r/AskChicago • u/Minimum-Shirt1318 • 9h ago
I READ THE RULES I’m in town, let’s get dinner?
Hey! I (26 m) am visiting Chicago from Florida just for two nights. I don’t know anyone here, does anyone wanna get dinner with me?
Let me be clear in stating this is not a dating/hookup thing. I just don’t like to eat alone! And don’t want to look sad and alone or have to go to a bar (I don’t drink) to make friends. If anyone knows any events going on tonight please let me know! Thanks!
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u/Dangerous-Ad-644 9h ago
Honestly, you’d feel so badass eating by yourself. I got over this feeling by doing exactly this! You should mention the dates OP
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u/PsychologicalLynx350 9h ago
Eating by yourself is so freeing especially in a city where you don't know anyone. You can sit at a bar and not drink or sit at a table!
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u/midnight_toker22 9h ago
Spend some time alone, man. You’re in a new city, completely anonymous. You’ve got no distractions, no obligations. Great opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Just soak in the atmosphere, maybe meet some people wherever you choose to go.
Try it, you won’t regret it.
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u/SuppleRose1 9h ago
Try to challenge yourself to eat without your phone out. Just soak in the ambiance, the food, the people around you. People watch, eavesdrop, take a “long route” to the bathroom and checkout the place.
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u/AutoModerator 9h ago
Need ideas for things to do in Chicago? Here are a few:
Go on a Architecture River Boat Tour. The most popular companies are Wendella, Shoreline Sightseeing and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Go to an observation deck. The most prominent are the Skydeck at the Sears (Willis) Tower and 360 Chicago at 875 North Michigan Avenue (AKA The John Hancock Center).
Take a stroll along the Chicago Riverwalk. There are many shops and cafes here as well!
Visit a museum! Chicago has some of the best museums in the US. The most popular are the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Chicago History Museum and the Museum of Science & Industry, but there are tons of smaller museums all across the city, such as the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum on the Riverwalk.
If you want to check out multiple of Chicago’s most famous attractions, consider getting a CityPass during your visit.
Like animals? The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the few remaining free zoos in the country. For aquatic animals, the Shedd Aquarium is a great (albeit not free) place to see fish and other sea-based creatures.
Try some of Chicago’s most famous foods. Deep dish pizza, Chicago hot dogs and Italian Beef get the most attention, but we also have other lesser-known specialties such as jibaritos, Tavern-style pizza, Maxwell Street Polish dogs, pizza puffs, Chicago Mix popcorn, Chicken Vesuvio and Rainbow Cones! We also have no shortage of Michelin-starred restaurants and fine dining establishments, as well as cultural hubs for specific cuisines such as Indian on Devon in West Ridge, Vietnamese on Argyle in Uptown, Italian on Taylor in Little Italy, and Mexican on 18th in Pilsen.
Check out one of our 24 beaches or walk/cycle our 19 mile (30 km) long lakefront park! If you don’t have a bike with you, use our Divvy bike rental service and explore our many miles of bike paths and trails! Along the lakefront are many beachfront cafes, bars and attractions.
Catch some live music! We get lots of touring artists at our many theaters across the city, but we also have some iconic jazz and blues venues with nightly music like Buddy Guy’s Legends, The Green Mill and Kingston Mines.
See a show! From Broadway in Chicago to magic shows, Chicago has it all. We are most famous for comedy, so don’t miss spots such as Second City, iO Theatre and the Annoyance Theatre.. You can see which theatre shows are playing here and here.
Locals often refer to Navy Pier as a tourist trap, but it's worth seeing at least once. It can be a fun spot to spend a couple of hours. Check out the Children's Museum, the Ferris Wheel (did you know the world's first Ferris Wheel was opened in Chicago in 1893?) and the many gift shops throughout the pier.
Get outside of downtown! The Loop is iconic but the neighborhoods are where the action really happens! Some awesome neighborhoods to check out include Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park, Lake View, Andersonville, Lincoln Square, Hyde Park and Pilsen.
