Chicago
June - July 2010
Shopping, dining and sports in The Windy City
It’s known as the city of big shoulders. the windy city. Sweet home chicago.
Although The Second City may be its most famous moniker, when it comes to luxurious accommodations and world-class cuisine, Chicago is second to none.
Sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a Mecca for culture and entertainment in the Midwest. It’s more than just the home of Oprah and a certain former Island boy now in the White House – this metropolis in the Land of Lincoln is a bona fide hot spot for the affluent traveler.
The Magnificent Mile is a shopper’s paradise. Extending north from the Chicago River, this stretch of North Michigan Avenue has a who’s who of high-end retailers. Nordstrom anchors The Shops at North Bridge, which also boasts a Kenneth Cole, Hugo Boss and A/X Armani Exchange.
Just west of the Mag Mile on Wabash Avenue is the Trump International Hotel & Tower. Built on the former site of the Chicago Sun-Times, the 92-story tower rises into the skyline near the Wrigley Building. Conceived as a potential world’s tallest building before plans were scaled back in 2001, this hotel and condominium opened in January 2008.
The stainless steel and glass structure features 339 guest rooms and suites. Thanks to its prime location, The Trump’s signature restaurant, Sixteen, has an unobstructed view of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
As you continue north on Michigan Avenue, you can browse Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Cartier. Nestled in the shadow of the John Hancock Center, Water Tower Place offers more than 100 shops and eateries in an eight-story complex.
Near Water Tower, at 900 North Michigan, dozens of upscale retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Gucci share real estate with the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. This luxurious hotel is regarded as one of the top hotels in the world. A high-end spa, a fitness center and the fine French-American restaurant Seasons make this the first choice of many travelers.
At the culmination of this great avenue is the quintessential Chicago hotel, The Drake Hotel. With all the upscale amenities you’d expect, The Drake is a true Chicago experience with four restaurants, including the popular Coq d’Or.
The Drake, built in 1920, is a historic spot for celebrities and heads of state. It has graced many Chicago-set movies such as The Blues Brothers, Risky Business and My Best Friend’s Wedding.
If the Drake is timeless Chicago, theWit is new-century. A neon-yellow “lightning bolt” is carved into the facade of the building, which is on the edge of Chicago’s famed Loop district. theWit is steps away from the State Street shopping area and the majestic Chicago Theatre, whose six-story vertical sign is an unmistakable landmark.
The hotel is home to Roof, a year-round rooftop bar that is popular among locals. It has consistently been listed among Chicago’s best new bars. theWit is an eco-friendly hotel that boasts three restaurants.
For a men’s get-together, reserve Screen, theWit’s high-definition multimedia center. Bring up to 40 of your closest friends for a guy’s movie marathon or a sporting event in this one-ofa-kind screening/party room.
If you’re looking for sports, Chicago delivers. Head south to Soldier Field to watch the Bears, but plan ahead because tickets for the Monsters of the Midway can be scarce, even when the season isn’t going as well as fans would like.
The NHL’s Blackhawks and the NBA’s Bulls share the United Center, just west of downtown. A statue of the most famous Bull, Michael Jordan, greets visitors to the arena.
While most Chicagoans can get behind those three teams, baseball’s Chicago White Sox and Cubs inspire a distinct rivalry.
The Red Line train takes you to either team’s ballpark. Go north to Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, and be sure to sing along with the traditional Take Me Out To the Ballgame during the seventh-inning stretch. Take the train south to U.S. Cellular Field and catch the White Sox in action. Or watch them face each other during the two yearly crosstown series.
After a day at the stadium, it’s time to satisfy that appetite. Chicago offers one of the world’s best dining scenes. Known for deep-dish pizza and hot dogs with a salad’s worth of toppings, Chicago also is home to some of the world’s best chefs.
Table Fifty-Two in the Gold Coast is owned by celebrity chef Art Smith. His American cuisine restaurant has only 23 tables, but Smith’s connection to Oprah Winfrey (he was her personal chef) has made this a sought-after reservation. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama chose it for a Valentine’s Day date in 2009.
Edgier fare can be found at Moto in the West Loop. Chef Homaro Cantu, star of Planet Green’s Future Food TV show, is known for creating an intriguing dining experience. He has gained a following with his scientific approach to cooking. He’s known for using an ink-jet printer, liquid nitrogen and other out-of-the-ordinary tools in the kitchen.
In similar fashion, Chef Grant Achatz specializes in molecular gastronomy. His Alinea, in Lincoln Park, was recently named the top American restaurant on Restaurant magazine’s “World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list. Alinea’s cutting-edge menu serves up many dramatic multiple-course meals.
For a more classic Chicago experience, opt for Charlie Trotter’s eponymous restaurant. The city’s first celebrity chef has a menu of contemporary American cuisine. Also in Lincoln Park, this jacket-required mainstay opened in 1987 and has been a book-in-advance (way in advance) destination ever since.
So whether you think of it as the City That Works or the City by the Lake, you’ll come to see Chicago as a cosmopolitan city with opulent accommodations and sumptuous dining, all served with Midwestern hospitality.
Chicago Via Hawaii
Ask Henry “Hank” adaniya about chicago, and the honolulu-based restaurateur lights up with a bevy of tips and details.
“Avoid going from January to March,” the former chicago resident says. “My favorite season is fall. in october, it’s a color show, almost pyrotechnic!”
Adaniya is the owner of hank’s haute dogs, which offers a small taste of chicago in the islands. the restaurant’s all prime beef chicago dog is stacked with an arsenal of beloved windy city toppings: mustard, sport peppers, a chicago-imported kosher dill pickle, celery salt and a relish of iridescent green. it’s all held together in the dish’s trademark poppy seed bun.
“It’s more authentic than a lot of chicago dogs,” adaniya says. “it’s a piece of home.”
At the ready on his iPhone is a list of the best chicago tourist spots and restaurants to check out. From the lincoln Park zoo to biking in city parks, eating pizza at uno’s or enjoying German music and beer at the hofbrau house, adaniya loves the diversity and activities chicago holds.
“It has all the availabilities of great cities – culture, dining, etc. – but it’s less maniacal,” he says. “it’s built up of neighborhoods with an approachable intensity. it’s different from los angeles or new york.” there’s so much to do in chicago, that adaniya advises travelers to savor the experience.
“Take your time to enjoy the city,” he says.
- By HILuxury Team
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