Chicago Botonical Gardens

I'm going to the Chicago Botonical Gardens on Friday. Any good food in the area?

The food at the gardens itself is only so-so. This became our favorite place to bring a picnic. There rre tables neat the parking lots, but they are generally overrun by scavaging bees. There are many place withing the ground themselves to enjoy a discreet meal. Our favorite was a Japanese pagoda overlooking the zen garden. however, I must stress: be discreet and clean or you'll ruin it for others.

GNR Prairie Grass Cafe is very close.

Prairie Grass Cafe
601 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
(847) 205-4433

Quite a few good choices in that area in addition to Prairie Grass. For example, Barnaby's, Charlie Beinlich's, Francesco's Hole in the Wall and Claim Company.

FYI: It's the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Hi,

Highwood is just a few exits north of gardens, there you can eat at Maria's Bakery, Isaac & Moishe's Deli or their restaurant Casa de Isaac.

In Highland Park along Skokie Valley Road paralelling the expressway immediately west and just north or Lake Cook Road, there is Max's (Jewish) Deli and Mizrahi Grill.

La Casa de Isaac (closes around 3 or 4 on Friday)
431 Temple
Highland Park, IL 60035
847-433-5550

Isaac & Moishe's Deli, Fruits & Vegetables (closes around 3 or 4 on Friday)
311 Waukegan Ave
Highwood, IL 60040
847 433-0557

Maria's Bakery
410 North Sheridan Road (new address)
Highwood, IL 60040
Tel: 847/266-0811
Fax: 847/266-1574
Sunday: 8 AM to 2:30 PM
Mon-Fri: 8 AM - 6:30 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Mizrahi Grill (closes 3 pm on Friday)
215 Skokie Valley Rd (Crossroads Plaza)
Highland Park, IL 60035
847-831-1400

Max's Deli (does not observe the Sabbath, thus open every day)
(next to Mizrahi Grill)

Regards,

FYI: It's the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Thanks spiney!

spinynorman99 wrote:FYI: It's the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Next thing you know, you'll be insisting that it's not Soldiers Field or Cominsky Park.

stevez wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote:FYI: It's the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Next thing you know, you'll be insisting that it's not Soldiers Field or Cominsky Park.

Or Jewels.

spinynorman99 wrote:Or Jewels.

Make that THE Jewels.... or maybe Da Jewels....

HI,

It is a common error to refer to the Chicago Botanic Garden as the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Through my mushroom club, I knew a Chicago Botanic Garden board member who pounded the Botanical error out of the my brain. Not literally, of course, just by repetition.

razbry, so you don't have sticker shock: admission to the Gardens is now $20 per car and $25 per van. Not so long ago, it was less than $10 for a car.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:razbry, so you don't have sticker shock: admission to the Gardens is now $20 per car and $25 per van. Not so long ago, it was less than $10 for a car.

Regards,

Which is why I always ride my bike up there.

razbry wrote:I'm going to the Chicago Botonical Gardens on Friday. Any good food in the area?

Are you attending the following event? If not, please be aware that the garden closes at 3 pm this Friday.

"Summer Dinner Dance – Friday, June 25, 2010
The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Esplanade – a 2.8-acre entry garden with dramatic annual gardens and elm allées, showy fountains and lakeside views – is the backdrop for the annual Summer Dinner Dance. The black-tie soirée – one of the most talked about events in Chicagoland and on the North Shore – begins at 7 p.m. with special cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Esplanade, followed by an intimate dinner dance in an elegant pavilion in the Rose Garden. The event benefits the Chicago Botanic Garden’s conservation, education, and research programs. The Garden closes at 3 p.m. on this day."

Cathy2 wrote:It is a common error to refer to the Chicago Botanic Garden as the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

It may be a common error because the phrase ours uses is less common. In this list of such gardens in the United States...

31 have "Botanic Garden" in their name
12 have "Botanic Gardens" in their name
97 have "Botanical Garden" in their name
71 have "Botanical Gardens" in their name
168 others have some other form of "Garden" or "Gardens" in their name
297 have "Arboretum" in their name

Also, as a quasi-employee (5th-year volunteer)/long-time CBG member, trust me when I tell you that no picnicking is allowed anywhere other than in the designated areas in the parking lots, be it discreet or otherwise. Some of the security people are, shall we say, extremely zealous about enforcing this rule; understand that with the thousands of visitors we have on summer weekends, it is necessary to limit certain activities. Keep in mind that there are many nearby Cook Co. forest preserves just east and south of the Garden, where picnickers, fishermen, kayakers, and such are more than welcome.

Hope we haven't scared you off!

PS I'll be assisting at the Suzy Crofton (Crofton on Wells) demo on Saturday, 1:30 & 02:30 PM - see you all there! Should be fun. I believe this is Chef Crofton's debut with the Garden Chefs demo series.

Hi,

There is one exception to the no picnicing policy: Monday evenings for the carillon concerts. I see plenty of picnics without any comments from security.

