Hi, I am coming up from Orlando representing the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl for the Stanford game. I presume the game is at Ryan Stadium, and kickoff is at 11:00 AM. I use to go to an office building on Central in the 80's and stayed at the Skokie Hilton. Is that still a good place to stay? Can anyone recommend a hotel where Wildcat fans stay? What about restaurants where your fans gather on Friday and Saturday night? I hope I will get the chance to meet some of you before or after the game. Thanks for the info.
Info Needed
- Thread starter Motor City Jim
- Start date
Try the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Evanston. Much nicer and walking distance to restaurants, plus close to the Davis Street EL and Metra stations.
Food spots in Evanston:
Pete Millers for a steak.
Lou Malnati's for pizza get the deep dish. Avoid Giordano's. If you want to risk it, try Burt's Pizza. 18 minute drive to Morton Grove. My understanding is it's an old guy. Basically, if he gets to tired to cook, he'll thank you for coming and send you home hungry. I'd call ahead too. He basically goes into to open if he feels like it. Never risked going there. He sold his original restaurant Pequods and opened up with the same recipes. I've had that many times. Pequods was voted as the #2 pizza place in the country by the food network. Burt's Pizza was ranked in the top 10 food adventures as well.
Smylie is a good place for beer (they brew it) and the food is good. Not upscale, but good price, good food.
Edzo's burgers: again, not upscale, but a damn good burger at a reasonable price.
Brunch: Walker Brothers on Green Bay in Wilmette is better, but Le Peep in downtown Evanston is good.
Bat 17: Giant sandwiches. I had the Clark Griswold Pulled Pork Sandwich. I finished... barely, and I can eat.
Chicken Wings: I'd recommend going to Buffalo Wild Wings in Skokie. There was one in Evanston but it closed/moved. Their wings are delicious and it's always fun picking new sauces. Asian Zing and Mango Habenero are highly recommended.
(yeah, I'm a kiss up)
Pete Millers for a steak.
Lou Malnati's for pizza get the deep dish. Avoid Giordano's. If you want to risk it, try Burt's Pizza. 18 minute drive to Morton Grove. My understanding is it's an old guy. Basically, if he gets to tired to cook, he'll thank you for coming and send you home hungry. I'd call ahead too. He basically goes into to open if he feels like it. Never risked going there. He sold his original restaurant Pequods and opened up with the same recipes. I've had that many times. Pequods was voted as the #2 pizza place in the country by the food network. Burt's Pizza was ranked in the top 10 food adventures as well.
Smylie is a good place for beer (they brew it) and the food is good. Not upscale, but good price, good food.
Edzo's burgers: again, not upscale, but a damn good burger at a reasonable price.
Brunch: Walker Brothers on Green Bay in Wilmette is better, but Le Peep in downtown Evanston is good.
Bat 17: Giant sandwiches. I had the Clark Griswold Pulled Pork Sandwich. I finished... barely, and I can eat.
Chicken Wings: I'd recommend going to Buffalo Wild Wings in Skokie. There was one in Evanston but it closed/moved. Their wings are delicious and it's always fun picking new sauces. Asian Zing and Mango Habenero are highly recommended.
(yeah, I'm a kiss up)
Depends where you're coming from. Straight from the hotel and the purple line might not save much time. There should be shuttles available from the south end of campus as well.
I just made a reservation at the Hilton Garden Inn in Evanston if that helps with the advice.
You can catch the shuttle about 2 blocks east of the Hilton. It drops you off right at the stadium and is free. The best way to get to the stadium. It isn't a bad walk either, a little over a mile and a quarter mostly flat.
Beat me to it. The shuttles are usually pretty decent heading to the game, but can take a while afterwards. If you're up for it and the weather is nice, the walk back to downtown Evanston from Ryan Field is actually quite pleasant.
Great to hear Northwestern is already on the radar and that you will be in Evanston to a take a look at the Wildcats as a Citrus Bowl prospect. While in town though you might want to take a look at our opponent as well once you have completed your primary task since we will have to play someone else is the Citrus Bowl and I have heard they might be almost as good as us.
To answer your question, another hotel to consider is the Marriott property in Northbrook located at 933 Skokie Blvd. Last time I stayed there for a Northwestern game there was a large contingent of Purple Clad fans booked there including some of the players' families. It has the advantage of having a Ruth's Chris Steak House on the premises as well. The big advantage though is its convenience to the expressway with a fairly straight shot to the exit closest to Ryan Field. (I believe Old Orchard is the exit that then connects onto Lake and then to Central but check your Google Maps, GPS, or whatever to confirm.)