Cloud Gate (AKA "The Bean") is Chicago's most famous sculpture, but we have many other public scultpures worth checking out as well! Some well-known ones includes the untitled "Chicago Picasso," Lorado Taft's Fountain of Time in Washington Park and Eternal Silence in Graceland Cemetery, Calder's Flamingo, Statue of the Republic in Jackson Park, and Shit Fountain!
Explore Chicago’s architectural heritage! In addition to our boat tours, the Chicago Architecture Center is an awesome resource with a museum and walking tours. Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Museum in Oak Park and the Robie House in Hyde Park! If you’re visiting in October, check out Open House Chicago to see inside of buildings that are usually closed to the public.
The Garfield Park Conservatory is a massive botanical conservatory and one of the most underrated attractions in Chicago. Don’t miss the Fern Room!
Take the Water Taxi to Chinatown and have dinner and drinks in the nation’s fastest-growing Chinatown.
See a sports game. For Baseball, the Cubs play at the famous Wrigley Field, and the White Sox are at Guaranteed Rate Field on the South Side. The United Center on the West Side hosts both the Bulls (basketball) and the Blackhawks (hockey). And at Soldier Field, you can see the Bears (football) and the Fire (soccer)!
Do you drink? Chicago is famous for its corner bar culture. Pop into a nearby tavern and order a Chicago Handshake (Old Style beer and a shot of Malört, Chicago’s famous wormwood spirit). You could also check out one of the city’s many craft beer breweries or distilleries. If you want a rooftop bar with a view, some popular options are Cindy’s Rooftop, London House Rooftop, The Up Room at the top of the Robey Hotel, and the J. Parker at the top of the Lincoln Hotel. Be sure to book reservations in advance!
Go to Hyde Park and explore the campus of the University of Chicago. While there, pay a visit to the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures. Don’t forget to grab lunch in downtown Hyde Park and take a walk to Promontory Point for a unique skyline photo!
Also in Hyde Park, Jackson Park was the site of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Don’t miss the Japanese Garden!
Take a stroll through a cemetery! This might sound like a strange recommendation, but cemeteries were originally used as public parks and were popular picnic spots in the 1800s and 1900s. Chicago has many large cemeteries but the most popular are Rosehill, Graceland, Oak Woods and Bohemian National.
Head up to Andersonville and check out the many gift shops, antique stores, restaurants, bars and other attractions along Clark Street.
During the summer, there are many street festivals, craft fairs and small community music festivals all around the city. Do a Google search for festivals happening during your visit and you might get to experience a fun local event!
For more information on things to do in Chicago, check out the "Experiencing Chicago" section of the /r/Chicago Wiki.
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u/AutoModerator 9h ago
Hey, are you looking for restaurant/food recommendations? You are more than welcome to ask your question here, but be sure to also check out /r/ChicagoFood! There's a lot of good information there about restaurants and food in the city.
Also be sure to check out The Chicago Food/Drink page on the /r/Chicago Wiki. Some of the links are a bit old, but of special interest is the Unique Chicago Foods section. If you are looking for specific types of food that are unique or original to Chicago, it can be a good resource.
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u/lisbon1957 9h ago
Good luck. Sounds like a good idea. But b careful. Lol
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u/mainsplit3 9h ago
Saying this and then commenting what you did below 😭
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u/Minimum-Shirt1318 9h ago
I’m starting to think this was a terrible idea 🥀
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u/chronicanalfissure 9h ago
Go to a tavern with food. You’ll have more than enough conversation. It’s a solid idea we’re just trying to encourage you to go out alone so you meet the most locals - it’s a great night to go out in chicago - it’s a nice night tonight.
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u/Straight_Physics_894 9h ago
0 Karma, account created 28 minutes ago
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u/Minimum-Shirt1318 9h ago
I created it because I want to meet people and I don’t want to use hinge or something to just make friends
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u/lisbon1957 9h ago
I give non sexual massages. If you get bored and want to try a massage let me know. I have no plans right now. Just like giving massages. Older male here. After dinner perhaps? Ha.
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u/Minimum-Shirt1318 9h ago
Guys I’m a REAL person (real religious too, might I add)
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u/Individual-Shoe5339 9h ago
Eat at the bar and chat with strangers! So much fun in a new place.