David,

If you are going to be downtown the old jewelry district is concentrated around the corner of Wabash and Madison Streets. The building on the Southeast corner of these two streets is 12 or 14 floors of jewelers and watchmakers and there are wholesale and retail and estate jewelers up and down Wabash street on both sides of Madison. Quite frankly most of them do not have a lot of vintage watches but over the years I have found some reasonable deals. There is certainly enough to keep a man occupied and having fun for a while.

Also, if you are hungry for lunch....and I mean really hungry and want to eat at a real Chicago place try

Manny's Deli
1141 S. Jefferson
Chicago, IL 60607

You will never get a much better or bigger corned beef or pastrami sandwich and I have eaten enough of these to have a reasonable expertise. It has been a hangout for Chicago politicians and movers and shakers for a long time. It is a short cab ride from downtown and if you are looking for elegant dining this is not the place....but it is real Chicago and very good.

Buon Chance!