CHOOSE CHICAGO’S TRAVEL SERIES “THE 77: A CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS” WINS THIRTEEN TELLY AWARDS
Choose Chicago is proud to announce that its new travel series, “The 77: A City of Neighborhoods,” has received multiple honors at the prestigious Telly Awards, a globally-recognized awards platform that honors excellence in television and video across all screens.
Pullman Historic District in the Pullman Neighborhood. Photo courtesy of the Pullman Historic Foundation.
Choose Chicago created this series in partnership with Chicago-based Skalawag Productions to showcase the rich diversity and history of our neighborhoods. “The 77: A City of Neighborhoods” garnered thirteen accolades at the Telly Awards, including five Gold and eight Silver Awards.
The Chicago River flows through several of the city’s neighborhoods including River North. Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago.
Choose Chicago works to position Chicago’s neighborhoods as premier travel destinations by collaborating with local creatives, community leaders, and chambers of commerce, and by supporting community events, infrastructure development, and placemaking projects.
Saints Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church. Ukrainian Village. Photo courtesy of Eric Allix Rogers.
Rich Gamble, Interim President and CEO of Choose Chicago, expressed his excitement about the series’ success: “We are thrilled that ‘The 77: A City of Neighborhoods’ has been recognized with such prestigious awards. This series is a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of Chicago’s neighborhoods and the talented team behind its creation. We hope these stories inspire viewers to further explore and experience all that our city and its neighborhoods have to offer.”
The Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University. Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago.
“The 77: A City of Neighborhoods” celebrates the vibrant and distinct communities that make Chicago a world-class destination. The first five episodes of the series have resonated with audiences and judges alike, earning recognition across multiple categories. The awards underscore the series’ exceptional storytelling, cinematography, and creative direction.
“Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, and we took a new marketing approach that acknowledges the realties and complexities of a constantly changing urban landscape,” said Rob Fojtik, Vice President of Neighborhood Strategy at Choose Chicago. “‘The 77: A City of Neighborhoods’ series is part of our organization’s commitment to position the city’s communities as premier cultural destinations and to promote economic activity beyond the central business district.”
Aerial view of Wrigley Field. Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago.
“Working on ‘The 77: A City of Neighborhoods’ with Choose Chicago has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Mark Skala, Founder of Skalawag Productions. “This series allowed us to delve into the heart of Chicago’s neighborhoods and showcase their unique stories. The collaboration with the community and the talented team at Choose Chicago made this project truly special, and we hope it inspires people to explore every corner of this beautiful city.”
Rockefeller Chapel in Chicago’s Hyde Park Neighborhood. Eric Allix Rogers photography.
“It has been wonderful to see Bronzeville featured in ‘The 77: A City of Neighborhoods,’” said Cecilia Cuff, Owner of Bronzville Winery. “This recognition goes beyond just our restaurant; it highlights the legacy and spirit of the Bronzeville community. Through this series, viewers get a glimpse into how the history and culture of our neighborhood are instrumental in revitalizing and fostering a sense of pride and unity. I am proud to be part of this celebration of Chicago’s neighborhoods and look forward to welcoming more visitors to experience all that my community has to offer.”
Legacy Walk in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago.
Gold Awards:
Food & Beverage — Online
Travel & Tourism — Online
History — Online
Documentary — Online
Writing — Online (Humboldt Park)
The Skydeck at Willis Tower. Photo credit Ranvestal Photography.
Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago’s Garfield Park Neighborhood. Adam Alexander Photography.
Funding for production of “The 77: A City of Neighborhoods” was provided by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) as part of a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The series can be viewed on Choose Chicago’s YouTube channel where visitors can immerse themselves in the unique stories and vibrant cultures of our city’s neighborhoods.
Chicago Skyline along the city’s Magnificent Mile. Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago.
About Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community.
The Bean in Millennium Park in Chicago’s Loop. Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago.
