J***/blues clubs & pizza in Chicago
Posted by: Rasher on 06 April 2005
I'm going to Chicago next week because I've not been there before, and therefore don't know the jazz/blues haunts to go to and where to get the best pizza. Recommendations appreciated.
Thanks Anna. 
Hi John
Got there Friday morning, did some shopping and had lunch at Giordano's after having to wait a while propping up the bar because of the lunchtime crowd. I have to admit to being disappointed by the deep pan pizza. Heavy dough, 1 pint of minced tinned tomatoes & 2 LBs of half melted congealed cheese does not IMHO make a pizza.
But there you go - we all have different tastes, and I have now at least tried the Chicago pizza properly. We were amazed to see two huge guys eating one each with a side salad. One guy never slowed and then started to help his buddy out with his. 
I tried a lot of the beers - especially the bottled ones. I especially like the red beer with the goose head on the label, but can't remember what it's called. Goosehead or something probably. By the graphics, I imagine it claims to be of Irish extraction.
Went up Big John after lunch and then had a look at the shops. Spent Friday night at Buddy Guy's Legends Bar where there was a great acoustic set with a young guy on a National guitar, followed by a local guy who wanted to be Gary Moore - complete with turned around humbucker on his Les Paul, followed by a not so good blues band. Saturday morning I started in Northwestern Memorial Hospital on a drip for some sort of apoplectic shock that was caused probably by some Crawfish which caused my throat to swell to closing point - which was fairly scary, but after a late breakfast at Lou Mitchell's on Jackson Blvd we headed off to some districts and eventually ended up in Evanston, so pulled back a little into town to go to the Green Mill. There was a band from New Orleans doing trad jazz that night that isn't really my thing, so after hitting a few bars around the Near North area we ended up in a basement bar to spend the night at the Underground Wonder Bar on East Walton watching Lonnie Walker and her band - and they were great. Really brilliant.
Sunday morning I had to go out to Oak Park to see some Frank Lloyd Wright houses, as he is my hero, do the tour, get breakfast at a diner there, get back to town to do some shopping to get my wife & kids gifts to take back, got on a boat tour with lots of coffee for the 90 min river & lake trip - bought an ipod at the Apple shop where I was standing next to a very sweaty and likely heart attack victim Elvis Costello, got down to Chinatown - had a meal, went up the Sears tower at dusk, and then found Chicago closed for Sunday night. We did a few bars, but it was pretty dead. Up at 5.00am for the flight home - straight to bed at home and into the office first thing Tuesday morning. Easy.
I'm going to try to get a weekend in Seattle later in the year to find some Rock clubs.
I liked Chicago but it isn't a patch on New York or San Fransico. I was warming to it more the longer I was there but found it hard to search out stuff going on. It really isn't always obvious and sometimes seemed a little dead. I like a lot going on. Great place though and I really enjoyed it. I will certainly remember it.
The EL was very slow and eventually we gave up on it and used cabs instead because we couldn't afford to waste the time waiting around to get places. We did loads of stuff though and I'm sure I've forgotten half the things we did. I'm sure I'll be back. I just wish there were more hours in the day. 3 nights isn't enough, especially when the first day is 30 hours without sleep and I'm fighting it.
Got there Friday morning, did some shopping and had lunch at Giordano's after having to wait a while propping up the bar because of the lunchtime crowd. I have to admit to being disappointed by the deep pan pizza. Heavy dough, 1 pint of minced tinned tomatoes & 2 LBs of half melted congealed cheese does not IMHO make a pizza.
But there you go - we all have different tastes, and I have now at least tried the Chicago pizza properly. We were amazed to see two huge guys eating one each with a side salad. One guy never slowed and then started to help his buddy out with his. I tried a lot of the beers - especially the bottled ones. I especially like the red beer with the goose head on the label, but can't remember what it's called. Goosehead or something probably. By the graphics, I imagine it claims to be of Irish extraction.
Went up Big John after lunch and then had a look at the shops. Spent Friday night at Buddy Guy's Legends Bar where there was a great acoustic set with a young guy on a National guitar, followed by a local guy who wanted to be Gary Moore - complete with turned around humbucker on his Les Paul, followed by a not so good blues band. Saturday morning I started in Northwestern Memorial Hospital on a drip for some sort of apoplectic shock that was caused probably by some Crawfish which caused my throat to swell to closing point - which was fairly scary, but after a late breakfast at Lou Mitchell's on Jackson Blvd we headed off to some districts and eventually ended up in Evanston, so pulled back a little into town to go to the Green Mill. There was a band from New Orleans doing trad jazz that night that isn't really my thing, so after hitting a few bars around the Near North area we ended up in a basement bar to spend the night at the Underground Wonder Bar on East Walton watching Lonnie Walker and her band - and they were great. Really brilliant.
