The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

Chicago Insider
Home›featured-blogs›Chicago Insider›Chicago Insider: Chris Hynes on rooftop happy hours, the ribs at Chicago Q and State Street shopping

Chicago Insider: Chris Hynes on rooftop happy hours, the ribs at Chicago Q and State Street shopping

By TheRealChicagoOnline
May 2, 2015
783
0
Share:

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

Chris HynesName: Chris Hynes, housekeeping manager at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile

How long you’ve lived here: I have lived in Chicago for just under two years. I moved here from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and South Florida before that to get a feel for a big, metropolitan U.S. city.

What you like best about Chicago: Chicago has the big city feel, but all within walking distance. It is a very clean and affordable city that still attracts all the major events. The summers in Chicago are like no other city, with different events occurring every weekend like street festivals, concerts and events in the parks.

Chicago Q ribs - webBest meal you’ve had recently: Chicago Q is a BBQ restaurant located in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Chef Lee Ann Whippen is part of the Kansas City Barbeque Society and features some of her competition fare at her restaurant. The competition-style baby back ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender and served with just the dry rub and different sauce styles on the side to try. They also bring out house-made potato chips and bread-and-butter pickles that can fill you up even before you get your entrée.

Favorite big-name restaurant: Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House is hands down my favorite because it features the best of both seafood and Gibsons steaks. Being from South Florida and living in the Caribbean, I am very particular about my seafood. Hugo’s gets its food flown in fresh daily, and when it is stone crab season, this is the place to go. My last visit we had the stone crab claws with a house-made honey mustard dressing, followed by one of the biggest crab cakes I have had and then a delicious Gibsons filet for the entrée. It’s a fantastic experience every time you go.

Favorite “hidden gem” restaurant: 90 Miles Cuban Café in Wicker Park is a great place to take a group. It is a BYOB establishment, so all you have to do is bring a bottle of rum for the table and they will provide the mojito mix. They also can do sangria if you bring in the wine. Cuban food holds a special place for me, and 90 Miles gets it right every time. They have fresh empanadas and all the Cuban classics you would expect. The pollo empanizado is one of the best and is essentially a breaded chicken cutlet seasoned perfectly with rice, black beans and sweet plantains.

I:O Rooftop

IO Urban Roofscape

Best sports bar to catch the game: The Old Town Pour House simply because of the TV screens. When it comes to sports bars, you have to have two things in my opinion: good food and good televisions. The Pour House has several 120-inch flat screens as well as a bunch of other 50-60-inch flat screens spread throughout the restaurant. The food is great as well, and they have almost 100 beers on tap.

A great night out with friends usually includes… a rooftop bar for happy hour. Chicago is one of the unique cities where rooftop bars are the thing to do, especially in the summer since you are stuck indoors all winter long. Rock Bottom Brewery, IO Urban Roofscape, and J Parker atop the Hotel Lincoln are some good ones to try. You also get pretty fantastic views of the skyline.

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

Favorite store or best shopping area: I’d have to go with the Macy’s on State Street. Not only is it larger than the one on Michigan Avenue, it also rivals the size of the one in New York City. Plus, it puts you right in the heart of the State Street shopping, which I find more enjoyable because they offer a more cost-effective selection of retailers than the high-end ones you find on Michigan Avenue. Plus State Street shopping is a close walk to Millennium Park.

The best way to spend a spring Saturday in the city: A run or bike ride down Lake Michigan early in the morning to get some exercise in before you start the day. Then a great brunch at a restaurant with an outdoor patio, enjoying a bloody Mary or mimosa. After brunch, I would take a walk through the Division Street farmer’s market and then out to either an afternoon Cubs game or some music festival to take in the sights and sounds of the city.Chicago-Architecture_AA_RiverBoat web

One thing every visitor must do here: Many of the river cruises offer a cocktail/architecture/history tour, usually around 5 p.m. Nothing beats being on the Chicago River at sunset with a drink in hand, looking at and learning about some of the amazing buildings this city has to offer. It is a great way to learn and see the city in a different light. For those who prefer the nighttime skyline, some tours go out late Saturday nights and end in the harbor for the Navy Pier fireworks, which can also make for a fun night celebrating a birthday or anniversary.

Secret Chicago spot: Chicago Oven Grinder and Pizza Company in Lincoln Park. They make pizza pot pies and an appetizer called Mediterranean Bread, which is flattened dough cooked slightly so its still soft and topped with herbs, garlic and parmesan cheese, and you just rip it apart in chunks. The restaurant itself has an old, classic Chicago feel to it with lots of brick and woodwork inside.View from Museum Campus at sunset - web

Underrated activity in the city: My favorite place to go in the city is the benches on the north side of the Adler Planetarium. It has the best view of the skyline and is a great place to just sit back and take it all in and truly appreciate how special this city is. It’s an even better spot in the summer, since you can watch the boats come in and out of the harbor as well.