Tickets are now available for the first-of-its-kind event in the United States featuring three days of screenings and programming for Chicago audiences, including titles from the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utahthis June 28th to 30th.
Choose Chicago, in partnership with the City of Chicago and the nonprofit Sundance Institute, announced today programming and schedule details of the highly anticipated inaugural Sundance Institute x Chicago event, June 28 – 30. This landmark event will showcase a lineup of films and panel discussions, celebrating both the art of filmmaking and championing creative independence in Chicago’s vibrant cultural sector. Tickets for all screenings, panel discussions, and master classes are now available at SundanceInstitutexChicago.com.
“Chicago’s dynamic cultural scene is an ideal backdrop for this special collaboration with the Sundance Institute,” says Rich Gamble, Interim President and CEO at Choose Chicago. “We are proud to partner with the City of Chicago and the Sundance Institute to produce a new, only-in-Chicago experience that celebrates diverse storytelling and supports our brilliant local community of filmmakers.”
Clinée Hedspeth, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, which includes the Chicago Film Office, adds, “This event is a significant addition to Chicago’s cultural calendar, offering unique insights into the filmmaking process and fostering discussions that inspire and challenge audiences. Our city is admired world-wide for its culture, and this festival will further spotlight Chicago as a vibrant filmmaking hub with existing and emerging talent and voices to be celebrated.”
Founded by Robert Redford in 1981 with the mission of fostering new voices in independent storytelling, the nonprofit Sundance Institute is an iconic institution and a champion of independent filmmakers globally. The Institute operates the Sundance Film Festival and it provides year-round support to both emerging and established filmmakers through artist labs, direct grants, and educational events.
Eugene Hernandez, Festival Director and head of public programming, Sundance Institute said, “We are honored to invite the Chicago community, in a city known for its deep appreciation of the arts and culture, to experience a taste of the Sundance Institute for a few days next month. We’re excited and looking forward to engaging with emerging artists and film-lovers from Chicagoland and beyond through screenings, workshops, and speaking programs.”
Tickets for Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 screenings will be $20; student and senior tickets are $18. A portion of the box office proceeds will be donated to the Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals (CAFF). The donation to CAFF will be used to support their members’ festivals and their important contribution to championing creative independence in Chicago.
“On behalf of the 44 members of the Chicago Alliance of Film Festival, we are extremely grateful for this meaningful support from the Sundance Institute and Choose Chicago,” said Karen Cardarelli, Executive Director of Facets Multi-Media and a CAFF representative. “These funds will be redistributed to member organizations through a regranting process. The much-needed support will help our members further CAFF’s collective goal to enhance the cultural and economic vitality of our communities.”
The three-day event will include Midwest premiere screenings of four films drawn from the Sundance Film Festival’s lineup in January, along with a robust series of panel discussions, master classes, and community programming.
Programming Schedule
Screenings
Luther: Never Too Much/ U.S.A. (Director: Dawn Porter, Producers: Trish D Chetty, Ged Doherty, Jamie Foxx, Datari Turner, Leah Smith) Luther: Never Too Much chronicles the story of a vocal virtuoso. Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Vandross tells his own story with assistance from his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack. The film relives the many stunning moments of Vandross’ Grammy® award-winning musical career, while exploring his personal life, health struggles, and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved. Documentary.
Screenings: June 28, 7:30 PM at Logan Center for the Arts; June 29, 2 PM at Davis Theater and June 30, 12 PM at Logan Center for the Arts.
Sugarcane/ U.S.A., Canada (Director: Julian Brave NoiseCat, Director, Cinematographer, and Producer: Emily Kassie, Producer: Kellen Quinn) — An investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school ignites a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve. Documentary.
Screenings: June 29, 1 PM at Logan Center for the Arts and June 30, 2 PM at Davis Theater.
A Different Man/ U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Aaron Schimberg, Producers: Christine Vachon, Vanessa McDonnell, Gabriel Mayers) — Aspiring actor Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. But his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare, as he loses out on the role he was born to play and becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost. Cast: Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve, Adam Pearson. Fiction.
