Do's & Don'ts in Chicago

I had never heard a bad word about Chicago and though my experience may not have been as terrific as some, I hope to go back. Despite a horrendous trolley ride, it's one stop, Chicago's Art Institute, is fabulous. Despite the rainy and windy weather, you could still get an appreciation for Chicago's diverse architecture. The number of restaurants might rival New York City. Chicago is also a mecca for shoppers. Nieman Marcus, Saks and Tiffany's can all be found on the Magnificent Mile.

Quick Tips:

Don't go in February, lousy weather cuts down on the sights you'll be able to see (The Sears Observation Tower was closed on our visit).

Don't fly American Trans Airlines into Chicago.

Midway Airport is also no jewel.

Best Way To Get Around:

Due to weather conditions, we found taxis to be the best way to get around the city.

We found shelter from a nasty Chicago rainstorm in this comfortable bistro. Located near the Water Tower on Pearson Street, Bistro 110 is decorated in dark wood, lots of windows and posters from the Art Institute of Chicago.

I ordered the endive salad with goat cheese with vinergerete dressing(good if you like endive). Another in or party raved about the mussels. Make sure to try their delicious bread which they will gladly replenish (especially good to soak up the juice from the mussel dish).

We arrived just after 5:00 and the bistro had a number of clients for dinner and seated at the small bar. Salads and soups cost $10-15. Entrees such as duck, steak or seafood ran $20-$40.

For an outstanding omelet and diner ambience (as well as efficiency), don't miss Lou Mitchell's (565 W. Jackson at Jefferson). This was one busy joint on Sunday morning and the line went out through the door. But we were quickly inside, seated and given our complimentary Milk Duds (2 in a box) and beverage. The waitress was friendly and efficient. Omelets are served in the skillet they are cooked in. They are BIG and delicious. Their portion of French Toast is also large but ours was not cooked well enough.

This didn't strike me as the type of place to linger over coffee but for good omelets and friendly service, this is the spot.

Another Chicago eatery (though not for breakfast) is Millers Pub. I wish I could say that I liked it as well as Lou Mitchell's. Located on 134 Wabash Ave, Miller's is a very large pseudo-Irish pub (bought from Irish immigrants but owned and run by 3 Greek brothers). Decorated in dark wood with a large bar and high ceilings, the restaurant is a bit too spacious to have a "pub" feel.

Although not expensive, the food was mediocre. Our roast beef sandwiches were dry and it took quite awhile to get gravy to moisten them. We did not order their "world famous ribs". Maybe that's why we were less than thrilled. Overall, I would not recommend Miller's Pub and would look for a more authentic Irish haunt.

This museum is WONDERFUL, particularly if you like the Impressionists and/or Post Impressionists. Renoir, Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Degas and Gauguin are all well represented. Make sure to see Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884". His technique of dots and lines can really be appreciated when seen closely. Gustave Caillebotte's "Paris Street; Rainy Day" takes up a whole wall and the couple in the foreground seem ready to walk into the room with you. There are a large number of Picasso paintings and a few by Toulouse-Lautrec (including "At the Moulin Rouge"). Grant Wood's "American Gothic", as well as Edward Hopper's "Nighthawk" can be found on the second floor of the museum. Do not miss the Thorne Minature Rooms on the lower level. Tiny replicas of sitting rooms, living rooms and kitchens are displayed for different countries (England, France, USA) and times (15th, 16th centuries etc.) The detail is amazing and though the area is a bit warm when crowded, it is a "must see". Try to visit the museum early if visiting on a Saturday. We arrived shortly after opening and the lines started notlong after. Large bags and long umbrellas must be checked. If possible,plan what you would like to see in advance. I recommend buying the pocketguide in the store next to ticket sales. It is only a few dollars and will help guide you to what you'd like to see and give you some information about the paintings and sculpture. Go to those paintings that you really want to see first and avoid the crowds (when passing by the Seaurat at a later time, it was packed!). Their web site is : www.artic.edu Enjoy!

This tour was definitely one of the most memorable I have ever taken. The Chicago Trolley Company does stop at all of the big sites; the Sears Tower, State Street, the Art Institute and the Navy Pier (to name a few). If you go in the winter, there are windows and there is some heat. There are tour guides and they are friendly. Unfortunately, our 1st guide was not very knowledgeable ("There was a movie made over there, but I don't know what it was called"). Our 2nd guide did know the city but used the passengers as a captive audience for his comedy routine (and not a very funny one either). Our 3rd guide, oh, that's right we took a cab.

If you are still willing to brave this adventure, Chicago Trolley company has green kiosks set up all around the city. Their brochures can be found in hotels and tourist centers.

Located at 435 North Michigan Avenue, along the Magnificent Mile, is the Chicago Tribune building. Embedded along the walls of the building are stone from all over the globe. Included on the North wing of Michigan Avenue are stones from the Colesseum, the great pyramid of Cheops, the House of Parliament, the Ta Prohm temple in Cambodia and a stone from the badlands of South Dakota. Along Illinois Street, you will find a stone from Fort Ticonderoga, Mark Twain's Injun Joe cave, Custer's battlefield and Pearl Harbor among many, many others.

Each stone was brought back from reporters returning from their travels. The tradition began in the 1920's with Robert McCormick, the publisher of the Tribune. Stones must be authenticated before being placed and also remain in storage for 10 years to ensure their historical worth.

Make sure to stop in the lobby of the Tribune and check out their helpful computer screens for information about the stones, the building and recent news stories.

An interesting and unusual tourist stop, the Tribune building is worth a visit. www.tribune.com