We are so happy to get to hang out with all of you! We chose the Lodge for many reasons, but mostly because it is conducive to hanging out. We hope you can take advantage of the property and the grounds. Everything will be blooming and beautiful!

Friday:

Wedding party: We will have a formal rehearsal at 5:30 PM; location will be at the property. We will let you know more once they tell us where to go. We will have a rehearsal dinner and drinks afterwards.

On Friday evening, from 10-midnight, we have reserved the bar at the Lodge.

Saturday:

Wedding party: We will start getting ready early. Time TBD. We'll let you know where and when to be as we get closer.

Did we mention there's an indoor pool? There's an indoor pool! Take a dip, have a leisurely breakfast, and then maybe grab a Frisbee or a book and enjoy the grounds.

The ceremony begins at 5 PM. If it is nice weather, we will be outside. Otherwise, we will be in the Prairie Room next to the main entrance.

Cocktail hour will be directly after the ceremony, just steps away (outside on the dock if nice out, inside next to the Prairie Ballroom if not nice weather).

Dinner will start at 7 PM in the Prairie Ballroom. All shenanigans will follow. We have the ballroom until at least midnight.

Sunday:

Early Sunday, there will be a grab and go breakfast in the Q room downstairs.

Yes, we are in the suburbs but Chicago is SO CLOSE.

The Metra is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way. From the hotel, it is about a 10 minute drive to the Hinsdale Metra Station (8 S Washington St, Hinsdale, IL 60521). Ubers are readily available.

It is the BNSF line. You can purchase a ticket at the station (you can also get a margarita or a Modelo while you wait at the Casa Margarita -- highly recommend). It will take about 45-50 minutes to get to Union Station.

Once you arrive, it is easy to grab a cab or a rideshare to take you where you want to go. Cabs will take cash, credit cards, or the Curb app. A taxi starter is located on the west side of Canal Street, north of Jackson Avenue. Basically, stay to the right and follow the signs for Jackson Ave. Cabs will be lined up along the curb.

So now you're in the city -- what do you do?!

Breakfast (for all you over-achievers):

Stan's Donuts (a chain; easy to find). Amazing donuts and coffee!

Lunch:

Exchequer: 226 S Wabash Ave. This was an old Capone hangout – the upstairs was a speakeasy. Get the cream of chicken soup – you won’t regret it.

Potbelly. (a chain, easy to find). Best sandwiches and soups, milkshakes, and mac n cheese.

Dinner:

Deep dish: Our favorites are Lou Malnati's (multiple locations), Peqoud's (2207 N Clybourn Ave), and Michael's Original Pizzeria and Tavern (4091 N Broadway).

Steak: Gibson's Steakhouse is a Chicago classic. They'll bring out raw cuts on a platter so you can see exactly what you're getting. Go easy on the sides and desserts -- they're big enough to feed the cow you just ate.

Drinks: Later on, but not too late because it gets crowded, have a cocktail at the Green Mill. Another Capone hangout, it hasn’t changed much in the century it’s been around. His table famously is a booth in the middle, so he and his men could see both the front door and the side doors. If you peek behind the bar, you will see a staircase leading to the basement. Rumor has it that this was an escape for him and others.

Things to do:

Loop/Mag Mile:

The Bean

Sears (Willis) Tower Observation Deck

Buckingham Fountain

Water Tower Place

Architecture tours: The longer ones are better but there are short ones if you are low on time.

Navy Pier

Field Museum

Shedd Aquarium

Adler Planetarium

North Side:

Chicago History Museum

The Second City

Wrigley Field/Wrigleyville

The Dock at Montrose Beach

South Side:

White Sox

Robie House

Hyde Park and the University of Chicago

You can also see where they are building the Obama Presidential Library and Center in Jackson Park. Along with being the site of this complex, Jackson Park was also where the 1893 Columbian Exposition took place (for all of you Devil in the White City fans).

Suburbs:

Morton Arboretum

Oak Brook shopping center