Explore News September 2006
news, views and events from bmi destinations including Amsterdam, Hanover and Nice. Plus the epic journey from Riyadh to Killarney by Harley Davidson
concierge’s corner
Chicago
FROM HIGH ART TO BLUES CLUBS, HOT DOGS TO HAUTE CUISINE, TOP CONCIERGE, TODD NELSON, SAYS CHICAGO IS A CITY SECOND TO NONE
FIRST TIMER? Chicago Architecture Foundation (www. architecture.org) provides walking tours and boat trips for an alternative perspective on the city’s skyline. Find world-class art, music and architecture at Millennium Park (55 North Michigan Avenue), where you can do everything from ice-skating to al fresco dining. For shopping, head to Michigan Avenue, home to 460 stores as well as several museums and galleries. And no trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to Wrigley Field (1060 West Addison Street). The ball park is a mecca for baseball fans everywhere.
BEEN BEFORE? Chicago is home to the blues, so you should defi nitely check out a club. Try Blues Chicago, Kingston Mines (www.kingstonmines.com), Buddy Guy’s Legends and House of Blues (www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/chicago). We also have some great comedy clubs – the best of them all is Second City (www.secondcity.com), which produced several well-known comedians, including Jim Belushi.
POWER LUNCH: The menu at RL (115 E Chicago Ave), Ralph Lauren’s fi rst restaurant venture, features classic American dishes such as steaks from the stock at Lauren’s own ranch. The menu at Capital Grille (633 North St Clair Street) starts with fl ash-fried calamari and Beluga caviar, then moves on to dry-aged steaks, charbroiled with butter and fresh garlic.
TAKE A DATE: Take a horse-drawn carriage ride and visit the lakefront, River North, Rush Street and Lincoln Park.
TOP TIPPLE: Chicago is a real beer-swilling town. The local favourite is Honker’s Ale and it’s best imbibed at the source, Goose Island Brewery (1800 North Clybourn).
TAKE HOME: The hot dog, with its ‘day-glo’ pickle relish, is a true icon of the Chicago Stockyard. Take a jar of relish home for a reminder of Chicago’s meatpacking heritage.
TODD NELSON has been head concierge at The Peninsula for fi ve years. He is a member of Les Clef d’Or, the prestigious international society of concierges, and the Chicago Hotel Concierge Association. The Peninsula was named the No.1 hotel in Chicago by Travel + Leisure magazine (2005) and the No.1 hotel in the US by the Zagat Survey in 2003, 2004 and 2005. 108 East Superior Street (at North Michigan Avenue); +1 312 337 2888; www.chicago.peninsula.com
