Three weeks in Chicago

[springrite]

My wife Vanessa is taking a group of students to a summer camp in Chicago for three weeks in August. If time allows, I may take Kimi alone for part of that three weeks.

Any of you in Chicagoland?

What are some of your suggestions on what she (we) might do there? I will surely take them to a Cubs game, preferably in the daytime. Is there a summer music festival? How about museums?

[Karl Henning]

The Art Institute is a huge Must, Paul!

[TheGSMoeller]

Grant Park Symphony in Millinium Park. Free concerts outdoors, bring a dinner and some wine, and a beautiful, and fun, park for kids and adults to explore.
I'll be there at some point. 

[springrite]

Grant Park Symphony in Millinium Park. Free concerts outdoors, bring a dinner and some wine, and a beautiful, and fun, park for kids and adults to explore.
I'll be there at some point. 

Sounds like something for this family! Maybe we can go together!

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Any of you in Chicagoland?

I am!

Art Institute is a must. Also, in August the Grant Park Music Festival is going on (actually takes place in Millennium Park, adjacent to the Art Institute). Up in Highland Park (a suburb), the CSO spends the summer at Ravinia.

Lots of other museums: Contemporary Art, Science & Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, etc.

Feel free to get in touch.

[springrite]

I am!

Art Institute is a must. Also, in August the Grant Park Music Festival is going on (actually takes place in Millennium Park, adjacent to the Art Institute). Up in Highland Park (a suburb), the CSO spends the summer at Ravinia.

Lots of other museums: Contemporary Art, Science & Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, etc.

Feel free to get in touch.

Wonderful! I look forward to it!

Congrats to the Hawks, btw! If not us (KINGS), it might as well be the Hawks, my second favourite team.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Congrats to the Hawks, btw! If not us (KINGS), it might as well be the Hawks, my second favourite team.

Hey thanks, but...I really don't follow sports, and only found out about this when somebody told me 

On the topic: I find the Chicago Wikitravel guide has a lot of useful stuff:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Chicago

Gives you basically all you need to know about museums, attractions and so forth. One specific thing I can recommend: the architectural boat tours, which cruise around downtown, in the Chicago River, and sometimes out into Lake Michigan, and give you a great view of the city and its architectural development, usually with a guide on board. There are several companies offering different cruises. Highly recommended if the weather is good.

[springrite]

Hey thanks, but...I really don't follow sports, and only found out about this when somebody told me 

On the topic: I find the Chicago Wikitravel guide has a lot of useful stuff:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Chicago

Gives you basically all you need to know about museums, attractions and so forth. One specific thing I can recommend: the architectural boat tours, which cruise around downtown, in the Chicago River, and sometimes out into Lake Michigan, and give you a great view of the city and its architectural development, usually with a guide on board. There are several companies offering different cruises. Highly recommended if the weather is good.

That would be perfect for a family outing! Thanks! I will check the guide and make some plans!

[snyprrr]

You'll come for the blight, but stay for the rioting! Stay saaafe

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I have never been there, but a headhunter is currently scouting me out for a job there--hence my interest in this thread.

In any case, I have a friend who went there on vacation a few years ago mainly to look at all the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in the vicinity. He told me that you can even BUY one for around $1M. So, if architecture is your thing, go wild. 

In any case, if you have Netflix, look up Tony Bourdain's series Layover--he did an interesting show on the city.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

In any case, I have a friend who went there on vacation a few years ago mainly to look at all the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in the vicinity. He told me that you can even BUY one for around $1M. So, if architecture is your thing, go wild. 

You'll find Wright houses scattered about the metro area, but the largest concentration is in Oak Park, just west of the city. It's also Ernest Hemingway's hometown.

There's a Wright house in my small suburb, a short walk away. Unfortunately it's kind of dilapidated, because the reclusive owners haven't maintained it well.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

So, if architecture is your thing, go wild. 

Speaking of which, the Chicago Architecture Foundation's site has a ton of useful information:

http://www.architecture.org/

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Also, don't forget about the Field Museum, which contains one of the most acclaimed natural history collections/exhibits in the entire world:

http://www.fieldmuseum.org

http://www.fieldmuseum.org/science/research/area/focus-fossil-plants