Please report back on Fork! It is one of my favorite neighborhood places (not just because I can practically look at it from my apartment) . Haven't gone back there with the toddler since then (been there without her) but Ferret had a good experience and hoping to add back!

Fork can be iffy with kids. They have high chairs and when I walked by this afternoon kids were eating there (outside). This was lunch time though. When we went with our then 1.5 year old on a Tuesday night for dinner we got some ugly looks from some customers but wait staff was great. My impression from being in the 'hood and walking past it a lot is that it caters more adult as the dinner hour approaches. Food is really good (duck poutine...) and staff is lovely. Just maybe not for kids for dinner.

However we just went to Big Bricks on Lincoln and that was fantastic! Great food (BBQ), nice beer list, and awesome patio. Plus they immediately laid crayons, placemat, and water in a plastic cup with lid and straw for our now 2.5 yr old. Kid friendly but also grown- up friendly. You don't feel as if you are dumbing down your dinner experience.

3823 N Lincoln in North Center (right outside Lincoln Square)

<<An Italian beef at Al's on Taylor followed by an Italian lemonade across the street at Mario's >>

-- Excellent idea and one of my favorite summer time traditions. I always get the Italian lemonade and eat it in the UIC campus. Easy cab from down-town, or off the Blue Line. If you are so inclined, it is not a bad walk (I walk it from the loop)

Call the restaurants. It doesn't hurt. I've gotten spots that way.

For good Middle Eastern snacks in Andersonville, go to Middle East Bakery &Grocery on Clark and Foster. Can't beat it! If you haven't been to the Hopleaf in 20 years, be prepared for some major changes! The food is quite good. I really love the mussels and the CB&J sandwich.

The Wit does have a great rooftop and it is heated. It is a very fun atmosphere and much more "bachelorette" party. I was there for a b'lette party a year or so ago. I've also been to the Vertigo Sky Lounge and that has incredible views and is very fun. It can get kind of clubby.

http://www.danahotelandspa.com/vertig...

It all depends on what you and your group wants. The Lincoln Square area is awesome (biased here) but it isn't a bar-hopping/martini drinking area. It is more of a sit-down restaurant/belly up to the bar and spend hours with your friends area.

Personally, I would do both. Make reservations at the Tiny Lounge or Fork. Both have small plates to share to get a good base in. Have some fun drinks at prices that will be a bit cheaper than the Wit. Spend some time at a place with the bride where you don't have to yell to be heard. Then get cabs and head back downtown for fancy drinks and dancing at one of the rooftop lounges. The ones who live in the city will know what to do with their cars. It'll take 20 minutes or so to get downtown.

Have fun!! Hopefully we'll get hit with a glorious warm spell in early May!

When are you coming in? How many women? Rooftops/outdoor seating has often limited seating so you may want to arrange something ahead of time to make sure your group can sit all together.

The Fountainhead is a great idea. It is a longish walk/quick cab ride away.

Tiny Lounge is another idea. They don't have a rooftop but they do have outdoor seating. It is a small space though. It is on the corner of Lincoln and Montrose about 5 blocks away from the Chopping Block.

http://www.tinylounge.com/spirits/

Fork might work too. Again, no rooftop but it does have outdoor seating. Also in the nice weather they open up the huge windows so it feels like you are outside. I love their wine flights and cheese flights. This is down the street from the Chopping Block. Maybe 2 or 3 blocks.

http://forkchicago.net/

I live in the neighborhood so if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

For what its worth, I haven't been to the Publican in a year or so but what still stands out for me was their waffle dessert. Probably one of the best I've had.

The Eater has their blog up on this episode and there is a GIF of Brooke and Stephen dancing which is amusing and disturbing all at the same time

http://eater.com/archives/2013/01/31/...

My niece is 2 and we've been taking her out to places since she was a baby. Mind you these are all located on the north side because that's where we live

Rockwell Bar and Grill (plastic lids on cups. Immediate crayons. Good bar food)
http://www.rockwellsgrill.com/

Los Nopales (step above Mexican food
)http://www.losnopalesrestaurant.com/

42 Degree North Latitudes (above average bar food
)http://www.yelp.com/biz/42-degrees-north-latitude-chicago

Candlelite (thin crust pizza and cheese curds
)http://www.candlelitechicago.com/

The Bad Apple (to die for burgers
)http://www.badapplebar.com/

Restaurant Sarajevo (Cevapcci is so good
)http://www.restaurantsarajevo.com/

The Red Lion (fish and chips - really surprised by this place
)http://www.theredlionlincolnsquare.com/

Frasca (actually haven't been there but have heard good for kids. On our list
)http://www.frascapizzeria.com/

Semiramis (Lebanese. Like their lamb
)http://www.semiramisrestaurant.com/

Racking my brain for more. I will add more once we go to them. We eat out once at least twice a month with her

Angry fist! Padma seemed out to get her. I never think about the elves and whatnot but this elimination seemed so contrived.

Here's the menu for The Publican. Seafood is on the left hand side and meat on the right hand side

http://thepublicanrestaurant.com/menu...

I did not find it all that noisy when I went - I know some people do though - but wanted to add another data point.

