Hoods: Chinatown

Chinatown is located just a few blocks west of McCormick Place, home of MAX 2007. So a short walk or cab ride will set you in the center of Chinese culture.

Chinatown is a great place to grab Lunch, Dinner or a weekend morning Dim Sum.

Chinatown has an older section along Wentworth Avenue feature lots of interesting stores, markets, bakeries and popular restaurants like Three Happiness, Phoenix, Penaang and Won Kow.

Just a block North at Archer Ave you will find Chinatown Square, which has some newer restaurants including the very popular Lao Sze Chuan and Joy Yee's Noodle shop.

Stores for Geeks

If you get juiced by the by the latest techno-gadget then there are a couple of stores you will want to drop in on.

Along Chicago's famed Magnificent Mile All within a a three block span you will find:

The Apple Store, 679 N Michigan Ave
This is one slick two story store. Drop in just to take advantage of free internet access

The Garmin Store, 663 N. Michigan
The latest GPS technology and devices on the market. It's a high-tech, interactive and unique shopping experience. Welcome to the Garmin store.


The Nokia Store 543 N. Michigan Avenue
Along with a wide selection of Nokia handsets, the Chicago Nokia Flagship Store is also be home to the first Vertu Lounge "store-in-a-store" in the United States. Each Vertu personal communication device is individually hand crafted with materials including sapphire crystals, fine leather, polished ceramic, ruby bearings and luxurious housings of gold, stainless steel, titanium and other fine metal

Chicago Style: Deep Dish

Lets talk Pizza; not the bastardized versions sold distributed by the national chains, not the "pizzas" that come topped with things like artichoke hearts and pineapple; let talk Chicago Deep Dish pizza.

Chicago Deep Dish is not your average snack food, it's an honest to goodness knife and fork meal.

Pizzeria Uno takes credit for inventing it in the forties, Deep Dish pizza consists of a deep sturdy crust which houses mounds of cheese and toppings (Italian sausage being a popular one) and topped with tomato sauce. Besides Uno, there are several other pizzeria's serving their own version of Deep Dish pizza, Due, Ginos East, Lou Malnatis and sost recenly Giordanos.

• Pizzeria Uno 29 East Ohio. If you have tried the franchised version of Unos, you havent really had Uno's pizza yet.


• Pizzeria Due 619 North Wabash Avenue.
  From the folks who gave us Unos.


• Lou Malnatis 439 North Wells Street
  The way they top a sausage pizza is a unique and incredible treat.


• Ginos EastE Superior St.
  Dont be misled by other places calling themselve Ginos, you want Ginos East.


• Giordanos 30 N Rush, 135 E. Lake, 223 W. Jackson
  A favorite on many locals.

Chicago Style: Italian Beef

To my surprise, most people I have talked to who have not grown up in Chicagoland are not familiar with the Italian Beef sandwich.

The Italian Beef sandwich consists of thinly sliced roast beef that is soaked in a a beef broth along with Italian spices. Italian beef is served on crusty bread, usually Gonnella Italian Bread.

Getting your sandwich "Dipped" refers to having it submerged, bread and all, in to the au jus sauce. This is definitely the way to go although it will make your dining a tad messier.

You will also be asked if you would like hot ( giardiniera) or sweet (roasted green) pepper.

If you are feeling extremely gluttonous, go for the Combo Beef which which is your traditional Italian Beef plus Italian sausage in one sandwich.

You'll find Italian beef at most hot-dog stands. Jay Leno swears by Mr Beef at 666 N Orleans St. Other favorites include Al's #1 Beef 169 W Ontario and Portillos 100 W. Ontario.

Chicago Lingo Tip #2

"Hizonner", the fore-shortened version of his honor refers to the Mayor of Chicago. In almost all cases this will be a Daley!

Chicago Lingo Tip #1

In the word "Illinois" the "s" is silent. Might seem obvious but you would be suprised,

Get the Blues

Jake & Elwood knew Chicago is "Sweet Home" to the Blues. Legends like Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon help define the Chicago Blues sound, a sound which influenced the likes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and other.

There are still plenty of Clubs which you can catch live Blues nighly. Probably the closest to MAX is Buddy Guy's Legends at 754 S Wabash Ave. Also nearby is Blue Chicago at 536 N. Clark.

If you dont mind traveling a little you can check out some of the more famous Blues joints like the Checker Board Lounge 5201 S Harper Ct. and Kingston Mines 2548 N Halsted.

Public Art

You can get cultured and see the city at the same time. Chicago is populated with some impressive public art. Assemble here is but a smattering ofsome of the famous and extrodiniary art an sculptures you can find around town.

1. The "Picasso". Is it a monkey? Is it a woman? This unnamed landmark was never explained by Pablo Picasso when he donated it to the city forty years ago. Make your own opinion when you check out this towering 50 foot, 162 ton sculpture. You will find it at Daley Plaza 55 W Randolph


2. Across the Street from the Picasso you will find Miro's "Chicago". A tall thin concrete statue depicting a woman with out stretched arms.


3. Nearby at the State of Illinois Building (The Thompson Center) 100 W Randolph you will find "Monument with Standing Beast" by Jean Dubeffet. This black and white fiberglass sculpture created that evokes mixed opinions.


