Chicago here we come! (Wifey brag)

theartistformerlyknownas

Buuuut not for a Knottie visit this time. Sorries.

I just booked DH's birthday present and I'm so excited! Got us a night at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago on 12/20 and tickets to the Lions/Bears game on 12/21 (which is his actual birthday). One of his buddies is going to help with fake plans so I can keep the surprise until the last minute. I'm stoked! It's a little more splurgey than I'd normally do for a birthday, but he's made a couple comments about how our fun weekend trip potential is dwindling if we end up making babies next year. So I think this is the perfect time for a little getaway.

Has anyone eaten at "Chuck's" there? Is it good, or is there someplace else nearby (Michigan and Wacker) we should eat Saturday night? He's normally a chickenetarian at home but likes a good steak when we go out. Any recos on parking for the game? I got a package deal with parking at the hotel but since checkout time = game time I'm not sure if I can leave it there another 3-4 hours (guessing no). 

Yay!

novella1186

Go to the Drawing Room! At the very least, have a drink there!!!! 

theartistformerlyknownas

novella1186 said:

Go to the Drawing Room! At the very least, have a drink there!!!! 

Oh yeah other important consideration - hubs doesn't drink at all. 

SmileDamnit

FUN!! I love Chicago - y'all are going to have a fantastic weekend-o-celebrations. 

climbingsingle

That's awesome! 

novella1186

lolo883 said:

novella1186 said:

Go to the Drawing Room! At the very least, have a drink there!!!! 

Oh yeah other important consideration - hubs doesn't drink at all. 

Well crap. Then go for the amazing food! It's slightly fancy but not over the top and it's delicious  

jenna8984

Yaaay he will love that! I surprised DH with NYC for his birthday a few months ago, for the same reasons. We are going to be trying soon and then we won't have extra time & money to getaway. You will have a great time and he will be so excted for the game even though it's going to be cold as fuck lol.

theartistformerlyknownas

jenna8984 said:

Yaaay he will love that! I surprised DH with NYC for his birthday a few months ago, for the same reasons. We are going to be trying soon and then we won't have extra time & money to getaway. You will have a great time and he will be so excted for the game even though it's going to be cold as fuck lol.

Girl you ain't kiddin. I hope the next polar vortex holds out until the new year for us. I'm going to get him a nice warm Lions hat to have something to wrap up for him, and hope the excitement is enough to keep him from complaining about the cold too much.

slothiegal

That is going to be a BLAST!  I love Chicago.  

Gurl, you kick ass at gift giving.  Please give me your skills.

ShesSoCold

I think you can buy parking passes to tailgate near the field, but they're nutso expensive. A lot of people park and tailgate at McCormick place, but it's still like $40 and far, but there are shuttles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I just realized you're a Lions fan and will not help you further. :P

theartistformerlyknownas

slothiegal said:

That is going to be a BLAST!  I love Chicago.  

Gurl, you kick ass at gift giving.  Please give me your skills.

Nah, I really just lucked out that his birthday is on a game day when the Lions are playing somewhere fun and close! The stars aligned this year.

theartistformerlyknownas

ShesSoCold said:

I think you can buy parking passes to tailgate near the field, but they're nutso expensive. A lot of people park and tailgate at McCormick place, but it's still like $40 and far, but there are shuttles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I just realized you're a Lions fan and will not help you further. :P

If it helps, I have Matt Forte on my fantasy team so I'll still be cheering for him!

ShesSoCold

lolo883 said:

ShesSoCold said:

I think you can buy parking passes to tailgate near the field, but they're nutso expensive. A lot of people park and tailgate at McCormick place, but it's still like $40 and far, but there are shuttles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I just realized you're a Lions fan and will not help you further. :P

If it helps, I have Matt Forte on my fantasy team so I'll still be cheering for him!

LOL I will tell you this - if you've never been here before, Ford Field is probably 100X nicer than Soldier field. Depending on where you sit, it will take you a good 5 football minutes to pee and the food is not that good. Nor do we have giant bloody marys with meat straws.

Where are your seats?

hellosweetie1015

I'm hoping to do this for FI for our first anniversary, except we'll be going to a Blackhawks game. That gives me a year to save up after we pay for the wedding, and it would flip his lid.

theartistformerlyknownas

ShesSoCold said:

lolo883 said:

ShesSoCold said:

I think you can buy parking passes to tailgate near the field, but they're nutso expensive. A lot of people park and tailgate at McCormick place, but it's still like $40 and far, but there are shuttles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I just realized you're a Lions fan and will not help you further. :P

If it helps, I have Matt Forte on my fantasy team so I'll still be cheering for him!

LOL I will tell you this - if you've never been here before, Ford Field is probably 100X nicer than Soldier field. Depending on where you sit, it will take you a good 5 football minutes to pee and the food is not that good. Nor do we have giant bloody marys with meat straws.

Where are your seats?

End zone. Section 351, row 5. 

Ahhhh meat straws. Detroit seriously has great stadium food. Comerica Park (Tigers) has a hot ham and cheese sandwich on a cinnamon roll, and bacon-wrapped hot dogs.

ShesSoCold

Not bad seats, but I wouldn't recommend eating there. The club side (east) of the field has great food but no one without seats over there can go.  

I take the train down so I can't help much with parking other than get passes now for near the field and look into McCormick place if you plan to tailgate. 

I'll wave at you from way over there in 434.  

theartistformerlyknownas

ShesSoCold said:

Not bad seats, but I wouldn't recommend eating there. The club side (east) of the field has great food but no one without seats over there can go.  

I take the train down so I can't help much with parking other than get passes now for near the field and look into McCormick place if you plan to tailgate. 

I'll wave at you from way over there in 434.  

