Aug
08
My Kind of Town
Posted By: Laura Hunt @
14:12 Aug 08, 2014
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Frank Sinatra wasn’t alone when he crooned the words: “My Kind of Town” to his beloved Chicago; For years, I only considered The Windy City as a quick stop for an event or a layover on the way cross country, until this past weekend when I finally got to step onto the streets and see what the city has to offer.
With it’s friendly mid-western attitude, the energy of Chicago is something I can’t boast about enough; while walking the blocks of New York City at a frenetic pace feels more like a battlefield than a commute, Chicagoans seem to have it figured out. Still fast-paced, the city doesn’t feel suffocating, in fact, the planning of the city with its wide boulevards and various shaped buildings embrace the light and the sky. The Chicago River bisecting the city adds a whole new dimension, and the lake flanking the East side seemingly opens the city up to the rest of the world.
Walking up and down the streets, I didn’t know where to look next. There was something interesting around each corner, even walking on Michigan Avenue with some of the world’s best shopping at my fingertips, I didn’t want to leave the sidewalk and go inside! The wide boulevards flanked by gardens hid the fact I’m in a booming metropolis; for such a modern city, Chicago felt like it adopted old European traditions of making the streets just as important as the buildings.
DO
Call me a sucker for tourist activities, I will never send anyone to Chicago without insisting they do the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. Led by an all volunteer team of knowledgable docents, there is no better way to view some of Chicago’s most spectacular architecture and history than on the roof of a river boat. It was so fascinating to see the diversity of Chicago and its rich history; From the Mies Van der Rohe designed IBM building (1973) next to statement buildings like the Merchandise Mart (1930) or The Wrigley Building (1924) both designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, and the iconic Marina City (1964) designed by Bertrand Goldberg every decade in architecture seems to be represented beautifully. Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise . http://www.architecture.org/rivercruise . 312-922-3432
SIP
All good days end with a good cocktail, in this case, cocktails with umbrellas and coconuts! Like a trip back in time (and to a far off isle), Three Dots & a Dash was a hoot! Craft cocktails set in a tiki lounge, nothing was too kitsch or to over the top for this place! I can see why this is Chicago’s latest hot spot and attracts people from all over (including Eminem at the next table who just finished his set at Lollapalooza that night). Like its namesake taken from the Morse Code “V” for Victory, they’ve most definitely created a winner. Three Dots & A Dash . 435 N. Clark St. 312-610-4220
STAY
With my busy travel schedule, I have a discerning eye on hotels, and my hotel in Chicago easily became one of my favorites in years! Opening in September of 2013, The Langham, Chicago has quickly made its mark on Chicago luxury hotels. Housed in an iconic Mies Van Der Rohe designed building, The Langham, Chicago occupies the first 13 floors, steps away from the Chicago River, Michigan Avenue, or Chicago’s financial center. Keeping up with its namesake in London, the Langham, Chicago offered a stunning afternoon tea presentation. Elegantly served with Wedgwood, it was the perfect way to slow down and reflect on all the liveliness outside. The Langham, Chicago . 330 N. Wabash Ave. 312-923.9988
I spent the rest of the weekend hitting just the tip of the iceberg of what this city has to offer. Driving up to Wrigleyville and passing the world-famous Wrigley Field, standing proud at 100-years-old, I forget how many caveats of Chicago’s rich history there are. Then I headed to Millenium Park, Chicago’s playground. The park is home to a treasury of attractions and works from famed artists like Jaume Plensa and his “Crown Fountain,” Anish Kapoor and his “Cloud Gate” sculpture and Frank Gehry’s bandshell at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. It was the perfect stop before I drowned myself in dim sum at The Shanghai Terrace at the Peninsula Hotel. Voted the number one “Chinese Restaurant in Chicago” by Zagat, this restaurant never disappoints. Shanghai Terrace . 108 E. Superior St. 312-573-6744
My weekend was hardly long enough. I now know that Chicago is one place I will be back sooner than later. The people, the food, the architecture, the sights, “My kind of town, Chicago is…”
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