Hutch and beyond
When you’re traveling with a group, you will want to keep these two things in mind: 1) Everyone wants to be together, and 2) everyone needs time alone. Winter in the Windy City is perfect for both of these. Your train will arrive to the station in late afternoon, placing you right on the Chicago River in the heart of the city. Take that as a housing hint and book rooms in a downtown hotel or a nearby private apartment. Yes, the location will cost a bit more, but you will save on cab fares and enjoy the views as well as the seasonal attractions such as ice skating at Millennium Park or downtown holiday window displays. Plus, by being downtown, your group can easily split up and rejoin one another at central locations. Not everyone’s going to agree on what to see—and that’s perfectly fine. But with all the winter theater, cabarets, comedy shows and music venues, the group can easily choose one big-ticket event that will please everyone. Make that decision in advance of your trip and set it as the centerpiece to your weekend, either on Friday or Saturday night. Then, let everyone go at their own pace and choose your own. Even if the weather is super-blustery, you can easily walk to shopping destinations on the Magnificent Mile, including renowned retailers like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus, as well as a five-story, Chicagofounded flagship Crate and Barrel store. Anchored by Bloomingdale’s, the 900 North Michigan Shops complex features about 70 stores. Water Tower Place, anchored by Macy’s, offers additional options for apparel, handbags, cosmetics and scrumptious cupcakes available in the food court. Fortify culturally with a few hours at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum or the Shedd Aquarium—all within easy walking distance of one another. And if the weather is chilly, you’ll probably encounter far fewer crowds than you would at the summer peak. You can savor gastronomical delights at The Purple Pig, a Bon Appetit magazine top-10 selection whose slogan is “cheese, swine and wine.” For dessert, sample a forkful of the Pig’s signature Sicilian Iris, a delectable fried brioche confection filled with chocolate chips. If you’re heading out in the late evening, top off the night at Lavazza Espression in the John Hancock Observatory, which features Espesso, their trademarked mousse-like coffee dessert. Don’t rush; the observatory is famed for its sky-high views of the city, even from the women’s restroom. Having enjoyed individual downtime, make one additional group outing for a luxurious and long Sunday brunch (go over recommendations through Chicago Reader or other local publications to select and reserve your spot in advance). Don’t worry, there’s time to savor dessert and another coffee before you board your train and begin sharing impressions of the city, ideally while passing around Garrett’s gourmet popcorn and Frango mints, quintessential Chi-town treats.
out & about
Photography by/courtesy: (opposite page, from top) Richard Khanlian (Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau), Deborah Walker and Chris Corrie (Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau); this page, from top, by/courtesy: Choose Chicago, Deborah Walker and Choose Chicago.
Chill with friends in Chicago
Sunflower living winter 2014
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