Going to be in Chicago (my hotel is in Arlington Heights) for some professional development
Anybody got any good suggestions for me to pass my time? (Like a good hangout spot or a sight to see in Chicago)
I’m looking for something to do Sunday Afternoon/Evening & Monday/Tuesday Evening
I’ve already heard the John Hancock tower is much more interesting than the Sears tower
Arlington Heights actually has a pretty active downtown area, with places that don’t close until late at night. Redmoon is a restaurant with a club atmosphere, kind of like a lounge. There are many other restaurants too, all within walking distance. Also, if you’ll be staying at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest, it has an indoor waterpark. It’s nowhere as good as Wisconsin Dells, but pretty nice if you want to swim and have fun doing it. These would be nice options for a short evening out, when you’d rather not go to far.
For something in downtown Chicago that you have a whole day to do, it depends what’s your going for. If you want something cultural, there are plenty of museums, like the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, or Art Institute. If you want sports, you can catch a game if it’s playing that day, but good luck getting tickets for good seats. You can also explore some eclectic neighborhoods, such as Chinatown (Cermak & Wenthworth) or Wicker Park (Damen & North Ave.), an artist community. Neither of them is highly touristy, and restaurant and souvenir prices are totally reasonable.
For nightlife, your options are extensive. Bar Chicago, on State & Division, is a great option for tourists. It’s pricey and not much to look at, but the crowd is great: guys are cool, and girls might even ask you to dance; heck, I’ve had that happen to me in my pre-pheromone days. If you want something closer, there’s Alumni Club in Schaumburg, but it’s the kind of place to come with a date, rather than to look for one.
By the way, you can easily avoid driving by taking the Metra. There are two stations in Arlington Heights, and the trains run straight to downtown. If you’re not the type who insists on driving, this option will save you plenty of hassles with traffic. Metra even lets you drink beer onboard (this rule might have changed; don’t take my word for it).
Nice! Going to have to print that out