Fun stuff near JW Marriott downtown..ideas?

Ice skating at Millennium Park is a wonderful time and full of fun romance, with lunch at the Walnut Room at Marshall Fields (Macy's) for pot pie.

Dining options are legion, and Yelp would probably help you more than I would - sushi isn't my specialty.

Search Craigslist and you might find someone unloading theatre tickets on the cheap (though with Wicked and Book of Mormon gone, there's not a lot left). There's always the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Museum of Science & Industry, and the Shedd Aquarium, if you like those kind of things. Walking that far is a bit of a stretch in this weather, but even a couple of cab rides isn't bad.

We live close to there so we know all the hot (or not) spots.

Breakfast: The breakfast places in the Loop suck so I might recommend Meli Cafe at Congress and Dearborn, or if you want to walk for 15 or 20 minutes go to Yolk on 11th and Michigan. Both will have lines -- Meli is new so the line will probably be shorter, and the food is really good at both places. If you want a really really low key and kind of divey breakfast, you can try the Plymouth Cafe on Plymouth and Van Buren.

Friday night you can check for theater tickets, but they'll likely be down to nosebleeds or really expensive front-row tix. There are some fun bar/lounges in the River North area on Hubbard Street. Not sure how old you are or what kind of nightlife you like, but there's something for everyone in River North. Also, there are some really great restaurants up there too.

If you fancy something a bit more low-key and are looking for good sushi that doesn't break the bank, check out Umai on Clark and Polk -- you can walk there from your hotel. There's one strip of shady-a$$ storefronts on Clark right across from the Board of Trade, but nobody will bother you, especially in the cold. Or you could cab it for like $5. Umai is good sushi and not expensive. If you want you can check out our local pub -- Kaseys at 700 South Dearborn Street (a 2-minute walk from Umai). It's friendly and fun, a real Chicago neighborhood pub. Or you could cab it up to River North.

The other thing you can do is check out the restaurants on Randolph Street in the West Loop. A bit further from your htoel but still less than $10-$12 by cab. LOTS of great restaurants there. But they are more popular so you probably would need a reservation or be willing to wait for a while.

I would second going to the Field Museum, Planetarium and Aquarium if you have time. The Field is awesome, as always. In fact, you can get up early Saturday, grab breakfast at Meli or Yolk, and then walk to the museum since it's on your way -- may make for a nice Saturday.

Good luck and have fun!