Im going to Chicago!!!

[Hooz]

I am from the Chicago area, and my family still lives up there... When I think of Chicago, I think of two words, "Robinson's Ribs".

If you like barbeque in general, or ribs in particular, you owe it to yourself to check out Robinson's while you're in town.

[dasanii19]

Originally Posted by WillT

Warrenville is about an hour away from downtown Chicago, so if you want, it's safe to bring your XD.

Can you tell me a little about Warrenville? Coming from the west coast Will I notice an accent?

[Hooz]

Originally Posted by dasanii19

Can you tell me a little about Warrenville? Coming from the west coast Will I notice an accent?

Heh. It's funny that you mention it. There is a bit of an accent in Illinois. It's not as bad as Wisconsin or Minnesota, but you will notice a bit of an accent from the "natives".

I've been away for so long that I really notice it now when I talk to my Mom and Dad.

[CanyonJack]

I have lived in the ChiTown area most of my life until moving to AZ.
Food - Chicago has the best preserved ethnic neighborhoods. You name it you can eat the authenic version. Don't pass up Billy Goat's Tavern!
Architecture - There are tours by land and by water that are well worth the time
Museums - most have mentioned the hot ones.
Shopping - try the Magnificent Mile - North Michigan Ave.
Blues - many great local clubs
Lakeshore - take a nice Sunday drive north along the lake all the way up to Northbrook. You will see some great (expensive) homes.
Burbs - if you go to visit there, try taking the train. Check to see which line services the town you wish to visit.
Above all - in your travels, stay alert, guard your valuables (girlfriend especially), and since you don't know the neighborhoods avoid being the only couple on the street after dark.
Enjoy!

[Majk]

Originally Posted by Hooz

I am from the Chicago area, and my family still lives up there... When I think of Chicago, I think of two words, "Robinson's Ribs".

If you like barbeque in general, or ribs in particular, you owe it to yourself to check out Robinson's while you're in town.

I've heard of that place. In fact it was on the food network one night if I remember right.

They even ship people ribs over night too.


Us minnesotans don't have a accent aye.

[mboehlen]

Warrenville is located in Dupage County (gun friendly) and its about 10 min away from me in Naperville. It's a straight shot west of Chicago down I-88. Naperville is going to be the closest place of nightlife for you which is now the 2nd or 3rd largest city in the state. It's pretty yuppie, but has some cool places to go to. There are lots of bars in downtown Naperville if thats your thing, but it can get kinda pricey. Plenty of good food in the area too. Your going to be in the middle of a bunch of entertainment, being able to do anything you want within a 30-45 min driving distance.

If you send me a PM of interests you have, I'll send you many links and areas that you should go to.

[WillT]

What they said ^^

I know virtually nothing about Warrenville, I live North of Chicago. Either way, we can probably get together at Buffalo Range and shoot some lead. It's an outdoor range, not too bad.

[CanyonJack]

Since you are staying in Warrenville, IMHO the best way to get into the big city is the train http://www.metrarail.com/Sched/bn/bn.shtml

As you will see once you get to the area, the Route 59 BNSF Metra station is only a couple minutes from Warrenville. It is a much less stressful way to get to downtown Chicago.

+1 on what mboehlen said - Warrenville is mostly a "bedroom" community with few attractions. Lots of retail shops south on 59.

A very good Italian restaurant "Lorenzo's" is located on the ring road around Fox Valley Center. Rte 59 and E. New York Street. It is a bit pricey, but the food measures up.

[bat1159man]

Originally Posted by Hooz

I am from the Chicago area, and my family still lives up there... When I think of Chicago, I think of two words, "Robinson's Ribs".

If you like barbeque in general, or ribs in particular, you owe it to yourself to check out Robinson's while you're in town.

+1 Try "Twin Anchors" 1655 N. Sedgewick in Chicago for great ribs. Corner local style pub/restaurant.
http://www.twinanchorsribs.com/

Originally Posted by aiformula

I still think Giordano's is the best pie in town, but it's such a close race.... Uno's/Due's, Gino's, Lou's, Connie's, they're all good.

+1 I am going to have to add one to a good list for pizza joints. You have to try Home Run Inn Pizza.

Originally Posted by FatMatt1981

I haven't been to Chicago for a long freakin time. The Museum of Science and Industry ruled.....gotta check out the U505 U-boat....and the awesome IMAX. Shed aquarium was nice.....the Sears tower was awesome too.
For a big axx city it was nice n clean in town.....
the pizza does rule!

+1 The U505 exhibition in the Science and Industry Museum was just redone 2 years ago and is fantastic. They actually built an indoor interactive exhibit and refurbished the sub. This has always been one of my favorite museums because of this.

Originally Posted by WillT

What they said ^^

I know virtually nothing about Warrenville, I live North of Chicago. Either way, we can probably get together at Buffalo Range and shoot some lead. It's an outdoor range, not too bad.

While you are there - go see a Kane County Cougars baseball game. They are a single A minor league team affiliated with the Oakland Atheletics. All seats are good and it is a fun, realatively inexpensive evening. I take my boys out to two or three games a year.

First Division Museum at Cantigny which is in Wheaton only a few minutes away from where you will be located. http://www.rrmtf.org/firstdivision/firstdivision.htm

If you would like some more ideas, PM me and we can chat about you and your girl friends interests.

[dasanii19]

Well I made it to Chicago First off let me tell you, I HATE FLYING!!! LOL Alright so I get off the plane walk out of the air port total climate change from Nevada, the humidity hit me like a ton of bricks. I flag down our taxi, its a black guy with an accent I could not determine. This guy is cursing F this F that and kept calling everyone stupid, cutting people off staring at them calling them stupid. He probably said the word stupid 30 times but instead of getting irritated by this, I just laughed and took it all in as part of the "whole experience" Whatever.....

So we arrive at Candlewood suite in Warranville IL, (the place we are staying at for two months). Its a nice place with a clean quite surrounding area. Right out of our window is a man made pond which is nice. So we are hungry as hell, my girlfriend say "lets order from TGIF" I said ummmmmm we are in Chicago babe we are NOT going to eat anything here that we have on the west coast, she said ok well what then? I said Chicago style PIZZA!!!!! haha we gotta try the pizza. We order from a pizza menu we have here in the room we choose "Pizza D' Itatia" OOOH MY GOSH you guys, Chicago isn't BS'ing about their pizza, holy crap!! this was the best pizza I've ever had in my life.I didn't know pizza could be so good. I cant really describe it that well but lets just say their mediums are our extra larges, everything tasted so fresh, the cheese even had a different texture, the crust was unbelievable and the damn this was actually hot when it arrived LOL They put some sort of plastic type net underneath the pizza so that the grease doesn't saturate the crust to prevent it from getting soggy.. WOW..

So yea, thats the first day. We have a bunch of stuff planned. Ill post pictures and details as the vaction goes along.


The plane was completely full



Sweet picture my girlfriend got. I think we were over Colorado.







A picture we got of the MGM in Vegas while changing flights.



Sissy boy me on the plane



Here's the pizza, but the picture truly doesnt give it justice..





Heres the little pond from outside,. Our room is the 3rd window up in the middle.