Any Chicago folks here?

I'm currently looking at taking a trip up to Chicago with my girlfriend before she returns to Japan, but I don't know the first thing about the city. So, hopefully, maybe somebody here can give me some advice.

We're looking to fly up there, and then use public transportation to get around once there. The two hotels we're currently looking at are the Sheraton Gateway Suites Chicago O'Hare and the Radisson Hotel O'Hare. I doubt anybody would know much about these, but are there any opinions on these places? Any opinions in general on staying at a place somewhere close to O'Hare?

My other major question is, it is easy to get from that area to downtown Chicago by public transportation? Is there a train that get us back and forth pretty easily?

Other than that, any opinions in general on staying in Chicago for a few days? Any recommendations on places to go? Any recommendations of parts of Chicago to stay far away from? And, just for my knowledge, is there a Little Tokyo or anything like that in Chicago, and where would it be?

Mamoscott and Noboru both live there, although I dont see why anyone would want to talk to Mamoscott for any reason. Noboru is a cool cat, though.

And just so you know I want to make fun of you for asking about Little Tokyo.

But in my experience there arent very many Japanese people outside of the West Coast (New Jersey, which is swarming with asian people, is very low on the Japanese-count), so I would doubt it. But there's such a thing as Google.

Well his girlfriend is presumably not a round-eye mayonaise eating cracker devil, so he may just want to take her to a place she may feel more comfortable. Nothing wrong with that.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

and then use public transportation to get around once there.

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You're already going to have a better time there than I did. The city has the most fucked up highway system I've ever driven on and I will never ever drive there again.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

And just so you know I want to make fun of you for asking about Little Tokyo.

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I really miss being able to get a decent bowl of ramen.

I can't imagine someone going out of thier way for ramen. Except that one dude in that ramen commercial... then again... it's not as if HE went out of his way to get it.

Hi.

I think the Radisson is where ACEN was held last time, and the year upcoming. I wouldn't know, because I'm banned ^_^. So I can't tell you about the hotels.

One place you're probably going to want to go is here.

Mitsuwa Market
100 E. Algonquin Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Phone: 847-956-6699

It's like 8-10 miles West of O'Hare. Your best bet for ramen might be from the marketplace here. This area is sort of the closest you're going to get to a concentrated Japanese presence near Chicago; there's also quite a few Korean people in this town.

Chinatown is just south of main downtown at about 22nd & Archer. Some good food is around there, but given your tastes the locale and stores are either "quaint" or "filthy". There is some bootleg anime and soundtracks to be found but nothing exotic or terribly well-priced.

The Blue line from O'hare will take you to downtown; it's quite a distance but you will get to the central Loop eventually. Be prepared to walk. Public transportation between any area that doesn't involve downtown Chicago doesn't exist. Your options will be taxis or local friends.

Wherever you go, just try whatever food's around you when you're hungry. There's more than enough places between a few major types (BBQ, Mexican, some Chinese/Asian) that all have decent offerings. I mean, I could tell you that the best place to get chicken strips is Mike's Chicken across from the prison downtown by LaSalle, or that one of the best taco places is Atotonilco's on 55th & Kedzie. But that really doesn't mean you should hunt them down.

As far as arcades your major choices are Gameworks in Schaumburg (right by Mitsuwa), Nickel City up in Northbrook, and Dave & Busters (one downtown and another in Addison).

There's lots of other crap to bring up, all depending upon what you'd like to do and how much time you want to travel.

I don't like Chicago too much. I spent a lot of time there in the mid90s. I am no expert and I could well have missed it, but the asian community seemed pretty small. There were a few noodle places downtown, esp in the area called the "gold coast" (north of the loop) :) - but I don't remember any of them specifically. The Chinese food (fried rice = lettuce plus rice) was the worst I've ever had in my life (actually, the most every other kind of food was ..as well - but then again I don't like bratworst or uncooked pizza).

The airport is accessble to the city by subway, but it's way the hell out in the middle of nowhere (as in suburbs not nothing) and it takes a looooooooooooooooong time to get into the city. A taxi could be mildly faster, but rather expensive.

To be safe, avoid the entire south side. Scariest place I've ever been in my life and I've been to Yankee Stadium many times. :p

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

New Jersey, which is swarming with asian people, is very low on the Japanese-count

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Nonsense. The numbers have gone down somewhat in the past 10 years (and the number of Koreans have gone way up) but many Japanese companies have their corporate HQ in NYC and Bergen County and there is a sizable (though somewhat fluid) community. There are many Japanese people, malls, stores, restaurants (noodlreys, sushi, hibatchi, etc), supermarkets, schools, and so on. When I was growing up almost every one of my friends was Japanese.

Pic = Mitsuwa Supermarket - Edgewater, last month.

There are plenty of Japanese restaurants run and staffed by Chinese people.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

There are plenty of Japanese restaurants run and staffed by Hispanic people.

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Fixed. :chick:

Mamoscott's lived in the Chicago area all his life, he may be able to provide some additional insight for you, if what dog$ provided isn't enough. I'll direct him to this thread next time I see him online, 'doshi. :)