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[Heron TSG]

Well, as some of you who read the Project DiscoPlane thread know, I am trying to get to Chicago for the National Academic Championships, along with the rest of my team. As I said before, we're fundraising for the trip, but once we get there we are supplied with a Suburban to use in our free time to explore the city.

Denizens of Bay12, what kind of stuff is there in Chicago? If you have no idea, feel free to post about tourism in general.

[Criptfeind]

Muggers.

Accountants.

Accountants who mug you.

Edit: My range of knowledge is some what limited.

[Cthulhu]

Muggers who balance your checkbook.

[Pnx]

When I went there some friends of my brothers who lived on the outskirts took me to what I have since described as "a cafe for stoners". Apart from that, there's the pizza, which is good, and the giant silver bean. It was a fun weekend trip, although we didn't get to go to the top sears tower because it was cloudy the entire time we were there. I was tempted to go up there anyway and look at the fogged up windows.

[GTM]

As brainy high school kids, your options are limited in Chicago.  Most of the fun stuff to do there involves drinking and shopping. The generic touristy things are great though - museums, aquarium, sears tower, etc.  Stay away from the science center though - it's really weak and made for little kids. 

There's a Dave and Busters downtown with decent arcade games.  Take an opportunity to visit some campuses while you're up there - UChicago, Northwestern - kicking ass in brain bowl probably looks good on an application.  Legoland is out in the burbs if you don't mind putting up with screaming kids.  Six Flags is 1.5 hrs outside the city and is indubitably awesome.

Parking in Chicago is a bitch, so be careful.  They ticket like crazy, and downtown parking is like $30+ per day unless you luck out and get a street spot and keep going back to add to the meter. 

[Haschel]

It'd help if you told us what kind of entertainment you were looking for. Do you want to experience good food? Do you want to go drinking? Do you want to do sight-seeing type things? Do you want to do something slightly more academic, like go to a museum (which I highly recommend)?

As brainy high school kids, your options are limited in Chicago.  Most of the fun stuff to do there involves drinking and shopping. The generic touristy things are great though - museums, aquarium, sears tower, etc.  Stay away from the science center though - it's really weak and made for little kids. 

I disagree with the drinking thing, but I do get what you're saying. It's what most locals do, but there is still other great and more interesting stuff to do in Chicago.

[Heron TSG]

It'd help if you told us what kind of entertainment you were looking for. Do you want to experience good food? Do you want to go drinking? Do you want to do sight-seeing type things? Do you want to do something slightly more academic, like go to a museum (which I highly recommend)?

I'd like to experience something legal (we are none of us but 20 years old) and exciting without having to pay much more money than we already are. Alcohol is out, but sight-seeing, museums, and the like would be great. Do you have anything specific in mind?

[Max White]

Billy Flynn.
<3

[Patchouli]

I used to live in Chicago. I haven't been there in years though, so whatever I say may have changed since then.

At least for me, one of the best things about Chicago is the massive variety of food you can eat there. Seriously, there's an incredible amount of cultural diversity there represented by the unique food you can find in restaurants. Does come out a bit pricey though.

There's also the Sears Tower, John Hancock, and The Picasso.

There's a planetarium there too, but I can remember if it sucked or not.

[Haschel]

Yeah, food in Chicago can be pretty amazing in general. Lots of options both ethnically and price wise, but even the cheaper stuff will likely cost a bit more than normal. I'm a big meat eater so my absolute #1 recommendation is going to be Al's Italian Beef. It might look pretty standard, but if you get one it's like if gold could be translated into a flavor and it would be juicy and in your mouth. Try going to the one on Taylor street if you can, it's the original and there's also a lot of other great eating spots along the same street. Mostly Italian spots but there are some other options as well. There's also the famous deep-dish pizza, but where to get it is a little tricky. I haven't found a place for it that I would send other people for their first try, but I will mention this place. It's not what you expect a deep dish to be, and frankly it's kind of unique in itself. But their ingredients are fresh, well prepared, and they have great service. It's a bit expensive though, $10 for a personal serving but it's a reasonably generous portion and they've got vegetarian options if you're into that (normally they add sausage to the sauce).

There's so much more to say about food there but I would end up dragging on forever. As for museums, the Shedd Aquarium is pretty darn good. My sister and I are really into Aquariums, and the Shedd is one of the better ones. They recently re-vamped their Dolphin exhibit and we saw it a good 4-5 months ago... And it frankly kind of sucks now. Too dramatized, not really interesting. That aside, they've got amazing exhibits and tons to see. The Field museum is also a great choice, and I was actually just there today. We barely got through a quarter of the place in the six hours we were there. Lots of variety, mostly anthropological. It's leaning towards an older crowd as opposed to younger children, but being high-school students you will likely appreciate it. It's not hugely scientific, but enough to be interesting. I haven't been to any of the art museums since I was a child so I can't mention any specifics, but there are a some good options at least.

