Sanrio Chicago Store
Chicago for the weekend 
?
So, my best friend is coming with my family and I to Chicago!
Were leaving on a Thursday night…so we’ll end up in Chicago pretty late.
So we only have the next day to do stuff.
What are some fun things for us to do? It is February…and its cold. So preferably not too much outdoors!
Were already planning on:
-Skydeck at Sears Tower
-Sanrio & Paul Frank Stores
Anything else to do besides shopping? (Or whats a good place to shop?)
Thanks! (:
UPDATED:
I recommend that everyone dress appropriately for Chicago weather to avoid missing out on exploring Chicago because of cold or snow. Your basic transportation options include cabs, public transportation (L trains are a solid method to get to city points fairly quickly & is an affordable option… you can get an unlimited ride day pass [includes buses]…see http://www.transitchicago.com/ ), and walking.
* There is an underground pedway system. See http://www.spiegl.org/pedway/pedway.html and http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalDeptCategoryAction.do?deptCategoryOID=-536900467&contentType=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Dept&entityName=Transportation&deptMainCategoryOID=-536898713 for information. You might run into the infamous Billy Goat Tavern – http://www.billygoattavern.com/home.html .
* While you are in the Financial District (i.e. at Willis Tower), you can go to the east outskirts and check out the Harold Washington Library Center (http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/harold-washington/p/Tour01// ) – Seriously, this building is amazing – inside and out. Another option is to go west to Lou Mitchell’s (http://www.loumitchellsrestaurant.com/ ) to eat and literally rub elbows with the locals. Bring cash.
* Go west to State Street and/or Wabash to check out plenty of shops, including Macy’s (formerly Marshall Fields).
* Chicago Cultural Center (http://www.chicagoculturalcenter.org , on NW corner of Washington and Michigan) – If you want some background on all things Chicago and check out local creativity, this lovely building is cool to explore. Plus, it’s free.
* Cross Michigan Ave. to explore Millennium Park (http://www.millenniumpark.org/ , between Randolph St. and Monroe Street on Michigan). SO MUCH to see there. You can go ice skating.
* Head a bit south on Michigan to see The Art Institute of Chicago (http://www.artic.edu/aic/ , Washington & Michigan – east side). You can also walk to it via the bridge in the back of Millennium Park. They opened a fabulous Modern Art Wing last summer. If you don’t want to go in (for some crazy reason), just take a picture with the lions out front and check out the other outdoor displays around the building. There are weekly free days too, notably it’s free from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays.
* There are the major museums (i.e. the ones on the Museum Campus near Lake Michigan – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_Campus_Chicago – and the Museum of Science & Industry). You can either take the bus or taxi there, or walk through Grant Park (Buckingham Fountain will be turned off). You can sneak a peek at Soldier Field, where the Chicago Bears football team plays, from the Museum Campus.
* Check out Printers Row in the South Loop (see http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/printers-row-feature.htm , http://www.centerstagechicago.com/other/articles/L-harrison.html , and http://www.centerstagechicago.com/neighborhoods/printers-row.html ).
* You can visit Hyde Park. The Obamas have a residence there. Also, the Hyde Park Art Center (http://www.hydeparkart.org ) is cool to check out. A fun place to eat is Medici on 57th (http://www.medici57.com ).
* A bit further south and you’ll run into Chinatown – one of the more inexpensive but cool areas to explore (http://www.chicagochinatown.org/cccorg/home.jsp ). [Red line train (95th direction) to Cermak-Chinatown]
* You can head back north, past the Loop, to the Magnificent Mile, which is pretty … you know. See http://www.themagnificentmile.com/ . For another fantastic view of the city, check out the John Hancock Observatory (http://www.hancockobservatory.com ). Looking for a neat place to eat? I always recommend the Grand Lux Cafe on Michigan & Ontario (above Ann Taylor). Otherwise, you can get authentic deep-dish Chicago pizza at Pizzeria Uno (http://www.unos.com ) or Gino’s East (http://www.ginoseast.com ) where you can write on the walls. [Red line train (Howard direction) to Grand or Chicago stops]
* Navy Pier (http://www.navypier.com ) has lots of attractions. Admission is free.
* Armitage & Halsted — Take the Brown Line L train to the Armitage stop, then walk east to Halsted Street. Walk north & south on Halsted (between Armitage and Webster). Some good stops to make in this area are LUSH (http://www.lush.com ), 1154 Lill Studio (http://www.1154lill.com/home/ ) to make your own purse, Cafe Ba Ba Reeba (http://www.cafebabareeba.com/ , for really good tapas), Aroma Workshop (http://aromaworkshop.com ) to make your own perfume, Fox’s (http://www.foxs.com/index.htm ), and Swirlz (http://www.swirlzcupcakes.com ).
* You can go to the artsy and hip Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood and see some independent spots like Myopic Books (http://www.myopicbookstore.com ) , Reckless Records (http://www.reckless.com ), Rodan (http://www.rodan.ws/default.html ), The Silver Room (http://www.thesilverroom.com/ ), Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria for some carry out or delivered deep dish (http://www.loumalnatis.com/ ), Earwax Cafe (http://earwax-cafe.com/ ) , Bucktown Soup Cafe (http://www.bucktownsoupcafe.com/ ), and iCream Cafe (http://www.icreamcafe.com/ ). Take the Blue Line (likely O-Hare direction) to Damen. It’s basically the intersection of Damen, Milwaukee, and North Ave.
* You don’t always have to go the self-guided route. An architectural tour is always interesting (http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx ). You could go on a chocolate tour (http://www.chicagochocolatetours.com/tours/ ).
Otherwise, I recommend that you do some searching for places and activities that best suit your interests through these sites:
http://chicago.metromix.com/
http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?p=1,5
http://www.centerstagechicago.com/
http://www.190north.com/
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/Home
http://flavorpill.com/chicago
http://chicago.citysearch.com/
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/channel?section=resources/lifestyle_community/food/restaurants&id=5770526
New Hello Kitty Haul Items I Got In Chicago & China Town 8-16-09
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