch downtown too often. the only place that i sometimes meet my bf for lunch at is Bandera on Michigan Ave. They have really great salads (and they're HUGE), and cornbread, and all the other typical American fare. Also, you can look down at Michigan Ave. and watch the shoppers. The address is 535 N. Michigan Ave.

HTH!!

member · Hermes

bumblebee wrote:

3. any recommendations of good restaurants that will be open on the weekend right in the loop? for lunch or dinner. thanks!

I work in the loop, so here's a few of my suggestions for lunch or dinner that should be open on the weekend. Also you should be able to walk to these from your hotel.

1. Italian Village - 71 W. Monroe St (btwn Clark & Dearborn) there are 3 different Italian restaurants here..I checked and they are open Sat. not Sun.

2. The Grillroom Chophouse - 33 W. More St. (btwn Dearborn & State St) - good place for steak, and open Sat and Sun.

3. Nick's Fishmarket - 51 s. Clark St (next to Bank One) - great Seafood and open Sat. night for dinner.

4. Trattoria No. 10 - 10 N. Dearborn St. - nice Italian Restaurant, open Sat. night for dinner.

5. Berghoff - 17 W. Adams - Famous Chicago Restaurant, german food. Open Saturday for lunch and dinner.

HTH!!!

lsubatgirl · Gucci

I'm in Chicago this week and I think a group of us are going to go over on Sat and stay till Sun. We want to hit up a cubs game but they are sold out on Sunday - the only option for us. There are a few ticket brokers online with tickets. Are they safe? Has anyone used one?

I'm looking at these 2: www.fantickets.com and www.primeseattickets.com

Also anyone have a suggestion on what area of town we should stay in?

Collette · Chanel

lsubatgirl wrote:

I'm in Chicago this week and I think a group of us are going to go over on Sat and stay till Sun. We want to hit up a cubs game but they are sold out on Sunday - the only option for us. There are a few ticket brokers online with tickets. Are they safe? Has anyone used one? I'm looking at these 2: www.fantickets.com and www.primeseattickets.com Also anyone have a suggestion on what area of town we should stay in?

You can very easily get tickets at the stadium from scalpers, that's what we do. It's easy. Also a little known fact that I'm going to share. Our secret. Right before the game teh ticket window re-opens and those with season ticket who are not coming can release their tickets and you can purchase them at face value. We do it all the time and get great seats.

For places to stay I would recommend the Gold Coast, it's right off of Michigan Ave where all the major department store shopping is at, you can catch a train to anywhere from there or a cab and tons of resteraunts, bars etc right out your door.

Here's a bunch of Hotels for great prices at Expedia.com open for this weekend. My advice is to check out the ones labeled Magnificent mile/River North.

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?itty=&itid=&itdx=&fpri=1&aasl=

lsubatgirl · Gucci

thanks for the suggestions Collette. The problem is that we are up to 10-12 people going and we'd want to sit together. Thanks for the expedia link. That is helpful.

Collette · Chanel

Yeah with that many scalping not such a good idea!

member · Hermes

LSU - i just sent you a pm about some hotels closer to Wrigley

bumblebee · Coach

we got tickets through the concierge at our hotel, who got them from a broker. the broker sent the tickets directly to me, so i am sure i have their phone number on the fed-ex package at home--do you want me to PM it to you and you can see what they have left? they seemed to be very reputable (the tickets were pretty expensive, though, because it's a really good game).

lsubatgirl · Gucci

ooh please pm me with that name and number.

bumblebee · Coach

Bumping my original post, because this weekend is my trip to Chicago! I'm so excited!

So we are going to the Cubby game on Sat. at noon, and then will just prob. hang out in Wrigleyville after that and into the evening, maybe will check out that steak restaurant that someone posted later for dinner if it's close. Our hotel is in the Loop neighborhood, so any specific recs for Sunday? We aren't leaving until 8pm, so we have all day to walk around, go to a leisurely lunch, etc. Should we take a cab/train to a different area of town--I'm looking for shopping, but my travel partner will be happier if it's in an area where I can plop him down in a bar that has sports on TV and come pick him up later.