Alicia & Ryan 09.19.09 Welcome to Chicago, our kind of town! Well, one of our kind of towns, anyway. We re thrilled that you are able to celebrate with us, and hope you are able to enjoy the city while you are here as well. We know some of you are from the area and others are visiting for the first time. In the bag you ll find maps and information on the city, including a few of our favorite things. If you aren t visiting for long enough this time, please come back again! We ve also stashed a few necessary items and treats in the bag to help you enjoy the weekend. A few important things to remember: The ceremony is at 4:00 pm at St. Pauls UCC church. There are a number of ways to get there from The James, and they are listed on the attached Directions sheet. It is under 3 miles away, but with traffic and parking, it would probably be best to plan on 30 minutes to get there. The reception will start at 6:00 pm, and is here at The James on the second floor. Cocktails will be followed by dinner and entertainment (i.e. all of us dancing). Love, Alicia and Ryan
Activities At the risk of putting Frommer s and Fodor s out of business, here are a few of our favorite things: Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise http://www.architecture.org - 1.800.982.2787 (Ticketmaster) Advance reservations are usually required so it may be tough to swing on this trip, but we highly recommend it. This 90-minute river cruise gives you a unique view of many of Chicago s great buildings. And it s not a bad way to spend a nice day. Michigan Avenue The shopping on Michigan Avenue needs no introduction. Stroll by the Wrigley Building and gaze up in awe at Alicia s old office. The Bean and Millennium Park Cloud Gate, more commonly known as The Bean, is located in Millennium Park. Worth a visit for the picture alone. Wrigley Field Clark St and Addison St A few blocks from our home, we both love Wrigley. Unfortunately only Ryan loves the Cubs. Nonetheless, there is simply no better way to spend a summer day than downing cold ones under the hot sun in the bleachers. For those not in the know, Wrigley owns neither the team nor the ballpark anymore. With remarkable foresight, the Wrigley family sold both to the Tribune Co. in 1981 for $20.5 million. The Tribune Co. recently cashed out to the tune of $900 million. Wrigleyville Cubs fans, ever in need of drowning their sorrows, have countless options. Those looking for a good time post-game or most any day of the week need only stumble through Wrigleyville to find that perfect fitting bar stool. The Cubs are out of town this weekend (in St. Louis) but things should still be hopping. Lincoln Park Lots of places to stroll, a nature museum, the zoo, plenty of lakefront, a pond with paddle boats, you name it. The Lakefront On a nice day it seems like most of the city is here. Running, biking, beach volleyball, or having drinks at Castaway s on North Avenue Beach are all popular pastimes. Museums You can t go wrong with any of the museums, including the Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum of Natural History, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago History Museum, or the Art Institute. Ryan s first choice is the Museum of Science and Industry, Alicia s is the Art Institute. Festivals There are hundreds of festivals throughout the summer. This weekend isn t the best lineup, but Musky Fest sounds interesting. The Musky Queen will be crowned at 10 p.m. on Saturday. I m afraid we ll all miss it.
