Flying in for a couple games, need info

[Tnetennba 3,558]

34 minutes ago, Buehrle>Wood said:

That's not true. Red line was all yankees fans and Northside Sox fans  this past weekend. You'd be hard pressed to run into issues going to a game on it really.

If you are afraid of a dude selling loosies, that's on you (not you specifically).  Red Line is a little grimier these days but I agree, getting to and from a game is totally fine.  Unless you are a complete idiot looking for trouble.

Edited May 17 by Tnetennba

[Green Line 677]

6 minutes ago, Tnetennba said:

this is false.

Sure it is… i live here.  I wouldnt let my parents walk around river north alone at night.  

Edited May 17 by Green Line

[Tnetennba 3,558]

47 minutes ago, Green Line said:

Sure it is… i live here.  I wouldnt let my parents walk around river north alone at night.  

I live here too.  I have for 20 years.  You being afraid of perceived trouble doesn't mean it is unsafe for everyone.

[Sox72 125]

Lol. Do not come to Chicago in order to enjoy all that Rosemont has to offer. What the hell am I reading in this thread?!

[South Side Hit Men 2,284]

2 hours ago, Sox72 said:

Lol. Do not come to Chicago in order to enjoy all that Rosemont has to offer. What the hell am I reading in this thread?!

Hello, exactly. Pearl clutchers, pass on the vanilla Suburbia chains and shopping mall ambiance. 

Skylark & Marz pre/post game. Stay downtown, you'll be fine. Plenty of fine dining or cheap eats, fancy cocktails or dive bars at your disposal.

Enjoy your visit and report back on what you enjoyed during your trip IN Chicago.

[35thstreetswarm 1,378]

11 hours ago, HOFHurt35 said:

I'd stay away from the city.

Fly into O'hare and Stay in Rosemont right next to the airport.  Take the Blue Line to the Red Line transfer to get to the ballpark. 

Great restaurants in Rosemont (Gibson's, Carmine's, Harry Caray, Morton's, Capital Grille , Giordanos (if you crave Chicago deep dish)).   You also have our best Casino there in the area. 

 

Good parody.  There are probably real people who actually say things like this!

[HOFHurt35 1,260]

4 minutes ago, 35thstreetswarm said:

Good parody.  There are probably real people who actually say things like this!

Grew up, lived and partied my time in the city.  The city is not what it was. 

 

[JoshPR 731]

I went a few years back. Drove from westeren NY. Drive sucked. I stayed in the burbs. 

[Stinky Stanky 134]

On 5/16/2022 at 8:35 PM, BigHurt3515 said:

I have no experience flying in but we loved staying in the Millennium Park area, close to all the landmarks and also the magnificent mile, we stayed at The Gwen which is right on Michigan Ave, we liked it a lot. If you are looking for a deal check Priceline, you usually can get a pretty good deal and can figure out the hotel beforehand if you do a little research. All you have to do is jump on the red line to get to the Sox park which has multiple stops in the downtown area

If you hop on the Red Line in the Loop, make sure you get on the car that all the other Sox fans are getting on.

[35thstreetswarm 1,378]

11 hours ago, HOFHurt35 said:

Grew up, lived and partied my time in the city.  The city is not what it was. 

 

Funny thing is the crime rate and murder rate are probably lower than when your younger self lived and partied here.  But whatever, it's the well-worn and self-assuring mantra of generations of suburban pioneers moving into middle age.  Nothing new under the sun.

[35thstreetswarm 1,378]

On 5/16/2022 at 7:36 PM, pmb0928 said:

So I have made my girlfriend a huge Sox fan. She has never seen a MLB game in person so we are flying in from Raleigh, NC in June to spend a few days in Chicago and go to 2 games. Looking like 2 of the games against the Orioles.

Which airport is best to fly into?

Which area is best to stay in?  Going to 2 sox games and will also have a free day to explore Chicago.

Any recommendations on some food places we need to eat at would be appreciated?

If you only have one day you will probably want to hit the tourist areas from Millennium Park up Michigan Avenue through the Magnificent Mile and into River North, where you will probably also be staying.  Maybe Lincoln Park Zoo (which is free) and/or one or more of the Museum Campus museums if that's your thing.  You can fill a very fun day that way.  As far as game day, I'd echo the Skylark and Marz recommendations above (also Bernice's) and also suggest hitting Kimski/Maria's Packaged Goods after the game for some grub and good vibes.  

