HotDogAssassin
Tour Rookie
http://freakonomicsgolfapplication.wufoo.com/forms/subpar-thinking-golf-academy-application/
What a great opportunity for some.
What a great opportunity for some.
Wish I lived in Chicago
- Thread starter HotDogAssassin
- Start date
Ethan
Money List Winner
The Freakonomics boys are very interesting. I have read the books, seen the movie and listen to the podcast. Basically they are interested in how behaviour and performance can be altered. They also like golf, so have decided to use it as an experimental setting, and one of them, an economist from Chicago, knows Luke Donald so have got him and his coach involved. It is a great opportunity but sadly somewhat impractical for us on this side of the atlantic.
Chicago is a great golf city in the better weather, and the city in general is a great place to visit. But that stuff ain't pizza.
Chicago is a great golf city in the better weather, and the city in general is a great place to visit. But that stuff ain't pizza.
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Ethan, I'm off there fairly shortly, any particulars recommendations?
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
What you looking for, I was there in May?
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Any suggestions that you might have for something worth visiting Valentino, we're there for 5 days, or if you've been somewhere the guidebooks rave about but wasn't all that I'd be keen to know. We've got 2 evenings lined up, Bon Jovi & a Cubs game, and I'd like to do the Wrigley Field tour, beyond that I'm open to suggestions re bars, restaurants or attractions. Considering the Shedd Aquarium & the Skydeck if you've got any views. Shame we don't get in a bit earlier, could have seen the Cubs at the White Sox. If you have been to a game at Wrigley Field, any thoughts on the best seats? Thanks.
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Was only there 3 nights, we just wandered around and bar hopped. Cloud was too low to go up the Hancock or Willis towers so didn't really get to see anywhere in earnest. Navy Pier was a let down, not much there to see other than a good picture opportunity of the city skyline, we did a bit of walking down the Magnificent Mile and back up State Street, bar hopping and soaking up the city.
Food wise, If your prepared to pay the rate I can highly recommend Chicago Cut to Harry Careys for steaks, amazing but not cheap. I had the best meal I've ever had in Chicago Cut. Deep pan pizza is awfull, like a big quiche.
Great city, we enjoyed it.
Food wise, If your prepared to pay the rate I can highly recommend Chicago Cut to Harry Careys for steaks, amazing but not cheap. I had the best meal I've ever had in Chicago Cut. Deep pan pizza is awfull, like a big quiche.
Great city, we enjoyed it.
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Thanks for those, you're not kidding about the prices in Chicago Cut1 Was there a dress code? Might do that for the last night before the concert, but would they take us in jeans & T-shirt? See if it beats the Baseball steak at The Keg in Vancouver....
Ethan
Money List Winner
Most of the golf is one the edge of town, or outside, so there is an unavoidable bit of travel for those staying in the N.Michigan/South Loop areas. Access is also a bit of an issue. Medinah etc are not easy to get on unless you have local contacts who can swing it, so to speak, for you. If you have any local business contacts who can get access to private clubs, then Olympia Field, Chicago Golf Club and Butler National are on the list. After the last Ryder Cup, so is Medinah.
If like most of us, you need to stick to public golf, then the best options are probably Cog Hill, Harborside and Pine Meadow. Harborside is the closest to town and is a very interesting 36 hole complex built on landfill. Sounds a bit unattractive, but it is a great pair of courses. My 1 handicap colleague and I went to play one course and liked it so much we came back next day to play the other.
If like most of us, you need to stick to public golf, then the best options are probably Cog Hill, Harborside and Pine Meadow. Harborside is the closest to town and is a very interesting 36 hole complex built on landfill. Sounds a bit unattractive, but it is a great pair of courses. My 1 handicap colleague and I went to play one course and liked it so much we came back next day to play the other.
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Ethan, thanks for those, unfortunately there's no golf on the agenda, anything in the city you can recommend?
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Well we had jeans and a shirt but there was a group in wearing jeans trainers and sweatshirts. It's maybe worth a call if you fancy it, te worst they'll say is no I suppose.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Go see the cubs, it is one of the few old fashioned Baseball grounds. The bleachers are weird, some of them are actually over the road from the stadium and are built on top of other buildings. It wasn't a sell out when we went and you could move seats reasonably easy for a better view.
The museums are great, also. The art one was very good and the museum of science and industry can be an all-dayer, although it is on the edge of the city and not in the best of neighbourhoods, but one train and one bus will see you there. The city of Chicago was interesting as well. they do architectural tours on foot or as a cruise, which we didn't get around to.
Also go the skydeck, I hate heights, but it's a great experience.
I wished I could have gone to see the chicago bears (american footy team, not the ones in the zoo), but it was in the closed season.
Philadelphia is better though.:thup:
The museums are great, also. The art one was very good and the museum of science and industry can be an all-dayer, although it is on the edge of the city and not in the best of neighbourhoods, but one train and one bus will see you there. The city of Chicago was interesting as well. they do architectural tours on foot or as a cruise, which we didn't get around to.
Also go the skydeck, I hate heights, but it's a great experience.
I wished I could have gone to see the chicago bears (american footy team, not the ones in the zoo), but it was in the closed season.
