Chicago: Your favorite things to do or places to go - Page 60 - The Lounge Discussion and Review on Literature, Arts, Culture

where downtown is the office where you are working at? A lot of places in the loop are very easy to get to and you can base yourself off of the brown, blue, or red lines. Lots of areas will be open for you doing that (including all of the areas that have been noted)

I believe it's centered around Columbia and the Merle Reskin on Michigan Ave., right?

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09-01-2011 , 01:54 PM

#1477

NHFunkii

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,649

right near randolph and michigan

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09-01-2011 , 02:06 PM

#1478

Three One Two

banned

Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 739

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHFunkii

right near randolph and michigan

You literally access every CTA line and express bus there (except the LOLyellowline).

---

Outside question: anyone know of great Octoberfests next month? I'd kinda' like to just start marking the calendar because I'm constantly missing stuff year-by-year with bad planning.

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09-01-2011 , 07:19 PM

#1479

-Mr. Beautiful-

centurion

Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 187

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHFunkii

right near randolph and michigan

Are you in the Prudential Building?

My BR window literally looks right at the front. Sorta creepy.

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09-01-2011 , 08:01 PM

#1480

surfinillini

pessimist

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 10,405

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardsharkk04

If someone said they were artsy I would automatically recommend wicker park. Tons of good bars and restaurants, but definitely more of the hipster/artist/non-corporate vibe. Thats where I used to live and certainly recommend checking it out.

also very close to the blue line

Artsy and hipster aren't mutually exclusive though...might as well tell him to move to Roscoe Village lol.

Based on your work location Funkii I'd recommend the W. Loop...very convenient commute a few miles down Randolph.
I've spent some time at my friends place in the south loop and its somewhat isolated. There was close to zero nightlife in the immediate area.
At least on the west side you have a bunch of bars on both Halsted and Madison as well as all of the restaurants on Randolph...all the way down to West End. Plus good location if you like hockey/bball (UC is close).

Riv north would be my second but don't go north north, like anything past N. Ave imo.

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09-01-2011 , 09:01 PM

#1481

Schwallie

formerly TheProdigy

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 10,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three One Two

Oh yea excellent question. I'm excited for some good Octoberfest stuff

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09-02-2011 , 01:08 AM

#1482

kurosh

using god mode

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 8,109

I'm in Edgewater/Andersonville and I love it. It's on the redline, 15 min drive from downtown, plenty of food/culture and nice people.

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09-02-2011 , 03:21 PM

#1483

citanul

Super Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 18,865

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurosh

I'm in Edgewater/Andersonville and I love it. It's on the redline, 15 min drive from downtown, plenty of food/culture and nice people.

I also live in Andersonville, and love it. I don't know if I would recommend it for someone who wants to have a super short commute, and while there is a nightlife and it's fine, it's not a great neighborhood for meeting new people at bars, more of a hang out at bars with people you already know type place, if that makes sense?

Eagerly looking forward to the Hopleaf expansion and Table opening, but I'm losing faith that either are actually happening.

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09-02-2011 , 04:24 PM

#1484

downtown

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 12,446

+1 on Andersonville ruling. I feel like it's the "grown up" option for a super fun place to live, more relaxed feel without having to go to the 'burbs.

I know several people who "migrated" north in the city through their 20s, if that makes sense at all. Lincoln Square/Ravenswood/Andersonville are all really appealing neighborhoods to olds like me. I think I would have been kinda bored by it earlier in my 20s.

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09-04-2011 , 08:07 PM

#1485

Schwallie

formerly TheProdigy

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 10,234

Going to venture out into Wicker Park tonight. Looking to start the night at a nice/laid back place with some good food and drinks, and if we get drunk just probably wander around somewhere to find a place that looks like a party. Looked up a place called Gunners that looks good but is apparently usually pretty empty. Might try it, but open to suggestions for that area.

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09-04-2011 , 08:45 PM

#1486

PartyGirlUK

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 23,530

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schwallie

Small Bar is a football (soccer) bar, there aren't really any games going on this evening so you'll have a 'normal' crowd, they have an excellent beer list and good pub food ... across the road from there is Crust, an organic pizza place with an excellent beer list and a nice outdoor seating area, you could also try Handlebar, it's mainly vegetarian/vegan so it's full of 120 lb hipsters but they too have an excellent beer list and decent food and an outdoor area, 5 minute walk away from 6 corners to bump things up a notch.

