Weekend Special: Best Places for Coffee and Brunch

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Peet's Coffee has some of the best coffees and teas in Chicago and also has free WiFi There’s nothing better than a Saturday morning sleeping in and then joining friends for brunch, or spending a lazy afternoon with your favorite book or magazine and a cup of velvety smooth coffee. Weekends are a great time to check out some of Chicago’s best breakfast spots and coffee hangouts. Here’s a sample of some of the more popular choices. Peet’s Coffee (1000 W. North Ave.) – Has...

September 18th, 2009 | Lisa Davis | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: breakfast, brunch, Chicago, coffee-houses

10 Things to Do in Chicago This Fall

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While summer has the claim to be the season for Chicago’s outdoor festivals, the fall is also prime time for festivals, parades, concerts, and more. In fact, many Chicagoans say autumn is one of the city’s best seasons. Consider this your guide to some of Chicago’s most popular fall events, listed in order of date. 1. Harvest Fest – live music and local foods and drinks; Sept. 18 – 20, 1900 W. Belmont Avenue, 773-665-4682. 2. Guinness Oyster Festival – known for its...

September 18th, 2009 | Lisa Davis | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Arts and Entertainment, Bars and Clubs, books, Chicago, Events, fall events, festival, free, Halloween, kid friendly, music, News, parades, Performing Arts - Theater & Dance, Thanksgiving, top ten

Best places near Chicago to see the leaves change in the fall

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It’s that time of year when the green leaves of summer take on the fall glories of reds, yellows and vivid oranges. Within driving range from Chicago are some of the best places to see the leaves change, grab a pumpkin, and pick some apples. Consider this your tip sheet for the Midwest’s best spots for leaf views. WISCONSIN Kettle Moraine, Northern and Southern Units Distance from Chicago: 133 miles to Kewaskum; 150 miles to Elkhart Lake. Peak Season: Mid October. This 25-mile drive...

September 17th, 2009 | Lisa Davis | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Chicago, fall, fall drives, fall-colors, Hotels & Places to Stay, leaves, Midwest, News, sports and recreation

The Berghoff Oktoberfest kicks off this week in Chicago

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It’s Oktoberfest time in Chicago and one of the bigger ones kicks off this week: The 24th annual Berghoff Oktoberfest, Wednesday, September 16 through Friday, September 18, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at Chicago’s Federal Plaza, Adams and Dearborn Streets. The 24th annual Berghoff Oktoberfest starts Wednesday, September 16 Toast your glasses at the Berghoff Oktoberfest with German specialties and Berghoff’s private-label beer and root beer, and a Bavarian polka band. Be sure to...

September 15th, 2009 | Lisa Davis | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Berghoff Oktoberfest, Chicago

Oprah Winfrey tapes show on Michigan Avenue

... of Michigan and Ohio Street. The taping will kick off Oprah’s 24th season with a giant “party” that will shut down part of Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile. Audience admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis starting at noon, and the taping will begin at 5 p.m. Audience space is standing-room only. While the entire guest list has not been released yet, the show will include a free Black Eyed Peas concert, as well as appearances by Jennifer Hudson and James...

September 8th, 2009 | Lisa Davis | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Chicago, free concert, michigan-avenue, Oprah Winfrey

Spa Week in Chicago offers discounted massages, facials, and more

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Need to relieve your aching muscles and de-stress with a massage, facial, or body scrub? Spa Week is coming to Chicago September 14 – 20 and for $50 (yes, you read that right) you can indulge at some of the city’s best spas, including Bliss, Red Door, Kiva Day Spa, Ruby Room, and Shen Shen. Spa Week’s goal is to offer normally costly spa services (usually hundreds of dollars) at a more price-friendly amount, $50, helping those who have to watch their budgets in these tough...

September 5th, 2009 | Lisa Davis | Read More | Comments: 1
Filed under: Chicago, discounted spa services, Events, facials, massages, News, spa services, Spa Week, spa-and-beauty, spas

First luxury hotel in the Chicago suburbs

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Considered the first luxury hotel in the Chicago suburbs, the Hotel Arista in Naperville, IL, has opened to positive reviews. The 144-room hotel is also one of the area’s first LEED-certified luxury accommodations with green touches such as using reusable laundry bags and water conservation fixtures. Rooms with personal touches Signature in-room amenities include headboards equipped with reading lights; marble bathrooms with walk-in showers and televisions embedded in the mirrors; flat-panel high-definition...

August 31st, 2009 | Jeanne Dupuis | Read More | Comments: 2
Filed under: Chicago, gourmet restaurant, green hotel, green travel, Hotels & Places to Stay, Illinois, luxury hotel, Naperville

Chicago – The Musical — A Thumbs Up Review

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On Wednesday evening I saw Chicago – The Musical, now at the National Theatre in Washington, DC. And the production is marvelous. From the opening number to the finale, it’s fast, fun and full of energy. Throughout the performance, the show stopping rounds of applause illustrated how much the crowd was enjoying the performance. And the immediate standing ovation at the conclusion simply reinforced the message. Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart (Charlotte d’Amboise), a wanna-be Chicago singer...

April 6th, 2009 | Jon Rochetti | Read More | Comments: 0
Filed under: Chicago, Chicago - The Musical, National Theatre, plays, The Arts

Chicago – The Musical Comes to Washington, DC

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The city of Chicago (my home town), became notorious for gangsters, bootleggers, Al Capone and as a murder capital during the 1920s. Years later, people around the globe still think of gangsters and machine guns when you mention Chicago. And this Chicago story involves murder, corruption, greed, press manipulation, violence, adultery, and the criminal as celebrity. And the public can’t get enough. (Seems things never change.) Roxi, a married wanna-be nightclub singer murders her lying lover...

March 25th, 2009 | Jon Rochetti | Read More | Comments: 2
Filed under: Chicago, National Theatre, Performing Arts - Theater & Dance, The Arts, Washington DC