b5media.com

Advertise with us

Enjoying this blog? Check out the rest of the Travel & Culture Channel Subscribe to this Feed

The Chicago Traveler

Archive for the ‘Hotels’ Category

March 10th, 2008

Congress Hotel

As much as I love Chicago and everything it has to offer, I can admit that it has its imperfections. The Congress Plaza Hotel is an architectural masterpiece. However, in recent years, it has become a blemish on the city’s lakefront skyline.
Built in 1893, the Congress Hotel was completed in a time when horse-drawn carriages […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

February 10th, 2008

Valentine’s Day 2008, III

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Whether you’re lovesick or sick of love, there’s something in town for you.
• All three locations of Adobo Grill in the Chicagoland area will be putting out a menu made for love. Dishes include empanadas con pétalos de rosa (empanadas stuffed with Oaxacan cheese, fresh corn, and chipotle-rose-petal […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

February 7th, 2008

Valentine’s Day 2008, II

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Whether you’re lovesick or sick of love, there’s something in town for you.
• There are three little words that every woman wants to hear: “wine, cheese, chocolate.” Go all out, and buy your beloved a $96 glass of bubbly. Eno will be serving Dom Perignon Rose 1996 by […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

February 4th, 2008

Trump International Hotel and Tower

Despite all of Chicago’s architectural successes, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a new tower of incredible height to crane our necks at. After all, both the Sears Tower and the Aon Center were built in the ‘70s. So in 2000, when Donald Trump announced his plans to build the world’s tallest […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

January 7th, 2008

Aqua

Today’s architectural marvel isn’t even finished yet, but the blueprints alone have many design enthusiasts buzzing. Aqua will easily be one of the most innovative and recognizable buildings in the Chicago skyline.  (Incredible photos are available here and here.)
Let’s get some basic stats out of the way. Construction began in March of 2007, and the […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

December 26th, 2007

New Year’s Eve in Chicago, cont.

Here are a few more ways to bring in the New Year in Chicago:
• Metro: If you’re into the indie rock scene, Spoon will be headlining and playing songs from their most recent album, “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.” 18+ (10 p.m., $76) (map) (link)
• Motel Bar: So maybe you’re not so good at planning […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

December 24th, 2007

New Year’s Eve in Chicago

As you can imagine, there are hundreds of New Year’s Eve events in Chicago, giving you plenty of ways to celebrate the New Year. Here are just a few of the most recommendable:
• Fat Cat: What could be more Chicago than celebrating Capone-style? Get out the flapper dresses and zoot suits for this Roaring ‘20s […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

December 20th, 2007

Crimson Lounge

When you think about trendy, swanky clubs, you probably think of New York City or Los Angeles. But Crimson Lounge shows that Chicago can’t be left out of the high-class mix.
About a block east of Flatwater, this Victorian-inspired lounge in the Hotel Sax Chicago (formerly the House of Blues Hotel) is a much darker space […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

December 18th, 2007

Christmas Restaurants

My cooking skills are limited to tuna sandwiches and grilled cheeses. Fortunately, for the holidays, I have a rather large family full of talented cooks who make a great Christmas dinner. However, if you’d rather eat out and let the professionals handle the kitchen heat, here’s a list of Chicago restaurants that will be open […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

December 14th, 2007

Wintry Weekend

• Follow a trail of flour, chalk, and toilet paper on the Sixth Annual Great Chicago Anthrax Scare/Santa Hat Run. This four-mile run (for $44) includes a Santa cap, a hazmat suit, and four hours of food and open bar with the Chicago Hash House Harriers afterward. Meet at the Hidden Shamrock by 2 p.m. […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment