Hello.  ff here.  Will be in Chicago, middle of June, and need a recomendation, for a good area. Looking for nice, upscale, restaurants and shopping.Kinda don't want downtown, but will take it.  Same as Scottsdale or DuPont Circle, dc; Buckhead, ATL.
Thanks.
ff

p.s.  Not a TER kind of trip, sadly enough.

I would recommend the Oakbrook area (I88 and Route 83).  Nice outdoor mall and lots of good restaurants within a 2-3 mile radius.

My second recommendation would be the Woodfield mall area (I355/53 and I90).  The mall is surrounded by numerous restaurants and other stores.  It is also just a few miles from Arlington Park race track.

Both are about the same distance from O'hare, yet in opposite directions.  Enjoy your visit!

Downtown, which would be your homebase. By default you will have the downtown, River North, River West, south Loop area which has very nice restaurants (check opentable.com) and some clubs.  Now you can then jump in a cab and try Lincoln Park and head further north to Lincoln Square. Very good restaurants and you could check out in those areas as well.  

I don't really think we have anything comparable to Scottsdale...maybe Naperville and Oakbrook area, but then you are quite a bit away from the Chicago city center. The South Loop, Bucktown, and Lincoln Square are similar to DuPont Circle.  If you are into the new freaky open mall concept anchored by decent restaurants and stores, the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg Illinois or Lincolnshire Commons in Lincolnshire Illinois are choices. Again, you are going to be away from the Chicago city center, but there are upscale shops and dining.

Have a good trip.

Are there security/safety concerns, with downtown?  Found some nice somewhat reasonable hotels.  And, the El is right there.
Thanks, again.

There's a nice hotel in Schaumburg, the Renaissance, and there's lots of dining and shopping in Schaumburg.  Schaumburg is about 35 mins west of downtown.  Also, there's a Westin (it's about 3 or 4 yrs old), it's on Milwaukee Ave.  I think the town is considered Wheeling, or possibly Buffalo Grove. Tons of restaurants right on that same road, that road is considered Restaurant Row.  I know Westin doesn't sound that great, but not only is it pretty nice (and new) but trendy also.  They too have some good restaurants right in the hotel, sushi bar etc.  The Westin is probably about 35 mins from downtown also.

If you are staying anywhere in the burbs you almost certainly need one. There are some cabs but they can be hard to find.

If you are staying downtown you almost certainly don't want one.

The best Italain Beef I've had recently was at Morrie O'Malley's Hot Dogs.


-- Modified on 5/26/2011 9:40:12 PM

There certainly are security concerns where ever you go, but the Mag Mile is a Chicago Icon.  The mayor knows that and so do the police.  There are soooooooooooooo, pant, pant, pant...soooooooooo many undercover police downtown as well as uniformed that it is quite safe.  But as always, this is not Heaven nor Xanadu, but ain't Dodge City either.  As always, be careful.  Get a Chicago hotdog and if I catch you putting ketchup on it, I will personally beat you

When it comes to Italian Beef, my recommendation is Portillo's. Many locations around the 'burbs. Good food at all of them.

Italian Beef is a Chicago institution.

Don't Forget About A -------------------------->

before you go back home lol.

For the great info.  
No rent a car.
Hotdog, mustard/onions only.
The IT beef looks and sounds great.
Probably will opt for downtown, and try to get some touristing in, too.
Thanks, again folks.