Sears Tower or Hancock Building Both are tall. Both have observation decks. The Sears (ugh, Willis) Tower has a fancy new glass balcony thing going on. The Hancock has a decent if touristy place, the Signature Room, to grab some drinks or food. Save yourself the $15+ fee for the Hancock Observatory, go one floor higher, and pop in for a drink here. We wouldn t recommend eating, but if you stay for dinner you will be almost sure to see someone proposing to their bride to be. Garrett Popcorn 26 W Randolf St and several other locations throughout the city Chicago institution for excellent popcorn. DINING Rush Street Entertainment District Colorfully known as The Viagra Triangle for its painfully apparent age discrepancies. Head a half mile north of The James on Rush St. and you ll be right in the heart of it. Many of Chicago s classic restaurants and bars are packed into this corridor. Billy Goat Tavern 430 N Michigan Ave, Lower Level "Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries, cheeps! No Pepsi, Coke! A Chicago legend since 1934. You may have seen one at O Hare. That is not the original. Head underground from Michigan Avenue for the real deal. Touristy yet authentic. Kuma s Corner 2900 W Belmont Ave (at Francisco) The Best Burger In Chicago. At a metal bar. With whiskey on tap. Need we say more? Just to expect a line! Café Iberico 739 N LaSalle Dr (between Chicago and Superior) Cheap but excellent tapas, generous sangría, and no reservations on Friday and Saturday nights. A great place for groups to meet and eat. Lou Malnati s 439 N Wells St and several other locations throughout the city Bill Swerkski s Super Fans could debate the best pizza in the city for days, but it would be hard to not like Lou s. Try the Malnati Salad (yum) and the deep dish, or, horror, thin crust pizza pie. Butterfly Sushi Bar & Thai Cuisine 1156 W Grand Ave (between May and Racine) A great BYOB sushi joint. Many places like this in Chicago don t have liquor licenses, so stop at the corner market, pick up some 24 oz Kirins, and enjoy the free corkage and excellent food. Avec 615 W Randolph St (between Desplaines and Jefferson) In a city of culinary masterpieces, Avec is an impressive foodie treat. No reservations may mean a wait, but for small plates and vino, you can t do better. Mia Francesca 3311 N Clark St (at School) Options for Italian are so numerous it is hard to choose. We love Mia, near our condo in Chicago.
Chicag W Fullerton Ave N Orchard St I-90 / I-94 N Lincoln Ave N Clark St N Halsted St N Lake Shore Dr W North Ave W Division St N La Salle W Chicago Ave N Michigan W Ohio St W Ontario St W Ohio St
Directions We recommend carpooling or taking a cab to the ceremony. The church is located at 2335 N. Orchard St. (between Kemper and Fullerton) and the reception is at The James, 55 E. Ontario St. (between Wabash and Rush). W Fullerton Ave BY CAR N Halsted St N Lincoln Ave RAMP N Orchard St L O T W Kemper Pl N Geneva Terrace W Belden Ave From The James to St. Pauls UCC church (2.8 miles): Travel west 0.3 miles on E. Ontario St. Turn right onto N. La Salle St. for 1.4 miles Turn left onto N. Clark St. for 0.2 miles Take a left followed by an immediate right onto N. Lincoln Ave. To park in the church lot (free, but limited): Follow Lincoln for 0.7 miles (4 big blocks). Take a soft right onto N. Geneva Terrace; follow that for 0.2 miles. Take a left onto Kemper Pl. The lot will be on your right next to the church. To park in the ramp (paid): Follow Lincoln for 0.9 miles (5 ½ big blocks). The ramp will be on your left after W. Belden Ave. Look for the Children s Memorial Hospital ramp. To drop off in front of the church: Follow Lincoln for 0.8 miles (5 big blocks). Take a soft right onto N. Orchard St. The church will be on your right. N Lincoln Ave To return: Travel north to W. Fullerton Pkwy. Turn right onto Fullerton for 0.7 miles. Merge onto Lake Shore Dr. heading south for 1.5 miles. Take the Michigan Ave. exit, continue for 0.7 miles (11 blocks). Turn right onto E. Ontario St. for 1 ½ blocks. The James will be on your left.
BY PUBLIC TRANSIT If you are feeling adventurous in your Saturday best, you can get to the ceremony with about 0.5 miles of walking and an always entertaining ride on the L. Expect the journey to take 25 minutes, but plan on a little extra for not quite Swiss train schedules. From The James to St. Pauls UCC church: Exit the hotel and head west (a right turn out the front door). Walk 1 ½ blocks to State St. and turn left. Walk 2 blocks south to the Grand Ave. Red Line subway station. Board the Red Line northbound (towards Howard). Get off at the 4th stop, Fullerton. Walk east approximately 5 small blocks to Orchard St. Walk south on Orchard St., the church will be on your right in ½ block. To return: Follow footsteps back to Fullerton stop. Board Red Line southbound (towards 95th). Get off at the 4th Stop, Grand. Retrace remainder of footsteps.