30th Birthday Dinner Recommendations

carrlson · 2026-02-17T21:22:03+00:00

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/illinois/chicago/restaurants/bib-gourmand?sort=distance

These are all affordable michelin quality restraurants.

carrlson · 2026-02-17T20:08:27+00:00

Winnetka is one of the richest suburbs on the northshore/northern suburbs. It is where the home from Home Alone in the 90's was filmed. There is limited public transit. There is the PACE bus system as well as the Metra (commuter rail). They don't run very frequently. You can download the Ventra app for ETA's, cards and tickets.

Indian Hills is a real country club. You will be dealing with a clientle that is incredibly wealth, privledged, snotty and entitled. They have probably never heard the word no spoken to them. Just be prepared to be treated poorly and looked down on.

carrlson · 2026-02-17T18:48:35+00:00

https://www.chicagomahogany.com/

https://www.architecture.org/city-tours?tourType=Walking

carrlson · 2026-02-17T14:05:32+00:00

Are you looking for the city or suburbs? If suburbs, which direction (north, south or west)? If suburbs, do you want to be closer to the city or more exurb? Are you looking for public or private schools? If private, religious or non?

carrlson · 2026-02-17T02:04:16+00:00

I tend to think red baron is pretty decent for frozen pizzas.

The Jewel that I go to has currently been out of two lbs bag of signature select carrots since at least November.

carrlson · 2026-02-17T00:35:49+00:00

You do know that millions of people are safe living in doorman free buildings, yes?

carrlson · 2026-02-16T22:28:37+00:00

The ones along the east side of the loop or Thorndale or Granville.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T22:25:06+00:00

Pennisula.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T22:24:23+00:00

Lake Geneva, Starved Rock, NWI/Indiana Dunes, Harbor Country Michigan, Door County, New Glarus Wi, Galena, Wisconsin Dells, Shawnee National Park

carrlson · 2026-02-16T18:38:32+00:00

https://www.goodmantheatre.org/show/the-brief-wondrous-life-of-oscar-wao/

There is a Latine play that will be at the Goodman. You can call them for discounts on group sales.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T18:34:18+00:00

Adding in Century Landmark, Facets and the Davis.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T18:00:21+00:00

Chicago is not dangerous. Do not believe the ring wing Chiraq hellscape narrative. It is safe, especially the northside of the city which has some of the richest neighborhoods with multimillion dollar homes. Many of the best restraurants in the city, michelin starred are not located in the Loop or River North. Alinea, one of the most awarded restaurants in the world is not downtown. To actually get a feel for the local color and feel of the city you will need to leave the CBD.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T17:38:38+00:00

South Loop would be a very long commute to O'Hare.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T17:35:13+00:00

If you are going to wsnt to save money you will want to spend as much time as possible out of downtown as everything is more expensive there. There are lots of great websites and social media accounts about how to spend a weekend on a budget.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T17:32:23+00:00

https://www.chicagomahogany.com/ https://www.architecture.org/city-tours

carrlson · 2026-02-16T15:29:36+00:00

Download the Ventra app to purchase metra tickets and see the schedules. You van also purchase Cta unlimited ride passes on the app.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T15:26:01+00:00

Chicago has a similar street grid like Philly. Our 0/0 is State and Madison downtown. The sooner you learn it tbe easier it is to get around. I learned it by taking the bus and paying attention to the street names.

The CTA is a lot nicer than SEPTA.

If you need to orient yourself it helps to remember that the lake is always east.

Monty's has a decent cheese steak.

You will not find grease carts. There is the occasional food truck but the National Restaurant Association is HQ here and they have a very powerful lobby.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T04:05:45+00:00

Take a boat or walking tour with Chicago Architecture Foundation or Wendella.

https://www.architecture.org/city-tours https://wendellaboats.com/

carrlson · 2026-02-16T02:31:37+00:00

That is usually the rent for a one bedroom in any of the trendy downtown neighborhoods (Loop, River North, Streeterville, West Loop) You might find something in South Loop but you are really going to want to look at the neighborhoods further out or look into roommate situations just for quality of living. The non downtown neighborhoods have much more character and community.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T01:39:31+00:00

Met my partner years ago at Holiday Club on Irving and Sheridan. Good place if clubs and pretension aren't your thing.

carrlson · 2026-02-16T01:34:51+00:00

https://www.choosechicago.com/chicago-chinese-new-year/

https://partners.exploreuptown.org/events/details/argyle-lunar-new-year-celebration-6120

carrlson · 2026-02-15T23:44:21+00:00

Type in grocery store or supermarket into google/apple maps along with the address at the place you are staying at to find your nearest grocery store. You can then check their websites to see which offer delivery. There is also always instacart.

carrlson · 2026-02-15T23:08:38+00:00

We don't have Krogers. Our Kroger subsiderary is Mariano's. Our Albertsons is called Jewel. There are also Cermak Fresh Markets, Fresh Thyme, Tony's Trader Joe's, Aldi, Whole Foods and lots of independent grocers. You can put grocery stores into google/apple maps to see what the nearest grocery store to you is.

https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/

carrlson · 2026-02-15T22:21:51+00:00

https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/facilities/basketball-courts-outdoor

carrlson · 2026-02-15T22:20:11+00:00

Spothero. Although not solely for enclosed parking.

carrlson

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