Sunday morning I had to go out to Oak Park to see some Frank Lloyd Wright houses, as he is my hero, do the tour, get breakfast at a diner there, get back to town to do some shopping to get my wife & kids gifts to take back, got on a boat tour with lots of coffee for the 90 min river & lake trip - bought an ipod at the Apple shop where I was standing next to a very sweaty and likely heart attack victim Elvis Costello, got down to Chinatown - had a meal, went up the Sears tower at dusk, and then found Chicago closed for Sunday night. We did a few bars, but it was pretty dead. Up at 5.00am for the flight home - straight to bed at home and into the office first thing Tuesday morning. Easy.
I'm going to try to get a weekend in Seattle later in the year to find some Rock clubs.
I liked Chicago but it isn't a patch on New York or San Fransico. I was warming to it more the longer I was there but found it hard to search out stuff going on. It really isn't always obvious and sometimes seemed a little dead. I like a lot going on. Great place though and I really enjoyed it. I will certainly remember it.
The EL was very slow and eventually we gave up on it and used cabs instead because we couldn't afford to waste the time waiting around to get places. We did loads of stuff though and I'm sure I've forgotten half the things we did. I'm sure I'll be back. I just wish there were more hours in the day. 3 nights isn't enough, especially when the first day is 30 hours without sleep and I'm fighting it.
Why up at 5am for flight home - I thought all flights to the UK were overnight
If I had thought you would be doing tourist things I would have advised you to do the river trip rather than the River and Lake trip so as to avoid the wait for the lock gates to open and shut.
Just think if you had gone to "County" you could have got all the key signatures <g>
If you are a Frank Lloyd Wright fan - go to Phoenix and visit the Talliesen West Studio where he lived and ran his business in the winter and look round one of his later homes. Also visit the Grady Gamage Auditorium at U of Ariz at Tempe part of the greater Phoenix metro area
If I had thought you would be doing tourist things I would have advised you to do the river trip rather than the River and Lake trip so as to avoid the wait for the lock gates to open and shut.
Just think if you had gone to "County" you could have got all the key signatures <g>
If you are a Frank Lloyd Wright fan - go to Phoenix and visit the Talliesen West Studio where he lived and ran his business in the winter and look round one of his later homes. Also visit the Grady Gamage Auditorium at U of Ariz at Tempe part of the greater Phoenix metro area
Derek - Flew with American Airlines. Flight back was 9.00am so I landed Heathrow at 10.30pm UK time. Perfect.
Yes, I went to Pheonix about 1996-7. I did the LA, San Diego, Pheonix, Las Legas, Death Valley, route 66 thing, and on up to Yosemite. That was before I had children and had time on my hands.. Family holidays are Florida now 
Still, can't complain. They adore it. My little boy is 2 now and might get to actually go on some baby rides next time. He just missed out last time by about 3 weeks because he wasn't entirely on his feet.
Yes, I went to Pheonix about 1996-7. I did the LA, San Diego, Pheonix, Las Legas, Death Valley, route 66 thing, and on up to Yosemite. That was before I had children and had time on my hands.
. Family holidays are Florida now Still, can't complain. They adore it. My little boy is 2 now and might get to actually go on some baby rides next time. He just missed out last time by about 3 weeks because he wasn't entirely on his feet.
Many years ago the windy city came to live with me, plus wonderful singing voice and beautiful Martin guitar, unfortunately he stayed, and is now a very popular venue in this City with many folk, it's a pity he's a total wanker though, perhaps Chicago Town should take him back, or one one of you other Egoists³ put him up or book him for a Bamitzfa ot two, innit.
Fritz Von You Guys talk more rubbish than me sometimes, have you no imagination ?
Fritz Von You Guys talk more rubbish than me sometimes, have you no imagination ?
Gentlemen I really do not wish to spoil your obvious family fun here, but talking of the MAJORITY of Floridan's who live in abject poverty, many of who'm happen to be Black, and many of who'm as well as having their votes ballsed up by Jeb, etc, happen to be presently serving in Iraq to name but a few places, and starngely enough those who I knowe haven't the slightest incline in returning there, (I wonder WHY ?)
Fritz Von The majority of German visitors to the US land in good old Florida too, innit for your information.
Marvellous family destination I hear ? if you happen to be affluent and white.
Fritz Von The majority of German visitors to the US land in good old Florida too, innit for your information.
Marvellous family destination I hear ? if you happen to be affluent and white. Does your vegan friend eat honey my friend ?