Tuesday is a free admission day for seniors.

Regards,

Cathy2 noted:

There is one exception to the no picnicing policy: Monday evenings for the carillon concerts. I see plenty of picnics without any comments from security.

I would assume that the security people are simply looking the other way to avoid an unnecessary disturbance during the musical performance. The Garden Etiquette page does not make note of any exceptions for the concerts. Catered functions on the Esplanade are, of course, a different story, but that's not really the issue here.

Probably better to err on the side of prudence and to not bring in food at all than to have it confiscated, or, in the worst case scenario, to be asked to leave the garden, especially after shelling out $20 to park the car!

Hi,

I haven't gone this year to the carillon concerts. I was a regular attendees for years and never saw any fuss. Of course, everything changes and not always for the better.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

It is a common error to refer to the Chicago Botanic Garden as the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Through my mushroom club, I knew a Chicago Botanic Garden board member who pounded the Botanical error out of the my brain. Not literally, of course, just by repetition.

Even more annoying is having to explain to people why the Chicago Botanic Garden is in Glencoe.

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

It is a common error to refer to the Chicago Botanic Garden as the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Through my mushroom club, I knew a Chicago Botanic Garden board member who pounded the Botanical error out of the my brain. Not literally, of course, just by repetition.

razbry, so you don't have sticker shock: admission to the Gardens is now $20 per car and $25 per van. Not so long ago, it was less than $10 for a car.

Regards,

This is probably not going to help razbry, but libraries in this list have passes for the Chicago Botanical Garden. See Macy's Museum Pass Participating libraries. Each library participating in the program gets a certain number of passes (per participating museum) which can be checked out for a one week period.

Hi,

My library has this available as well. They advised that some of the participating museums and attractions have changed their terms. It is best to call to verify in advance your destinations current policy, then to learn it is not to your expectations.

Regards,

Glencoe is fun in the summer. You could go into the town and picnic in the park above the beach. (Or on the beach, but they charge admission.) I like to get sandwiches from Foodstuffs.

You guys are too funny! Great info. and tips as well. Thank you! My plan is to leave the DeKalb area, and hopefully make it up there in a couple of hours. My sister is coming along, so maybe we will take the garden tram ride to get an overall scope of things, and then walk back to the places we would want to inspect in detail. I'm not sure how long the legs will hold out, and the temp. and humidity will be a factor. I'm thinking we would be done by 1 or 2, and then maybe catch a quick bite of lunch. Cathy2's suggestion of Maria's Bakery is sort of stuck in my mind (nice write-up Cathy!). Or maybe we will just grab a hot dog and drive to the lake front to enjoy the view. I'd like to be on the road going back home by 3 at the latest (hoping to avoid some of the rush). So now that I've fleshed out my plan, if you have anything advise me on...I'm listening!

The hike (or bike) from the nearby forest preserve is quite beautiful, and well worth it IMO - free to park there, but also you get to view the southern part of the lagoon.

Within walking distance of the Botanic Gardens are the restaurants in the Ravinia neighborhood, including Piero's (stuffed pizza), Happy Sushi, and ... (dang, can't remember the name, the restaurant in the old Gsell's building), all discussed on LTH, all along Roger Williams Ave, about a mile and a half from the entrance to the Botanic Gardens. You could park on a street in the Ravinia area and save yourself the $20 parking fee at the Garden. You could park even closer, at the Braeside train station, which I think is only $2 for the day. Parking is free at Rosewood Beach, which is at the end of Roger Williams, 2.5 miles from the Garden entrance.

Does Lake-Cook Road have a sidewalk?

Yes, the sidewalk is on the north (HP) side, and there is a pedestrian crosswalk at the entrance to the Garden on the south (Glencoe) side.

I don't know if my Dad is working Friday, but if you take the tram, you just might get him as your driver and guide!
He has done this in the summer for years, listen for his jokes.
His name is Seymour, and he has lots of wavy white hair and wears glasses.
Enjoy your day, the weather is forecast to be spectacular on Friday!

The hike (or bike) from the nearby forest preserve is quite beautiful, and well worth it IMO - free to park there, but also you get to view the southern part of the lagoon.

The entire ride is pretty great. You can get on the path right in Edgebrook (close to Superdawg) and ride (mostly) uninterrupted to the Botanic Garden. It's about a 25-mile round trip through the Forest Preserve.

If you do want to bring a picnic lunch, there are picnic tables next to parking lot 2. You can see it on the .pdf map available on the web site.

Chicago Botanic Garden is my favorite place in the whole area! Or, at least, my favorite place that doesn't have food.

IIRC, tho, I think it's more like a 35 mile round trip from Superdawg to the Garden.

Giovanna

Note that the Gardens will close at 3PM on Friday the 25th of June and that you can get ticketed at Rosewood Beach without a Highland Park sticker. Abigail's is the restaurant on Roger Williams and St.Johns. It's not a bad choice.