Unfortunately, I won't be going this year.
But, if you are going downtown for sightseeing, or whatnot, you might want to check out Peoria Meats. They are a meat packing company on Lake St that is West of the "Loop" that also has a store across Lake St from the packing facility. If you see Peoria Meats WITHOUT a parking lot in front, just look directly across Lake st for where to go. Here's the current specials. http://www.peoriapacking.com/specials If you look at the bottom corner of the specials you will see buy 1 3.5 pound FROZEN pack of Italian, Brats, Polish, or Hot Links,for $7.99 & get one free (you can mix & match). That is like $1.14/pound, INSANE! It's in the freezer case in the half of the store where you check out. I've tried the mild Italian & the brats & like them. I've even squeezed them out of the casings to "pre-cook" Italian sausage chunks in a fry pan for when I make pizza & there wasn't a lot of grease.
The other half of the store is basically a HUGE walk in cooler where you have various cuts of various meats that you can choose & you can even have them cuts stuff up for you further. This week has FRESH T-bones & NY Strip steaks for $3.99/lb. 85% lean FRESH ground Chuck for $2.69/lb. I get a kick walking around this place.
FYI- I don't particularly think the packaged stuff that they sell that is NOT theirs is particularly good pricing.
It is safe to go to & has a parking lot, but I wouldn't walk around the immediate area (or West of there) at night. Just a bit east of there has a lot more going on, especially on the street just a block south. If you are coming from the west & not familiar with the area, you might want to stay on the highway & not drive the locals until you get close because west of there can be scary for those not used to it.
I wish I knew about this place years ago, because I worked downtown for decades.
Oh, yeah. If you want to get a view from a tall building on the cheap, go to the John Hancock center & have a drink at the bar at the Signature Room (an expensive restaurant) on the 95th floor. If memory serves, it is one floor up. PARKING in the area is expensive though.
That entire area is perfectly safe, it's kind of the new restaurant row and a hipster paradise.
Great place! another nice one is near the old Chicago stockyards http://www.parkpacking.com/ my Homebrew club gets a whole hog from them every year, good stuff.
You know what pisses me off?? There's no Peoria meats in frickin Peoria!! Wtf?!? Rat bastards.
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Thanks Dave, I'll have to check that one out. I've been in that neighborhood a lot, but never went there.
Quote from: DaveG74 on August 10, 2018, 07:30:15 PM
Great place! another nice one is near the old Chicago stockyards http://www.parkpacking.com/ my Homebrew club gets a whole hog from them every year, good stuff.
If it makes you feel any better, I believe they used to be on Peoria Ave & did not actually move from Peoria.
Quote from: CarrieAnn on August 12, 2018, 05:59:55 AM
You know what pisses me off?? There's no Peoria meats in frickin Peoria!! Wtf?!? Rat bastards.
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Random pics are now showing up regularly from yesterdays & todays Chicago meetup, in the WKC " Meetups & Events," section.