Pool Halls in North Chicago

S

Str8PoolMan

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi fellow Azers,

I will be traveling to Chicago on business for the week of June 15-19. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for good places to knock some balls around.

I will be just north of Chicago in Vernon Hills. I found a few places online that I might try out:
Shooter's, in Grayslake.
Eight Ball Billiards, in Waukegan.
Premier Billiards and Cafe in Glenview (which looks a little too fancy for the likes of me).

If anyone has been to these places, or any others, please let me know about them. I am not sure how much time I will have to play. Or if I will have the time or the energy to drive back into the city. It depends on the amount of work, plus how much of a hassle the drive is into the city.

I am also looking for a sports bar or pub in which to watch the FIFA Women's World Cup. If anyone has suggestions for must-see places to visit or tourist spots, I would like to do a little sightseeing if I get a chance. This will be my first visit to the windy city.

One thing I must do is visit the shores of Lake Michigan. I have never seen one of the Great Lakes and I don't want to waste this chance. So any suggestions on where to do that would be most welcome.

Thanks.
 
How do want to see the lake. I can tell you how to access lake shore drive, and you'll be huggin the lake, but the driving is intense, fast, and contains many curves. You won't have many chances to glance at the lake.

If you just want to sit and look at the lake I can definitely tell you the best place to do that. If want to walk, tell me how long (It's a real long lakeshore) You're really in luck if you happen to be a cyclist. There's an 18.5 mile bicycle path on the lakeshore with several places along the way where a bicycle can be rented.
 
Shooter's

Shooter's is nice. I was there a few weeks ago while on business in Chicago. It's in Grayslake. The owner plays pool and the tables are all Diamond tables. I think they were Blue Label with Simonis cloth. It is a nice open place and the equipment was in great shape. I think you would like it.

Patrick
 
There is a pretty famous place in Chicago, although don't know if it's in North or not, George Fels wrote about it in his articles, that was his regular room. Can't remember the name now, but would be a good place to visit I think.
 
hang-the-9 said:
There is a pretty famous place in Chicago, although don't know if it's in North or not, George Fels wrote about it in his articles, that was his regular room. Can't remember the name now, but would be a good place to visit I think.
Click to expand...

Chris's Billiards.....4637 N Milwaukee.....easy access from I-90
One of my favorite rooms.
 
His Boy Elroy said:
How do want to see the lake. I can tell you how to access lake shore drive, and you'll be huggin the lake, but the driving is intense, fast, and contains many curves. You won't have many chances to glance at the lake.

If you just want to sit and look at the lake I can definitely tell you the best place to do that. If want to walk, tell me how long (It's a real long lakeshore) You're really in luck if you happen to be a cyclist. There's an 18.5 mile bicycle path on the lakeshore with several places along the way where a bicycle can be rented.
Click to expand...

Mostly, I just want to stop and take a few pictures and just see what a "Great" lake looks like. It doesn't have to be anyplace special, necessarily, just some place I can park and walk down to the shore and look around. I might consider the bicycle rental, though. That sounds kind of fun.

A little bar or restaurant overlooking the lake might be nice, too. I'm just not sure how much free time I will have.

Thanks for the help.
 
Best picture taking IMO would be from the Adler planetarium. You will get famous Chicago skyline with the lake in front, Just park in the parkway to the planetarium and walk a few steps down to the lake. No beach there, but a great view.
 
Premier in glenview is 12 an hour for shitty tables and loud club music...

Chris's in the city is a place worth visiting. Great room and lots of history there.

Rackem up chicago in buffalo grove is pretty good and cheap.
 
Iconic Style...

pt109 said:
Chris's Billiards.....4637 N Milwaukee.....easy access from I-90
One of my favorite rooms.
Click to expand...

Wow! The street view on Google maps is awesome. Now that's what the front of a pool hall should look like. I hope I have a chance to get down there and check it out.

Thanks guys.
 
Patrick53212 said:
Shooter's is nice. I was there a few weeks ago while on business in Chicago. It's in Grayslake. The owner plays pool and the tables are all Diamond tables. I think they were Blue Label with Simonis cloth. It is a nice open place and the equipment was in great shape. I think you would like it.

