TRANSPORTATION

Hi there.

Here's a little info on transportation in Chicago:

TO/FROM AIRPORT:
There are basically 3 options:
1. Go Airport Express. This is a shuttle service that leaves every 10-15 minutes from the baggage claim area, Doors 1E, 2D and 3E. No reservations required if you're going to downtown hotels, which most of you are. Cost is $19/person if you are a pair, and $27/person if you're solo. You can also get a round trip ticket which makes it even cheaper ($35 for a pair). To go back to the airport, you should call to make a reservation ahead of time, or you can do it online.
1-888-284-3826

2. The EL. This is the cheapest way to do it, and very easy (way simpler than taking the subway to JFK). Just follow the signs to CTA blue line, and get on the first Blue line train you see (it's the only line that runs to O'hare, and it's literally in the airport).
To Four Seasons: Take the blue line for about an hour until you get to the Monroe stop. Transfer to the Red line toward Howard, and go three stops to the Chicago station. When you get out of the station, head north on N. State, and go right at E. Delaware.
To the Fairmont: Take the Blue line all the way to Lake/Clark station. When you get out, head east on W. Lake St., go left at N. Garland, right at E. Wacker, slight right on S. Water, and right on N. Columbus.

3. Taxi. Just follow the signs toward the taxis near baggage claim. Cost is about $40, but it's metered, and can be much higher if traffic is bad.

TO THE WEDDING SITE:
The easiest way will be to take a taxi from your hotel to Salvage One (address below). It should take about 15 minutes. There is no EL station near Salvage One. If you don't want to spend money on a cab, want to see more of the city, or are just a public transportation nut, you can take the 65 Grand bus all the way to the site from downtown. Takes a half hour or less.

AROUND CHICAGO:
The EL is really easy and goes all over the city. Just grab a CTA map from any EL station, or go to their website:

Ok good luck! And of course, feel free to call or email Kim or me if you have any questions.

Registry

Because the wedding is in Chicago, we created an online registry so that gifts can be shipped directly to our apartment in New York - 185 Sackett St. #2, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Simply go to...

myregistry.com

...search for our names and enter the password "chicago." When you access the site, all of our shipping information is on the welcome page. If you have any problems with the website, please email David (davidmettler2010@gmail.com) or myself (paperyfeeling@gmail.com).
Thank you so much!

Things to do in Chicago

I've divided this into categories to make it easier for you, but if you need more detail...please email! There are tons of child-friendly options. I'll include things on the map soon.

MUSEUMS
The Museum Campus is a cluster of museums south of downtown.
The Field Museum - very cool, great dinosaur exhibit, free Sept, 23 & 24
Adler Planetarium http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/
Shedd Aquarium - excellent shark exhibit, discounted days Sept. 22, 28, 29

Not in the museum campus, but still fantastic places to visit...
The Art Institute - close to the Fairmont, new modern wing
MCA - free Tuesdays, close to the Four Seasons
Museum of Science & Industry - originally constructed for the World's Columbian Exhibition, currently has a Harry Potter exhibit
Chicago Children's Museum - located on Navy Pier (see more about Navy Pier below)

If you decide to go to a number of museums, you should get a city pass...it's a better deal.


SHOPPING
The Magnificent Mile – a huge string of upscale chain stores NOT smushed into a mall. This basically runs from the Four Seasons to the Fairmont on Michigan Avenue. According to my friend Julia, the Lego store and the Sanrio store (520 N Michigan Ave) are great for kids, as well as the American Girl Place.

Wicker Park has less upscale, chain stores...great obscure books (Quimby's and Myopic Books) and records ( Reckless) cheap consignment clothing stores and little cafes.

Lincoln Square is a cute neighborhood with boutiques, great restaurants (Cafe Selmarie) and bars. It also has a huge park and the Old Town School of Folk Music, where Kim used to work, which has a great music/instrument store.

