Working with Pam was truly one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. From the very first…read moremeeting, she brought a sense of calm, confidence, and genuine care that made the entire planning process feel seamless. Pam has an incredible eye for detail and an innate ability to turn a vision into something even more beautiful than you imagined! She was organized, responsive, and always ten steps ahead, coordinating every vendor flawlessly and ensuring we never had to worry about a thing! On our wedding day, Pam and her team made everything run so smoothly that we were able to be fully present and actually enjoy every moment. Beyond her professionalism, Pam is simply a joy to work with; warm, thoughtful, and deeply invested in making the day special. Our guests are still raving about how perfect everything was, and we owe so much of that to her!!

We came here for an event honoring volunteers and achievements by the Respiratory Health…read moreAssociation. I like the outdoor setup, being cradled and surrounded by ivy walls. I wonder if that's the 'Ivy Room' of the namesake? We grabbed some drinks and enjoyed music, speeches and a special award. It's a nice space with seating, not just wicker chairs either but cushions! There were passed drinks and hor-durves, as well as friendly, helpful bartenders for those wanting beer, water or soda. One of us spilled something on a light-colored jacket, and they came to our rescue with seltzer and wipes. There was also a buffet with Spanish themed food (empanadas, paella) and small bite dessert bar. I asked about what had red meat/pork and thankfully I was dutifully informed. The caterers gave me and my party some leftovers! Not sure what prompted that but we appreciated it(we tipped even on free drinks). The missing star has to do with the wine. It was AWFUL! I tried to break it up with beer, but I got so sick the next day, I had to cancel my evening plans. I probably over indulged, but I have had more wine in one sitting with way fewer side effects. I may just stick with beer next time.

I came here for a business lunch with a group of colleagues. The service was great, and the…read morelocation couldn't have been better! We ate outside and had a great view of the city. I enjoyed the Thai curry!

Chicago has a spectacular skyline. The best way to see it is usually at twenty stories above the…read moreground. There are a finite number of buildings that have public access to view the skyline. The Skyline Club is not one of them. This member only club is on the 24th floor and has a relocated interior from Europe. There is an outside area that overlooks some prime real estate on South Michigan Avenue - even London House which the public can access. This quiet club is great to have a private meeting over lunch. The menu is not earth shattering but competent. I had the chicken soup and a garden salad. Both were ok. The service was great. Not sure how you will get in unless you know a member.

Came here to kill some time on a weekend afternoon and we were pleasantly surprised at the…read moreexperience! Price was a bit steep, but that was the only con about coming - everything else was great! We came in without a reservation and got a table without any issues - the space was pretty big and ambiance was nice, modern and clean. Service was solid with folks walking around making sure that food and drinks were taken care of along with retrieving the ping pong balls which was super convenient. We didn't get any food, but the play experience was solid. Overall, if you're looking for a fun get together, SPIN was great.

Our group had a great time at SPIN! The winter cocktail (hibiscus aperol spritz) was incredible and…read morethe yellowfin tuna cones were delicious. The service and the space was a lot of fun!

I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

We decided to try out pickleball and learnt about their Gold Coast location. This location has…read morearound 10 courts. The courts are outdoor. You can reserve courts online or at the location. They offer paddles at a cost but the pickleballs are free to use whilst playing. We had a prior reservation. The check in process was fast. We just stated the name and the person at the desk gave us our court number. The area seemed well maintained. The check in desk was at the entrance and was a small space. They also offer pickleball lessons for specific times. They even have some slots that are cheaper to reserve (usually off peak hours). We didn't see any water station but there were a few picnic tables where you could put your stuff and take breaks and sit if needed.

My friend and I wanted to play pickleball but didn't want to wait in line, so we decided to book a…read morecourt in advance at Big City Pickle. The process was super easy, on their website, you can check how many courts are available and choose your preferred time slot. We booked and paid online, and when we arrived, we were assigned our court right away. They provide pickleballs if you need them and also offer paddle rentals. Each slot is one hour long, which is perfect for a good game. There were around 7-10 courts available, and the open setup makes it great for a summer game. I'd definitely recommend it if you don't want to wait in a queue, the whole process was smooth!

OMG! The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum has given me a second career to think about…read moreonce I retire. The first was during our stay at the Sable Hotel in Nay Pier. Will sitting in the window, drinking bubbles, I watched the boats going in and out of the locks, I declared in a loud voice to The Doctor that I wanted to become the lock operator. Well if that job doesn't come through, operating the gears to raise the bridge is my new one. I have lived in Chicago all my life, born and bred, and I am a lover of all of the bridges in our town. I had no idea about this museum. It is down on the riverwalk on the Chicago River. The first time The Doctor and I went, it was by accident that we discovered it during one of our staycations. The museum is a five story building. There is no specific fee to enter, but they do take donations. Each floor is filled with historical goodies about the bridges, gears, mechanisms, etc. At river level, The Doctor and I geeked out as we are gears heads. We were able to see the gears that are responsible for raising the bridge. Imagine our surprise to discover that the engine, named Earle, that operates the bridge is kind of like a 1950's Volkswagen Bug. Hearing that made me think of the first time I went to the Museum of Science and Industry to discover that Man went to the moon in something that looked like a washing machine and was operated by computer was didn't even come close to the power of my Samsung phone! But being a gear head, I know that the counter weights literally do the heavy lifting. It was cool to see the lower street levels through the gaps in the structure. Once we got our fill of viewing the gears, we made our way up each level to see the various artifacts and historical musings about Chicago and the different types of bridges in the city. Be prepared to get in some steps (wear your Fitbit or favorite tracker). It was a very interesting visit and I learned a lot about our history with the bridges. Upon leaving, we discovered that the museum does tours of the bridge raising, so we made an reservation to attend. Tickets were $15 each and we were told to arrive at 9:15 am. First thing I discovered during the tour was that there are people in various positions in the gear area as well as the lower sections of bridges. Once the bells went off, Earle started roaring and the gears started turning. It was so cool to see the gears turning and watching the lower section of the bridge for Lower Wacker go up! Once the bridge went up and the gears stopped, The Doctor and I made our way upstairs to see the bridges in the air. It is an interesting process as one bridge at a time goes up and the next one doesn't go up until the other one is in place. So it was cool to see the State Street bridge go up next and watch the Michigan Ave bridge come down. This is not an experience that I would have normally planned for an early Saturday morning, but it was so much fun and we really enjoyed it. The tour season is over as October 25 was the last viewing, but I would highly recommend that once the museum starts the tours again, make a reservation to go and see the bridges go up and down. It was truly magically for us.

