It's Beach Time!

Can I just say how happy I am that the Beaches are open. The Beaches being open means my favorite beach bars are open too!

Lets start with the Oak Street Beach since it is the closest to our hotel. Not only very popular with the locals, the tourist Love it as well. It just so happens that Oak Street Beach is where the Beachtro is located. Beachtro is a large outdoor deck bar that serves Cocktails & Food. It makes you feel as if you were at a luxurious resort.

Now go North 1 mile and you will find North Ave. Beach and Castaways. The most popular of all the Beaches and Beach Bars. Ah, what can I say…. I Love it Here! This place has the Best people watching, the Best Bar Scene, the BEST View of the City. The food, the drinks, and the view make this place priceless. Oh, and don’t forget Volleyball Courts galore, and an outdoor Gym.  It is a must for all visitors to stop by and take a look. One more thing, you can rent a bike here as well.

Ok, now this is my favorite new spot! Montrose Beach and The Dock Bar. Know this is a $10 taxi ride from the hotel or a 30 minute bike ride from the hotel. This place has the largest Beach and the Deck of the Beach Bar runs right into the Sand. You will find the crowd a mix of every age. It has a nice little menu and is NOT over priced on food or drinks. As if you weren’t already sold, They have live music too! Live music takes place Wednsday through Sunday. Check it out if you have the time!

When the sun is shining and the temperatures are high, it’s a must that you make a stop at one of Chicago’s wonderful beaches. Maybe I’ll see you there!

Sheryl

Tour Time

Well, you know that warmer weather is coming when Chicago Tour Companies start running their seasonal tours. There are several choices to suit each of your individual needs. Lets start with land….. See it All Tours does a great 2 hour City Tour. They run 10am & 1pm. They will pick you up here at the Knickerbocker Hotel entrance and bring you back as well. This tour will go through the city as well as the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park and a final stop at Wrigley for a photo opportunity. Also, the Double Decker Hop on Hop off, does the same thing. But, city only and you can ride it all day; see us at the Concierge Desk for a Discount and Booking. I Love Absolutely Segway Tours! You will have a guided tour on the Lakefront & Museum Campus. These guys do a great job and have the best prices. You can also try a walking tour. Chicago Detour offer Walking Tours of the Loop area. The Architectural Foundation offers walking Art Deco & Skyscrapers walking tours as well. Don’t forget Frank Llyod Wright Tours, too! Be sure to not miss out on the Wrigley Field tours while you are in town. Wrigley Field is the second oldest baseball field in the United States. Water Tours Galore…… I will start with my favorites first! Chicago Line does Architectural & Historical River Cruises, as does the Architectural Foundation. Both tours are 90 minutes and need to be booked in advance, as they do sell out. Then we have our beautiful Lake Michigan boat tours. Everything from dinner cruises to sightseeing. The most fun is the Sea Dog, it is a huge speed boat that cruises out on the lake at fast speeds. On the other side there is the Tall Ship Windy which is a huge Sail boat that does a pirate theme for 2 hours, I love this one and for the photo opportunities. Last but not least The Odyssey, Spirit, and Mystic Blue do the Lunch & Dinner cruises. These are great for Singles and Couples alike, from fun and loud to romantic for the love birds out there. Please call me and I will be happy to fill you in. I could go on and on about the tours offered in my fine city of Chicago. For more information and recommendations on other tours that may not be listed above, please contact us here at the Concierge Desk and we will be happy to assist you with more information and make a booking for you or stop by and see me Sheryl, Paul or Henry and we will be happy to help!

A look back into the 1930's

In the early 1930’s, the Knickerbocker Hotel had resident guests as well as transient guests. Mary Belle Spaulding was among many of our resident guests. Ms. Spaulding arrived in Chicago with a family letter of introduction to launch a life insurance sales career. New Clientele was largely comprised of North Shore and Gold Coast families. In the 1930’s, the Knickerbocker’s Continental room was a library that contained over 8000 volumes. This library was where Ms. Spaulding met with new client prospects. Her career prospered so much that she had a Steele safety deposit box chained to the floor of her bedroom closet, containing a vast jewelry collection.

Theater in the Summer

Theatre in Chicago always presents a good laugh and a good cry! This April there is so many good happenings in our Theatre District.

Jersey Boys is back! They will reside at the Bank of America Theater through December. My personal favorite is the Million Dollar Quartet, now in its fourth year running; it is a toe tapper from beginning to end. Another fun one is Motherhood the Musical at the Royal George Theatre. It is a Comedy of the blessings and perils of being a mom.
For a more children friendly crowd, Pinkalicious, is a musical great for kids 3 and Up. The show is performing just a short walk from the hotel at the Broadway Playhouse.

Feeling a little bit dramatic? The Shakespeare Theatre located at Navy Pier is a must for any theatergoer. Stop by and check out the critically acclaimed show ‘Being Shakespeare’. The show is running through April 29th.

Gourmet Mexican feast? World-class circus acts? Tantalizing love story? Believe it or not, you can get all of this at the new show Cascabel starring world renowned chef, Rick Bayless. Cascabel is performing at the Lookingglass Theater just a few blocks away from the Knickerbocker Hotel.

Chicago has so many theaters – small, large, wonderful, historic, and the list goes on. Our Theater district has something to offer everyone. Please contact us and we will help get you tickets for a show that best suites your personality and mood.

If you have question and would like to book tickets please see us at the Concierge Desk or call 312-867-7552. Paul, Henry, and myself will be happy to assist you.

See you soon,
Sheryl

April Showers Bring...Baseball!

Welcome to the Millennium Knickerbocker where spring has sprung in Chicago and the fun is just beginning!!

Chicago Cubs baseball kicks off at 1060 West Addison - Wrigley Field on Thursday, April 5th at 1:20PM. The Cubs face off against the Washington Nationals and comedian/lifelong Cubs fan Bill Murray will sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch.

A trip to Wrigley Field, better known as “The Friendly Confines” is a must see if you have not yet been to the park. Chicago has a fantastic transit system and it is a short subway “L” ride away from the hotel. The Red Line north to Addison will drop you at Wrigley’s back door in the bustling “Wrigleyville” neighborhood. There are multitudes of bars, restaurants and shops to visit in this hot area.

Just a little background on Wrigley - the first game played in 1914 and still stands as the original structure even with some new renovations. The biggest news for 2012 is that the Ricketts family purchased the Chicago Cubs from the Tribune Company and they hired Theo Epstein, the former general manager of the Boston Red Sox to become the Cubs new President of baseball operations. The fans in Chicago are hoping he will be able to break the Cubs Curse and bring Chicago a long overdue north side World Series!!

For more information about the Chicago Cubs - http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=chc

The other baseball team in Chicago is on Chicago’s South Side of town - the Chicago White Sox Opening Day is on Friday, April 14th at 1:10PM against the Detroit Tigers.
You can also get to the park – U.S. Cellular Field by riding the Red Line subway southbound to the Sox/35th Street stop. The park is only a block away from the park and is such an easy and convenient way to see a big league game.

Unlike at Wrigley Field, tailgating is allowed and encouraged in White Sox parking lots before every home game until game time. Parking lots open two hours prior to game time.

A wonderful way to commemorate your visit is to stop by any Guest Relations Booth to pick up a “First Game Certificate” – this for fans that have come to U.S. Cellular for their very first time.

Fans will not have to wait for the Fourth of July to see fireworks! Fireworks are exploded before every game, after every White Sox home run, and after White Sox victories.

Make the most of your trip to Chicago and check out one or both of our legendary ball parks. The new seasons are starting and as the fans always say - Next Year is Here!!