Can I pick your collective brain? I might be going to Chicago in August for the Wizard Workd Convention, it'll be my first time there. The con is at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre. Am I right in thinking that it is near O'Hare airport? Any info on local hotels, etc. would be much appreciated.
Question about Chicago ( the city, not the musical!!)
- Thread starter Sagart
- Start date
Woooo Chicago! Okay, the convention center is near O'Hare and a ways outside downtown Chicago. There are quite a few hotels and convention centers in that area, so you should be able to find something decent. I'd just look at prices and reviews online.
If you want to visit downtown, you'll probably want to take the CTA in (public transit) so I'd guess you'd want to look at how to get to the blue line stop nearest to your hotel. Depending on where you are, it will probably take at least a half hour to get into the city, I'd think.
I love Chicago so I hope that if you decide to go, you fall in love with it too! Feel free to PM me with questions and I'll do my best to answer.
Edit: Forgot to say that near the airport you'd probably want a car to get around if you're not staying within walking distance of the convention center. Taking a car into the city is kind of a nightmare mostly because of parking, however. If you're not planning to go into downtown but want to explore around by the airport, a car is probably the way to go.
If you want to visit downtown, you'll probably want to take the CTA in (public transit) so I'd guess you'd want to look at how to get to the blue line stop nearest to your hotel. Depending on where you are, it will probably take at least a half hour to get into the city, I'd think.
I love Chicago so I hope that if you decide to go, you fall in love with it too! Feel free to PM me with questions and I'll do my best to answer.
Edit: Forgot to say that near the airport you'd probably want a car to get around if you're not staying within walking distance of the convention center. Taking a car into the city is kind of a nightmare mostly because of parking, however. If you're not planning to go into downtown but want to explore around by the airport, a car is probably the way to go.
I loooooooove Chicago. I plan to retire there, it's my "adopted home". Great food, wonderful shops. Can't speak to hotels, we stayed with a friend; but Kestra's right, mass transit if you can, our friend drove us around town and traffic and parking were a massive headache. As to food: look for smaller restaurants and veer away from the chains / franchise places; you won't be disappointed.
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Have fun, Sagart! I went to Chicago a few years ago, and I'll never forget how awesome it was! I plan on going many more times in the future!
Damn it, damn it, damn it. I'm trying to recall the name of the restaurant we ate at the last night we were in town. For a laugh, we ordered a "small" pizza (it's Chicago, gotta get a pizza), freaking thing was HUGE. Then the regular food, the portions were just a huge but it was so good I could have ate till I burst.
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Giordano's, maybe? When my friend and I were there, that's where we ate, and the pizza was enormous.
Yeah, don't even use the world "Thin crust" when referring to a pizza in Chicago..they'll cut a bitch for that. 
Best popcorn I've ever had too. Odd I know, but there's a place on the corner about a block from the Hancock building that pops fresh popcorn and then adds cheese, caramel, basically whatever flavor you like. I lived on that stuff whenever we went into downtown.
And if you're into it, around the same area (IRC) there's a couple of really great bookstores. Not chain stores, smaller stores but with a really solid and varied selection.
Best popcorn I've ever had too. Odd I know, but there's a place on the corner about a block from the Hancock building that pops fresh popcorn and then adds cheese, caramel, basically whatever flavor you like. I lived on that stuff whenever we went into downtown.And if you're into it, around the same area (IRC) there's a couple of really great bookstores. Not chain stores, smaller stores but with a really solid and varied selection.
I feel ashamed that I live 3 hours away from Chicago, but have never visited.
Yeah, don't even use the world "Thin crust" when referring to a pizza in Chicago..they'll cut a bitch for that.
That would most likely be Garrett's. There are several locations downtown for all your popcorn cravings.
http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/
Yeah, don't even use the world "Thin crust" when referring to a pizza in Chicago..they'll cut a bitch for that.
And if you're into it, around the same area (IRC) there's a couple of really great bookstores. Not chain stores, smaller stores but with a really solid and varied selection.
I like Afterwords a lot. It's a used books bookstore off Illinois, not far from Michigan. Also I never got the popcorn thing but was happy it got the tourists off the middle of the sidewalk and standing in line.
I love good popcorn. It's amazing how something so simple get fucked up so easy by people.Yeah, don't even use the world "Thin crust" when referring to a pizza in Chicago..they'll cut a bitch for that.
And if you're into it, around the same area (IRC) there's a couple of really great bookstores. Not chain stores, smaller stores but with a really solid and varied selection.
I like Afterwords a lot. It's a used books bookstore off Illinois, not far from Michigan. Also I never got the popcorn thing but was happy it got the tourists off the middle of the sidewalk and standing in line.
This page from the convention's website lists rates at the Hyatt Regency ($117/night) and the Comfort Inn ($75/night). Either one will make it quite easy to get to the convention. Though I don't know the Comfort Inn, I have classes at the Hyatt several times a year and it seems nice enough.
It will be easy to catch a train downtown from near the convention, and only costs about $2 each way. You'll definitely want to do that, there's nothing wrong with the area that the convention is in, but the good stuff's a little closer to the lake.
Here are some unasked for pictures to try to convince you.
Also I never got the popcorn thing but was happy it got the tourists off the middle of the sidewalk and standing in line.
Lol. Don't ever change.
I can see my office.
Well, not quite but I can almost see the building my office is in since it faces away from where this picture was taken. And this picture is SOOO misleading as far as scale goes. There's a good 4 or 5 blocks between Chase HQ and the Sears Tower. It looks like they're practically side by side here.
I'm about 4 hours out, but get there, on average, at least once a year.
Sagart, if you're into nightlife, make sure to make the trek down to Rush and Division. The Original Mother's is a must do. There are several other pretty cool places close by on Division.
Chicago has a great public transportation system, don't be afraid to use it. If you don't want to go into the city itself, you can still take the train to get around.
In O'Hare, there is a subway station. When you take that out, the first stop is the River Road station. This is in Rosemont, and you will find hotels nearby. The convention center is a block or so from there as well.
When searching for hotels, look for hotels in Rosemont, on River Road. There are several within a half mile of the convention center. If you meet any people from that area, ask them if they know about Gene's and Jude's. It's probably the best hotdog place around. Eat the fries first, they are better hot. And if you want pizza, you want Lou Malnati's.
Enjoy the con, and welcome to the greatest city in the U.S.
In O'Hare, there is a subway station. When you take that out, the first stop is the River Road station. This is in Rosemont, and you will find hotels nearby. The convention center is a block or so from there as well.
When searching for hotels, look for hotels in Rosemont, on River Road. There are several within a half mile of the convention center. If you meet any people from that area, ask them if they know about Gene's and Jude's. It's probably the best hotdog place around. Eat the fries first, they are better hot. And if you want pizza, you want Lou Malnati's.
Enjoy the con, and welcome to the greatest city in the U.S.
