any Chicago residents? need tourism advice

[sm8000]

I'm helping plan my college's choir trip next March and it includes a weekend in Chicago. Unless things change (and they can), so far the plan is to arrive Saturday by bus from Memphis (long drive) and stay with families billeting-style in the suburbs. After our Sunday show we're going downtown. Here's what I could use suggestions on:

1) a place for the bus to drop us off that is somewhat central to various attractions such as Navy Pier, the Art Gallery, museums, the planetarium, the aquarium, the Sears Tower, the John Hancock Center, Michigan Avenue, the lakeshore, Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, Lincoln Park Zoo, and so on.

2) a place for us to sing in public just for fun, one or two songs. I was thinking either the fountain or Grant Park, but any place that will get us noticed and appreciated by passerby.

3) a hotel or the like that will be relatively cheap. Obviously with that it mind it doesn't have to be close to downtown, maybe close to CTA or Metra lines that will take us there. Someplace with discount rates for students, a group of probably 40.

[alivin]

I live close to Chicago and have been to most of those places, thats a lot of walking!
I think that Grant Park or the art institute would be a good place to be dropped off & the fountain to sing.
I don't think all those places can be walked to in one day.
I'll talk to some friends and get back to you on the best route to take to see as much as possible ie bus, train etc
Have you guys ever tried youth hostels for accomodations ? their very popular with students in europe and there are some in the USA

[SiliconJon]

Been there for a CES.

Was woke up at 3AM by a gunfight in front of the hotel on the first night. We had a room on the 3rd floor with a front view, so I got to see the "Cowboy" shooting at a running fool. Not sure what kind of gun, as I was just awaken by the first shots and lept immediately to the window to see what was going on. But it sure was loud between them buildings.

The next day going to the CES there was a flasher in one of the hotel rooms upon entry to the exhibition [fancy catch on the pun]. I felt a bit red in the face as I saw everyone else looking up and pointing and laughing. I looked up, and was not wearing my glasses, so I kept squinting and squinting...while I was trying to figure if it was a guy or girl some chick said "Yeah, poor guy has a pretty small one, huh".



Welp, answered that question!

[sm8000]

Thanks for the notes and keep them coming. I wouldn't have us all go to all those places in one day, it's just that some people will want to go to some places and some will want to go to others. As long as we're dropped off at one place and we can meet up there several hours later we're in good shape.