Looking for any good tips and suggestions for a bunch of Hokie bro's making the first time trip to Chicago (Friday night) and South Bend.
Bars / food / tailgate ideas highly appreciated.
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Chicago and NW Indiana Hokies could y'all start an entire thread about the ND game?
I'll be there too, getting there late Friday, but would like to know good spots for food, drinks, etc.
If you've never had Chicago deep dish pizza, I highly recommend stuffed pizza from Giordano's or Lou Malnati's. Both are chains so there are multiple locations. Giordano's is my personal favorite and I will be stopping there next weekend at some point.
Agree, Giordano's is the tits.
If you want the best burger in the freaking world, go to Au Cheval. Expect to wait 90 minutes for a table.
Revolution Brewing's brewpub in the Logan Square neighborhood is my favorite bar in Chicago. Food is good, beer is otherworldly.
If you want barbecue, go to Smoque.
Navy Pier is worth doing if you're a tourist. Not nearly as tacky as it used to be. Lots of good food options there, and Riva is one of the better seafood restaurants in Chicago. Harry Cary's, Billy Goat Tavern and Giordano's also have locations there, so it's kind of like Chicago in microcosm.
my plan after i land friday, drive up lakeview past soldier, the big metal jelly bean and the pier. go by wrigley, buy some trinket.
commence drinking during lunch at half acre. a pop in at west lakeview liquors, followed by a stop at the metal bar, local option (gets you pipeworks beers). then off to maria's community bar (gets you marz and spiteful beers), before finishing up at three floyds.
hitting 18th street for dinner on saturday on the drive back to chicago.
oh and likely hitting dusek's for brunch. good sausage and beer at 9am ... why yes.
I used to live right down the street from west lakeview liquors. Just moved, but awesome spot. How the hell do you know about that little store?
For others: A lot of good breweries (Revolution, Half Acre, Lagunitas, Goose Island, Pipeworks 3 Floyds (In Hammond Indiana but still pretty close).
Other Chicago Recommendations:
1. Cindy's: Is in the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel (right on Michigan Ave). Overlooks Millennium park (one of the best views in the city. Just go for drinks and try off hours cause it could get crowded.
2. Signature Lounge in the Hancock Tower. Bar on the 96th floor. Great view so try to go during the day time. Just go for a couple of drinks.
3. Wrigleyville: Definitely go to the Wrigley Field area and get a picture in front of the World Champions Marquee. A lot of bars around that area but mostly geared towards a younger crowd, so not the most chill spots.
4. Most of your nice restaurants, bars, shopping is going to be in the Loop (just south and east of river) up through the RiverNorth area as far north as approx. the Hancock tower.
5. Riverwalk: Is really nice to walk along with some good restaurant spots. Better when the weather's nice but you never know.
6. Wicker Park: Kind of a hipster feel but definitely a cool neighborhood to check out. A lot of good restaurants, including a Saved by the Bell themed place called "Saved by the Max" Inside looks like the diner on the TV show.
7. christkindlmarket: A german themed Christmas market in the middle of downtown (Washington and Dearborn). It opens on Friday 11/18 (day before the game).
Lots of good stuff to do. Hopefully the weather cooperates....
i don't think pipeworks, spiteful, off color, marz or mikerphone have tasting rooms yet or my brewery stops would be more. goose island has rare and prop bcbs stout on draft. crazy great beers, the prop bottle is $80, so getting a pour at the brewery is a good deal. likely swing by there too.
west lakeview ships ... one of the best known liquor stores in the US.
staying really close to three floyds, so that's why it's our last stop.
I lived in the Chicago NW burbs for about 5 years in the late 80's-early 90's. Giordano's was my favorite by far...nothing else came close.
Agree. Giardanos is best of easily accessible in city. Nancy's is best but they are hit or miss on locations anymore. Been in Chicago 29 of 33 years.
going to go out on a limb here and say the other 4 were in Blacksburg, VA?
maybe you should check his profile before going too far out on that limb...
