Chicago redux

Posted on September 2, 2008 by appsscraps
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1) just outside Millennium Park

Chicago remains such a great city, and, even though I had a whirlwind tour last week, it was fun and educational. I stayed at W-Lakeshore which I must admit I don’t like half as much as W-City Center where G and I stayed previously. The Lakeshore W is busy as sin, has oodles more kids (not that there’s anything wrong with kids) and no vibe or charm.

Granted, my hotel was all of a 1 minute walk to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where the conference was happening so that was a real bonus. On Wednesday night I met up with my archeological dig buddy, Karen (aka Mal) for dinner. Karen and I go waaaaay back to our school days toiling with Harvard University at the Tel Beth-Shemesh archeological site, just outside Jerusalem in 1993 (that amazing story is here).

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2) W-Lakeshore entrance; 3) my wonderful room

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4 & 5) the view from the hotel daytime and nighttime … that’s Navy Pier

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6) Whiskey Sky Bar on the 33rd floor of the hotel

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7) boy, it was tempting! … champagne for breakfast!; 8) I love both the fantasy and fondue for two options in the room service menu

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9) the funky bathroom in the room; 10) W hallways

For dinner, Karen took me to Bin 36, a great resto-wine-cheese bar downtown in the Loop. I loved this place and enjoyed both my flight of Shiraz wines and the Spanish cheese selection we opted for. Afterwards, we wandered down to W-City Center and enjoyed drinks in the bar.


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11) the cheese bar at Bin 36; 12) our selection of Spanish cheese

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13) the River; 14) Wednesday night’s concert at Millennium Park

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15) the Bean!

On Thursday night the Conference group hosted a wonderful cocktail party at the Chicago Cultural Centre. We had the place to ourselves to explore the galleries, the newly refurbished Tiffany glass dome, and ate and drank up on the 5th floor with a floor-to-ceiling window view of Millennium Park. It was uber wonderful!


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16) Tiffany dome – all 30,000 individual glass pieces; 17) more of the Dome

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18) gorgeous!

I did manage to sneak out for a bit and visited the Art Institute of Chicago exhibit halls as they were free on Thursday night. Bonus!

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19) the famous lions outside the Institute; 20) remember this painting from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?

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21) the Fountain at Millennium Park … so much fun

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22 & 23) the view from our perch at the Chicago Cultural Centre

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8 Responses to Chicago redux

  1. orchidgrass says:
    September 4, 2008 at 02:14

    can’t imagine ppl playing what the guy spits

  2. ElusiveWords says:
    September 4, 2008 at 00:34

    That’s a nice looking hotel. I thought they frown on taking pics in museums.

  3. jasonbasin says:
    September 3, 2008 at 12:16

    GORGE PICS!  You did everything noteworthy to do in Chicago.  I can’t believe you got to take a pic of the Ferris Beuller painting.

  4. CurryPuffy says:
    September 3, 2008 at 03:59

    Funny you mentioned about “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. Now I want to visit the places that you visited and stay at the W and order the “FANTASY”!!!

  5. Devilzgaysianboi says:
    September 2, 2008 at 23:14

    Wow… i looks like such a beautiful hotel and a beautiful place from the pictures you took and posted on here.But man… im so jealous how you get to go all over the world and see so many new and different things.And about that ‘Wake Up Menu’with those prices… I would wake up too.8 dollars for milk and cookies?!

  6. kunhuo42 says:
    September 2, 2008 at 20:19

    so wait, you were there for what again? sightseeing? =P

  7. Fatcat723 says:
    September 2, 2008 at 17:42

    next time TAKE ME TAKE ME TAKE ME!!!!!

  8. christao408 says:
    September 2, 2008 at 17:09

    Isn’t Chicago a great town?  Glad you enjoyed it.

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