Here is a link to the hotel:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-photos/chinb-renaissance-chicago-north-shore-hotel/
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Speaking of that hotel, we are planning a personal event for Sept 2016 at that hotel, and they told us to reseve early because they consider it a "Northwestern Hotel", and they have some Purple decor to boot.Great to hear Northwestern is already on the radar and that you will be in Evanston to a take a look at the Wildcats as a Citrus Bowl prospect. While in town though you might want to take a look at our opponent as well once you have completed your primary task since we will have to play someone else is the Citrus Bowl and I have heard they might be almost as good as us.
To answer your question, another hotel to consider is the Marriott property in Northbrook located at 933 Skokie Blvd. Last time I stayed there for a Northwestern game there was a large contingent of Purple Clad fans booked there including some of the players' families. It has the advantage of having a Ruth's Chris Stake House on the premises as well. The big advantage though is its convenience to the expressway with a fairly straight shot to the exit closest to Ryan Field. (I believe Old Orchard is the exit that then connects onto Lake and then to Central but check your Google Maps, GPS, or whatever to confirm.)
Here is a link to the hotel:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-photos/chinb-renaissance-chicago-north-shore-hotel/
He meant Ruth's Chris STEAK house btw
Not a huge fan of shuttles. The EL doesn't have to wait for traffic. Plus it's iconic
Good choice of hotel, you can walk to lots of restaurants from there. Bat 17 on Benson ( about a 3 min walk from Hilton) has a great room dedicated to NU Sports, lots of pool tables with purple felt and giant posters on walls. Yes the football office is technically on Central Street, although the doors are not really on the street side. You will not have trouble finding it though, just ask, or follow the giant posters stuck to the doors and windows.
Enjoy the game.
Go Cats !
Plus, there a few nice upgrades if you had the chance to take it when you were here in the 80s. My favorite: using a clean, crisp recorded message to announce the next stop in lieu of the garbled and usually sullen conductor via the intercom. So you will hear "Central is next! Standing passengers -- please do not lean against the doors!" instead of "You're riding the love train. Davue, Davis, ahhhhhhhhh . . . . . . . . Center next . . ." or something like that.
Old Orchard exit is correct, going east until you have to turn L on Crawford(about 1/2-3/4 mile) and then one block to Central where you make a right at the light. The stadium is about 1350 west and Crawford is about 4000 west.. The Hilton in Skokie has changed its name but is a few blocks south of Old orchard Road . There is also a Hampton Inn as you exit on Old orchard Road just west of the shopping center on the west side of the expressway. Lots of places to stay, but the location in Evanston is the best of being in the middle and walking distance (on a nice day) from the stadium. Welcome to our community.Great to hear Northwestern is already on the radar and that you will be in Evanston to a take a look at the Wildcats as a Citrus Bowl prospect. While in town though you might want to take a look at our opponent as well once you have completed your primary task since we will have to play someone else is the Citrus Bowl and I have heard they might be almost as good as us.
To answer your question, another hotel to consider is the Marriott property in Northbrook located at 933 Skokie Blvd. Last time I stayed there for a Northwestern game there was a large contingent of Purple Clad fans booked there including some of the players' families. It has the advantage of having a Ruth's Chris Steak House on the premises as well. The big advantage though is its convenience to the expressway with a fairly straight shot to the exit closest to Ryan Field. (I believe Old Orchard is the exit that then connects onto Lake and then to Central but check your Google Maps, GPS, or whatever to confirm.)
Here is a link to the hotel:
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-photos/chinb-renaissance-chicago-north-shore-hotel/
Thank you for the information. Look for a guy in a black blazer wearing a white shirt and orange tie walking around the tailgates before and after the game, and say hi. I've never been to Ryan Stadium, and I am looking forward to a good game.
Jim, some of the diehards from this board gather at a tailgate and talk Cat football, you might even get a free ticket if you aren't in the press box. You can email me at agw008@yahoo.com and I'll let you know the spot that the "CatPack" tailgate is located. regards,
As far as fan gatherings, I don't think there is anything of much of a tradition of that the day before, but you will find fans at Tommy Nevin's on Friday I'm sure.
As far as hotels, the Evanston hotels are unreasonably expensive, maybe you got a good rate. No need to stay in Evanston when a major city like Chicago offers the world, even at reduced prices and easy access to the same purple line. Plus, I have generally found Evanston not to have the best restaurants and quite a limited supply when considering. The only thing I like about Evanston is NU. Otherwise, few folks who don't live in Evanston go there for food or dine, or a stay. Again, limited hotels, and plenty pricey.