Have lived in Chicagoland for years and had no idea of the existence of this museum. Located on the…read moreRiverwalk, we just happened to stumble upon it. It was free for us when we went - I think there is an entrance fee on certain days? Don't quote me on that! It's pretty easy to miss. Has tons of information on the Chicago river and the bridge systems with the mechanical and hydraulic systems used to operate the bridge. Apparently there is also a guided tour also that has a cost - we did the self guided tour. To be honest my husband engineer probably found it more interesting than I did! Has 5 stories with lots of stairs which are pretty narrow, can look out the windows into the river. Takes maybe 20 or so minutes give or take - but would definitely recommend checking out particularly on a free day!

I have been to the downtown Space 519 for breakfast with my sisters on two occasions. The food is…read moreabsolutely delicious and reasonably priced for downtown and the ambience's warm and friendly. I've enjoyed going to this well designed and cozy shop with a wonderful restaurant tucked into it. Highly recommended. The service is great. It is not a huge menu but everything I've had is delicious and the mimosas - the perfect ratio to make the perfect mimosa, try it!

We needed a lunch spot near Water Tower and this turned out to be the perfect spot to dine…read more Unfortunately, my friend and I had our tweens lunching with us so we didn't get to do much shopping here...but it looks like they had some gorgeous, unique pieces. I plan on being back in the area later in the week and can't wait to check it out! As for lunch, or Sunday brunch, we started with a warm fresh baguette. I went with avocado toast for my meal, which hit the spot as it always does. I've had my share of avocado toasts in my lifetime and this was a good one. My daughter also really enjoyed her chicken flatbread. It was huge so when it first came out I thought she could have shared it with her friend, but she was super hungry and it was really tasty so she did a pretty good job eating it on her own. Service was fast and attentive and (again) my only regret is not getting to do more shopping...I'll be back!

As soon as I saw the photos of Hotel EMC2, I knew I had to book it for my quick weekend stay in…read moreChicago--and I'm so glad I did. Shout-out to Nia at the front desk, who was the first person I encountered when I walked in. Her energy was exactly what you want as a guest--warm, welcoming, and professional. I've spent most of my career in hospitality, so I naturally pay attention to the level of service being provided, and she absolutely set the tone for a great stay. Kudos to her and to the team that hired her. My room was beautiful. Nia also let me know I had been upgraded due to my Marriott loyalty, which was very much appreciated. I stayed in a king room, and the moment I walked in, I honestly considered extending my stay another night. The space had a sleek, modern look, everything was clean, and the lighting gave it a stylish city vibe. I ordered room service shortly after arriving and got a burger with fries (which I believe were Parmesan fries ). Everything was very good, and the room service attendant Lorena was just as kind and pleasant. Even though I was only there for one night, the experience was great from start to finish. The bed was comfortable, the linens were fresh, and the location is incredibly convenient--close to everything, which I always appreciate when traveling. I will definitely look to stay here again the next time I'm in Chicago and hope to have the same wonderful experience.

I stayed at the EMC2 Autograph Collection in Chicago and it's the kind of place that makes you…read morebriefly reconsider your own apartment choices. The room? Smart without trying too hard. Clean lines, moody lighting, and that subtle blend of science-meets-art that somehow feels both curated and effortless. The art isn't decorative filler; it's intentional. The whole property has that boutique confidence: not loud, not trendy-for-the-sake-of-trendy...just precise. The aesthetic walks a tightrope between laboratory chic and soulful design, and it doesn't fall. The restaurant deserves its own paragraph. The olive cake alone should have a publicist. The food is thoughtful, layered, and memorable without being pretentious. It feels like someone actually tasted everything before approving the menu; which, these days, is not a given. Location? Ideal. Walkable, central, easy. The gym? Surprisingly solid. Not the sad afterthought treadmill situation. An actual usable space. But here's the thing. Beautiful rooms fade. Art becomes background. Even olive cake, tragically, gets finished. What stays is service. And Nia. Nia is the reason my long stay didn't feel like a stay. It felt like being known. Her smile isn't transactional. Her care isn't performative. The attention to detail is quiet and precise. She remembered my name everyday and I was there for a while. Makes you think, "Oh, someone is actually paying attention." There's a difference between service and hospitality. Nia understands the difference. That's what brings you back.