Paging members in or near Chicago

[thomasortega]

Hi Guys!

Now it's confirmed. I'm going to spend some days in Chicago because I have a very good brazilian friend that lives there and she'll host me for a few days, after I go to Lynn.

I need some advice from you, guys. I'm looking for:

-- Nice places to see vintage washers (better if I can see them in action)
-- Antique stores, thrift stores, etc, where i can buy some small stuff.
-- Nice and cheap stores where i can buy new small appliances. (I just want to buy a new electric knife).
-- Good outlet stores where i can buy clothes (Tommy Hilfiger, GAP, Albercrombie, etc)
-- Suggestions of interesting places to visit like restaurants, tours, museums, etc.
-- Appliances plant, is there any manufacturer near Chicago?
-- Members in Chicago who might love to get some Brazilian detergents (i can't take too much on my suitcase, but i think i'll be able to smuggle some small boxes to the U.S.)
-- information about the best mobile phone operator. I want to buy a prepaid mini SIM card to avoid the high roaming taxes the brazilian phone company (TIM) charges. I just need to use the 3G or 4G internet on my Samsung Galaxy SIII and after a few days i'm going to dispose the SIM card. I need it fast enough to run Facebook, the GPS, open emails, Skype, maybe MSN (and of course, Grindr. hehehe) To upload pictures, videos or to download anything I can use the Wi-Fi

I have an appointment at the embassy in Sao Paulo to renew my visa and collect the biometric information on Sep 27th. After that, it takes up to 10 days to receive my passport by mail. After I receive my passport, i'll fly the next day to Boston (and spend 5 days there), then fly to NYC and Chicago.

Thanks in advance!

 

[firedome]

Appliance plants near Chicago...

may be a problem, Whirlpool's Amana Iowa plant making bottom freezer refrigerators is about 4-5 hours west of Chicago. Their headquarters is Benton Harbor MI. A major appliance plant in Herrin IL was closed a few years ago. GE's currently closet plant is in Bloomington IN. Their biggest plant is in Louisville KY, and that one would be worth a visit sometime, probably the biggest appliance manufacturing plant in the world, and the most technically advanced.
Not sure if anyone else has plants close enough to Chicago to visit

 

[goatfarmer]

I don't think you can tour Amana. Whirlpool in Benton Harbor may have a visitors center or similar.

 

[thomasortega]

Thanks guys!

...and what about my other questions... somebody?

 

[goatfarmer]

Swap O Rama flea markets on the weekend, one is in Alsip, and there is one on Mannheim Road. Always a great time.

http://www.swap-o-rama.com/en/

 

[thomasortega]

@goatfarmer

Thanks a million!

 

[davey7]

OK, I'll bite....

Broadway Antique Market (Broadway between Thorndale and Granville) is the standard, but pricy, antique market for mid-century stuff. There is also another one a few blocks north (Edgewater Antique Mall I think). These are near Andersonville which also has some vintage shops. There are cool restaurants near both areas.

Outlet shopping is in Aurora, but remember most of their stuff is "secondary" lines, i.e. not full quality. I don't know pricing in Brazil on that stuff or exchange rates but downtown is the place for those (I wouldn't be caught dead in A+F or Hilfiger so I don't know if the stores are any good). Crate & Barrel has an outlet near there, in Naperville. Gurnee Mill's is pretty dumpy these days, don't really know about outlets across border in Wisconsin.

Try Homegoods for electrics (if you don't find one in a vintage/thrift place). There is one off Michigan Avenue.

Obviously you want to see the Art Institute of Chicago, which is across from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, which offers tours and has a shop/exhibition space. Then there is the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) which is next to Water Tower Place and the Water Tower. There are a lot of interesting museums further out from downtown as well as galleries and such.

Chicago is also good for "storefront" theater, often in a Second City (comedy, often pop culture themed) vein. And lots of restaurants, depending on what you want and your taste.

