I may be spending a couple of days in Chicago (by way of train) and need some advice as to the top 5-10 things one cannot miss while in Chicago. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

1. Rotofugi
2. Museum of your choosing
...

When are you coming through? Maybe we should all have a CASK get together?

The bean, dont forget the bean!

Let me know what area you'll be in and I would like to meet up for drinks.

I'm still waiting for all the final details, but I'm starting in Reno on the 22nd and arriving in Chicago on the 24th. I have the opportunity to have a 6 day layover before I leave Chicago on the 30th and head back to Oakland. I was going to fly back to LA, but I may spend a couple of days to see the sites before I do.

Arrive in Chicago on the 24th. May stay til 26th or even 27th then fly home only to get back on a plane to fly back on prolly the 29th to get back on a train back West. Make sense

I'll be sleeping on the car and don't know where it will be stationed...

Wait..... WHAT?!?!?!?

AmTrak trains coming in from the west usually end up at Union Station. Definitely keep me apprised of your plans... I work downtown and wouldn't mind meeting in the loop somewhere. Weather is finally nice, so bonus for you!

I always make a Potbelly stop, and make sure to take some Garrett's home- dunno why but its so good there.

I also enjoy Flat Top Grill but I hear the service is getting bad?

Plans fell through for the extra days... Still coming to Chicago, but only enough to get from airport to Union Station. Car pretty much leaves an hour after I get there. Told I'm to catch the Orange line there from airport. Flying on Southwest. Advice?

Well that sucks.
Maybe all of us can meet up near Union Station and grab a bite to eat?

Getting from Union Station to Midway via the orange line is relatively easy... walk east on Quincy until you hit the el, then go up to the inner loop platform to catch the orange line. (The steps leading up will have the colors of which lines are on which side.) And Midway us the end if the orange line.

Or just give one of us a shout, and we could meet upand make sure you get where you need to be.=)

I'm flying in to Midway and then need to get to Union Station. My flight arrives 12:25 your time (if all goes well, of course) and I need to literally be on my train by 2:15

I am told that the total time to get from Midway to Union Station, all things being perfect is approx. 45 minutes... I hope I don't need any hand holding, but

It's going to be a very long day for sure, as I will have been at LAX by 5:30AM, 3 hour flight, banging it out to get to Union Station and then a full day of work on the train. This is who I will be working for; http://www.calzephyrrailcar.com/Califor ... lcome.html

Friends who own private cars / charter via (mostly) on the back of an Amtrak engine. If I have free time or if there happens to be a trip worth doing, I help them out. It's an interesting way to travel indeed. I did a week long trip back in December/January from Oakland to Reno via Donner Pass and it was pretty amazing. Most of the trip was blanketed in fresh snow and just serene. Most jobs I do for them is up and down the Cal coastline. This will be my first long(ish) trip I've done, staying on the train with the guests (foamers).

Anyway, if anyone wants to meet at either the airport or Union Station to throw back a shot of something before I hop the train... As they say, it's five o'clock somewhere

I'm in downtown most of the day as well and a short distance from union square.

Keep us posted

that's a very aggressive estimate on getting from midway to union station... did you tell them you were taking public transit?
because honestly, that sounds like cab timing, not train timing. (it'll take you 15 minutes just to walk from the quincy el stop
to union station!) not to make you nervous, but you'll need a good portion of those 2 hours... O_O!

Yeah, that's what my employers told me... Ugh. Maybe I should grab a cab then. I asked him if he wanted me to do that, but he tells me I shouldn't need it. But this is coming from someone who lives in SoCal and no history of using public transpo. You, as a resident obviously know better! EtR_Wolf (Virginia) mentioned that she might be able to pick me up, but completely contingent upon her schedule, completely understandable. I also hate to impose, but now you do have me nervous. LOL

well... a cab ride from midway to the loop is about 30 bucks once you figure in tip. the train in $2.50.
if you've got time, the train is great, and you can see chicago up close and personal. but on a short
timeline, it may be worth it to cab it. just saying. =)

Virginia is going beyond the call and picking me up at the airport. Very, very impressed and grateful. She wanted me to throw out there a short get together if anyone is interested. As I mentioned, I am flying into Midway at 2:45 and have to be on my train by 2:00. That means all things going perfect, I can throw down a shot at the bar, shake hands, put faces with names and handles then jump aboard a train and leave

But that's no reason why you can't hang somewhere and catch up

If anyone is down, post here and we can get it together. I will have bags of Cali beach sand for all in attendance. No, not really. Well, unless you want some.