Margaritaville Chicago!

[bufitonmybmw]

Spent the day yesterday at Navy Pier and had lunch at M'Ville. Nice. Small. VERY small. They took over the space of another restaurant & are basically "landlocked". Their merchandise isn't even onsite....it's down the corridor a bit. The store itself is only a walk-up with the t-shirts, etc. being behind the registers. Food was excellent. Service good- given that it was only the 2nd day they were open. I'd say there are about 15 tables outside, along with a walk-up bar. Inside- maybe 40, (but alot of those are only 2-seaters) with another bar also.

Given the size of the other Margaritaville's I've visited... Orlando, Vegas, Panama City Beach- this one is maybe 1/6 the size. All in all, not what I expected. But still very happy to have it here!
The cashier DID say that JB would be visiting "next week". Perchance straight from his Alpine show this weekend??

[FinnsU.P.]

I've been thinking that was a possibility. I'm guessing the night before Alpine since people will tend to be out enjoying themselves more on a Friday night than Sunday.

[looking4OPH]

Spent the day yesterday at Navy Pier and had lunch at M'Ville. Nice. Small. VERY small. They took over the space of another restaurant & are basically "landlocked". Their merchandise isn't even onsite....it's down the corridor a bit. The store itself is only a walk-up with the t-shirts, etc. being behind the registers. Food was excellent. Service good- given that it was only the 2nd day they were open. I'd say there are about 15 tables outside, along with a walk-up bar. Inside- maybe 40, (but alot of those are only 2-seaters) with another bar also.

Given the size of the other Margaritaville's I've visited... Orlando, Vegas, Panama City Beach- this one is maybe 1/6 the size. All in all, not what I expected. But still very happy to have it here!
The cashier DID say that JB would be visiting "next week". Perchance straight from his Alpine show this weekend??

Was there for dinner, drinks, and fireworks last night. Agree on the size. Thinking maybe this is a foot-in-the-door at this point. Maybe waiting for a larger space to open up. Space can't be cheap there, although I'm not sure that is a factor. Seems more like 'what was available'.

Pretty good food. Drinks were good, pricey but in line for a touristy venue like Navy Pier. Service was really good. Had one of the attentive and somewhat Parrothead waitresses. Interesting the different thoughts on potential appearances by the man himself. Another employee put it more in line with the Bridgeview show over the Alpine show. Looking at the tour calendar, there is time off after Alpine, but he would have to stay in the area and come down from Wisconsin. Not a stretch but other factors make me believe a Bridgeview timed visit may be a bit more likely.

The fireworks with Buffett music as a backdrop were very cool. That's a first for me, outside of crankin up my own iPod backdrop on the boat, in the car, etc. Beautiful night, rain held off, great temperature, water and boats in the background, margarita in hand. Aside from maybe a Key West sunset celebration, doesn't get much better in the Midwest.

[looking4OPH]

I've been thinking that was a possibility. I'm guessing the night before Alpine since people will tend to be out enjoying themselves more on a Friday night than Sunday.

Not impossible, but it is a travel day between NJ and WI. Anybody know if he comes in/out on the same night for Alpine or stays somewhere near Alpine (which really doesn't leave many options)? He does stay in Chicago when playing there.

[FinnsU.P.]

I've been thinking that was a possibility. I'm guessing the night before Alpine since people will tend to be out enjoying themselves more on a Friday night than Sunday.

Not impossible, but it is a travel day between NJ and WI. Anybody know if he comes in/out on the same night for Alpine or stays somewhere near Alpine (which really doesn't leave many options)? He does stay in Chicago when playing there.

He mentioned eating Philly steak sandwiches on the plane tonight during the preconcert interview in Camden this evening. I'm just guessing, but Chicago is only about 1 & 1/2 hours from Alpine and no one's ever mentioned running into him in Milwaukee before or after a concert that I remember. All I'm saying is, if I could, I'd be parking myself on a bar stool on Navy Pier tomorrow evening and not leaving till I had to - just in case!

[mcgeez8]

confirmed jimmy is in chicago today. From the GM of Ralph Lauren restaurant on michigan ave twitter account:

"Great to see Jimmy Buffett back in for lunch at RL Restaurant today. Every bit the cool guy you think he would be."

[FinnsU.P.]

My mom watched one of the local Chicago news programs this afternoon too and said she saw Mac singing "It's My Job."

[looking4OPH]

confirmed jimmy is in chicago today. From the GM of Ralph Lauren restaurant on michigan ave twitter account:

"Great to see Jimmy Buffett back in for lunch at RL Restaurant today. Every bit the cool guy you think he would be."

Twitterverse saying he is there tonight. Missed him by two days.

[FinnsU.P.]

confirmed jimmy is in chicago today. From the GM of Ralph Lauren restaurant on michigan ave twitter account:

"Great to see Jimmy Buffett back in for lunch at RL Restaurant today. Every bit the cool guy you think he would be."

Twitterverse saying he is there tonight. Missed him by two days.

At Margaritaville? Performing???

[looking4OPH]

At Margaritaville? Performing???

At Margaritaville. Hanging out.



Wearing an interesting jacket.

[FinnsU.P.]

Cool! REALLY don't like the jacket, though!
All he needs to do is sing a few songs and I can yell "Who called it???!!!"

[Illini Parrothead]

did he end up playing at all or just showed up for a landshark instead?

every other place gets a a quick little show, but not in chicago?

[Candyman]

did he end up playing at all or just showed up for a landshark instead?

every other place gets a a quick little show, but not in chicago?

I'm betting on a bigger show similar to Glendale. They could host it at the Landshark beer garden. If the pier management is really smart they could bring in some large video screens too!

[dnw]

At Margaritaville? Performing???

At Margaritaville. Hanging out.



Wearing an interesting jacket.

Cool!

[looking4OPH]

I'm betting on a bigger show similar to Glendale. They could host it at the Landshark beer garden. If the pier management is really smart they could bring in some large video screens too!

One of his cohorts will be playing soon, so one never knows.

[FINSUPinIdaho]

Watch your credit card purchases there. They over charged me $100 and it took a long time to resolve it. They did handle it very well though, they are still in the very early infancy stage, so I did cut them some slack.

All in all, it was small, but the service and food were good.

[Candyman]

I'm betting on a bigger show similar to Glendale. They could host it at the Landshark beer garden. If the pier management is really smart they could bring in some large video screens too!

One of his cohorts will be playing soon, so one never knows.

We can only hope

[Glorfindel7]

Based on what some people are saying about the size it sounds more like a Cheeseburger in Paradise rather than a Margaritaville... Still I wouldn't be suprised if given any success in the venue, they buy other restaurants out and expand.... How big is the outdoor area?

Still need to go down there, maybe I'll try it before the concert on some weekend (but I'm guessing that the lines are rather long )

[looking4OPH]

Based on what some people are saying about the size it sounds more like a Cheeseburger in Paradise rather than a Margaritaville... Still I wouldn't be suprised if given any success in the venue, they buy other restaurants out and expand.... How big is the outdoor area?

Still smaller than a CHiPs and the outside is about the same space as the inside.

[LIPH]

At Margaritaville? Performing???

At Margaritaville. Hanging out.



Wearing an interesting jacket.

I'm really disappointed. It's been almost 3 days since you posted that picture and nobody's asked if anyone knows where they can get the jacket Jimmy's wearing.