Maps for sale in Chicago

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OK, I'm a map junkie.  Whenever I travel somewhere, I need to go out and find a map of the city or area.  As I'm reading the guide books about the city, I like to lay out the map and get a feel for the surrounding area.  Sure, the little maps in the guide books will do in a pinch.  But for me, there's nothing better than laying out a full size map to get a big picture of the area I'm reading about (or ready to travel to). There used to be a bricks and mortar Savvy Traveler on Michigan Avenue, but they are only online now.  I'm sure they still have the great selection they had at the store, but sometimes you like to walk into an actual store and check out the goods.  Rand McNally used to have a beautiful store on Michigan Avenue (444 N Michigan) as well, but that has since closed. The various Barnes and Noble stores have a respectable map section.  If you're looking for good travel books and maps, try these folks out before they go the way of Bord...
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My favorite pizza in Chicago

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Thin Crust (although they have deep dish also)

I'm going to post this while it's still fresh in my mind (and my belly)! We just ordered pizza from one of our favorite places for pizza: Leona's

They've got one of the tastiest tomatoe sauces I've ever had on pizza. And they've got restaurants all over the Chicagoland area. As their website says, they've been run by one family since 1950! We love both eating in and having their pizza delivered. Their restaurants are family friendly, and they should have something for any appetite. The missus prefers the giardiniera, having grown up in Minnesota, where catsup is considered spicy! If you're not in the mood for a cold beer with your pizza, their Red Zinger Lemonade is very refreshing!

Our other standby for pizza is Connie's

They started operations in '63 on 26th Street in the Bridgeport neighborhood. Our oldest daughter used to say "let's go to the place with the flying truck!" Their main restaurant on Archer Avenue has a delivery truck up high on a pole. This site has a big, open warehouse feel, even though it was just built recently. This is another great place to bring the family, maybe before goiing to a White Sox game? They have shuttle bus plans during the baseball season.

Deep Dish

Chicago is known for its deep dish pizza, so you shouldn't have any problem finding this if you're in the mood. Pizzeria Uno started in 1943 at the corner of Ohio and Wabash in downtown Chicago by Ike Sewell. According to their menu, they invented the deep dish pizza. All I know is their deep dish pizza is some of the best I've ever had!

I can remember when I first moved to Chicago, waiting outside during the coldest, windiest weather, waiting to get into Gino's East, just to try their deepdish pizza. Sounds like they've moved back to their original location on Superior Street, just east of Michigan Avenue. Their deep dish pizza was always worth the wait. I'm not sure if they still have the wooden benches covered with graffiti, but I'm sure their pizza is just as good as its ever been.

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OK, I'm a map junkie.  Whenever I travel somewhere, I need to go out and find a map of the city or area.  As I'm reading the guide books about the city, I like to lay out the map and get a feel for the surrounding area.  Sure, the little maps in the guide books will do in a pinch.  But for me, there's nothing better than laying out a full size map to get a big picture of the area I'm reading about (or ready to travel to). There used to be a bricks and mortar Savvy Traveler on Michigan Avenue, but they are only online now.  I'm sure they still have the great selection they had at the store, but sometimes you like to walk into an actual store and check out the goods.  Rand McNally used to have a beautiful store on Michigan Avenue (444 N Michigan) as well, but that has since closed. The various Barnes and Noble stores have a respectable map section.  If you're looking for good travel books and maps, try these folks out before they go the way of Bord...
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