Windy City Wonder

No matter what you call it, the Windy City, ChiTown, or just plain old Chicago, it's a city you'll not likely forget. Within just a few blocks, you can find worldclass shopping, dining, entertainment and sports.

Lake Michigan, the Sears Tower, the John Hancock building, Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, the Bulls, the White Sox, the Cubs and 'da Bears (just to name a few) are all icons of Chicago's rich culture and tempting allure.

Whether you've come for the excitement of Rush Street or a restful weekend of sailing on the lake, Chicago won't disappoint.

Quick Tips:

The weather in Chicago can be beautiful and it can be brutal (sometimes both in the same day), but my experience has been that it will be whatever I'm least prepared for. So my best advice is to be prepared for everything. They don't call it the Windy City for nothing!

Restaurants and theaters fill up early, even on weekdays, so to keep from being disappointed plan ahead and make reservations early.

Best Way To Get Around:

Public transportation is the only way to get around in Chicago, or by foot, of course. Street parking in the business districts can be scarce to non-existent, and garage parking will cost a small fortune. Valet is offered at a somewhat reasonable cost (usually from -) at many restaurants, but again, I'd ditch the car and go public. Taxis can be expensive as well, so get adventurous and try the buses and/or trains.

The Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago, although it is a bit pricey for my taste (currently $300 and up for a king room), is the perfect place to stay for a few days of Windy City indulgence! Located at the intersection of Columbus and Wacker Drives, it sits just one block from Chicago's famous Michigan Avenue - known to shoppers worldwide as the "Magnificent Mile." Most rooms provide stunning views or either the Chicago River, Lake Michigan or both, and the amenities are what you would expect at a Hyatt.

This particular property is the largest in the Hyatt chain and is also Chicago's largest hotel (or at least it was at the time I stayed there). Some of the features include: three restaurants, a spa, fitness center, and wireless Internet (for a fee).

The rooms were nicely sized and very comfortable, and the staff were professional and friendly. But the best thing about this hotel is its location, location, location. Being able to walk everywhere saved us big bucks on taxis, which helped take a little of the sting out of its nightly rate.

The Billy Goat Tavern and Grill was made famous by the old Saturday Night Live skit that didn't serve Pepsi. You might remember this familiar chant: Cheezeborger, cheezeborger, cheezeborger. No Pepsi - Coke! Well, that's Billy Goat's! And even though there are now several locations in the Chicago metro area, the original now resides at 430 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago's underground. (You actually have to take steps down to go below street level. 'Kinda cool if you're a country bumpkin like me!)

To me, this place was an icon, steeped in historical significance. (Saturday Night Live history, that is.) Even so, I resisted the urge to order a Pepsi and stuck to the menu before me. Billy Goat's offers an adequate selection of sandwiches, from the rib eye steak (at $5.25) to the basic hamburger (at $2.65). This is your classic, diner-type fare, and although there's nothing at all fancy about it, you can't beat these prices.

We arrived just after noon and the atmosphere was fun and lively. The place is small and appears to have been "well utilized" over the years, giving me a sense of neighborhood.

They are now open for breakfast from 7:30 to 11:00am, offering a selection of breakfast sandwiches. The main menu is served until closing time, at 2:00am.

If the name "Bubba Gump Shrimp Company" sounds familiar, you may have seen the 1994 movie "Forrest Gump." In the movie, Forrest makes his fortune by building a successful shrimping enterprise called the "Bubba Gump Shrimp Company." Two years after the release of this popular film, the first Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant arrived on the scene in Monterey, CA. And the rest is history!

Chicago's location resides at 700 E. Grand Avenue, on historic Navy Pier. As you might expect, this waterfront restaurant serves up a host of seafood appetizers and entrées, but also offers a wide variety of alternatives for those who aren't seafood inclined. (I recommend the "I'm Stuffed" shrimp - yum-yum!)

The atmosphere at Bubba's is fun and family-friendly, and one of those places where the waitstaff often interacts with the diners. The food is reasonably priced, though not cheap, and most entrées can be ordered for between $10 and $20.

Bubba Gump's is open for both lunch and dinner, from 11am to 10pm Sundays through Thursdays, and from 11am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. But do yourself a favor and schedule in some extra time while you're there to take advantage of the other things Navy Pier has to offer, like taking a ride on the 150-foot high ferris wheel, or seeing a movie at the IMAX theater.

Quartino is an exciting change from the Americanized Italian restaurant chains we have all become so accustomed to. In the heart of Streeterville (on the corner of Ontario & State Streets), this restaurant and wine bar offers a vast array of Italian small plate dishes perfect for sharing with a large group or cozy party of two.

Dinner items range in price from $3 for zuppa (soup) to $16 for their entrée specialties. I highly recommend the fonduta (fondue), beef crudi (carpaccio) and asparagus risi (risotto), each priced at $9. Quartino also prides itself on offering a respectable selection of Italian wines priced "cheaper than bottled water," just as it is in Italy.

Although you can often walk in and be seated right away, I would recommend reservations just to be safe. The atmosphere is casual and fun, and the service is generally quick and unusually friendly. Dining there with my family (a party of seven) was one of the best experiences we had in Chicago.

Quartino opens at 11:30 daily, the kitchen is "always open late", and their bar closes at 2am. Valet parking is available.

Zanies is your typical comedy club, offering residents and visitors alike a good laugh (hopefully) in good company (sometimes). The quality of the experience very much depends on the quality of the comics, but all in all, I'd have to say it is usually a good time, and worth the money.

Located at 1548 N. Wells, Zanies is easy to find and has a decent amount of metered street parking and garage parking close by. Eat before you come, however, as their menu consists of very few snack-type offerings, and table space is quite limited.

All seating is general admission, and ticket prices start at $22. You must be 21 to enter, and there is a two-item per person minimum, which can be any food/drink combination.

Sunday through Thursday evenings show time is 8:30pm. On Fridays, shows are at 8:30 and 10:30pm, and on Saturday nights three shows are offered at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:15pm.

Show up at least a half hour early if you expect to get a decent seat, as they pack in as many bodies as they possibly can. (This can make a simple trip to the restroom quite the adventure, so take care of business ahead of time if you can!)

As long as you can tolerate tight spaces, Zanies usually provides a good show and fun time, but claustrophobics may want to take in a movie instead!