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09-05-2011 , 06:03 PM

#1487

Jaysick88

old hand

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,921

Since it has been a recent the topic of conversation, anyone have a decent apartment finding Realtor for the Wicker Park/Bucktown area. I've had an easy enough time finding places I want to look at in the Lakeview/Lincoln Park area but since I haven't been over there as much, I figure it might be easier to work through someone. Feel free to shoot me a PM.

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09-06-2011 , 10:46 AM

#1488

RML604

old hand

Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,438

Anyone know of any good bars near Monroe & Canal? Heading out with some coworkers tonight after work, looking for somewhere new to try. Last week we went to Haymarket at Halsted & Randolph, which was nice, but a few of us aren't really into nice beers, we just want your standard light beer, which they don't really have there.

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09-06-2011 , 04:49 PM

#1489

PartyGirlUK

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 23,530

Anyone want 2 tickets to Next tomorrow night at 10:15?

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09-07-2011 , 12:31 PM

#1490

IlliniLou

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,618

Anyone have a good suggestion for a nice sit down dinner for 2 in the Lincoln Park or maybe Old Town area? Would like to keep the bill under $100, thanks!

If they have some vegetarian options that be nice too

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09-07-2011 , 01:12 PM

#1491

JohnnyPark1

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,767

Topo Gigio

Don't know about vegetarian options though

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09-07-2011 , 02:22 PM

#1492

KDawg

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 20,994

$100 per head or under $100 in total?

aquitane is very nice as is gemini bistro. Normally I'd rec sweets&savories, but I've heard its taken a giant nose dive irt service in the past 8 months.

It's near north side, but kiki's bistro has always treated me very well when I've been there. I would also highly recommend HB Home Bistro in Lakeview (its on halstead and roscoe, so its not deep into lakeview)

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09-07-2011 , 08:41 PM

#1493

chisness

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,683

Perennial (haven't been since they got new chef) http://www.perennialchicago.com

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09-07-2011 , 11:46 PM

#1494

Schwallie

formerly TheProdigy

Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 10,234

Quote:

Originally Posted by PartyGirlUK

Hey,

I only saw the 6 Corners, but it ended up being kind of empty and we were looking to at least be with some others and such. We went to Gunner's, which was cool but totally empty again. Then Pint, which was nice and a place I'd definitely drink at again. From there we went to some place on the corner that was a pretty packed "scene" ish bar, and it sucked. Forget the name.

Anyways, pretty good experience. Might be trying out Wicker again next weekend. It is pretty easy to find all the bars going down the street with Pint, Gunner's, Crocodile, etc on it, but what other street do I need to specifically make sure to check out?

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09-08-2011 , 01:29 AM

#1495

citanul

Super Moderator

Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 18,865

Schwallie,

Damen from The Violet Hour (1520N) to The Bristol (2152N) is pretty great, but not huge on bars. The beer selection at Bluebird (1749N) is pretty outstanding. I'm still totally unclear about what kind of vibe you're looking for, or maybe it's just not my scene so I've got no clue. Idk.

There's also some good stuff on North itself, including The Southern, Lillies Q, and others.

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09-08-2011 , 01:46 AM

#1496

J-Lo

old hand

Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,678

Quote:

Originally Posted by citanul

Bangers and Lace is THE place for beer in Wicker Park. It's got 30 craft beers on tap, and the food selection is very creative. Full of hipster/artsy people. If more people knew about this place, it would blow up bigger than Big Star. However, watch out for the dbag bar tenders, order your beer by name, not number.

Last edited by J-Lo; 09-08-2011 at 01:52 AM.

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09-08-2011 , 02:08 AM

#1497

KDawg

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 20,994

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Lo

However, watch out for the dbag bar tenders, order your beer by name, not number.

which is why it won't blow up. The same **** goes down at the map room. While I appreciate what is offered, one can find other places in the city without having to put up with that and still get a real good beer selection

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09-08-2011 , 03:17 AM

#1498

PartyGirlUK

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 23,530

I've never had a problem with the bar staff at Bangers n Lace and the crowd is WAY less hipster than other areas of Wicker Park. If you want to try it out, put your name down at Mana Food Bar (they don't except reservations), go to Bangers n Lace while waiting and enjoy.