The Chicago Traveler wishes everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Celebrate love in whatever form it may be: partner, family, friends.

Photo credit: Nick Benjaminsz

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Two men in uniform exited a police car out front and entered the garage, declaring they were on an investigation. The mobsters cooperated and lined up against the wall, their backs to the uniformed men. The two “policemen” then opened the front door for two men in plain clothes, and all four began shooting Moran’s men with two sub-machine guns, a sawed-off shotgun, and a .45. The seven victims slumped to the floor in a horrific bloody mess, thus resulting in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.

The noise of gunfire caught the attraction of several people in the area. The pair in street clothes came out with their hands up, escorted into the police car by the men in uniform. Witnesses assumed they saw an arrest taking place, when actually, they were watching four murderers make their getaway.

This infamous story is a defining moment in Chicago’s history. The Windy City is well-known for its mobster past, with morbid tales of men with nicknames like “Scarface,” “Killer,” “Machine Gun,” and “The Scourge.” But unfortunately for crime buffs, the building where this fascinatingly horrendous scene took place was demolished in 1967. The 417 bullet-riddled bricks of the rear wall were purchased, saved, and eventually sold for $1000 each. However, many of the bricks were actually returned, because the buyers began experiencing illness, financial ruin, and all-around bad luck.

If you’d like to visit the former site of the garage yourself, it was located at 2122 N Clark St. It is now marked by a fenced lawn and five trees. The center tree marks the area where the seven men met their demise. But beware! Many pet-owners have noticed that their dogs are especially agitated when walking near here, and strange noises have been reported by passersby.

SMC Cartage Co. (former site): 2122 N Clark St
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 22, 36, 73

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

• 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 salsa), parrillada de corazón (adobo-marinated lobster tail, grilled lamb chops, sea scallops, beef tenderloin, and homemade chorizo), and corazón de chocolate (Mexican chocolate cake filled with chocolate mousse and raspberry-corazón tequila sauce). (6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• You may not be able to take your date to Italy, but his/her tastebuds won’t know the difference at A Mano. Revel in the authentic Italian fare in a romantic setting, where you can even have a beautiful rose display awaiting your special someone at the table. The “Italy is for Lovers” menu for two comes in at just under $50. (5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Love doesn’t have to be all violins and candlelight. To add a little spice to your romance, check out the heat at DeLaCosta, where the incredible décor and velvet curtains should add some dramatic pizzazz to your prix-fixe menu for two. (6:30 p.m. – 8:30 a.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Chaise Lounge offers American food with an international flair in its luxurious Miami Beach atmosphere. Have your pick of three dinner packages: the first includes a bottle of wine; choice of appetizer, salad, and entrée; and a dessert for two. The second adds a dozen rose. The third includes a limousine escort to and from the restaurant. (4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., $150-$600 per couple) (map) (link)

• Want to give your guy/girl the moon? The Shoot for the Moon package at Le Colonial is all that and then some. Celebrate the holiday with private use of the restaurant’s terrace, a live harpist, a custom-designed meal by the executive chef, champagne, a personalized playlist in the town car that will take you to a luxury suite… all for just $10,000. If your piggy bank doesn’t hold quite that much, try the three-course tasting menu. (5:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m., $50-$10,000) (map) (link)

• Celebrate your romance with a bit of old-world sophistication at 200 East. The honest-to-goodness supper club is an elegant spot for dining, dancing, and a heart-shaped chocolate cake for two. (4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Diners can enjoy some of the finest French cuisine Bucktown has to offer at Café Matou. The high ceilings, exposed brick, and wrought-iron chandeliers set the bistro scene, while the roasted onion soup, lamb scallops, and chocolate sorbet enhance it. (5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Love sucks. Celebrate anti-Valentine’s Day with Sheffield’s as they screen films like Fatal Attraction and The War of the Roses. And who needs romance when you have chocolate-dipped strawberries and cocktails? (11:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Indulge your sweetheart with a romantic getaway at the Amalfi Hotel, a luxury contemporary hotel in Chicago’s River North district. The Sweet Indulgence Package includes deluxe accommodations for two, a bottle of Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a late check-out (so you and your sweetie can stay in bed just a little bit longer). (all February, $209 a night) (map) (link)

• The Drake Hotel combines tradition with elegance and style like no other. The romance package includes early check-in, in-room sparkling wine, full breakfast for two, and late check-out. The hotel’s restaurant will feature a live violinist and free champagne cocktails. (ends Feb 18^th, $199 a night) (map) (link)

Photo credit: monsieur paradis, Le Colonial, Carrie Taylor

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

• 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 the glass. If your date is not beloved but “beliked,” try the glasses of 1997 Terra Valentine Cabernet for $25 each. (4:00 p.m. – 12 midnight, menu prices) (map) (link)

• What could be more romantic than a Valentine’s Day cruise? Odyssey Cruises will provide you and your date with a three-course meal, complimentary champagne, and a private table with a great view of Lake Michigan. Just be careful not to mess up your spiffy duds near the chocolate fountain. (6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., $92.90) (map) (link)

• Seafood fans should head over to Nick’s Fishmarket. In addition to their regular menu, the chefs have put together special dishes, including Cupid’s Surf & Turf, Lemon Crab Risotto, and a white chocolate mousse for dessert. (5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Check out the elegant French-Vietnamese fare at Le Lan, where the executive chef is offering a prix fixe five-course menu, starting with a Wellfleet oyster with ponzu vinaigrette and ending with a fantastic spiced chocolate souffle. (5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., $95) (map) (link)

