[winflop]

I forgot one - if you go to the Tribune Tower (great idea it's a rather unique building), go down under Michigan Avenue and have lunch at the original Billy Goat Tavern (do not go to any of the other locations!).  This is the inspiration for the "cheezborger cheezborger" skit from Saturday Night Live in the 70s, and on the walls you can read the stories about the Curse of the Billy Goat that the owner Billy Sianis put on the Cubs in 1945.  Yes, it's a true story!

[winflop]

I forgot one - if you go to the Tribune Tower (great idea it's a rather unique building), go down under Michigan Avenue and have lunch at the original Billy Goat Tavern (do not go to any of the other locations!).  This is the inspiration for the "cheezborger cheezborger" skit from Saturday Night Live in the 70s, and on the walls you can read the stories about the Curse of the Billy Goat that the owner Billy Sianis put on the Cubs in 1945.  Yes, it's a true story!

[Mick]

Great stuff, winflop.  Thanks!

I spent quite a bit of time in Chicago the early 80's on business, and in my opinion it was then and still is is a world-class city.  I can't speak for the food now, but it was great 30 years ago and it is probably better now, from what I hear.  The architecture (general and specific) is worth the visit as are the museums.  As winflop says, you MUST visit the U-boat at the Museum of Science and Industry.  Even though it is our "enemy's" boat and not "ours," you cannot walk through it without beginning to begion to understand how much bravery it took to serve on such ships.

And, vis a vis architecture, another MUST NOT MISS is the Tribune Tower whose street level foundations are sprinkled with ~150 remnants stolen/given to the Tribune over the past century from such buildings as Santa Sofia, the Pyramids at Giza, Ankor Wat, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, etc. etc. etc.  Ah for the good old days of Robber Baronism.........

Stymie

PS--Ms. Stymie and I are synchronizing our calendars, and might just find a way to get to the game in Evanston....

For me it was 1991 to 1998, when I worked for Grant Thornton and Arthur Andersen.  Spent a TON of time in the Windy City, and loved all of it, even staying in the St. Charles "educational center" which was an old women's college that Arthur Andersen purchased to be a global education center.  I thought my college rooms were small, this place took the cake.  Your bed was against the wall and there was 26 inches from your bed to the long sink.  Ugh.

But Chicago was and is a great town.  Now that I'm in Detroit, I'm down for the UDFG game.

[Mick]

Great stuff, winflop.  Thanks!

I spent quite a bit of time in Chicago the early 80's on business, and in my opinion it was then and still is is a world-class city.  I can't speak for the food now, but it was great 30 years ago and it is probably better now, from what I hear.  The architecture (general and specific) is worth the visit as are the museums.  As winflop says, you MUST visit the U-boat at the Museum of Science and Industry.  Even though it is our "enemy's" boat and not "ours," you cannot walk through it without beginning to begion to understand how much bravery it took to serve on such ships.

And, vis a vis architecture, another MUST NOT MISS is the Tribune Tower whose street level foundations are sprinkled with ~150 remnants stolen/given to the Tribune over the past century from such buildings as Santa Sofia, the Pyramids at Giza, Ankor Wat, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, etc. etc. etc.  Ah for the good old days of Robber Baronism.........

Stymie

PS--Ms. Stymie and I are synchronizing our calendars, and might just find a way to get to the game in Evanston....

For me it was 1991 to 1998, when I worked for Grant Thornton and Arthur Andersen.  Spent a TON of time in the Windy City, and loved all of it, even staying in the St. Charles "educational center" which was an old women's college that Arthur Andersen purchased to be a global education center.  I thought my college rooms were small, this place took the cake.  Your bed was against the wall and there was 26 inches from your bed to the long sink.  Ugh.

But Chicago was and is a great town.  Now that I'm in Detroit, I'm down for the UDFG game.

[BostonCard]

But Chicago was and is a great town.  Now that I'm in Detroit, I'm down for the UDFG game.

If you are looking to watch the game at Notre Dame, you'll have to wait a year; they're coming to Stanford this year.

BC

[BostonCard]

But Chicago was and is a great town.  Now that I'm in Detroit, I'm down for the UDFG game.

If you are looking to watch the game at Notre Dame, you'll have to wait a year; they're coming to Stanford this year.

BC

[stanfan]

Thanks for all of your Chicago suggestions.  Looking forward to seeing a great game and a great City?

[stanfan]

Thanks for all of your Chicago suggestions.  Looking forward to seeing a great game and a great City?

