A Downtown Chicago ramble (Schaumburg, Brookfield: homes, neighborhoods, live in)

[neonwattagelimit]

So I didn't have anything to do tonight, and I decided to get on the train and just head downtown for some good old-fashioned semi-touristy wandering. I wish I had a camera! Anyway, I took the Red Line down to Grand, then walked over to Wacker, and along the river/Wacker from State and Wacker to by the Sears Tower. Then I went towards Grant Park along Jackson, to Buckingham Fountain (was never actually there before), and over towards the Museum Campus along the lake. After stopping to view the fireworks - a nice surprise! - I walked past the Field Museum, then out to Roosevelt to catch the Red Line home.

It was a great walk - it's so cool to walk around in the downtown streets when there aren't as many people around, and just to see the lights of the skyline and stuff. Anyway, I have a friend coming in from out of town in a couple of weeks, and I was thinking maybe a self-planned nighttime downtown ramble would be a cool, sorta unconventional way to see all the usual Chicago touristy spots.

So my question is this - is there anything in particular, aside from the obvious, that I should try to check out? Any particular street that would be cool to walk down (LaSalle and Wacker come to mind, or Michigan Ave. by Grant Park - I'm not really much of a Mag Mile fan)? I figure this would be a cool way to to show my friend Chicago.

Another, related question - any good ideas for more out-of-the way places that do not require driving? I have some ideas based on what I did when I had some friends in back in June, but seeing as I'm still pretty new to the city myself, I'd rather not do the exact same thing twice.

[noid_1985]

Try "The Park at Lake Shore East"...It's very quite--not too many people know about the area

[Avengerfire]

They will now.

[chicagocubs]

Wrigley Field.

The various Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

Marshall Fields. (it will never be Macy's to me)

Any of the old neighbourhoods; Logan Square, etc. for their architecture and history.

All of the museums; Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park zoo.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by neonwattagelimit

So I didn't have anything to do tonight, and I decided to get on the train and just head downtown for some good old-fashioned semi-touristy wandering. I wish I had a camera! Anyway, I took the Red Line down to Grand, then walked over to Wacker, and along the river/Wacker from State and Wacker to by the Sears Tower. Then I went towards Grant Park along Jackson, to Buckingham Fountain (was never actually there before), and over towards the Museum Campus along the lake. After stopping to view the fireworks - a nice surprise! - I walked past the Field Museum, then out to Roosevelt to catch the Red Line home.

It was a great walk - it's so cool to walk around in the downtown streets when there aren't as many people around, and just to see the lights of the skyline and stuff. Anyway, I have a friend coming in from out of town in a couple of weeks, and I was thinking maybe a self-planned nighttime downtown ramble would be a cool, sorta unconventional way to see all the usual Chicago touristy spots.

So my question is this - is there anything in particular, aside from the obvious, that I should try to check out? Any particular street that would be cool to walk down (LaSalle and Wacker come to mind, or Michigan Ave. by Grant Park - I'm not really much of a Mag Mile fan)? I figure this would be a cool way to to show my friend Chicago.

Another, related question - any good ideas for more out-of-the way places that do not require driving? I have some ideas based on what I did when I had some friends in back in June, but seeing as I'm still pretty new to the city myself, I'd rather not do the exact same thing twice.

Nice. I'll give you three buildings that you need to step inside to truly appreciate on your next random walk through the loop (not sure if some of these are open at night or not, since that's not a time I'm usually down there).

The Frank Lloyd Wright designed lobby of the Rookery (Lasalle and Adams).

The atrium of the Thompson center, which is spectacular, particularly on a sunny day.

The Tiffany Dome of the Chicago Cultural Center

[oldhousegirl]

Oprah's studios. I never would have guessed this, but my friend from Kansas was thrilled to see where O. tapes and she took multiple pics of the outside, we couldn't get in!!

[neonwattagelimit]

Originally Posted by oldhousegirl

Oprah's studios. I never would have guessed this, but my friend from Kansas was thrilled to see where O. tapes and she took multiple pics of the outside, we couldn't get in!!

Don't take this the wrong way, but...I think I'd rather give my friend a day-long tour of Schaumburg than spend thirty seconds hanging around Oprah's anything.

I'm not trying to knock you or anything, but...we're a couple of 24-year-old dudes...Oprah's not really our thing. I do appreciate the suggestion, though!

[neonwattagelimit]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

Nice. I'll give you three buildings that you need to step inside to truly appreciate on your next random walk through the loop (not sure if some of these are open at night or not, since that's not a time I'm usually down there).

The Frank Lloyd Wright designed lobby of the Rookery (Lasalle and Adams).

The atrium of the Thompson center, which is spectacular, particularly on a sunny day.

The Tiffany Dome of the Chicago Cultural Center

Solid suggestions. I was in the lobby of the Rookery the last time I had some friends in town, when we took the Chicago Architecture Foundation's historic skyscrapers tour. Which was awesome, but I don't want to do the same thing twice, so I'm trying for something a bit different this time.

[neonwattagelimit]

Originally Posted by chicagocubs

Wrigley Field.

The various Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

Marshall Fields. (it will never be Macy's to me)

Any of the old neighbourhoods; Logan Square, etc. for their architecture and history.

All of the museums; Brookfield Zoo, Lincoln Park zoo.

Yeah, I'm thinking we'll probably hit the Field Museum or something. We'll definitely be going to some neighborhoods, too - I live in Edgewater, and I'm sure we'll spend some time hanging around here and other parts of the North Side. I also like to make a point of going somewhere other than the North Side or Downtown, so Logan Square sounds like a solid idea. Thanks!

[oldhousegirl]

That's Funny Neon. I didn't take it personal at all. I wouldn't guess there would be too many 20 y/o guys looking for Oprah. Have fun.