Chicago Athlete welcomes everyone to our great city for The
LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. We hope you enjoy your
stay whether you're coming to town from another country,
state or just driving in from the suburbs. We'd like to share some of our favorite restaurants and a
few tourist tips with you. The complete restaurant list is on
page 96. Also, be sure to stop by our booth at the Multisport
Expo and say hello.
Eliot Wineberg (Publisher)
For breakfast or late brunch after the marathon my
recommendation is Wishbone (two locations). R.J. Grunts
is classic Chicago, good for Friday dinner or Saturday lunch.
Pasta, pasta, pasta-you can't get enough of it before the
marathon and there is no shortage of Italian restaurants in
Chicago. Check out Taylor Street for these picks: The
Rosebud and Francesca's. You can't afford to miss
Chicago-style pizza when you are in the city that invented it!
Try these spots for your post-marathon meal: Giordano's,
Pizzeria Uno, Gino's and Lou Malnatti's.
Tracy Collings (Sales)
Definitely put Club Lucky on your list for pre- and post-race
pasta meals. It's outside of the typical touristy River North in
the hot Bucktown neighborhood. We might have coupons at
our Expo booth, so be sure to
stop by!
Jeremy Borling (Assistant Editor)
For healthy eating, the Whole Foods Market is great for
breakfast, lunch or dinner, and the downtown location is
equipped with a Jamba Juice for amazing smoothies. I'll
make a broad recommendation on pizza: any place you go,
get the deep dish, but only as a post-race meal-you don't
want all that cheese sitting in your stomach before the race.
For a beer, check out the Green Door Tavern downtown. It
has a classic Chicago speakeasy atmosphere. And most
importantly, pasta: the Italian Village Restaurants on Monroe
are some of my favorites. And finally, something to do that
doesn't involve eating or drinking: catch a flick at the Imax
Theater on Navy Pier.
Karen Gross (Creative Director)
For breakfast, try Nookie's in Old Town. For lunch, I
recommend Penny's Noodle Shop, it's a great choice for
Thai food. And for dinner, Scuzzi's has awesome Italian
cuisine! For cocktails, check out Lincoln Park, with over 10
bars in a one block radius you're sure to find a spot to hang
out. My pick for best sports bar: Kendall's in Lincoln Park
(20 TVs). Best place for some wine is Webster's Wine Bar.
For a daytime activity, head on over Castaways at North
Avenue Beach for live entertainment and cocktails. It's right
on the beach and offers a variety of activities for the whole
family. Now, I know you'll only be here for a few days, but if
you come back during baseball season, don't forget about
our Cubbies!
Bob Richards (Editor at Large)
My favorite restaurants are Prairie, which serves up some
very Midwestern food with a gourmet touch, and Russian
Tea Time, which serves up a feast and is very close to the
Hilton. The Chicago Boat Tours are a great way to see the
city while not paying a lot of money and staying off your feet.
And check out the new Millennium Park for a short walk.
Spectator information: a great place to watch the race is
right in the downtown district where you can catch the
runners two or three times within a few blocks. Look at the
course map and make your plans in advance.
Jeremy Solomon
(National Sales, Running Network)
I recommend checking out Kitty O'Shea's and Fado for a
good Guinness. If you have children, make sure your plans
include stopping by Navy Pier and visiting the Children's
Museum, and if you take them to Millennium Park, be sure to
have some spare clothes with you as they'll surely want to
play in the fountain.
Brenda Barrera (Managing Editor)
My colleagues have all picked great spots. For pasta, I'd like
to recommend Piazza Bella Trattoria in Roscoe Village.
Adventurers who want a taste of some Chicago soul food
will want to venture down to Army and Lou's, a Chicago
institution. If you've never had Ann Sather's cinnamon rolls,
you should most definitely treat yourself. For a hometown
brew, check out Goose Island Brewery. October is
Chicago's Artists Month. To capture a little
off-the-beaten-path culture, check out the West Fest and
East Village Arts Walk on Chicago Avenue, west of the loop,
between Damen Ave. and Wolcott St. For more information
check out www.westtownchamber.org or call 312-850-9390.
Here's a list of smoke free restaurants in Chicago:
www.ci.chi.il.us/Health/SmokeFree.html
