What to do in Chicago when you're not 21
 

Is there anything to do? The grand week of me going to the Delta SIg national convention is finally upon us Sigs, and I wanna know whats to do there. Thanks everyone.

OK, here are some of my thoughts on things to do if your are under 21.

Bars and clubs are probably out.

Cubs or Sox game. Navy Pier has got bands in the summer. Beaches. Rent a bike and bike up/down lakeshore. Check out some of the summer block parties/concerts at metromix.com. (there is always some sort of festival going on) Some of the House of Blues shows are all ages, I think. There's theater, if that's something you are not opposed to going to. There are cruises on the lake, many are off the pier. Hancock building or Sears tower, going to Chinatown or Greektown for food and sightseeing - although I would go in a group. There are movie theaters downtown.

Hope this helps at least a little. It has been three years since I was 20, and when I was in Chicago I had an id saying I was a little older.

I would check out ESPN zone or Dave and Buster's. Both serve alcohol, but you can be in the place as long as you are 18+. I don't know if you have those places by you, but they are pretty cool. Where in Chicago are you going to be? I could probably suggest an establishment or two that will not ask for ID's.

Other than that, I say be a tourist and check out the Sears Tower, and Chicago has some of the best museums in the country.

Hyatt Regency McCormack Place

Hmm... I don't know much about the club scene either because I was a suburbanite, but pretty much everything in the city is 21+. But Chicago is still just plain fun. There's so much to do I couldn't even start. All of the suggestions earlier were good... I'd imagine you'd have fun with any of that.

The Museum of Science & Industry!!! They have a plane inside and you can learn basic navigation. There's also a simulated coal mine shaft, and other hands-on ways to play.

Also, the Lincoln Park Zoo is free.

Right next to the Hard Rock Cafe is the Rock & Roll McDonald's - a must see. After all, Hard Rock Cafes are everywhere.

Navy Pier is fun both during the day and night.

Have a good time!

I can give you more ideas if you answer two questions --

When will you be here?

What kind of food do you like or would you like to have while you're here?

Next Tuesday to Saturday

I'm down for anything, but wanna be in a party type atmosphere.

You'll be here for Taste of Chicago!! I don't know if you can go during the day but it would be so worth it to check out, and its free unless you eat (which you definitely should)

A lot of people your age hang out at Navy Pier on like, Friday and Sat. nights.... I just turned 21 so trust me Stan!!! GOD i have gotten really inventive having fun in the summer here, since clubs are my kind of atmosphere...

If you have some $$$ on you on Thursday nite, the Keg in evanston does not card. Well ok they do, but eveyrone in there is like high school age and you can give the guy 10$$$ at the door and he'll let you in.

I also have friends that work at some really cool bars downtown- PM me if you want me to give them a call and see what they can do :)

That's total BS about the keg :) . I've been there a few times and each time, they carded hard. They were all Northwestern kids and no high school kids so maybe things have changed from when you went.

Stan, there's few places that don't card. You're pretty much screwed when it comes to that dude. There are places on the south side that you sorta can try getting into without getting carded, but I wouldn't be there without a car. If you're interested look into the Checkerboard Lounge. They are closing soon so i don't know how long they'll be around for.

I take it you don't have a car so basically you're stuck downtown or the north side. Take in the sights downtown if you're looking for touristy stuff. There isn't too much shit at navy pier and a lot of high school kids are there. I guess it's cool if you're into young blonde girls with accents that all go to the same catholic schools and are somehow all related.

Take a bus or train for 15 minutes from downtown and you can be on the north side. Nice yuppy people there or just lots of gays. Parts of it are just like Hollywood or Melrose, with cool shops but just that whole bizarre alternative culture and other parts are "I'm not quite cool enough to live in the upper east side of NY so let me dominate the midwest scene."

-Rudey
--Your best bet might be drinking it up at the hotel with your bros and then going to the pier or the beach...possibly Wrigleyville up North.

Dude I was just there two weeks ago and every single person either went to GBN or Deerfield....lol not a pleasant experience...I was 21 and too old to be there, yet my guy friends had an *amazing* time, go figure...

The Keg among my friends is known as the joke place you go when someone is still underage. But it's fun.

1800 Club is also known for never carding, plus if they do they serve food there so you'd be fine, Stan. That's also in Evanston, which you can drive north about 10 minutes to or take the train.

And about Navy Pier- there are ppl your age, go around 10 and there will be *legals* too hanging out in the beer garden. I've seen some pretty good looking ppl, although ESPN Zone is a lot of fun.............;)

There are also quite a few places in the city that are restaurant/clubs, where if you go early and eat, you won't get carded and can then hang out and enjoy the club atmosphere later in the evening. That's what I used to do with a friend of mine who was under age.

Carding
 

After what happened last week to those four guys that got killed after drinking at a club ( They just graduated from High School) and the workers from the club were arrested, A lot of clubs are really checking IDs so bevery careful.