I used to row there, it's a really cool building. It's design really helps the building, allowing for lot's of light and space to stack boats.Btw, Studio Gang is working on a number of cool projects in Chicago, which seem very relevant to Minneapolis. One that is especially relevant is her research into police stations, and how they could be transformed into community stations. It seems that Minneapolis should start a similar research project by our best architecture firms...
Police Stations
The other project is their boathouse along the Chicago River, which is part of Emanuel's drive to improve opportunities for recreation along the Chicago River. Minneapolis could similarly also create an initiative to improve access to the river, especially around Minnehaha Falls and above the falls.
Boathouses
Chicago
Re: Chicago
Meet me in Wells
Re: Chicago
Chicago's parking glut: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... story.html
Re: Chicago
That's an interesting wrinkle.A Wicker Park rental development that predated Chicago's ordinance has proved the success of the concept. Built on the site of a former Pizza Hut, the distinctive 99-unit apartment building at 1611 W. Division Street is 300 feet from a CTA Blue Line station, and has no parking... A bike room for residents and a train tracker in the lobby are among the amenities catering to the mostly younger tenants, who are prohibited from seeking neighborhood street parking permits as part of their lease.
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Re: Chicago
Chicago by Train. AKA, the easiest way to visit the Windy City (with or without kids).
http://mspmag.com/travel-and-visitors-g ... -by-train/
http://mspmag.com/travel-and-visitors-g ... -by-train/
Re: Chicago
Good article, but it's never taken me 7.5 hours to drive to Chicago. It's doable in six if you time it right; Google Maps claims even less, but I'm skeptical. Though I'd agree that it's best not to drive there unless one has a specific need to have a car with them.
Re: Chicago
I guess it'd also depend on how often you stopped. If six is driving with minimal stops, I could see traveling with children requiring more frequent and longer stops that would add a couple hours to the trip.
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Re: Chicago
7.5 hours being able to walk around and relax on a train != 7.5 hours of sitting in a confined seat, hands gripping steering wheel, constantly paying attention to the operation of a vehicle.
Re: Chicago
Or just fly for half the time (when taking check-in/security into account), then take the Orange or Blue line into the city.
That said, I do want to take Amtrak to Chicago again sometime for the experience (I did it once many years ago).
That said, I do want to take Amtrak to Chicago again sometime for the experience (I did it once many years ago).
Re: Chicago
I guess it's more like 6:10 - 6:15 when I do it, when stopping is taken into account. I typically just stop once for gas, a bathroom break, and to switch drivers if possible. But yeah, if you're stopping multiple times, it will add up.I guess it'd also depend on how often you stopped. If six is driving with minimal stops, I could see traveling with children requiring more frequent and longer stops that would add a couple hours to the trip.
Re: Chicago
One of the advantages of living in Rochester. It takes us about 5 hours to drive to Chicago.
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Re: Chicago
I'm going to look at taking Amtrak or Megabus next time I go. We flew to Chicago for a weekend this summer, paying just over $100 for two people, round trip. It worked pretty well, and is obviously the fastest way to get there, even with security and everything. But damn, O'hare is way out there...the Blue Line trip into downtown takes an hour, including the walk from the terminal. So you definitely have to factor that in too, compared with modes that bring you much closer to the city center.
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Re: Chicago
I dont think the blue line ride was that bad. You're going to find that megabus is the best for your money. Amtrak is way overpriced for a 8 hour ride. It's the same thing I complained about when I went there in the spring.
Re: Chicago
Except Megabus has moved to a random stop south of the Loop. It's about a 0.3 mile walk north to get to the Clinton stop on the Blue Line and about a half-mile south of Union Station. Not crazy inconvenient, but I'm imagining it to be a bit of a pain with luggage or just waiting to come back home (there's no amenities at the station or close enough to be able to watch for your bus such as a coffee shop or something.)
Re: Chicago
Different demographics I guess, but I'd never even consider Megabus as long as Amtrak is there. Amtrak is pleasant, comfortable, has food, uses nice facilities. Megabus is none of those. And has operated illegally at various times.
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Re: Chicago
Great, and for $120 round trip you can have that. If I'm spending my money, I'm taking a flight for a little less than $100. It's 4 hours when you factor in security and the blue line downtown, and it's just smoother. I want to take the train. Seriously, this is almost a mirror of the post I made in the HSR Chicago thread back in March.
https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?p=105671#p105671
https://forum.streets.mn/viewtopic.php?p=105671#p105671
Re: Chicago
Only take the Megabus if you really, really don't value your own comfort. Eight hours in a full Megabus is a miserable experience--and then you have to do it again the way back.
If you can fly into Midway, the trip on the Orange Line isn't bad at all, although it isn't very pretty either.
If you can fly into Midway, the trip on the Orange Line isn't bad at all, although it isn't very pretty either.
Re: Chicago
How does Greyhound compare to Megabus? I've never taken either.
I'll second the recommendation to fly in and out of Midway if possible. It's just easier than dealing with the size of O'Hare, plus it is a shorter ride to and from downtown.
I'll second the recommendation to fly in and out of Midway if possible. It's just easier than dealing with the size of O'Hare, plus it is a shorter ride to and from downtown.
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Re: Chicago
I've taken both Megabus and Greyhound. Greyhound is significantly more comfortable, and I believe that their buses have WiFi and outlets also. Megabus has smaller seats, more seats on one bus, and no luggage racks (only the under-bus compartment). I would definitely recommend Greyhound over Megabus.
Midway is easier to get in and out of, and the Orange line is only a 25 minute ride, as opposed to the 45 min Blue Line from O'Hare.
Midway is easier to get in and out of, and the Orange line is only a 25 minute ride, as opposed to the 45 min Blue Line from O'Hare.
Re: Chicago
The actual buses on Greyhound are more comfortable, although the station in Chicago is terrible (the bathrooms in particular seem to never be clean.) The cost does seem to be a bit higher, though. I'll usually take Megabus if I'm traveling with someone or am able to swing buying two seats. When the fares are cheap it's cheaper to buy two Megabus tickets than one Greyhound ticket.
Flying in also isn't a terrible option, although the trip on the Blue Line can be a bit rough. During the weekday if the timing works I'll make the extra transfers and use the Metra line that goes to O'Hare Transfer. Southwest sometimes has good sales, otherwise I've actually found Spirit to be relatively decent on that route for day trips with just a backpack (fares purchased at the airport ahead of time can often be less than $20 one-way and the calling times, while early, work out okay for a day trip.)
Flying in also isn't a terrible option, although the trip on the Blue Line can be a bit rough. During the weekday if the timing works I'll make the extra transfers and use the Metra line that goes to O'Hare Transfer. Southwest sometimes has good sales, otherwise I've actually found Spirit to be relatively decent on that route for day trips with just a backpack (fares purchased at the airport ahead of time can often be less than $20 one-way and the calling times, while early, work out okay for a day trip.)
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