Patrick
Click to expand...

Yeah, it looks great in the pictures. And the tables look nice. It's also about the closest to where I am staying, so I most likely pay a visit.

Thanks.
 
If you're in Vernon Hills the closest public access where you can walk out on a jetty to get good pictures is the harbor in North Chicago (sorry, I forget the name of the harbor). But if you've got the time and want better photos it's best to go downtown to Navy Pier or Adler Planetarium. Plus, there's a lot more to do and see around there than there is in North Chicago.

Personally, I always take a train downtown unless I absolutely need my car. The Metra train has a stop in Vernon Hills that takes you to The Loop (i.e. downtown Chicago, end-of-the-line). Navy Pier or Adler Planetarium are about a $5-6 taxi ride away from the Loop station, or a 1.5 mile walk.

Shooter's is definitely your best bet. Chris's is great and historic, but you've got a lot better chance of getting stuck in monster traffic to/from Vernon Hills.
 
Post

If you can, go up to the observation deck of the Sears/Willis tower. A view you will never forget! You can see the curvature of the earth from that elevation and the view of the city is awesome.

I suggest you get a Chicago style hotdog while there but remember! Don't ask for ketchup!!!! That's a BIG no-no in Chicago! They use tomatoes in place of a ketchup.

Check out the planetarium if you can.
You can get a " city pass " that gets you into several attractions for a phat discount.





Enjoy'

Rob.M
 
Robertom and Bdorman both offer fine suggestions, but as someone who has cycled the lakefront bike trail many times, I'll have to opine that the best view is from North ave. beach.

Take 294 from Vernon Hills to 90. Take 90 to North ave. ( about 2 miles northwest of the center of downtown. When you get close to the lake, take Lasalle st. north to W. Lasalle dr. Theirs a big parking lot near the beach. The first 15 minutes is free. From 15 minutes to 1 hour it is $12. One hour to two hours is $14, then it keeps going up more.

If you're on google maps and looking at the south end of the beach, it looks like a comma ( , ) You can sit on the rocks on the bottom of the comma and get a truly spectacular view of the lake and the skyline and everything. The tourists know it too. Every time I ride my bike in that area I'm passing folks talking in a foreign language.
 
come visit us at shooters. cant beat the 9 foot diamonds. You should also visit chris' though too.
 
dontlitethat said:
I suggest you get a Chicago style hotdog while there but remember! Don't ask for ketchup!!!! That's a BIG no-no in Chicago!
Click to expand...
Actually, it isn't. I like my hot dogs "Chicago style" (mustard, tomatoes, pickles, etc. - even sauerkraut sometimes) and you should try one that way - but nobody here cares what you put on yours.

I think it's a kinda cool grumpy reputation to have, though...

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Actually, it isn't. I like my hot dogs "Chicago style" (mustard, tomatoes, pickles, etc. - even sauerkraut sometimes) and you should try one that way - but nobody here cares what you put on yours.

I think it's a kinda cool grumpy reputation to have, though...

pj
chgo
Click to expand...

Ummmm, no, it's not. Many places will NOT put ketchup on your dog. Go to Super Dog, and they won't do it. Heck, if you don't even order a "super dog" they won't serve you. You can't call it a "hot dog", you must say "super dog".
 
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ChicagoRJ said:
Ummmm, no, it's not. Many placed will NOT put ketchup on your dog. Go to Super Dog, and they won't do it. Heck, if you don't even order a "super dog" they won't serve you. You can't call it a "hot dog", you must say "super dog".
Click to expand...
Yeah, they will. Once upon a time they didn't, but that changed a few years ago. It was mostly a stunt even then.

And it's Superdawg.

pj
chgo
 
You should just go to the Navy Pier if you want to see the lake, also take a drive down Wacker so you can see where the chase scenes for The Blue's Brothers took place.
Lastly, make a stop out in Burbank and go to Chuck's Souther Comfort Grill and get some pulled pork or conchitas pilbils.
 
Chicago has a Polish community.....
...try Staropolska for pierogies.

....and you gotta hear some Chicago blues.
 
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