Chicago

[MadMonkey]

All my knowledge of Chicago comes from Flight Simulator (ver 1)

LOL.

I was going to say go to Meigs Field but I figured nobody would get it

I started on version 4 though... MAN I learned a lot about Chicago! I know the location of every major building and I can fly to O'Hare with my eyes closed now. Heck, even with the new versions of the simulator I still change the default airport back to Meigs (from Seattle).

[miataspeedracer]

Another vote for the Shedd Aquarium!

[channelmaniac]

LOL.

I was going to say go to Meigs Field but I figured nobody would get it

I started on version 4 though... MAN I learned a lot about Chicago! I know the location of every major building and I can fly to O'Hare with my eyes closed now. Heck, even with the new versions of the simulator I still change the default airport back to Meigs (from Seattle).

It was fun as a kid trying to crash the plane into everything in Flight Simulator. Now-a-days that will get you on the FBI terror watch list.

Sigh... how times have changed.

[HudsonHawk]

I remember a FS called Jet for the Apple IIe. It was possible to safely land the plane on the carrier deck while flying upside down. I guess you caught the arresting wire with the tail.

[MadMonkey]

It was fun as a kid trying to crash the plane into everything in Flight Simulator. Now-a-days that will get you on the FBI terror watch list.

Sigh... how times have changed.

I hit the Twin Towers by accident several times before terrorists even thought of it... I was always trying to knife-edge between them

Looks like there's a few people on here that use Flight Simulator... maybe we should get an MME Flight Demonstration Team together

[sammm]

maybe we should get an MME Flight Demonstration Team together

[POS Racing]

Can we get back to what to see and do in Chicago and less about the interesting lives you guys lead why playing your simulator games.

TIA!

[Kestrel]

Kestrel should be a walking encylopedia on Chicago.

Most of what I know about Chicago is the restaurants. In nearly three years commuting to the windy city (named so because of all the hot air the politicians were spouting, not because of the weather) I didn't get much sightseeing in... such is the nature of business travel. So here are my favorite restaurants:

• Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (http://chicago-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g35805-d427758-Reviews-Joe_s_Seafood_Prime_Steak_Stone_Crab-Chicago_Illinois.html). Expensive (plan on $175-200 for the two of you if you get a modest bottle of wine), but well worth it. Alaskan King Crab legs are out of this world. Make reservations, and don't be late (you'll feel like you entered an old-world mafia hang out, and they don't play around).
• Japonais (http://www.japonaischicago.com/main.html) Sushi. Fairly Expensive ($125-150 for two people). Best sushi I've ever had. Ebi-ebi, BinCho Tuna, Beef Carpaccio, and ya gotta try the Rock just for fun. "But I don't liiiiike sushi". Go anyway. Go to the downstairs bar and drink Mohito's beside the river. And try the Ebi-ebi anyway (its shrimp). Then if you still don't like sushi, you don't like sushi, 'cuz you will have had the best.
• Cafe Babareeba (http://www.cafebabareeba.com/). Spanish Tapas. Reasonable ($100 for two). Fun place in "fashionable Lincoln Park". Cool to try lots of "little appetizers" (which is what Tapas is).
• Just want a nice Chicago Steak at a reasonable (for Chicago) price? Check out Harry Carays (http://www.harrycarays.com/). It doesn't beat the steaks at Joe's (see above) or even the best places here in Big-D, but it's very good and reasonably priced -- probably figure on under $75 for the two of you.
• And because I'm German, I can't forget the Chicago Brauhaus (http://www.chicagobrauhaus.com/). Inexpensive ($50-60). Glunz's Bavarian House actually has better food, but the Chicago Brauhaus has live music (yep, it's probably gonna be Ompah Music) and the overall atmosphere is more inviting.

Of course, there are a ton of other places -- Osteria Via Stato for Italian, fantastic Greek food on South Halsted between Madison and Van Bueren, Pizzeria Uno the "birthplace" of Chicago style pizza, and the list goes on and on...

If you have a choice of where to stay, I'd pick the InterContinental on Michigan. The hotel is nice (a little old, and the rooms are small), but you'd choose it more for the location. The Chicago Marriott Downtown is right across the street if you want slightly larger rooms.

What to do? I'd definitely take a River Cruise, probably go out on Navy Pier, and possibly go to the Fields Museum (I got to take in the Tut exhibit while it was there ). Also, given the time of year, you might be able to see the Christkindlmarkt, and outdoor German Christmas Market on Daley Plaza. That's really a lot of fun.

But do yourself a favor and score big points with your lovely wife. Take her to see Wicked at the Oriental Theatre (http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows_dyn.php?cmd=display_current&display_showtag= wicked05). Seriously. Get tickets on-line, suck it up, and go see the play. It's very good, and you'll both enjoy it.

[onething]

So, go to Dallas and eat a hot dog
Buy some pieces of stuff and glue them to your house
Play Flight Simulator (I hate that game)
Never go anywhere 3Bean used to work or wanted to work

This is the best forum evah

[Zig]

Just down from the Trib building on the same side of the street is Bandera, 535 N Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611, everything is good and don't forget the garlic mash potatoes...and then head south just past the Hilton around back to Buddy Guy's, 754 S Wabash Ave Chicago, IL 60605, always good music. Or they is the Webber Grill, 539 N State St Chicago, IL 60610 where everything is cooked on 6foot grills, I get there twice a year for meetings...but in a month take your winter gear.