SIGHTSEEING
Millennium Park is free, walking distance from the Fairmont, very close to the Four Seasons and offers tons of options, including bike rentals, interactive sculptures and gardens

Navy Pier is perhaps one of the places that is most family-friendly - children's museum, shopping, a huge ferris wheel, restaurants - but it is very touristy and overpriced...so be careful. There is a navy pier trolley that you can jump on from various spots downtown.

The John Hancock building is an amazing view of the city. As opposed to the Sears Tower (now called the Willis tower), the Hancock has a cafe where you can have drinks, expensive drinks, while you see the sights. The Sears Tower has a new observation deck....clear, glass and on the 103rd floor...but you need to buy tickets and you don't get a cocktail.

Architectural boat tours - highly recommended, there are a lot of options, this particular place is a stone's throw from the Fairmont hotel and offers a tour on the Chicago River.

Tours of Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Oak Park - this is a suburb of Chicago, but you can take the green line train right there.

The Garfield Park Conservatory is free and beautiful. It's indoor, as well, so it would be perfect on a rainy day.

Lincoln Park Zoo - free, close to downtown, right on the lake.

Wrigley Field is on the north side and there are walking tours available the week of the wedding, but no in-town games. US Cellular Field, or Comisky Park, is on the south side and the White Sox have games in Chicago the week of the wedding, so check it out...not sure if there are tickets available, but maybe!

FOOD

Chicago pizza? These are the most popular, so expect a wait...Gino's East and Pizzeria Uno

Chicago hot dogs? Hot Dougs is on the northwest side, but again...expect a wait. There is also Super Dawg, but you would need a car to get there.

Chicago burgers? Billy Goat Tavern is the place of the famous "cheeseburger, no fries, chips" skit on Saturday Night Live years ago...a little dive under Michigan Avenue downtown.

Chicago heavy metal burgers? Kuma's Corner is very close to Hot Dougs and has a wide variety of huge, messy burgers and mac n'cheese. Check out the menu, it's hilarious.

Classic Chicago ice cream shop? Margie's Candies is famous for serving the Beatles in the sixties (and since then, never changing their decor), it's a super cute diner that serves grilled cheese and egg salad sandwiches, but they are best known for their ice cream sundaes.

Less meaty options? Lula - Kim's favorite restaurant in the city located in Logan Square, Nightwood - newly opened by Lula chefs, located in Pilsen on the south side, Frontera Grill or Topolobampo - both Rick Bayless restaurants downtown, Indian food on Devon Avenue - especially Hema's Kitchen, Earwax for vegetarian and vegan diners, Feed for the southern fix, and of course, great Mexican food just about ANYWHERE.

BOOZE
Very close to the Four Seasons is Rush Street, a row of popular, kinda crazy bars. If you are looking for a variety of drinking establishments, this is the concentrated lot of them. If you are looking for something more mellow or unique, try the Rainbo Club near Division Street in the Ukranian Village, the Skylark in the Pilsen neighborhood, Huetten Bar and The Daily, both in Lincoln Square.

The Green Mill is a great place to see Chicago history and jazz...Al Capone's old speakeasy.

Hotels

We have blocked off a set of rooms at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Chicago at $189/night. In Chicago this particular weekend, there are many conferences being held and rooms will fill up quickly. Please call our travel agent, Kathy, at 800-982-7201 in order to book a room. The rate will be held until August 25, 2009. This hotel is a 10-15 minute cab ride from the wedding location.

http://www.fairmont.com/chicago/

Sorry - there are no more rooms in our block at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Both hotels are located near the loop - walking distance to public transportation, shopping, restaurants, and the lakefront.

Location

The ceremony and reception will be held at Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard Street, beginning at 5:00 pm on Saturday, September 26, and ending around midnight. This unique space is located in a partly industrial, partly residential area of the city, due west of the loop. Most hotels in Chicago are located downtown (the loop) and are a quick cab ride or bus ride away.

http://www.salvageone.com/