[HOFHurt35 1,260]

56 minutes ago, 35thstreetswarm said:

Funny thing is the crime rate and murder rate are probably lower than when your younger self lived and partied here.  But whatever, it's the well-worn and self-assuring mantra of generations of suburban pioneers moving into middle age.  Nothing new under the sun.

OK Lightfoot 

[South Side Hit Men 2,284]

1 hour ago, 35thstreetswarm said:

Funny thing is the crime rate and murder rate are probably lower than when your younger self lived and partied here.  But whatever, it's the well-worn and self-assuring mantra of generations of suburban pioneers moving into middle age.  Nothing new under the sun.

That is correct.

The murder rate has steadily and significantly declined the past 30 years in the safest neighborhoods (i.e. the touristy neighborhoods and far NW and SW sides), and is the same today across the entire city as when Daley took over in 1989. The worst neighborhoods on the South and West sides however, are experiencing record rates, as the jobs providing a living wage in the city for high school graduates 50 years ago were destroyed / exported overseas and have never returned.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/murders-are-rising-the-most-in-a-few-isolated-precincts-of-major-cities-11620446460

[HOFHurt35 1,260]

I didn't realize that as long as you're not murdered, all is good. 

Car jackings, armed robberies, assault and battery .... no big deal. 

My Sources :   Actual Chicago Police Officers. 

 

[Tnetennba 3,558]

16 minutes ago, HOFHurt35 said:

I didn't realize that as long as you're not murdered, all is good. 

Car jackings, armed robberies, assault and battery .... no big deal. 

My Sources :   Actual Chicago Police Officers. 

 

Rely on better sources.

[southsider2k5 11,640]

10 minutes ago, Tnetennba said:

Rely on better sources.

One's a bit less scared.

[Dick Allen 5,591]

49 minutes ago, Tnetennba said:

Rely on better sources.

I live on the Near North Side/Gold Coast. I take the Red Line to Sox games. I generally feel safe, but not nearly as safe as I did 2 years ago. When I walk my dog at night, I have on me an old wallet with $1 in it and expired credit and debit cards, and my old phone in one pocket. People have been shot a couple of blocks away in recent years. Last year, 2 cars parked on the street in front of my home were riddled with bullets overnight. It is getting scarier, and not too far from scary. As for the Red Line, I think you will be fine as long as you have a game crowd on the train. On the way back in from the park, when you enter the train, it will smell of weed and cigarettes every time. Just stay aware and keep your phone out of sight until you get off the train.

 

For the hotel, try hotwire.com. As someone who has gone on several baseball road trips, I would want to stay in Mag Mile/Water Tower. If you get the Westin, you may see the Sox opponents. That's where most teams stay.

Edited May 18 by Dick Allen

[Green Line 677]

Downtown shootings were up 220% in 2021, and it hasn't slowed down so far in 2022.  They're up another 64% OVER the 2021 spike.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/10/29/22751518/downtown-chicago-loop-shootings-murder-river-north

https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2022/5/2/23054296/downtown-shootings-homicides-violence-moulin-rouge-nederlander-river-north-streeterville-cpd-police

Not sure what folks in here gain from pretending like everything is fine, maybe they're on Lori's payroll, idk.  But as I said in my post, you'll probably be fine if you stay in Riv North.  But the Loop after work is a ghost town, and crime there has sky rocketed since Covid.  You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times downtown.  Its not a slight against Chicago, I live here and want it to succeed, but its the reality right now.  I personally know two people who have been car jacked in the River North/Old Town area in the last 2 1/2 years.  This is not normal. 

Edited May 18 by Green Line

[Dick Allen 5,591]

3 minutes ago, Green Line said:

Downtown shootings were up 220% in 2021, and it hasn't slowed down so far in 2022.  They're up another 64% OVER the 2021 spike.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/10/29/22751518/downtown-chicago-loop-shootings-murder-river-north

https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2022/5/2/23054296/downtown-shootings-homicides-violence-moulin-rouge-nederlander-river-north-streeterville-cpd-police

Not sure what folks in here gain from pretending like everything is fine, maybe they're on Lori's payroll, idk.  But as I said in my post, you'll probably be fine if you stay in Riv North.  But the Loop after work is a ghost town, and crime there has sky rocketed since Covid.  You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times downtown.  Its not a slight against Chicago, I live here and want it to succeed, but its the reality right now.  I personally know two people who have been car jacked in the River North/Old Town area in the last 2 1/2 years.  This is not normal. 