• The menu at Le Titi de Paris may be prix-fixe, but it’s by no means restrictive. There are an incredible number of options of French cuisine. Just to give you an idea, the list of desserts include Tahitian-scented crème brulee, white and dark chocolate flourless gateau, and petit fours with praline amaretto candies. (5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., $72, optional wine pairings) (map) (link)

• Executive Chef John Caputo offers a four-course tasting menu at Bin 36 along with his regular a la carte menu. The special menu offers temptations like lobster with saffron-braised leeks, brown butter poached monkfish, coriander-crusted lamb, and a chocolate tasting for two. For an extra something special, roses can be preordered by the half and full dozen. (5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., $68) The restaurant also offers a wine tasting for the romantically disinclined, who are fed up with roses and teddy bears. (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., $36) (map) (link)

• If making plans for the big romantic day leaves you stressed, Spring in Wicker Park has all the organic atmosphere of a Zen garden. The four-course prix fixe is New American with an Asian influence. (5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., $80, optional wine pairings) (map) (link)

• Even if it’s not, celebrate your love as if it was your first. Hotel Burnham’s First Love Package includes a wine reception in the “living room,” deluxe accommodations, Moet & Chandon champagne, Frango chocolates, breakfast for two, and a late checkout (wink wink nudge nudge). (starting at $219) (map) (link)

• Combine a uniquely Chicago experience with your romantic evening. Harry Caray’s will be decorated with rose petals, votive candles, and red balloons. The Chicago location will offer a four-course prix fixe menu featuring items such as jumbo lump crab, roasted beet salad, pan-seared petit filet, and seafood risotto. Reservations are recommended and will be accepted every half hour. (5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., $60, optional wine pairings) (map) (link)

• Kama Sutra. The mere words alone spark a mental sensation. Try Marigold’s Kama Sutra tasting menu for a new awareness. For example, try the Shakkar (Sweetness) in the form of a cocktail with Ketel One, grenadine, mango nectar, prosecco, and lychee. The Shola (Eternal Flame) is a flourless chocolate cake, spotted with pomegranate and red chiles. (5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., $35) (map) (link)

Photo credit: EyeTunes

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

• Your date’s a little crabby, but you love him/her nonetheless. Why not go out for a little crabbiness you can both handle? Sam Houston’s Charhouse is offering four celebrated entrées, including a full serving of Alaskan king crab legs. Another option is the Mixed Grill with a 6-oz prime top sirloin, rotisserie chicken breast, and grilled shrimp scampi. (4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Oysters are widely known for their aphrodisiac qualities. Shaw’s Crab House has a daily-changing selection of oysters that are flown in from waters off the Northwest and Northeast coasts. And there are plenty of menu options designed just for the two of you. Get lost in the mood set by the 1940s-style dining room and a couple glasses of sparkling wine. (5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., prix-fixe $46.95 per person, regular menu available) (map) (link)

• What better way to celebrate the romantic day than with a French kiss? Sid Ranck, the sommelier at Mon Ami Gabi, has created his own “French kiss”: Chambord, crème de cacao, Frangelico, and champagne together in a flute glass with a chocolate-stuffed cherry. (5:30 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• You don’t need a sweetheart to enjoy oysters and champagne with. The dining package at Silver Cloud includes oysters, a half-bottle of champagne (or wine), salad, dessert, and comfort food entrées. Bring along a few buddies, and celebrate your singleness. (5:00 p.m. – 12 midnight, $27.95) (map) (link)

• Valentine’s Day means a lot more than just chocolates and teddy bears in Chicago. Slip into a booth at Fat Cat for the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Party, and order up the special: mussels in a garlic red sauce with foccacia. Wash it all down with a Bleeding Heart—a cocktail comprised of orange vodka, blood orange puree, and caramel-infused Earl Grey. (4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Shrimp cocktail, surf and turf, and Filet Oscar stuffed with Alaskan King Crab are standouts on the menu at Clubhouse in Oak Brook. And the white chocolate mousse is perfect for sharing. (11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Love stings. The Scorpion cocktail at Motel Bar can help ease some of that pain with its generous quantities of Bacardi Silver and Gran Torres brandy. This concoction comes in two glasses, but you don’t have to share a single drop. (4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• Forgot to get her a gift? Have no fear. Buy her the Cloud Gate martini at Tavern at The Park. This $200 cocktail—Grey Goose La Poire with a champagne finish—is rimmed with edible silver and garnished with a sterling pendant from Elsa Peretti. (5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., menu prices) (map) (link)

• The best Valentine’s Days are spent staying in rather than going out. The Fairmont Chicago has got a whole batch of suites all set for you and your honey, including breakfast in bed, a Kama Sutra kit, and a copy of Intercourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook. ($349 a night) (map) (link)

• Volo was voted among the Top 10 Best Date Spots in Chicago (AOL Cityguide 2007), making it the perfect place to enjoy a special three-course prix fixe menu. A stellar wine collection is also available, including a prime selection of port. (4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., $35 prix fixe) (map) (link)

Photo credit: debs, trippchicago, Tojosan

Post from: The Chicago Traveler