What’s one place you hear great things about but have yet to try? R.J. Grunts in Lincoln Park is a place I keep hearing about being known for their burgers. They are part of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group and were their original restaurant. It has a giant salad bar, hand-spun milkshakes and malts and gourmet burgers they make fresh daily. Plus, I am a huge fan of a great bun, and R.J. Grunts uses Martin’s potato rolls, which happen to be the best for using with burgers. They aren’t sliced all the way through, so it makes for a great pouch to keep in all the toppings you pile on the burger. I definitely have to get there soon.

Your ads will be inserted here by

Easy Ads.

Please go to the plugin admin page to set up your ad code.

Tags90 Miles Cuban CafeAdler PlanetariumChicago architectural cruiseChicago Oven GrinderChicago QCubsDivision Street Farmer's MarketGibsonsHotel LincolnHugo's Frog BarI/O Urban RoofscapeJ. ParkerLee Ann WhippenMacy'sMichigan AvenueMillennium ParkNavy PierOld Town Pour HouseR.J. Grunt'sRock Bottom Brewery
Previous Article

Foodie favorites, part one: We asked ...

Next Article

First Look review: Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s musical ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • The Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: Red Lion reopens, wine and shopping with Sassy City Chicks, and the Grant Park Music Festival

    July 24, 2014
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    Downtown breweries: Leaving work in the Loop and looking for a craft beer or two? Here are a few options ...

    April 21, 2018
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • OldThe Big City Blog

    Big City Blog: NYE dinner cruises, Taco Joint lunch deals and plenty of holiday events around Chicago

    November 28, 2013
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Chicago Insider

    Chicago Insider: Nicole Vasquez on exploring neighborhoods, Café Iberico and wine by fireplace at D.O.C.

    March 27, 2015
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Chicago Insider

    Chicago Insider: Lorraine Shearing on a love of Twin Anchors and exploring Bucktown

    June 30, 2010
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • We Ask, They Answer

    We Ask, They Answer: Q&A with Cubs announcer Pat Hughes

    May 4, 2010
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    A very good year: Check out some of Chicago’s top new restaurants

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Love is in the air: Romantic spots to spend Valentine’s Day in Chicago

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Top Chef, Chicago style: Analyzing the city’s hottest restaurants

  • LATEST REVIEWS

  • TOP REVIEWS

Timeline

  • November 11, 2021

    Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

  • July 31, 2019

    Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & Ash

  • July 30, 2019

    First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater experience

  • July 28, 2019

    Finger lickin’ good: Six trusted Chicago spots for a stellar barbecue experience

  • July 25, 2019

    The Big City Blog: Four Friday Night Flights beer tastings remain this summer, including July 26 in Ravenswood

Latest Comments

  • The 14 Best Fireplaces in Chicago | UrbanMatter
    on
    October 11, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: The Real Chicago […]

    Cozy on up: We asked active Chicagoans for their favorite spots to warm up in the ...

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum | FreeForAll.org
    on
    January 16, 2017
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • Why You Should Visit a Museum – FreeForAll.org
    on
    October 23, 2016
    […] Photo Credit: Therealchicago   […]

    It’s cold out there: A few spots to warm up this winter

  • The Real Chicago – The Big City Blog: A very Chicago night on the town
    on
    May 31, 2016
    […] up was The Redhead Piano Bar for drinks and live music. I’ve said it before ...

    Friendly, unfussy, and serious about music: Hanging with Marshall Nelson from the Redhead Piano Bar

  • Scouting Logan Square: A Renewed Historical Neighborhood - The Annex, a blog by Casamatic
    on
    March 10, 2016
    […] (cover photo via The Real Chicago) […]

    The rise of Logan Square: Why this diverse area has quickly become one of Chicago’s hottest ...

Find us on Facebook

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
  • Latest Posts

  • Inside Scoop: Massive FoBAB beer festival returns to Chicago this weekend, Nov. 12-13

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    November 11, 2021
  • Chicago Insider Etienne Padin on obscure museums, shopping in Andersonville and dining at Maple & ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 31, 2019
  • First Look review: CMX CineBistro provides a fun, fresh take on the luxury dine-in theater ...

    By TheRealChicagoOnline
    July 30, 2019

Photostream

    Follow us

    © Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.