With all that said, try to look online and see if any free days at the museums coincide with your trip. Paying for entrance is pretty steep and I don't know what kind of spending money you guys will have. Oh also, Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the last few free Zoos in the country and is practically down the street from the pizza place I mentioned. There are other eating spots down that way too, so maybe look into that. If you figure out some things you want to do, you might want to estimate what your budget will look like. If you're driving, be prepared for $10+ to park somewhere. You don't have to pay to park everywhere obviously, but it's best to be prepared. Also cash. A lot of restaurants might be cash only. Not really sure why that is.

[Graebeard]

I will gladly offer you my high fives for free, assuming you're not coming before Sunday when I move back.  That's  good deal.  I usually charge pretty heavily for a solid high five.

The only absolutely essential thing you have to do is get real Chicago deep dish pizza.  I haven't been to the place Haschel likes, but if it's authentic it's legit.  Other recommendations, in decreasing order of personal preference are Lou Malnati's, Pizzeria Uno, Giordanos, and Edwardo's.

Other restaurants with the Graebeard stamp of approval are Urban Belly which amazing Korean food that's affordable-for-Chicago.  Macku which is the best sushi I've had anywhere, including New York, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver.  Cumin, which is Indian/Nepalese.  Not cheap but cheaper than others and a great value.  If Indian is your thing you can head up to Devon street and walk around where vendors are selling mangos on the street and none of the signs are in English.  Kuma's makes a burger so good the only thing left of you after you spontaneously combust will be a glob of green slime.  Bring your earplugs if you don't like metal.  Seriously.  Also, no minors after 10:00, which means you should get there before 6:30 since 3 hour waits are not unheard of.  Don't worry, it's worth it.  Best time to go is right when they open for lunch.  I also have to recommend Hot Doug's, even though it also always has a stupid long wait.  Last time I went for lunch it was 1.5 hours waiting in a line around the block.  But hey, the fois gras dog and duck fat fries were freaking delicious and there are no two finer words in the English language than "encased meats."

I also recommend ditching the car and taking the L around the city if you're staying within walking distance of a stop.  It's a great way to see the city and will cost a fraction of the cost of parking.  You can hop from neighborhood to neighborhood on the train pretty easily.

On that note, spend some time getting to know a neighborhood.  I recommend Wicker Park.  It's right off the blue line, has lots of food and < 21 entertainment options.  Check out Wormhole Coffee.  It's a couple blocks from the L, has a full size Delorian, a usable NES with lots of games, and some of the best nostalgic posters and decorations I've seen in one place.  Oh, and they make a hell of a coffee.

Museam-wise I will second the Shedd and the Museum of Science and Industry.  The Shedd isn't as good as many west-coast aquariums, but it is a blast.  The Museum of Science and Industry takes it's name pretty seriously.  More actual science about industry than any other museum I've seen, if that floats your boat.  The Chicago Art Institute is world class.  If you're into art this is a must-see.  Tickets are pretty cheap if I remember correctly, and it's right downtown.

You'll be here in the summer, so you have to check out the lake.  Grant Park (and Millennium Park, the one with the Bean) is right by the lake and is great fun.  You can also go north a bit to North Avenue Beach for actual sand and probably some volleyball.

There's lots of classically "touristy" things to do.  I'd avoid Navy Pier.  It's just an overblown carnival, and not even that great a carnival.  Walking along the "magic mile" on Michigan Avenue can be fun.  It's most fun when you've got lots of cash to blow on consumer goods, but it's also useful for getting that wonderful big city vibe of being shoulder to shoulder with the mostly washed masses while you look up at the great architecture.  Speaking of architecture, there are several architecture tours.  I can't recommend these highly enough, particularly if you're anything of an architecture geek.  We don't have the greatest postmodern stuff, but if you're looking for historically influential architecture Chicago is your place.

There are some pretty solid venues if you're looking for nighttime activities.  The Music Box Theater is lots of fun.  I think they still do the occasional midnight showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  The Vic has some good bands.  Blue Man Group is a staple and worth a viewing.  Too Much Light Makes the Baby go Blind is freaking awesome, and admission might be pretty cheap if you're lucky.  Lots of comedy clubs around North and Wells, including Second City (lots of SNL alums) and Zanies (may be 21+, can't remember).

So, that's probably too much info.  I could keep writing about Chicago ad nauseum.  Let me know if you want more stuff, or send me a PM and I can give you my contact info.