I plan on stop eating and drinking like a frat boy. (Which seeing as I am female and 12 years out of college is only a good thing) 8 months ago a nine year relationship ended and I forgot how to cook for one so just gave up*. I did lose 15 pounds but mainly due to lots of gym time. I got a juicier for Christmas and love it. I also have started to cook a lot of proteins on Sunday and use all week. Got my crockpot out too. So far so good! Time does heal.

*wake up moment was when I decided that caramel popcorn plus jalapeno cheddar melted in the microwave was acceptable as dinner. Twice in one week..... :) long week at work and I craved sweet and salty. Don't judge (that harshly).

Raw cheese curds are amazing. Fried cheese curds make my mouth sing to quote a judge. My favorite kinds are served at dive-y Northwood Wisconsin bars. I'm not sure what they did to make them tasteless because how do you screw up cheese?

Sunda http://www.sundachicago.com/

My standby for deep dish pizza ordering is usually just cheese since i like the sauce the best. Followed by sausage. Followed by pepperoni - but the pepperoni usually makes it too salty for me. I also only order deep dish from Pizano's or Malnati's so my preference is based on their style. One or two slices will do ya good.

If your hotel has a mini-fridge, you can store your leftovers in there. Deep dish sold as slices loses integrity so go for the whole pie. . Personally a slice of cold leftover deep dish pizza is great breakfast - or midnight snack!

Edited to add: I always think the simpler the better for toppings on deep-dish. Sausage or just cheese for me.

In my mind's eye, they are much closer but I just googled map it and they are a 1/2 mile apart. Not a bad walk though and could also jump on the bus.

What about Bandera? Semi-chain but food is very solid. Try and get seats that overlook Michigan Ave

http://www.hillstone.com/#/restaurant...

If you will be downtown, the cheese vendor at the Farmers Market in Daley plaza usually has cheese curds. I know Gene's Sausage Shop on Lincoln Ave usually has them. You may want to call in advance.

http://www.genessausageshop.com/

4750 North Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 728-7243

"Men plan, God Laughs" is a wise adage. The good thing is that I am still in a city I love with great food!

I always have pizza on the brain...

Edited to add: You said you wanted to go shopping on Mag Mile for a leather coat. If you switch to State Street (which has the original Marshall Fields with the iconic clocks plus a bevy of lower priced stores including Burlington Coat Factory); you could combine that with the a trip to Christkindlmarket.

I would stick with Terzo Pizano for lunch. Hopefully we'll have snow on the ground and it will be pretty overlooking Millenium Park. Chicago does Christmas well. The trees are all lit up and the windows at Fields, er Macy's will be decorated.

I would check out Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza. If you go on a weekday, it isn't crowded. There is something cheery about drinking mulled wine on a cold day. Or even a cold German beer... It is free to the public and you aren't obligated to buy anything. It always gets me in the Christmas spirit walking through it.

http://www.christkindlmarket.com/en/

Whoops! I did not know that about Al's. Sorry for the misdirect.

Can I be your friend and travel with you next time? What an amazing trip you did!!

Your cheering squad should look at the course map and plan some eats along the way. They could take the Red Line to Chinatown and eat there and then hoof it to 35th. That stretch right out of Chinatown between mile 22 and 23 is pretty desolate. I always see my family there and it is really nice boost. They can grab the red line at 35th and take it back downtown and see you at the end.

Also mile 18 is in Little Italy and they can grab an Italian beef from the original Al's. That area is prettty good for spotting family members. Crowded but not crazed like on the north-side.

http://www.chicagomarathon.com/CMS400...

I would definitely book a table now for dinner on Sunday because the last thing you'll want is to stand around waiting. And splurge! What would you most in the mood for? We could give suggestions based on that. Me - I'm ordering a stuffed pizza and not sharing.

One non-food tip: On Saturday, cruise around the Buckingham Fountain area. That is where family meet up is. It is crowded and gravelly and kind of overwhelming on Sunday. I suggest picking a place to meet in the rose garden just north of the Fountain. There are trees and grass to lie on. Pick a landmark and direct your family to meet you there at the end.

Good luck! Here's hoping to 50 degrees, blue skies, and no wind (unless it is at our backs)

I can take a stab at a few of these:

Pizza: I'd skip Gino's but go for Lou's, Pizano's, and Pizzeria Uno/Due in that order of preference.

Vegan Diner: Handlebar in Bucktown. Great food even for carnivores.Easy to get to via CTA Blue Line. http://handlebarchicago.com/

Beers: Check out Goose Island by Wrigley. Also, Hopleaf. Semi close to Wrigley. Easty to get via CTA #22 bus. Amazing beer list and food. http://hopleaf.com/

Honestly if pizza isn't in your wheelhouse then I would skip it. Chicago has a lot more to offer than pizza and hot dogs. Don't waste your calories on something you won't like. And ordering a deep dish for one is a waste of money. The individual sized pizzas get the ratio all off and a small is usually too much for one person.

I thought dinner was just ok. I really wanted to like it and went with clients based on recs on this board and was just underwhelmed for the price point

On game day I would double that estimate on the bus. It would be best to walk the half mile (ish) to the red line stop Berwyn and take that to the game. I personally love the Hopleaf and highly recommend