And be prepared for changeable weather, it could be chilly or blisteringly hot in late September/early-mid October.

 

[polkanut]

What about the Museum of Science & Industry?

 

[vacbear58]

No trip to Chicago is complete

without visiting the Museum Of Broadcast Communications.

I visited it several times when it was located in the Cultural Center and enjoyed it each and every time.

Have a great trip.

Al

http://www.museum.tv/

 

[davey7]

If you go to the Museum of Science and Industry be sure to eat at the Medici (or the Snail for Thai). There are also a couple of Museums on the University of Chicago campus, one of which is free (Smart Museum).

 

[davey7]

I forgot about the MBC - it's right next to Marina City, which is a cool place to see too.

 

[thomasortega]

Guys, you're the best!

Thank you very, very, very much!

Plans changing... I'm also going to spend some days in Miami because my travel agent just told me that Lan Chile (that's the name of the air company) has a super promo and my tickets will cost almost nothing using the points I already have on my credit card but... I MUST choose Miami as the entry port. (Sao Paulo-Santiago-Miami)
Well, the ticket will be 80% cheaper so... why not?

Well, my new plans (up to the moment)

Visa interview at the american embassy + collection of my biometric information at US-CASV (Sept 26th and 27th) plus up to 10 days waiting to get my passport back. They simply don't mail the documents anymore, I must pick them up personally at the embassy.

first stop: Miami

I'm going to stay in Miami for about 5 nights.

Plans already fixed: Visit the Dolphin Mall and some other outlet malls only to check prices.

Second stop: Boston/Lynn
about 4 or 5 nights
I'm going to stay at John Buscemi's place, so I won't need a hotel.
I'm not sure if he'll be available to take me everywhere so the plan B is renting a car and do all by myself. What are the members in that area?

Third stop: New York
About 4 or 5 nights again.

Fixed plans:
- Visit Larry (Cleanteamofny)and other Aw.org members in and close to NY.
- Go to some outlet stores to compare prices.
- Visit my friend Sonia Braga
- Cliche sightseeing tours (Empire Estate Building, The Statue of Liberty, etc.)
- More aw.org members to meet personally??
- Visit some outlet stores (Woodburry's, VF, etc) to check prices.
- Discover new things, have lots of fun, etc

Fourth stop: Washington DC
only 2 nights
Only fixed plan: Visit the White House and take lots of pictures, of course. I've never been there!

Fifth stop: Chicago and stay there until i have time to enjoy all the suggestions you gave me.

Those plans aren't 100% fixed and I stil have time to change them according to your suggestions. Maybe some cities close to those?

Of course resting and making new friends is the main reason. the second reason is shopping (prices in the U.S. are fabulous for brazilians)

The less I spend, the better! So I can visit even more places and shop more.
In Lynn and Chicago I don't need hotels because I'm going to stay at friends' places. For the other cities, I'd love if aw.org members could host me or suggest cheap (but clean and convenient) hotels. It's only for bed and shower because of course i plan to spend as much time as I can sightseeing. I tried booking.com and tripadvisor.com but you know... even the worst hotels post wonderful pictures and the reality might be very different. There's nothing like a local friend giving me some orientation. I'm also a member at couchsurfing.org but I don't feel too safe staying with a total stranger.

I'm planning to rent cars everywhere, except in NY because traffic there is horrible (maybe I'll rent only for the shopping day because of the shopping bags)

Other information I need is about the SIM card. I'm planning to buy a SIM card to use with my Samsung Galaxy SIII smartphone. I need only the mobile internet service to post my location on Facebook and get in touch with friends and family by msn or skype and also use the GPS (without it, i'm dead) and maybe very few local calls or SMS. Which is the cheapest or the best prepaid service considering I'm going to stay only a few days in each city?

I'm already searching and downloading some apps from Google's play store that could be useful on each one of the cities I'm visiting... any suggestions?

Am I forgetting something?