OT: Visiting Chicago and Milwaukee

[Sir Lawrence]

So, what took the place of Giovanni's?

The restaurant building has been torn down and replaced with a "multi-tenant retail center."  I guess that's what they call strip malls now. 

I liked Giovanni's a lot.  The location has some Milwaukee mob history.  The property once was the site of a gas station owned by Frank Balistreri, who was convicted of several federal charges in the early 1990s.   And there was the maître d that was gunned down after allegedly falling behind on his drug payment plan. 

[MilTown]

Wow, I don't know how I missed that last time I was in Milwaukee. I guess I had one too many at the BC and Turners. That's too bad. Giovanni's had character. I mean, what other restaurant will chauffeur you around in a white limo before and after dinner? I'll never forget riding around in that limo with my parents during parents weekend.

[GOO]

You won't leave hungry from Alinea.  But all other food will seem, well just like food that isn't very appealing.  It is that good, but alas, it is too pricey unless your really into food, etc.
Coquette Cafe, as stated, best place for the money I've been to anywhere.  Your girl will like it as will you.  Like being in Paris, but less expensive.  The Hanger Steak is very good if you've ever had it in Paris (with the frites and all). 
Three Brothers is great and very Milwaukee.  Hard to find.  But worth it.
As mentioned above, Lake Park Bistro, for brunch (or dinner) is a winner, very romantic place to take your girl.  Not Cheap.
Now, if/when Milwaukee gets a hip hotel in the 3rd Ward.... that will be the place to stay.  I am surprised someone hasn't already jumped on it.
Looking forward to hearing how the trip goes. 

[Avenue Commons]

I know nothing about it but I hear there is a Segway tour in Chicago. I imagine that would be a fast fun way to get around. The Italian Village is on Monroe around Clark. There are three restaraunts in one. I prefer the more casual dark one upstairs. The food is good but I would only go there if you are eating in the loop. The Chop House is a great steak place with some Chicago pictures. Try sitting on first floor.

Segway tour? That would be a great thing to do...if you're a complete dork.

Also, Gene and Georgetti's, while a bit long in the tooth, is widely considered to be more of an authentic steak joint than the trendy Gibson's or Shula's, which is part of a restaurant chain.

Find a neighborhood street fair, get a few beers and a couple of hot dogs. If there's a decent bad, it's better than any of the options I've heard here.

This is a fair assessment and probably the most accurate way to really experience Chicago. Stay away from any place that has a tour bus out front. Metromix is a good suggestion. Get in the neighborhoods if you can. You want Chinese, go to Chinatown, want Italian, go to Little Italy, Greektown for Greek, etc.

And if I see you on a Segway I will have no choice but to knock you on your ass. Consider that fair warning!

[77fan88warrior]

Don't make me get off my Segway and kick your asses!

[jutaw22mu]

is there anything going on this weekend in milwaukee?  some of my friends want to go up and i dont want to spend the whole time eating!!!

[Sir Lawrence]

is there anything going on this weekend in milwaukee?  some of my friends want to go up and i dont want to spend the whole time eating!!!

Bastille Days:  free and a pretty good party.  http://www.easttown.com/info/Bastille%20Days/bdindex

Brewers in town playing the Rockies.

Greek Fest at State Fair Park:  http://www.annunciationwi.com/Main/Festival%202006/Festival.html

[Chili]

is there anything going on this weekend in milwaukee?  some of my friends want to go up and i dont want to spend the whole time eating!!!

19 Bar pub crawl on North Ave. Saturday.

[Avenue Commons]

Don't make me get off my Segway and kick your asses!

[spiral97]

is there anything going on this weekend in milwaukee?  some of my friends want to go up and i dont want to spend the whole time eating!!!

19 Bar pub crawl on North Ave. Saturday.

I want to see any of the crawlers tell me what the remaining 9 bars are after the 10th one  is hit

[Chili]

is there anything going on this weekend in milwaukee?  some of my friends want to go up and i dont want to spend the whole time eating!!!

19 Bar pub crawl on North Ave. Saturday.

I want to see any of the crawlers tell me what the remaining 9 bars are after the 10th one  is hit

Not a problem. This is the 5th bi annual one.

[mu03eng]

Its amazing how many people are involved in that bar crawl.  I've been asked the last two years running to participate during the same but always have a conflict.  Want to do it one of these days.

[Chili]

we'll have about 100 on this one. good times had by all.

[jutaw22mu]

can you give more infor on the bar hopping thing?  ive never heard of this before.


thanks for all the ideas, even though i hate france the bastille day thing sounds like it might be cool to check out!

[Chili]

Well, this is what you do....

Start at Live on North Ave and have a beer or a shot (sometimes 2 or 3)...
then head off to...

BBC
Rascals
Elliots
Paddy's
Vitucci's
Eastsider
Red Dot
Champions
RC's
Judges
Can's
YNOT YNOT YNOT
WOW
Yield
Vox
Landmark Lanes
Hooligans
Rascals

Thats it.

Just get about 100 people together, make t-shirts, call the bars for specials and have fun.

Its a good day.

[mu_hilltopper]

Big mistake putting Landmark Lanes last.  You're gonna wanna roll a few frames.  I can personally attest to a pub crawl gone bad with drunken double-ball rolling breaking the sweep mechanism.

Put it earlier, before major stupidity sets in.

[77fan88warrior]

I ride more like Bilary on the way to McDs.

[Chili]

Big mistake putting Landmark Lanes last.  You're gonna wanna roll a few frames.  I can personally attest to a pub crawl gone bad with drunken double-ball rolling breaking the sweep mechanism.

Put it earlier, before major stupidity sets in.

Landmark at the end is the best. Getting Caucasians and bowling blitzed is a staple. Plus, I just got done with league night so it is no big deal. Trust me, we have this down to a science. Rampage on!!!!

[jutaw22mu]

Has anyone done the Saz's shuttle to Brewers games?  How crowded does it get in there?  How early do we need to show up for that?  Thanks

[77fan88warrior]

I just saw my cousins at my dad's 80th bday party and they took Segway tour.They are from CA and they said it was great. They were hesitant due to PRN and said it was great due to the amount of lakefront that they covered. They had one day and covered way more than they could have by foot. Call me a geek but they would do again for sure. Let me bow to PRN before my dress down.

[77ncaachamps]

Just thought about it...

What brewery tours do you recommend? I've been to Miller (do they still give out three "pints" of beer?) but haven't been to Sprecher.

Also, where is the Harley Davidson museum (or is there one)?

[Chili]

Just thought about it...

What brewery tours do you recommend? I've been to Miller (do they still give out three "pints" of beer?) but haven't been to Sprecher.

Also, where is the Harley Davidson museum (or is there one)?

In the order from best to worst...

Lakefront - easily the best
Miller - corporate but not bad
Sprecher - not worth your time

Also, the Harley Museum will not be open for another year.

[rugbydrummer]

I guess I'm biased becaused I've only been to Sprecher's . . . but I liked it.  It's fun to try their specialty sodas, they're pretty delish.

[herboturbo]

Lakefront is hands down the best in town.   Does anyone know if they still have Bernies Chalet in the Warehouse??

[Chili]

Lakefront is hands down the best in town.   Does anyone know if they still have Bernies Chalet in the Warehouse??

they have both of Chalet's that were at Third World Country Stadium. They took the slide off a year or two ago as they got sick of people trying to go down it. I was fortunate enough to have gotten a chance in 2000 to have gone down the slide before their insurance company told them no.