I'll be hitting a Giordano's somewhere on Sunday.
Before 9/11, when in Chicago for business, I would order a pizza a day ahead of time and have them freeze it for me so I could bring it home on the plane. One more reason to hate the bastards...
I think you can still bring a frozen pizza as long as you carry it on. I think its considered a small carry on item and you just run it through the x-ray.
You're probably right. But I fly almost every week and the TSA folks just make up the rules sometimes. Don't want to throw away $35 because somebody had a fight with their wife that morning.
Dad would take us to The Berghoff every summer. West Adams, downtown in the Loop. German food and beer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Berghoff_(restaurant)
Never been to an away game. So how does tailgating work?
There are going to be a lot of Hokies there.
It's going to be a long week. I am pumped.
The biggest lot is the J lot next the stadium. This is packed and normally a lot of ND tailgates. There is also the golf course and then places north of the stadium. You can always grab a 12 pack and circle the main parking lot if you don't know of anyone to tailgate with. But most of the lots are centrally located around the stadium or just north of campus.
I'll give you the quick South Bend spots for those staying there, Illinois Hokie hit the spots except Piece Pizza (http://www.piecechicago.com/) is good spot to hit if staying in the city and you don't like deep dish.
For South Bend eats:
CJ's has good burgers in downtown. There is also a place called Legends on campus right next to the stadium. Best South Bend pizza is Rocco's. Go on Friday night as the line on Saturday is outrageous. If you're fortunate to have a hotel in South Bend then try Saturday too. I've run into Jack Swarbrick, Regis, Tim Brown, you name it. Legendary South Bend place.
Another local place outside South Bend is Redamak's in New Buffalo, MI. Good food and New Buffalo has a casino!
Either night I suggest the Linebacker Inn which is just a few blocks from the stadium. It's a loud bar, club type place but a lot of fun. If not Legends is also a good stop for drinks.
If driving in, park at Saint Mary's college. It's cheaper, easy/in and out. Also, the walk to campus is nice. You go right past the grotto, through the quad to which has the golden dome, basilica, then to touchdown Jesus. The pond from Rudy is over there as well. Mass is held 30 minutes after the end of the game at the basilica. You have to hurry over though.
Otherwise not a lot to do in South Bend.
How long and tough is walk from St. Mary's to stadium compared to walk from White Field? My wife is 7weeks post baby.
About equal distance. White field is just north and st Mary's is a little west. I'd give both about .75 to 1 mile. My wife did it 7 weeks out and did alright. Its northern Indiana so pretty flat and easy.
With the new traffic patterns for 2016, do you know if St Mary's will still be good if you want to go westbound as they force you to go eastbound?
I haven't heard anything about any changes on that. I haven't been to a game this year. Are you referencing getting back on the turnpike? One of my vehicles will be going west out of there so now you've peaked my interest. My other car is in the J lot.
Thanks 0905, will try St Mary's College for parking Saturday.
Second Lou Malnati's or Giradano's for Deep Dish. Pequods is also amazing, but like Au Cheval, probably a 90 minute wait.
Tobacco Road is the new VT bar this year for game watching parties, so we are inviting folks after the game and they get back from South Bend. They are keeping kitchen open late!
For a Bro weekend, there's always Wrigleyville or River North. Old Crow is a fun BBQ place with locations in both. And after the World Series, Wrigley is definitely a destination for pics with the marque. A ton of great steak places you can't really go wrong if you can get a reservation.
Ask any specific questions, I've been hear for almost 10 years. But if you should definitely get out of the loop and mag mile areas to experience the neighborhoods if you can.
For anyone with families or looking more for attractions and stuff to do friday or sun. in chicago check these out:
- Science and Industry Museum – Its further away than the Field Museum , but a little cheaper and I think more interesting.
- Shedd Aquarium - Get there early on a weekend as it tends to get crowded.
- Frank Llyod Write Home and Studio - West of the city in Oak Park, but accessible via public transportation.
