Welcome to The Holy Land of Hoops

Hitting up Chi-town for Nova v DePaul this year in early January with a bunch of my Nova Alum crew. Looking for suggestions from anyone who knows Chicago well…neighborhood to stay, things to do for a 3 day trip, good spots to eat and drink, etc.
Where’s Demon 22 or any other DePaul fan willing to welcome a Wildcat to town for a weekend for some good camaraderie and competition?

GumbyDamnit! wrote:Hitting up Chi-town for Nova v DePaul this year in early January with a bunch of my Nova Alum crew. Looking for suggestions from anyone who knows Chicago well…neighborhood to stay, things to do for a 3 day trip, good spots to eat and drink, etc.
Where’s Demon 22 or any other DePaul fan willing to welcome a Wildcat to town for a weekend for some good camaraderie and competition?

Gumby, not from there, but visit often... if you like Italian, LA Scarola is very good... for a group too.
https://lascarola.com/

Excellent menu. I got hungry just lookin' at it!

Gumby - - you can almost throw a dart and land on a good eatery in Chicago. Nonetheless, The Chop House is enjoyable if you are a carnivore (https://www.chicagochophouse.com/).

The Lincoln Park area is a great area to hang around in (https://www.choosechicago.com/neighborhoods/lincoln-park/).

You need to take a stroll along The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue). If you do that, be sure to include a visit to the John Hancock Building - go up to the observation deck for a nifty view of the city.

Finally, in the unlikely event the little devils upset Villanova, be prepared to drown your sorrows somewhere along Rush And Division Streets. I am reasonably sure that area will not run out of alcohol.

Xudash wrote:Gumby - - you can almost throw a dart and land on a good eatery in Chicago. Nonetheless, The Chop House is enjoyable if you are a carnivore (https://www.chicagochophouse.com/).

The Lincoln Park area is a great area to hang around in (https://www.choosechicago.com/neighborhoods/lincoln-park/).

You need to take a stroll along The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue). If you do that, be sure to include a visit to the John Hancock Building - go up to the observation deck for a nifty view of the city.

Finally, in the unlikely event the little devils upset Villanova, be prepared to drown your sorrows somewhere along Rush And Division Streets. I am reasonably sure that area will not run out of alcohol.

LOL. Thanks Dash / Chap. Appreciate the info.

Grew up here (city proper), lived here for all but 7 of my 30yrs and with 90% of my family being from Ireland or England I often do tours of the city.

Drinks: Are you into craft beer? Cocktails? Distilleries?

Food: are you looking for unique dives? Trendy? Upscale? Classic upscale (that'd be la Scarola)? Favorite cuisines?

Neighborhood to stay: if your primary concern is the basketball game then stay south loop. If your primary concern is seeing the city and easy access to the game then stay west loop or somewhere along the red or brown line.

I'll tell you some of the usual suggestions:

Chicago dog: wiener circle or lucky dog (car needed)

Italian beef: Mr beef on Orleans or Johnnies (car needed)

Deep dish Pan Pizza: Pequods

Tavern style pizza: Vito & Nicks or Marie's Pizza & Liquors

Cocktails: Scofflaw, Cindy's at Chicago Athletic Club, Dorians (speakeasy), Violet Hour (speakeasy), The Drifter (Speakeasy below Green Door Tavern which is Chicago's oldest bar)

Burger: Au Cheval or Loyalist

Chicago "bbq": Twin Anchors (Sinatra used to get their ribs flown out while he was touring)

Breweries: Michelin starred Moody Tongue is another level, Metropolitan or Dovetail do traditional German style beers, Revolution is always a safe bet but you can find them anywhere now, Pilot Project and District Brew Yards have rotating breweries and do unique things.

Chicago Blues bar: Rosa's Lounge

Spots with a lot of food choices: Time-out Market, Revival Food Hall, Ogilvey French Market. There's more but those are the big ones.

Tourist thing that's worth it: Drinks atop the John Hancock building

Tourist thing that's not worth it: Mag mile, its stores. Not even unique ones anymore go to the mall back home and don't waste your time. The sears tower, wait in line for ages to get 2min on a glass box, after paying crazy money. The bean, I don't get it maybe you will? All my cousins from London were adamant to see it and took 10000000 photos, but I'd suggest skipping it.

Thing you have to do before leaving: try a shot of Malort!

Let me know if you want more or if you want a list more tailored to your desires.

MUBoxer wrote:Grew up here (city proper), lived here for all but 7 of my 30yrs and with 90% of my family being from Ireland or England I often do tours of the city.

Drinks: Are you into craft beer? Cocktails? Distilleries?

Food: are you looking for unique dives? Trendy? Upscale? Classic upscale (that'd be la Scarola)? Favorite cuisines?

Neighborhood to stay: if your primary concern is the basketball game then stay south loop. If your primary concern is seeing the city and easy access to the game then stay west loop or somewhere along the red or brown line.