[GoodGrief]

As a Chicago native, I have to chime in with my favorite junk food place: Portillo's. Honestly, pretty much every hot dog place in Chicago will have good hot dogs as Chicago would not tolerate anything less. But the quality of Portillo's is truly amazing. Thank goodness there's one a mere 50 miles from Los Angeles when we get the urge. Here's what you order:

1. Hot dog with everything (and yes, in Chicago everything means no freakin' ketchup)
2. Cheesey fries (that cheese sauce is soooo good)
3. Italian beef with giardiniera pepper mix, dry with the gravy on the side (dry means they won't dip the whole sandwich in au jus gravy which makes it too soggy, but having a cup of the au jus to dip into yourself is awesome)
4. Chocolate Cake Shake without the chocolate syrup (why yes, it is indeed a slice of chocolate cake blended into a vanilla milkshake. The chocolate syrup is overkill)

IMO Chicago is the junk food capital of the world

[GoodGrief]

As a Chicago native, I have to chime in with my favorite junk food place: Portillo's. Honestly, pretty much every hot dog place in Chicago will have good hot dogs as Chicago would not tolerate anything less. But the quality of Portillo's is truly amazing. Thank goodness there's one a mere 50 miles from Los Angeles when we get the urge. Here's what you order:

1. Hot dog with everything (and yes, in Chicago everything means no freakin' ketchup)
2. Cheesey fries (that cheese sauce is soooo good)
3. Italian beef with giardiniera pepper mix, dry with the gravy on the side (dry means they won't dip the whole sandwich in au jus gravy which makes it too soggy, but having a cup of the au jus to dip into yourself is awesome)
4. Chocolate Cake Shake without the chocolate syrup (why yes, it is indeed a slice of chocolate cake blended into a vanilla milkshake. The chocolate syrup is overkill)

IMO Chicago is the junk food capital of the world

[winflop]

For pure entertainment value, I have to recommend the Weiner Circle in Lincoln Park.  See below so that you are prepared for the experience.  Not for the faint of heart but after a couple of cocktails this can be fun.  Video below is definitely NFW


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33zPlnhymCU

[winflop]

For pure entertainment value, I have to recommend the Weiner Circle in Lincoln Park.  See below so that you are prepared for the experience.  Not for the faint of heart but after a couple of cocktails this can be fun.  Video below is definitely NFW


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33zPlnhymCU

[BigEasyCard]

Alumni tailgate planned at a golf course near the Northwestern stadium.  Registration opens mid-July.

https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/eve...t_id=18005

I've had mixed experience with these at other away games, but will probably attend.

Geaux Cardinal!

[BigEasyCard]

Alumni tailgate planned at a golf course near the Northwestern stadium.  Registration opens mid-July.

https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/eve...t_id=18005

I've had mixed experience with these at other away games, but will probably attend.

Geaux Cardinal!

[winflop]

I know that several alums planning to go applied pressure to SAA to have a tailgate for NU.  The location is about a half-mile from the stadium.


And yes, the place really is called Canal Shores GC because it is on both sides of a canal.  I find the name hilarious.  I grew up playing that course, and it used to have a different name but everyone jokingly called it Canal Shores.


Hopefully the breeze that day is blowing from the tailgate toward the canal and not the other way around.

[winflop]

I know that several alums planning to go applied pressure to SAA to have a tailgate for NU.  The location is about a half-mile from the stadium.


And yes, the place really is called Canal Shores GC because it is on both sides of a canal.  I find the name hilarious.  I grew up playing that course, and it used to have a different name but everyone jokingly called it Canal Shores.


Hopefully the breeze that day is blowing from the tailgate toward the canal and not the other way around.

[CrazedZooChimp]

Chicago native here and a Kellogg grad (don't worry I will be wearing red on gameday!).


One thing I always recommend to out of towners is the Architecture Boat Tour on the Chicago River.


Museum of Science & Industry is an absolute must see and make sure you get tickets to see the U-boat.

Those are certainly my two favorite things to do as a tourist in Chicago.  It's one of my favorite cities to visit, I should probably start looking into plane tickets...

[CrazedZooChimp]

Chicago native here and a Kellogg grad (don't worry I will be wearing red on gameday!).


One thing I always recommend to out of towners is the Architecture Boat Tour on the Chicago River.


Museum of Science & Industry is an absolute must see and make sure you get tickets to see the U-boat.

Those are certainly my two favorite things to do as a tourist in Chicago.  It's one of my favorite cities to visit, I should probably start looking into plane tickets...