River North after midnight has been a police officer's nightmare in the last 18 months. A lot of crime. 

[he gone. 595]

It's pretty simple. Be aware of your surroundings. Both sides are right - it's become worse and petty crime is much more prevalent. That said, it's generally also the same instances in the same locations at the same time over and over. Not justifying it, but basically avoid walking alone at like 1am and beyond. Poor guy is asking for advice about the sox game ...

I think I'm pretty comfortable saying if you jump on the red line at 6pm and are on the train with a bunch of other sox fans you are pretty okay. Same on the return trip back up to the city after the game. It's worse than it used to be, but from 2009-2019 I took the red line to sox games consistently and it's never been a bed of roses. It's a $3 trip that is super convenient and drops you next to the park. 

In terms of hotels to stay at? we're talking a mid-week orioles series if i remember right. any hotel will be business travelers at that time. loop is going through some shit right now. its definitely not what it was just 3-5 years ago when it was booming, but it's not desolate. especially if just walking from state street or grand to your hotel or whatever. Chicago is not burning. It's not as good as it was during its top over the past decade, but this isn't the 70's and 80's downtown...

Places to eat:

River North and West Loop you can't go wrong. it's expensive, but you can google any Thrillist or Eater list and they'll give you every type of food you can imagine and they'll all be fantastic. 

Places to stay ... basically the same. I highly recommend https://www.publishinghousebnb.com/ 

It's a family run bed and breakfast in the west loop. super charming and great digs and breakfast. Also is probably a 10 minute drive down Halsted to get to the park. 

As someone else said and I said earlier -- Kimski, Marias Packaged Goods, and Fried Chicken Pizza Ice Cream are all basically connected and run the same. funky layout, but you can order a pizza and sit at Maria's or vice versa. multiple patios, has a liquor store in the middle, etc. The food is all amazing and beers are all great. 

Chicago still is great. It currently is getting a somewhat deserved bad wrap, but you'll be fine. 

[South Side Hit Men 2,284]

Wouldn’t bother flying in to cower in fear and eat tourist chainstore pizza in Rosemont.

Sounds like the OP is ready to have a good time, and has several good suggestions by actual residents of Chicago, to enjoy their time in Chicago.

[KrankinSox 1,062]

Is Chicago a cesspool of violence? Yes.

Is it still safe to visit and live in? Yes.

Shit happens in Chicago but you'll be fine. Life has risks. Overwhelming odds that you won't be mugged or shot. But, hey, it COULD happen.

I lived in South Loop for 3 years and loved hitting up Umai for sushi. It's near the Harrison red line stop. Hotel in River North or Loop would probably be ideal.

I can't help but laugh at you identifying the last time you visited as "John Danks' last year" lol. 2016 was wild.

[TheBooneLoganEra 23]

On 5/17/2022 at 2:23 PM, Tnetennba said:

I live here too.  I have for 20 years.  You being afraid of perceived trouble doesn't mean it is unsafe for everyone.

10 people shot at the McDonalds on State and Chicago last night. But hey it's only a perceived threat so no worries. 

[Dick Allen 5,591]

18 minutes ago, TheBooneLoganEra said:

10 people shot at the McDonalds on State and Chicago last night. But hey it's only a perceived threat so no worries. 

That is a weird spot. 100 feet in any direction away is very safe. Loyola has a dorm a block away. But right in front of that McDs is a Chicago Red Line stop and it's pretty shady there sometimes, and it has spilled into the restaurant several times. I've always wondered with how the city handles other businesses with shootings how that McDs remains open. I'm sure there is corporate pressure. If it was Joe Schmo burgers, it would have been padlocked years ago.

[TheBooneLoganEra 23]

Just now, Dick Allen said:

That is a weird spot. 100 feet in any direction away is very safe. Loyola has a dorm a block away. But right in front of that McDs is a Chicago Red Line stop and it's pretty shady there sometimes, and it has spilled into the restaurant several times. I've always wondered with how the city handles other businesses with shootings how that McDs remains open. I'm sure there is corporate pressure. If it was Joe Schmo burgers, it would have been padlocked years ago.

I hate that this is happening in our city but I also hate when people ignore it. I think a good time can still be had in Chicago but now is the time to be as vigilant as ever wherever you are.