Hello all,

I'm visiting Chicagoland area for training, just got in last night and will be here till friday.

I'm staying in the Downers Grove area.

I'd really like to check out Downtown Chicago one late afternoon/early evening before I head back. I didn't have a chance to schedule any personal days so I'm in class the whole time.

Wondering if there are any owners out there willing to give a tour of the windy city maybe either wed or thurs after 5:30 (class lets out @ 5)

I don't have any means of transportation but I can buy dinner/drinks?

or if you can suggest ways of getting around or where I need to go for the important stuff like pizza, hot dogs, beer, steaks, etc...

 

I'll be in Downer's Grove tomorrow in the evening. I have a workshop/seminar/networking event for Microsoft tomorrow.

I'll be at there from 4 to 8....then up for some dinner after that. If you up for that PM me your number and I'll give you a call once I'm done.

 

your hotel will probably shuttle you free to/from the local train line, which will get you to the city and back in jig time, with plenty of flexibility.

http://www.metrarail.com/

from the downtown station you can walk/cab pretty easily to anything worth seeing. tourist crap is clark & ohio. cheezy bars - rush & division. first date: navy pier. walk east from the train station and you cant miss the sears tower. couple more blocks east is state street (shopping) & the loop. couple more blocks after that is grant park & that silly millenium bean thing.

recommended:
http://www.loumalnatis.com/

the walk to/from 439 n wells will burn off almost all the calories you consume.

welcome!

 

You got PM.

So after being told about Portillo's by a co-worker originally from the area, and having it confirmed by the front desk I decided to take a stroll for dinner since it was within walking distance.

I'm stuffed. Glad I walked so I could burn some off.

I'm looking to tackle deep dish pizza next, unless there's something even more special I should be getting when hanging around a native... since pizza is prolly easy to find.

 

If you're up for deep dish...I think there's a Lou Malnati's around the area. I'd be up for some deep dish tomorrow!

Otherwise, I know a lot of great places in that area.

Give you a call tomorrow.

 

from 1 SoCal-er to Another:

calling Downers Grove "Chicago" is like calling San Bernardino "LA". Or calling Oceanside "San Diego".

enjoy your trip to the burbies, dude. the best choice is really to stay in the air con'd hotel room and abuse room service.

 

portillo's is awesome! what're you lookin to see in chicago? tourist stuff, nightlife, restaurants, ...? i might be free after work on thursday...you'd have to take the train in, though.

check metrarail.com...the santa fe/burlington line goes straight into union station in about 30 min. even if you didn't have a tour guide there's still a lot to see/do that's easily accessible.

 

Haha

I've got an inflated sense of what socal consists of, since I commute 70 mi one way to work and consider Las Vegas an extension of LA. I don't think my definition of Downers Grove as Chicago seems so bad considering it's only ~25 mi

To each his own though.

I'd much rather get out since it's my first time here and I dunno when I'll be back again.

 

that ~25mi will take you 90 min on a bad day...my old commute to bloomington (half way down state) was about the same as having to go into our downtown office...

 

[quote name='rustywave' date='Mar 27 2007, 12:03 PM']portillo's is awesome!