Outlet Centre, Chicago

brettmirl · 11-01-2007 12:16pm #1

Heading to Chicago in March and just wondering if anyone has been to the Aurora Outlet Centre?

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=63

It's basically the Woodbury Common of Chicago, but is it really worth the trip out?

Dodge · 11-01-2007 1:48pm

Was in Chicago in December and we looked into going but the only way of getting there by bus is if enough people want to go from your hotel (unlike the NYC to Woodbury common bus)

HAs to be pre-booked

Gangu · 15-10-2007 9:00pm

Anyone know of any other outlet place in Chicago where you can get a bus to? Any shopping tips welcome!

Saruman · 15-10-2007 9:06pm

Not sure about Outlet malls but downtown look out for Filenes Basement. There is on on Michigan Ave for istance. Its like TK Maxx only better.. Oh and TK Maxx is TJ MAxx over there and its also better than ours

Love Chicago... It will be very cold there in March by the way. If you have never been in the midwest US at that time then you are in for a shock. Will easily be about -5 or so. It was in April gone anyway but the last week or so warmed up a lot. I myself am heading back in June for a wedding.

Dodge · 15-10-2007 11:03pm

Gangu wrote: »

Anyone know of any other outlet place in Chicago where you can get a bus to? Any shopping tips welcome!

NOne really. There's a place about 90 minutes drive but the only way by bus is if your hotel arranges it.

Wisesmurf · 16-10-2007 6:18am

forget shopping, get drinking! My fav night-life city in the universe!

Lucy Lu · 16-10-2007 9:32am

I was in Chicago in December 2005 and we went to Aurora Outlet Centre. We got a train there and it cost about 5 dollars return. We had to get a taxi to and from the Outlet from the train station in Aurora which cost about 15 dollars each way.

We bought a good bit but they are no where as good as Woodbury Common. As a previous poster said Filenes Basement is great and Marshalls is where we ended up doing most of our shopping.

neacy69 · 16-10-2007 4:57pm

Wisesmurf wrote: »

forget shopping, get drinking! My fav night-life city in the universe!

Where would you recommend wisesmurf?

I'm heading to Chicago now in 2 weeks any info would be great (night life, things to do etc)

jrar · 16-10-2007 9:05pm

mick_irl wrote: »

Heading to Chicago in March and just wondering if anyone has been to the Aurora Outlet Centre?

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=63

It's basically the Woodbury Common of Chicago, but is it really worth the trip out?

There's also Gurnee Mills which is NW direction outside of Chicago - pretty large and an impressive list of stores to visit.

Gangu · 16-10-2007 9:10pm

Some good tips! Thanks so much. I'm going to google marshalls and Filenes Basement

Dodge · 17-10-2007 1:05am

Marshalls is now called Macys. There's one on the Mag Mile and a bigger one in the Loop (the orginal Marshall Fields). Filene's basement is opposit the one on the Mag Mile

Saruman · 17-10-2007 6:58pm

On a side note, i suggest Brunch in the restaurant at the top of the Hancock centre. Best views of the city, and while its not the tallest building you do get the best view. Sunday Lunch is a buffet, not cheap but worth it for the view.

If you are a beer drinking, do NOT go with the usual American swill... ask the barman for a local brew. Some of it is excellent. Oberon was all the rage in April. Good stuff.

Make sure to check out Chinatown, just be careful as its surrounded by dodgy areas so do not go too far away from it or the EL station.

A good shopping centre is Watertower place. Its in a skyscraper near the hancock centre on Michigan ave. You cant miss it. Its about 7 floors or so. not cheap but worth a browse.

17-10-2007 7:39pm

mick_irl wrote: »

Heading to Chicago in March and just wondering if anyone has been to the Aurora Outlet Centre?

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=63

It's basically the Woodbury Common of Chicago, but is it really worth the trip out?

Lol I was out there the day after chicago's first winter storm last november.
It was -6 and there was snow piled up everywhere but we drove out there fine.It's ok.

To be honest,just go down to union square,theres rakes of good stores around there that are downright cheap compared to home including old navy and ambercrombie & finch.
The macy's is huge and on two streets facing each other.You wont need to go any further than that area.You'll get the tax free shopping there just like the new york one if you show your passport at the information desk.
Follow that plan and it will leave more time for drinking and recovering from drinking

neacy69 · 18-10-2007 9:05am

Saruman wrote: »

On a side note, i suggest Brunch in the restaurant at the top of the Hancock centre. Best views of the city, and while its not the tallest building you do get the best view. Sunday Lunch is a buffet, not cheap but worth it for the view.

If you are a beer drinking, do NOT go with the usual American swill... ask the barman for a local brew. Some of it is excellent. Oberon was all the rage in April. Good stuff.

Any good bars that you would reccomend? Whats the nightlife like in chicago?

Saruman wrote: »

Make sure to check out Chinatown, just be careful as its surrounded by dodgy areas so do not go too far away from it or the EL station.

Is Chinatown like the one in new york? with the knock-off handbags and the like?

Saruman wrote: »

A good shopping centre is Watertower place. Its in a skyscraper near the hancock centre on Michigan ave. You cant miss it. Its about 7 floors or so. not cheap but worth a browse.

Any other cool places you would reccomend to visit Im going there in 2 weeks and will be there for 4 days and want to get as much done as possible!!

Dodge · 18-10-2007 10:06am

There's several shopping "malls" all along the Magnificent Mile. At the nothern end (around the Watchtower) is literally nothing but shops (from high end designers to Abercroombie to H&M to Filene's basment...)

It’s a great place for night life. A lot of it is based around two streets (Rush & Division) but there's plenty of restaurents/bars all over the city. For something different one night maybe go to an ice hockey (Blackhawks) or basketball (Bulls) game in United Center. You can usually buy tickets on the day by ringing ticketmaster. One of the drunkest nights I had in Chicago started with Ice Hockey.

Oh and remember to bring ID with you everywhere as no matter how old you look, you WILL be asked for it

Both the Hancock Centre and Sears Tower are worth going up if its a clear day

Saruman · 18-10-2007 6:04pm

Take a wander down to Navy Pier. Its good fun, in fact there is a free trolley to it.
Millenium park is cool, got a cool shiny egg thing.
OH and you can not go there without getting the Chicago Deep dish Pizza. It has caramelised crust and is fab. Best Pizza in the world.

I cant think of any particular bars, i did not go to many downtown. My wife though said Clarke street has some of the best bars. The cubby bear being a good one.
If you like blues, take in the house of blues. Its by the river (north bank). Look for Marina towers, they are twin towers that are round and the bottom few floors are a car park.

I suppose try ESPN zone, might be fun.

I do not think Chinatown compares to the New york one but its similar. Not as big and very little in the way of street vendors. Mostly shops and restaurants etc.

Outlet Centre, Chicago

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