Tink's Mom

Since you are staying in downtown area...there is a nice shop in Bucktown. That is a neighborhood in Chicago that isn't very far from the downtown area. Trying to remember the name.
If you will be driving a bit...I highly recommend a quilt shop in Elmhurst (?) called Fabrics Etc2...lots of fabric...very nice people.
Not much as far as fabrics in the city...there is a nice JoAnn's on Elston Ave. only minutes from Oprah's studio.
Contact me with questions...if I can, maybe we can get together.

genafan201

All I know about Chicago is you don't want to be driving a 42' motor home, pulling a 24' trailer, along Lake (Shore?) Drive...that's sort of the pits :)

Jingle

We love to visit Chicago. 24 YO Granddaughter has been there walking around with a friend or two a couple of times. She loves it too. Much safer than St. Louis.

Lori S

The Art Institute is a must see. Highly recommend it. There are the other museums, The Field Museum, The Shed Aquarium( both on the lakefront next to each other).The Museum of Science and Industry. Navy Pier is OK ... not really much to do at the pier but go for a walk... and ride the Ferris Wheel.
And of Course the "Mag Mile"... the shop till you drop center for all spectrums.

Glassquilt

Take into account that we're more likely to measure distance in time-it-takes-to-drive than mileage.

I can visit family members that live 70 miles west just as fast or faster than those that live in the city.

Barbshobbies

All I remember about Chicago is we took a tour of the Million Dollar Mile and froze every inch of our body waiting for our tour bus to pick us up.(didn`t want to miss it) and the bus driver parked 2 blocks away and for got to tell any one he change the location. I live in mid Wisconsin, but have never been that cold and ofcourse it was windy too.

DogHouseMom

First ... how to get around Chicago. There is a center mark which is State Street (running North/South) and Madison (running East West) and this center is the 0 point. Each block north is 100 N, 200 N, etc and the same with South, and West directions (very few addresses are E of 0 unless your swimming). Each "block" is roughly 1/8 of a mile. Chicagoan's tend to say that something is 2800 N - meaning that it is 28 blocks N of Madison (28 x .125 = roughly 3.5 miles north of center). So we always know aproximately where something is by the address - the street name gives us one benchmark and the address gives us the other - with both we now have a good idea how far north, south, or west of center something is.

So if you have an address of 1221 W Diversey Parkway - the location is on Diversey Parkway and 12 blocks west of Center. Diversey Parkway is 2800 N of center. So this particular shop is 12 blocks W and 28 blocks N of "center". Get it?

I found Quiltology at 1221 W Diversey Parkway 773-549-6628. Never been there but one of the very few quilt shops in the city.

Not far from there is The Needle Shop at 2054 W Charleston in the Bucktown neighborhood 773-489-4230. Haven't been here either. These are pretty much the only two I found IN the city.

Other must see things in Chicago ... Millennium Park!! The spitting fountains are a gas and you wade right in and enjoy it. The Bean and the bandstand are awesome - and check the schedule for free concerts. Navy Pier is just OK - not my cup of tea, but you can pick up some neat boat rides from there and ride the ferris wheel for a nice view of the city. Sears Tower (now renamed to Willis but Chicagoan's still call it the Sears) is a must see if you have a clear day (or night). Magnificent Mile for shopping as well as State Street (Marshall Fields - now called Macy's but it's another Chicago thing - we still call it Fields!!). Art Institute is one of my favorites and the Shedd Aquarium is nice as well.

Must have eats ...

a real Chicago Hot Dog. Get one from a brick and mortar place in the central loop - not one of the places in a touristy area (like Navy Pier).

Pizza of course ... Uno's is good but my favorite is Lou Malnati's for a deep dish. Yummm.

An Italian Beef sandwich, Al's Beef is the best. The original place is a bit out of the city near the UofC, but they have another joint on 169 W Ontario St (north loop). Get it "wet" and with "sweet and hot".

Hope all of this helps.

Gosh .. writing this I'm now homesick for Chicago. I need another visit before the summer ends.

Tink's Mom

Dog House Mom is right...Lou Malnati's for pan pizza...nothing like it!
Quiltology is the quiltshop that I couldn't remember the name last night.
And for hotdogs...make sure it is a Vienna dog. They have the best taste...I personally love Superdawg...but that is at the NW edge of the city...on Milwaukee Ave. at Devon.

mygirl66

Thank you everyone! You have all gone above & beyond, I really apperciate all of the info!