4. Anish Kapoor's "Cloud Gate" affectionately known to as "The Bean" sits in Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue and Randolph. The 110 ton seamless stainless steel elliptical sculpture which is a recent addition to the city, but definitely a favorite. Because it's shiny "shell" reflects the skyline it makes for a great photo-op


5. Also in Millennium is Crown Fountain. Tech nerds will love this high-tech fountain which features two 50x12 Foot LED screens


6. Marc Chagall's "Four Seasons" is a four thousand square foot mosaic depicting the four seasons. You will find it at Dearborn & Monroe Streets
7. 
   
8. The newest public art installation is Agora at 1149 S Michigan. Created by polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz, it consists of 44 headless cast iron torso.


There are many more art treasures scattered in parks and streets throughout the city. Take some time while you are in town to enjoy and marvel.

Enjoy The View

Chicago is an Architectural mecca. Birthplace of the Skyscraper, home of some of the tallest buildings in the world. To enjoy the majesty, there are a few locations you can go to take it all in.

For a spectacular and free view of skyline head out either to Navy Pier or the Adler Planetarium. Both are peninsulas that jut out into the lake an give you a great vantage point of the Chicago skyline.

For another perspective, look down upon the Windy City from the Sears Tower 1,353 up in the air. Or if you have a fear of heights you can settle for John Hancock building observatorv which is a mere 1000 feet up.

The 110 Story Sears Tower is located at 233 South Wacker Dr. The famous criss-crosses of the John Hancock build resides at 875 N. Michigan Avenue.

Tip: For a special treat, on a clear night visit the Signature Room of the John Hancock building where you can gave a drink and enjoy the view from the 95th floor,

Chicago Style: Hot Dog

It seems pretty simple, but the Chicago Style Hot Dog, is a delicacy to all that grew up here?

What makes a Hot Dog Chicago Style? Created in 1898, the Chicago Dog is a steamed/boiled Vienna Beef hot dog with a natural casing that gives a "snap" to the bite. Chicago Dogs are served on a steamed poppy seed bun.

In this town a dog with "everything" topped with yellow mustard, onion, sweet relish, tomato wedges, pickle slice, celery salt and sport peppers. NO KETCHUP!

Some places will refuse to add ketchup to your dog, even upon request. Those that will, most definitely look at you funny. But you are in Chicago, save the ketchup for the fries and go for the true Chicago Dog.

Arriving from Midway

Midway Airport is a great way to arrive into the city. It is much smaller than O'Hare, closer to downtown, and is serviced by the budget airlines.

This post is to help get you cheaply and swiftly from Midway Airport to your hotel. Chicago's public transportation system, the CTA , is your best bet to get you into the city and avaoiding traffic pile ups and expensive fees. The train ride from the airport is approximate 30 minutes.

Just follow these steps:

1. Go to baggage pickup you will see signs that say "Train to City".


2. The walk will take you along the parking area which might seem strange but don't fret, just follow the signs.


3. Follow the signs until you reach the Midway CTA train station.


4. At the station you can purchase a fare card from the vending machine out side the station. A single trip will cost $1.75, however you might want to put more money on your fare card that you can reuse while you are in town.


5. Board the train. This is the Orange Line. Its the end of the line so you can't take in in the wrong direction at this station.

To get to the Palmer House:

1. Exit at the Adams/Wabash Station.


2. Walk North on Wabash.


3. The First corner is Monroe.


4. Turn Left at Monroe


5. Cross the street going West on Monroe


6. The hotel will be on theft on that block

To get to the Hyatt Regency:

1. Exit at the Randolph/ Wabash Station

Walk North on Wabash 1/2 block to Lake

2. At Lake turn Right onto Lake


3. Walk East Lake Street two blocks to Michigan Ave.


4. Cross Cross the at Michigan.


5. Turn left and walk North on Michigan


6. Walk one block to S. Water


7. Turn right S. Water


8. Walk one half block to the hotel

To get to the Chicago Hilton:



1. Exit at the State & Van Buren Station (Library Stop)..


2. Leaving the station you will be on Dearborn Street


3. Walk East (left) on Van Buren


4. Walk two blocks to Michigan Ave


5. Turn Right and walk South three blocks to Balboa


6. Cross Balboa and you will be at the hotel

Arriving from OHare

This post is to help get you cheaply and swiftly from OHare International Airport to your hotel. Chicago's public transportation system, the CTA , is your best bet to get you into the city and avaoiding traffic pile ups and expensive fees. The train ride from the airport is approximate 45 minutes.

Just follow these steps:

1. Go to baggage pickup you will see signs that say "Train to City".


2. Follow the signs until you reach the O'Hare CTA train station.


3. At the station you can purchase a fare card from the vending machine out side the station. A single trip will cost $1.75, however you might want to put more money on your fare card that you can reuse while you are in town.


4. Board the train. This is the Blue Line. so you can't take in in the wrong direction at this station.

To get to the Palmer House:

1. Exit at the Monroe Street Station.


2. Walk East on Monroe.


3. Cross State Street.


4. The Palmer House is on the next Block

To get to the Hyatt Regency:

1. Exit at the Lake Street Station.


2. Walk East Lake Street tow blocks to Michigan Ave.


3. Cross Cross the at Michigan.


4. Turn left and walk North on Michigan


5. Walk one block to S. Water


6. Turn right S. Water


7. Walk one half block to the hotel

To get to the Chicago Hilton:



1. Exit at the Jackson Street Station.


2. Leaving the station you will be on Dearborn Street


3. facing the street turn Left and walk South


4. The corner will be Van Buren & Dearborn


5. Walk East (left) on Van Buren


6. Walk two blocks to Michigan Ave


7. Turn Right and walk South three blocks to Balboa


8. Cross Balboa and you will be at the hotel