- Christkindlmarket - opens friday
- Maggie Daley Ice Skating Ribbon - opens friday
Erase
Ok Chicago folks. Flying into O'Hare Sat early and driving over to South Bend what is fastest route?
Take 90 if you want to go through the city and see skyline. Not sure your timing but traffic is hit or miss. Not usually terrible on Saturday mornings before 10am. If avoiding city take 294 south out of airport. Either way get to 80/90 and get on turnpike for Indiana toll road. Take ND exit. Don't get off at airport.
Getting into O'Hare about 815. How long is Drive over? Want to make sure plenty of time to see ND sights.
From O'Hare shouldn't take more than hour and half. You should be to South Bend no later than 11am (remember you lose an hour since Chicago is CST and South Bend is EST).
You should have plenty of time to see the sights. The visiting teams get dropped off at the north end of the stadium. No ropes or barriers so it's fun to greet the players. ND players walk over from the library (touchdown jesus). They used to walk from mass to the stadium but Kelly ended that. About 30 minutes pre kick off the ND band walks from the golden dome area to the stadium. That's kind of fun too.
Seriously HF. I hope your flight into O hare goes smoothly. I have had so many problems getting in and out of that damned place. Have a great trip!
So while I am not going to South Bend for the game, I searched 'bar' on google maps, and was shocked to see very few options. South Bend looks like a nice place, but where is the pocket of bars like every other college town has? I mean, shit - UVA has The Corner?!
There really isn't much honestly. Most students go to the Linebacker or Legends for bars. They don't have frats at ND as they basically use the dorms as Frats so most the drinking occurs in the dorms or at local apartments. Besides around ND, South Bend is a dump so people don't venture away from direct campus area.
We're driving up part way Friday and finishing on Saturday and then have to turn around and get a good ways back towards VA after the game as one of us has to work Sunday.
Any suggestions for paid parking closer to the stadium? We won't be messing with Chicago either so also any suggestions for good food really close to the stadium?
So esihiben we need a weather report. I'm seeing low temps rain and maybe even snowflakes for the game.
Ugh anything but rain. Paging eshiben
That was a heck of a surprise it is supposed to be 66 on Friday in South Bend and only 42 on Saturday.
I'm wearing shorts (have been since March) and a polo today I can't deal with temps and weather like that yet.
Im here folks! Report will be up tonight i promise with live updates, flu is gone and i feel amazing i have a review tonight to give to some 101 students in about an hour but beyond that im free so ill head home and write her up
A quick glance is showing rain and wind that slowly cools off and could convert to snow. Good news is i dont think itll be warm enough to stick or come down in any significant amount. Think a kind of gross mix. That being said wind and rain will absolutely be a factor which...i mean hasnt worked out to badly for us this year
Can't wait to hear from the 5thFuller this week. Dis guna be good!
I'll be either in joyce or library lot with my green jeep and a camo tech flag. Feel free to stop by and chug a beer
The result of this game (win or loss) will have little to no effect on how I feel about this season. If Notre Dame were as good at this point as everyone thought they would be, I might care, but now I don't.
What I do care about in this game is running the ball. Last week we got destroyed on the ground (to be fair, GT's offense is predicated on running the ball moreso than any in the country), averaging a little over 3.5 yards per carry. If we average 3.5 yards per carry against UVA and can't gain a significant advantage in the turnover battle, we might not be playing in Orlando.
We saw in the Thursday night Miami game what dominating in the running game does for this team. I don't care so much about the passing game at all against ND. Evans, Ford, Hodges, Phillips, and Carroll have all been very dependable all season and I have no reason to believe they won't be for UVA as well. What I want to see is a solid running game.
Old town chicago is pretty cool. I dont have tickets to the game but could be convinced to go to chicago friday night to meet up with some folks
Only if you promise it won't snow.
Not any significant amount mostly just cold rain
Thatll be after gametime anyway i think thatll hit around 8ish or 9ish of course this far out this could easily fluctuate into all rain
How about fluctuate into 60 degrees and sunny?
Probably not