Goin' to Chicago

[mario]

I am taking the family on a mini vacation to Chicago in early June. Taking in the Blues Festival, Museums, Baseball, Shopping etc....Can any of my fellow forumites recommend some cool guitar shops in the downtown area? Thank you!

[Accept2]

You should tour the Washburn and Hamer custom shops..........

[Big White Tele]

http://www.makenmusic.com/index.html

[mario]

http://www.makenmusic.com/index.html
...oh yeah, I'll be checking that place out. Thank's for the link!

[Big White Tele]

Another thing that might be interesting for the family is Navy Pier. Hers a link, and then you could head over to Dick's Restaurant, and bar. Major Chicago attitude. A real fun place. Its just a few blocks from the pier, The kids wont be able to get in though. Live music on some evenings. http://www.navypier.com/home.html

[Big White Tele]

http://www.planet99.com/chicago/restaurants/238x.html

[greco]

duplicate post

[greco]

What about Buddy Guy's club ....and Coco Taylor's club also....when you get tired of guitar stores, etc.

Just a thought. I have never been to Chicago, but friends went tro these clubs and enjoyed themselves.

Unfortunately, I doubt that children would alllowed...but I'm not sure.

Sounds like a great trip !!

Peace

Dave

[sneakypete]

yikes...there was a story on the web Saturday here that 20 people got shot in Chicago in a 12 hour period...bring body armor.

[Maxer]

http://lh6.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/R_YkKZXSuKI/AAAAAAAAgZI/Mu6UpYs4qfs/P1290039.JPG.jpg?imgmax=800

Well, if you and your kids are wowed by bold engineering projects, there's something (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/CAI/Images/NearNorthSide/ChicagoSpire-004.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/Building/357/Chicago_Spire.php&h=423&w=300&sz=25&hl=en&start=1&sig2=5olKcRyhqVKHzgl31pegDg&tbnid=bB1AYKCwPKexaM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=89&ei=Ub4MSLqKLojOgQKz-NzXDQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3DChicago%2BSpire%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26s a%3DG) afoot in Chicago. It's early days yet - right now it's just a big circular hole punched into the ground, going about six or seven stories deep... but a year from now it'll be steadily going up instead of down... this thing will be some engineering feat and will cut quite a profile on the Chicago skyline. Maybe not as crazy-tall as what's happening in Dubai, but on this side of the world it's going to hold the record - for now, anyway.

[Edutainment]

but on this side of the world it's going to hold the record - for now, anyway.

>CN Tower?

[Sneaky]

I love Chicago. The Blues Festival is great. Go to the main stage seating area as soon as they open to get your pass/wristband/whatever for the evening performances. It fills up really fast and sitting a mile away from the stage isn't much fun. Even if you don't go to the evening performances the daytime stuff is usually just as good.

The Art Institute of Chicago is right next to Grant Park and is a must see... you can go in the morning, then hit the Fest in the afternoon. Buddy Guy's Legends club is right nearby too (it's just behind the Hilton Hotel, which is a perfect place to stay for the Blues Fest, or the Blackstone Hotel next door if you are on a budget). You can be sure Legends will be packed the weekend of the Fest and have tons of drop-in guests. Other good clubs are Kingston Mines and B.L.U.E.S.

The Architecture tour on the canal is excellent too, and you've gotta go to a Cubs game if you can. There is a Frank Lloyd Wright tour as well, although I have never taken it. There are great restaurants everywhere (I had dinner on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building last time I was there), cool people, great city all around.

Sorry, don't know much about the music stores there though, I have heard some negative things about Maken Music, but that shouldn't stop you from going in and having a look around. :smile:

[Maxer]

The CN Tower is in a different category of construction, apparently. Although it's all open to dispute... the fellows who populate the forums at skyscraper.com are an opinionated lot. Anyway, I know this is a guitar forum so I'll leave the topic alone... guess I couldn't help myself.

[mario]

Thank's for all the great tips guys! Chicago is a fun city and we are looking forward to it. :banana:

[rollingdam]

This may be a place worth checking out if you are into vintage:

http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/

[Robert1950]

Every time I look at this thread, 'Born in Chicago' by Paul Butterfield keeps playing in my head.

[mario]

This may be a place worth checking out if you are into vintage:

http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/
Hey rollingdam, nice to hear from you again! Yes...I plan to go to that place. LOL, I doubt I can afford anything there, but nice to get a look.

[davetcan]

Hey Mario, if you're driving you might want to take a side trip @ Lansing to visit Elderly Instruments.

[mario]

Hey Mario, if you're driving you might want to take a side trip @ Lansing to visit Elderly Instruments.Hey Dave, good to hear from you:wave:. We are flying out this time. But I have been to Elderly...god that place will give GAS to anyone!

[mario]

Well we got back from Chicago last night in one piece and I must say...what a great city! I had the pleasure of meeting people from all over the world. I did not go to any guitar shops because they were a little out of the way. The Blues Festival was amazing. A lot of great bands. My favourite night was Friday. All the local bands were playing. Fantastic! The backdrop for the festival is the Chicago skyline...just incridible. Hit a lot of museums and the Shedd Aquarium and as my wife said to me, the shopping is out of this world. Of course, we went to a baseball game. The Cubs were out of town, so we hit US Celluar Field for a WhiteSox's game Saturday night. All in all, a great mini vacation. I highly recommend Chicago to anyone that need's a getaway!