I have always wanted to see Shakira in concert and when we found out she was going to be in Chicago - well - there wasn't much need for discussion! Sightseeing gems are everywhere (hence the musical title) and everybody dances in Chicago. Yes - they even dance at concerts - and a Shakira concert was no different. What was different from the usual, though, was that I wasn't prepared for the gorgeous and skillful dancing. Kept wondering how I could learn to do that - however, I'm digressing.....
Sightseeing - there's no way to get it all done in the weekend visit we had - but that left us with the comforting thought that we need to get back again. There's more than enough for many, many visits. and maybe you can even get in a concert or two in too!
Where to stay;
With a plethora of choices, this time we picked the Ritz-Carlton Four Seasons on the north end of Magnificent Mile. It had recently been remodeled and was just a gorgeous, comfortable hotel within walking distance to the restaurants we had chosen.
Our choices for touring that weekend? I ❤ Millenium Park and Cloud Gate. To quote lonelyplanet.com; "The colossal head of a crazy-looking old lady – four stories high! – is spewing a gush of water onto a gaggle of squealing children. In the distance, the spires of the city rise into the clear blue air, along which floats a faint orchestral strain. Sure, you could get on the El and spend the day racing around the city by foot, but you’d probably learn just as much about the character of the city by spending a long, lazy afternoon soaking in the city’s centerpiece, Millennium Park."
The Magnificent Mile; so much shopping to do and so little time to get it all in! On weekends the street is not only filled with shoppers but with street musicians and entertainment.
The Magnificent Mile; so much shopping to do and so little time to get it all in! On weekends the street is not only filled with shoppers but with street musicians and entertainment.
Drinks at the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the John Hancock building - 1,000 feet above Chicago overlooking the Oak Street Beach (yes - there is a beach in Chicago). This is such a nice alternative to the crowded Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower). I've never paid for the Hancock observatory one floor above, either. I much prefer to enjoy the beautiful panoramic view from my chair and pay for a drink and some appetizers instead.
Navy Pier; entertainment, shopping, museums and the starting point for many boat trips.
The Tribune Tower
Chicago River and the Riverwalk
Grant Park & Buckingham Fountain
Old Water Tower (one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire)
Restaurants we enjoyed....
Bistro 110 (classic salads and sandwiches)
Sayat Nova (a fantastic Middle Eastern and Armenian restaurant)
The Grill on the Alley (first-rate fare, attentive service, and a dignified atmosphere; private rooms, too!)
Venus (features the food of Greece and Cyprus)