Philadelphia is better though.:thup:
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Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Just back, Cubs tickets were bought & paid for before we went, could have done without the idiot next to me mentioning the price in front off the Mrs though, and he was in the wrong seat so having dropped me in it, then cleared off :angry: We'd seen the Mets at Citi Field a few years ago, totally different ball park at Wrigley Field, much better experience & the Sheffield Avenue rooftop bleachers are something else. Anyone else going, go to Murphys for a pre game beer with the bleachers crowd.
Didn't touch the art museum but can second your view on the Museum of Science & Industry, and the same for Skydeck. Did a river cruise from there pier by the Wrigley building, Wendella cruises I think, again recommended for anyone going.
Half a hole up on you re the Bears, got inside Soldier Field but for the Bon Jovi concert, again recommended, American crowd much louder than at home, and the bonus was the support band being the J Geils Band (and yes you are old enough to remember them!
)Philadelphia? Mrs & I loved both Washington DC and Chicago but couldn't get out of Philly quick enough. What did we miss?
Val
Ryder Cup Winner
Glad you enjoyed it mate, cracking city.
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Thanks mate, and for the advice. Met a couple from Chicago in Philly, they recommended Gino's East on Superior for the deep pan pizza, which wasn't like quiche and where you can graffiti the walls, it's all part of the decoration, and Twin Anchors for ribs, which was where Sinatra used to go, which was excellent and not too expensive, if you ever get back there & fancy trying them. Saw Harry Caray's but didn't go in, could agree more re Navy Pier.
SocketRocket
Ryder Cup Winner
My son and his family live just North of the City. We go over every year and just love it, there is always something going on around the parks, the Botanical gardens are good and the Zoo is free and its great to hang out with the grandsons. The city is just about the nicest I have visited in the world, never tire of it and always play some golf when there, most local counties have great Munis at a very reasonable price.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Just back, Cubs tickets were bought & paid for before we went, could have done without the idiot next to me mentioning the price in front off the Mrs though, and he was in the wrong seat so having dropped me in it, then cleared off :angry: We'd seen the Mets at Citi Field a few years ago, totally different ball park at Wrigley Field, much better experience & the Sheffield Avenue rooftop bleachers are something else. Anyone else going, go to Murphys for a pre game beer with the bleachers crowd.
Didn't touch the art museum but can second your view on the Museum of Science & Industry, and the same for Skydeck. Did a river cruise from there pier by the Wrigley building, Wendella cruises I think, again recommended for anyone going.
Half a hole up on you re the Bears, got inside Soldier Field but for the Bon Jovi concert, again recommended, American crowd much louder than at home, and the bonus was the support band being the J Geils Band (and yes you are old enough to remember them!
Philadelphia? Mrs & I loved both Washington DC and Chicago but couldn't get out of Philly quick enough. What did we miss?
Centrefold - never mind the song, I can still remember the video!
We're history and art buffs and Philadelphia was great for both. Nice and relaxed night out also.
Was Lolapalooza on whilst you where there, it was when we were there, but too old for that malarkey now.
Glad you had a good time.
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
We're not art and history buffs; we both have a degree of interest and did visit the National Constitution Centre, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. But outside of those there wasn't a lot that grabbed our interest, and given that it was after Washington and all that we had seen there, maybe we were a bit museumed-out. If we had a clear day, we would have been more interested to do a trip to see an Amish farm. There was also a definite edge to Philly that neither of us felt was there in Washington or Chicago, and it's not like we were staying in a cheap part of town, we were on Market on the same block as Macy's, so overall not our favourite.
Lollapalooza isn't til August & is sold out already, as for being too old for it, to quote Ian Anderson "You're never too old, old, old, to rock and roll, roll, roll, if you're too young to die".
Thanks for the kind wishes, think we'll definitely be going back at some point.
Jack_bfc
Challenge Tour Pro
Never been to Chicago but I did DC and Philly a few years ago and DC was great for the museums etc.
Philly was a much better night out. DC was dodgy at night where South St Philly was a cracking night.
Philly was a much better night out. DC was dodgy at night where South St Philly was a cracking night.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Yep, we loved the liberty bell, constitution centre etc.
At the time there was also a boss (gedit) Bruce Springsteen special section at the constitution centre. We stayed only 5 mins walk from all the attractions and 10 mins walk from the river and it was nice around there.
Chicago is also great, as is Washington and New york. LA, San fran and Vegas for our next big one in a few years.
That's right Lollapalozza was on when we were there. I still love a good night out and music, but I can't do crap music though!
Blue in Munich
Crocked Professional Yeti Impersonator
Well yes, fair point re the music, but the first two I saw on this year's list were The Killers and Mumford & Sons which whilst not my taste I wouldn't call crap.
This year the National Constitution Centre's special was a 1968 exhibition; if it was in 1968 it was there. Bobby Kennedy's funeral, Martin Luther King's assassination, Vietnam, and a loads more including a compilation of TV programmes from 1968; Mission Impossible, The Monkees, Rowan & Martin's Laugh In, in a room full of bean bags. Don't know what was funnier, the TV or watching the 50-somethings making complete fools of themselves getting out of the bean bags afterwards.
I'll start your travel advice early for the next one; Alcatraz, and a ride on the trollies, hanging off the front. Fantastic. Wouldn't bother personally with LA again, but based on our respective opinions of Philly, you'll probably love it!