I almost got seats in 430!

We'll probably go out for a big brunch before the game and not eat there or tailgate.

KatieinBkln

lolo883 said:

ShesSoCold said:

lolo883 said:

ShesSoCold said:

I think you can buy parking passes to tailgate near the field, but they're nutso expensive. A lot of people park and tailgate at McCormick place, but it's still like $40 and far, but there are shuttles.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I just realized you're a Lions fan and will not help you further. :P

If it helps, I have Matt Forte on my fantasy team so I'll still be cheering for him!

LOL I will tell you this - if you've never been here before, Ford Field is probably 100X nicer than Soldier field. Depending on where you sit, it will take you a good 5 football minutes to pee and the food is not that good. Nor do we have giant bloody marys with meat straws.

Where are your seats?

End zone. Section 351, row 5. 

Ahhhh meat straws. Detroit seriously has great stadium food. Comerica Park (Tigers) has a hot ham and cheese sandwich on a cinnamon roll, and bacon-wrapped hot dogs.

Shit, I must be hungry--sudden urge to go to Detroit!

theartistformerlyknownas

@katieinbkln I give you the "Hail Mary"

Some Bigalora pizza...

2lb pretzel perhaps?

The Slow's "Yardbird," applewood smoked chicken with mustard sauce, mushrooms, cheddar and bacon

KatieinBkln

lolo883 said:

@katieinbkln I give you the "Hail Mary"

Some Bigalora pizza...

2lb pretzel perhaps?

The Slow's "Yardbird," applewood smoked chicken with mustard sauce, mushrooms, cheddar and bacon

@lolo883 Oh FUCK YES.

We also get a little cray with the bloody marys in the land of my birth:

But it is not available at any of our stadiums, as far as I know. God, I need to leave work and go eat IMMEDIATELY.

larrygaga

Hope lions have a good game for ya!

lc07

I had to scroll fast because of this damn cleanse and lots of awesome food pics so excuse me if this has already been said but lots of hotels will let you leave your car later than check out time. I think Hard Rock San Diego is one of them. I'm pretty sure I've done it before with them. So I'd definitely ask about that if you'd prefer to leave your car at the hotel.

Plus you are a freaking amazing wife! What a rad gift.

wandajune6

Chuck's is good but you can do better. It's more expensive but David Burke's Primehouse is the best steakhouse in the city. You can order more reasonably-priced options but it's possible to go crazy. Or, if you want to do something slightly different but wonderfully fun, Fogo de Chao is nearby and offers tons of yummy options.

For parking, I swear by SpotHero or ParkWhiz. Download one of the apps and you can pre-buy parking. I can't recommend a specific parking lot but they will find the cheapest options in the area. I'm not a big football fan *bowing head in shame* so I'm out of date on my recommendations for Soldier Field.

Have a wonderful time!

shanliann

We were just in Chicago this summer and stayed at the Comfort Suites on Michigan, which is right near Hard Rock, they actually share the same Valet Parking Service.

We chose not to Valet park and across the Michgan Avenue was a underground parking garage that gave discounts for hotel guests(I just showed the receipt). We went to a concert at Wrigley, and from where our hotel was, it was about a 5 minute walk to the train. 2 Blocks down Michigan and then 1 and half blocks up, if I remember correctly.

I was super uneasy about taking the train(small town iowa girl in a big city) but it was so easy and so stress free! I think it cost 3.00 each for a 2 hour pass? It might be an option for you to consider parking by the hotel and taking the train to the game.

I was also super worried about taking the train back from the concert late at night (it was about 1am or later) but obviously pretty much everyone on the train is coming from the game/concert so there was no safety issues.

Also I can tell you in the area of the hotel, there is not much for late night food options. I have no idea if that matters to you, but when we got back to the hotel, it was 2am and we were starved and nothing was open. We did get deliver though!!

If you have any other questions, Please do not hesitate to ask me, I'm happy to help make the trip a success for you both (I work as a travel planner and I love to surprise my hubby with trips like this as well)

sunset30

A great steak places within less than a mile of your hotel is Smith & Wollensky. If you're looking for something a bit less pricey and close by, I'd suggest The Gage, which I think is about 2-3 blocks south of your hotel. I've been to both many times and always had a great experience. 

Have fun! Despite the cold, Chicago is very fun at the holidays. 

theartistformerlyknownas

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

wrigleyville

If you can swing it with your schedule, definitely take a walk up Michigan Ave. Your hotel is in a prime "starting" spot. Just walk north until you reach the Hancock building.

The store windows will be all done up for Christmas, and all of the trees will be lit. It's gorgeous.

theartistformerlyknownas

wrigleyville said:

If you can swing it with your schedule, definitely take a walk up Michigan Ave. Your hotel is in a prime "starting" spot. Just walk north until you reach the Hancock building.

The store windows will be all done up for Christmas, and all of the trees will be lit. It's gorgeous.

We should be able to! We'll probably leave late morning on Saturday so we'll have a good chunk of the day left by the time we get there. The weather will be the only real wildcard! Last time I went to Chicago in the winter we ran from Starbucks to Starbucks to keep from freezing to death. :-p

redwoodoriginal

i know youve gotten some good suggestions for where to eat instead of the original place you mentioned, but I would do Zed451 over Fogo any day... they're similar in steakhouse styles but I think Zed has a wider range of meats and they have the most delicious harvest table I've ever had. it was hands down way better than Fogo's salad bar. We actually had our wedding there and since then, multiple people who attended our wedding have eaten there bc it was so yummy. 

Or, girl and the goat. Or the purple pig. Those are delicious!! and not like chains. im not a big fan of chain restaurants even if they're well known bc, well, yeah.