Chicago day trip

[skerrydude]

I have an interview in Chicago on Friday. I will have about 4ish hours to kill while there. I would like to know which brewpub(s) should be a priority and where I can find a decent bottle shop. I am flying into O'hare and my interview will take place in Cicero, Il. I then expect to run around the city trying to get beers that I cannot here in NY.

[captain carrot]

I you're cramped for time I'd recommend going to the Goose Island Brewpub on Clybourne. It has a better tap selection than the Wriggleyville location and its right next to a Binny's Beverage Depot. My favorite Chicago brewpubs would be Piece or Haymarket, but they aren't close to any large bottle shops that I know of. Beermapping.com is a handy site to find good beer. I get a lot of use out of the Beerwhere app on my android phone.
Good luck at your interview.

[skerrydude]

I definitely always check out beermapping, wherever I go. Perhaps I can stop in to Haymarket on my way into town and pop upto Goose Island for the bottle shop. Is the mass transit there reliable and runs often? On their transit site, it looks like they have day passes, but you have to purchase them at select locations, have you done that before?

Thanks!

[PseudoChef]

Cicero (and O'Hare at that) are both out of the city proper, but mass transit (the El and the Metra) are reliable. How are you getting from O'Hare to Cicero?

If you're looking for a closer bottle shop than going into the city, Riverside Wine and Spirits just re-opened and has an amazing selection. They're located at Longcommon and S. Harlem. If you are venturing into the city, Haymarket will most likely be the best option for a brewpub and the Binny's South Loop location (S. Jefferson St.) is a goldmine as far as bottle shops go.

Have fun!

[cornhole]

I definitely always check out beermapping, wherever I go. Perhaps I can stop in to Haymarket on my way into town and pop upto Goose Island for the bottle shop. Is the mass transit there reliable and runs often? On their transit site, it looks like they have day passes, but you have to purchase them at select locations, have you done that before?

Thanks!

I wouldn't take the buses, other modes OK. 4 hours in Chicago/burbs isn't enough time to get anywhere. How are you getting from O'Hare to Cicero? Cab or rental? Plan ahead, pick one bottle shop, somewhere between the airport and Cicero, take a cab if you aren't renting a car. Depending on the time of day, weather, a random car accident, the road traffic situation can fuck you quickly. Or, change your flight plans to be able to spend more time. Seriously, stay out of neighborhoods that look dodgy, and stay on main roads. Sorry, I can't recommend a bottle shop, I'm not too familiar with that area and it's been several years since I lived in the burbs there. Best of luck, report back on your interview and your Illinois booty.

-CH

[PseudoChef]

Seriously, stay out of neighborhoods that look dodgy, and stay on main roads.

-CH

That might prove impossible since he's already having to go to Cicero.

[skerrydude]

Seriously, stay out of neighborhoods that look dodgy, and stay on main roads.

-CH

That might prove impossible since he's already having to go to Cicero.

HAHAHAHA That is exactly what the lady on the phone told me, I think she told me that it was a 'sketchy' neighborhood. They will be sending a car for me to bring me to their facility. I then think they will be able to drop me off somewhere, or I can take the L? (I though that was the train in Chicago?) Doesn't one of the train lines end in O'hare? I was just planning on that, as I am a cheap-o, with the exception of beer of course!

Thanks for the advice guys!

[cornhole]

Seriously, stay out of neighborhoods that look dodgy, and stay on main roads.

-CH

That might prove impossible since he's already having to go to Cicero.

HAHAHAHA That is exactly what the lady on the phone told me, I think she told me that it was a 'sketchy' neighborhood. They will be sending a car for me to bring me to their facility. I then think they will be able to drop me off somewhere, or I can take the L? (I though that was the train in Chicago?) Doesn't one of the train lines end in O'hare? I was just planning on that, as I am a cheap-o, with the exception of beer of course!

Thanks for the advice guys!

Two different trains in Chicagoland, commuter and the "L" both have several lines. One of the "L" lines goes from Cicero to downtown then out to O'Hare. You can probably have them drop you at the station for that line, go into downtown, get off down there somewhere near a good shop, then get back on the same line to go out to O'Hare. In downtown (the loop), I think that line is underground, at Cicero and O'Hare it is above ground. I don't know how long of a trip that is from Cicero to O'Hare, and I don't know how often the trains depart from Cicero, but that is something you should find out from a reliable source. Remember, your beer will have to go into checked baggage, maybe you can pack them into your luggage at the store, so the bums and bangers won't know you have the good stuff with you on the train. My advice, make a good plan, then make lots of contingency plans.