PEORIA -- Chicago between Christmas and New Year's is delectable and affordable. The city empties out, the crowds are mostly gone, the hotels are a bargain and play tickets are available. Here's how to manage a brief Chicago vacation:
Hotels: Hotrooms.com lists the bargains, and is very easy to use. In the alternative, look at the bargain hotels on the list then call them directly for even better deals.
My husband and I like the Seneca, on East Chestnut behind Watertower Place. It's a boutique hotel, always nice, and the rooms have kitchenettes, handy for drinks and restaurant leftovers for later snacks. This year, we got 2 nights for $110 a night, including tax. There's a handy parking lot next door at $28 for a 24-hr day.
Plays: Hottix.com is a handy site to find out what's playing and pick up half price tickets. Or to avoid handling fees, go to the box office where you can pick out the perfect seats.
We saw Christmas Story that way, which was pretty good, not great. Performers were excellent, but the play itself lacks the edge of the film. It wasn't Sondheim.
We also saw Elizabeth Rex at the Navy Pier Shakespeare Theater. Also pretty good, not great. Again, performers were terrific, play itself ... well...it has problems, we decided. It wasn't Shakespeare.
Museums: We love the Museum of Contemporary Art which is always mind bending, fascinating. The current exhibits are especially good. A quick review: everything, even that junk in someone's yard, is an installation! (Whew! So our yard isn't so bad after all.)
Or how about a still life satire: dead flowers painted in blue? I'd buy it if it were for sale.
Tuesdays at this museum are free. And there are performances occasionally. Consult the website for details.
Another good bet: The Chicago Culltural Center, in the former library, a magnificant building in itself, with many interesting exhibits, free, with reduced parking rates.
Then there's Marshall Fields/Macys, on State Street, which is like a museum where you can buy the stuff. To eat lunch in the famous Walnut Room, get there early, take a number with pager and shop while you wait.
Of course this is just a tiny slice of the goodies available in Chicago. First run films with perfect picture and sound are there, along with restaurants, expensive and not so much, but still good. It's always fun.
A note on taxis: We took several cabs and noticed that the drivers wanted to take Michigan Avenue, very crowded with cars and pedestrians, instead of the faster back streets. Is this a plot to turn a $7 cab ride into a $10 ride? We caught on, and began directing the drivers where to go, and that worked!
-- Elaine Hopkins
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