Chicago knowledge, anyone?

[redorchids]

I really want to go to the Blink/FOB/Panic concert in Chicago in August. Problem is, I know absolutely nothing about the city and could really need some inside info. Live in Chicago/know your way around? Please help? Where are good (and cheap) places to stay? How do you get around? Where do you want to go? What so see and so on?

I will seriously love you guys forever if anyone could give me some tips on this.

Comments

[karluvmost.livejournal.com]

You should talk to intricate_life. She's Swedish, lives in Göteborg but she's lived in Chicago and she's going to spend the summer there, and go to that show. rileystar13 I don't know quite as well, but she lives in Chicago and is really, really sweet. Give me tips on where I can sell a kidney and take me with you..

[redorchids.livejournal.com]

i love you forever and ever. the end.
♥

no chance for a summer job?

[karluvmost.livejournal.com]

Haha, what are internet friends for, honey? :)

I'm still fishing, but I feel kind of screwed. Why won't anyone hire me?! I can clean public toilets for 60 SEK an hour!! Please?!

[intricate-life.livejournal.com]

actually, I live in Trollhättan, but gbg is close enough :P
and you can sell your kindey in thailand, i think, but please don't it won't be good for you ;)

[karluvmost.livejournal.com]

Haha, omg, I'm sorry. Trollhättan. I'll try to remember that from now on. :) Are you stalking me? :)

But then what should I do? I've got nothing I can sell to get money, I can't get a job, I'm so stressed about this by now I'm gonna cry.

[intricate-life.livejournal.com]

haha, no stalking, was gonna leave a comment but noticed that you mentioned me and I couldn't resist :P

stupid economic crisis. i really hope get a job. or win the lottery.

[karluvmost.livejournal.com]

Haha, ofc I had to mention you in a situation like this. :)

Indeed. And I think the chances of winning the lottery are just as big as the ones of getting a job this summer. CSN must be happy, though, almost everyone I know are taking a summer course to get some money.

[behindthec.livejournal.com]

I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE. I CAN HELP. i don't remember much but DAMN IT WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT, OKAY. LOTS OF PEOPLE WE KNOW WILL BE THERE.

you are so coming. it's not even a question. :)

if you want to share a room with me and minus_four, i can take care of all the arrangements. you can fight over who gets to share a bed with me. or not.

[redorchids.livejournal.com]

Heh. thanks, bb. I really, really want to go. And staying in the same place would be great. I'm trying to convince fannyt to come with. So I'll get back to you on this.

[mudd248.livejournal.com]

The concert is actually in Tinley Park, so make sure you have a way to get from your hotel to the venue. I don't live in downtown Chicago during the summer and I've never not had a car to get to Tinley Park, so I couldn't tell you what to take, but check metrarail.com and http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/ to get around(or a car, if you really want). Both are pretty simple websites. I don't really have any other information for you unless I know where in the city you're staying. I'll be coming from the suburbs for the concert.

[redorchids.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Any good tips for going out? Favourite places to eat/hang out?
(relaxed bluesey places, fun and cheap bars and social dancing (salsa, lindy-hop) would be totally awesome) :-)

[mudd248.livejournal.com]

Hanging out is probably best done around Belmont or in Wrigleyville. The red line will get you to both. The brown and purple lines also stop at Belmont, but go brown or red before purple, the purple has funny hours. Red line runs 24 hrs.

Personally, I don't really go out drinking or to clubs even, not my area. I'd rather just get friends together and have a beer.

Comment stalking, on your question in the comment below, the CTA is pretty awesome in Chicago. The second link I gave you is pretty amazing and I relied on it my freshmen year in college. It'll get you buses and trains.
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

[(Anonymous)]

don't stay downtown if you're going to the concert and that's all
also, it's not close enough to the metra lines to get there using it
it's easiest to drive - there's plenty of parking, it's chicago's warped venue

what do you want to do/ how long are you planning on staying?
there's a load of stuff to do in the actual city, along with some of the things in the suburbs, like the zoo.
check places like orbitz or hotels.com for information on hotels and things. Tinley is in the south suburbs, and during the summer there is virtually no breeze during the day because well.. the venue is in the middle of nowhere (kinda)

if you stay in the suburbs it's all highway driving to the venue. What direction would you be coming from?

[redorchids.livejournal.com]

I'd really like to go to some nice blues/jazz places wile I'm there, actually. Me and fannyt are both lindy-hoppers and bluesey dancing/music is even nicer than that. :-)

Also, fun places to go out at night tips in general would be great. We're not really clubbing scene type of people so good music + no scene queens/assholes + pretty cheap + relaxed and fun + good food/beer would be our kind of deal. Any ideas?

(we'll be staying downtown and drive down for the concert. I heard that the public transit system is pretty good. true/false?)