I'll tell you some of the usual suggestions:

Chicago dog: wiener circle or lucky dog (car needed)

Italian beef: Mr beef on Orleans or Johnnies (car needed)

Deep dish Pan Pizza: Pequods

Tavern style pizza: Vito & Nicks or Marie's Pizza & Liquors

Cocktails: Scofflaw, Cindy's at Chicago Athletic Club, Dorians (speakeasy), Violet Hour (speakeasy), The Drifter (Speakeasy below Green Door Tavern which is Chicago's oldest bar)

Burger: Au Cheval or Loyalist

Chicago "bbq": Twin Anchors (Sinatra used to get their ribs flown out while he was touring)

Breweries: Michelin starred Moody Tongue is another level, Metropolitan or Dovetail do traditional German style beers, Revolution is always a safe bet but you can find them anywhere now, Pilot Project and District Brew Yards have rotating breweries and do unique things.

Chicago Blues bar: Rosa's Lounge

Spots with a lot of food choices: Time-out Market, Revival Food Hall, Ogilvey French Market. There's more but those are the big ones.

Tourist thing that's worth it: Drinks atop the John Hancock building

Tourist thing that's not worth it: Mag mile, its stores. Not even unique ones anymore go to the mall back home and don't waste your time. The sears tower, wait in line for ages to get 2min on a glass box, after paying crazy money. The bean, I don't get it maybe you will? All my cousins from London were adamant to see it and took 10000000 photos, but I'd suggest skipping it.

Thing you have to do before leaving: try a shot of Malort!

Let me know if you want more or if you want a list more tailored to your desires.

Thanks MUBoxer... Appreciate the info. We're more of a craft beer / Bourbon / Whiskey type crowd. Yeah, we're not looking for places to take photos but rather, good food / good drink / good atmosphere type places. Will check out the John Hancock, restaurant and craft brewery suggestions. Thanks!

From Malort producer: "Most first-time drinkers of Jeppson Malört reject our liquor. Its strong, sharp taste is not for everyone. Our liquor is rugged and unrelenting (even brutal) to the palate." Maybe they need to rethink their marketing...

GumbyDamnit! wrote:

MUBoxer wrote:Grew up here (city proper), lived here for all but 7 of my 30yrs and with 90% of my family being from Ireland or England I often do tours of the city.

Drinks: Are you into craft beer? Cocktails? Distilleries?

Food: are you looking for unique dives? Trendy? Upscale? Classic upscale (that'd be la Scarola)? Favorite cuisines?

Neighborhood to stay: if your primary concern is the basketball game then stay south loop. If your primary concern is seeing the city and easy access to the game then stay west loop or somewhere along the red or brown line.

I'll tell you some of the usual suggestions:

Chicago dog: wiener circle or lucky dog (car needed)

Italian beef: Mr beef on Orleans or Johnnies (car needed)

Deep dish Pan Pizza: Pequods

Tavern style pizza: Vito & Nicks or Marie's Pizza & Liquors

Cocktails: Scofflaw, Cindy's at Chicago Athletic Club, Dorians (speakeasy), Violet Hour (speakeasy), The Drifter (Speakeasy below Green Door Tavern which is Chicago's oldest bar)

Burger: Au Cheval or Loyalist

Chicago "bbq": Twin Anchors (Sinatra used to get their ribs flown out while he was touring)

Breweries: Michelin starred Moody Tongue is another level, Metropolitan or Dovetail do traditional German style beers, Revolution is always a safe bet but you can find them anywhere now, Pilot Project and District Brew Yards have rotating breweries and do unique things.

Chicago Blues bar: Rosa's Lounge

Spots with a lot of food choices: Time-out Market, Revival Food Hall, Ogilvey French Market. There's more but those are the big ones.

Tourist thing that's worth it: Drinks atop the John Hancock building

Tourist thing that's not worth it: Mag mile, its stores. Not even unique ones anymore go to the mall back home and don't waste your time. The sears tower, wait in line for ages to get 2min on a glass box, after paying crazy money. The bean, I don't get it maybe you will? All my cousins from London were adamant to see it and took 10000000 photos, but I'd suggest skipping it.

Thing you have to do before leaving: try a shot of Malort!

Let me know if you want more or if you want a list more tailored to your desires.

Thanks MUBoxer... Appreciate the info. We're more of a craft beer / Bourbon / Whiskey type crowd. Yeah, we're not looking for places to take photos but rather, good food / good drink / good atmosphere type places. Will check out the John Hancock, restaurant and craft brewery suggestions. Thanks!

From Malort producer: "Most first-time drinkers of Jeppson Malört reject our liquor. Its strong, sharp taste is not for everyone. Our liquor is rugged and unrelenting (even brutal) to the palate." Maybe they need to rethink their marketing...

Malort is aware they are pushing a terrible product and have steered into the skid. I've seen advertisements such as "Malort, for when you need to unfriend someone in person" and "Malort, for the night you fight your dad." One of their reps once described the taste as "like being bullied in the 4th grade." It is a rite of passage, if you're into that kind of thing. The only problem I have with it is the taste tends to linger for a long time.

GumbyDamnit! wrote:We're more of a craft beer / Bourbon

Pretty much every Villanova grad ever

kayako wrote:

GumbyDamnit! wrote:We're more of a craft beer / Bourbon

Pretty much every Villanova grad ever

Guilty!