Screenings: June 29, 7 PM at Davis Theater; June 30, 4 PM at Logan Center for the Arts
IMBD
Your Monster/ U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Caroline Lindy, Producers: Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, Kira Carstensen) — After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actress Laura Franco finds her voice again after she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming Monster living in her closet. A fantastical and dark romantic comedy about falling in love with your inner rage. Cast: Melissa Barrera, Tommy Dewey, Meghann Fahy, Edmund Donovan, Kayla Foster. Fiction.
Screenings: June 29, 8 PM at Logan Center for the Arts; June 30, 7 PM at Davis Theatre.
Panel Discussions and Master Classes
The Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 event will not only showcase films but also offer a robust series of talks and master classes aimed at engaging both film professionals and enthusiasts. These offerings are allfree, but have limited capacity and require online reservations.
Playing for Keeps: How Development Labs could be the investment that leads to local artistic sustainability
Date/time: Saturday, June 29 | 5 PM
Location: Logan Center for the Arts, Performance Hall
Details: This panel will explore innovative strategies in film development, offering insights into creative processes that drive the industry. Confirmed panelists to date include Ilyse McKimmie (Feature Film Program, Sundance Institute), Angie Gaffney (Producer, 521 Films) and Elijah McKinnon (Co-Founder / Executive Director, OTV).
A Better Way? New Sustainable Models for Financing and Distribution: Dual Value, Philanthropy, and Social Impact
Date/time: Sunday, June 30 | 1:15 PM
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater
Details: Discussing cutting-edge trends in financing and distribution, this session will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of film production. Confirmed panelists to date include Adrienne Becker (Level Forward), Jason Matsomoto (Full Spectrum Features), Lauren Pabst (MacArthur Foundation), Jonah Zeiger (Chicago Film Office).
Stronger Together: How festivals, art houses, and independent exhibitors are working together to revive & reinvent the theatrical experience
Date/time: Sunday, June 30 | 5:15 PM
Location: Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater
Details: Experts will debate and discuss the changing role of film festivals in shaping cinema and engaging global audiences. Confirmed Panelists to date include Eugene Hernandez (Director, Sundance Film Festival), Karen Cardarelli (Facets and Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals).
Sundance Institute Short Film Master Class, presented by United Airlines
Dates/time: Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30 | 10:30 AM
Locations: Logan Center for the Arts, Screening Room (June 29) and the Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater (June 30)
Details: Join Sundance programmer Mike Plante as he discusses the art of the short film, including submission processes and festival strategies, with insights from local filmmakers.
Sundance Institute Artist Programs Presentation, presented by United Airlines: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sundance but Were Afraid to Ask
Dates/time: Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30 | 3:30 PM
Locations: Logan Center for the Arts, Screening Room (June 29) and the Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater (June 30)
Details: Ilyse McKimmie from Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program will cover the Institute’s year-round support of artists across various formats, complemented by experiences shared by Chicago-based filmmaker McKenzie Chinn. Joining Ilyse will be writer, director, actor, and Chicago local McKenzie Chinn. McKenzie will share her experience as an alumna of the 2021 Screenwriters and Directors Labs with her in-development feature A Real One. Her proof-of-concept short of the same title won the Gold Hugo for Live Action Short Film at the 2023 Chicago International Film Festival.
Community Programming
Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 was developed in partnership with Choose Chicago, the Chicago Film Office, and advisory board members drawn from Chicago’s local film and cultural communities. The weekend will also provide a platform for local organizations through ancillary programming and events. Visit the Community Partner Events page to learn more. The event will also be supported by a locally hired operations team led by Chicago-based film festival leaders NK Gutiérrez and Ana Garcia Doyle and supported by dozens of volunteers from across the community.
All Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 event venues are equipped with accessible devices and resources to ensure an inclusive experience for all attendees. For more details on accessibility and accommodations, please visit theofficial event page.
Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 is presented in partnership with the Sundance Institute, Choose Chicago, the Chicago Film Office/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). We are also grateful for the support of our Premier Sponsors, United Airlines, Cinespace Studios and Periscope Post and Audio.
About Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community.
About Chicago Film Office: The Chicago Film Office, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, leads the city’s effort to attract and support the production of all forms of screen entertainment produced in Chicago. For filmmakers, it is a one-stop liaison for all City of Chicago production needs including permits, city services, and logistical support. For film lovers and filmmakers alike, the CFO produces film programming, often in partnership with community organizations, that offers a wide spectrum of cinema experiences both for learning and enjoyment.
Mandatory Photo Credit:
Abel Arciniega :: @tequilagraphics
Programming includes the Millennium Park Summer Film Series, international and art house screenings in the Chicago Cultural Center, and numerous partnership programs and events aimed to build both community and industry across all forms of filmmaking and film exhibition in Chicago. The Chicago Film Office supports the independent film sector and aims to elevate the City’s role as a leading hub and convener within the broader field. For details, visit ChicagoFilmOffice.us.
About Sundance Institute: As a champion and curator of independent stories, the nonprofit Sundance Institute provides and preserves the space for artists across storytelling media to create and thrive. Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, the Institute’s signature labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. Sundance Collab, a digital community platform, brings a global cohort of working artists together to learn from Sundance advisors and connect with each other in a creative space, developing and sharing works in progress. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences and artists to ignite new ideas, discover original voices, and build a community dedicated to independent storytelling.
Through the Sundance Institute artist programs, we have supported such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, The Big Sick, Bottle Rocket, Boys Don’t Cry, Boys State, Call Me by Your Name, Clemency, CODA, Drunktown’s Finest, The Farewell, Fire of Love, Flee, The Forty-Year-Old Version, Fruitvale Station, Get Out, Half Nelson, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hereditary, Honeyland, The Infiltrators, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Little Woods, Love & Basketball, Me and You and Everyone We Know, Mudbound, Nanny, Navalny, O.J.: Made in America, One Child Nation, Pariah, Raising Victor Vargas, Requiem for a Dream, Reservoir Dogs, RBG, Sin Nombre, Sorry to Bother You, The Souvenir, Strong Island, Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), Swiss Army Man, Sydney, A Thousand and One, Top of the Lake, Walking and Talking, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, and Zola.
Through year-round artist programs, the Institute also nurtured the early careers of such artists as Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Gregg Araki, Darren Aronofsky, Lisa Cholodenko, Ryan Coogler, Nia DaCosta, The Daniels, David Gordon Green, Miranda July, James Mangold, John Cameron Mitchell, Kimberly Peirce, Boots Riley, Ira Sachs, Quentin Tarantino, Taika Waititi, Lulu Wang, and Chloé Zhao. Support Sundance Institute in our commitment to uplifting bold artists and powerful storytelling globally by making a donation at sundance.org/donate.
Inside Chicago Walking Tours, ranked #1 of 386 Tours and Activities in Chicago on TripAdvisor, will be running two public tour routes in January and February 2024:
The World Within (I) – Everyone does a boat tour when they visit Chicago. But as fun as that is, it’s a very tiny sliver of what Chicago has to offer architecturally! Let Inside Chicago Walking Tours guide you inside some of the most stunning interior spaces you’ll ever see — spaces you’d surely pass by without a second glance if you weren’t shown them by a seasoned, in-the-know tour guide. Chicago’s Loop, full of offices, courtrooms, retail spaces, and business, is truly an overlooked treasure in terms of its gorgeous interior spaces. There is so much beauty there, behind that well-known exterior: it’s a beauty that is available to you to experience. (Neighborhood: The Loop)
Open Your Eyes: Chicago’s Underground Pedway & Other Secrets of the Loop – Come experience Chicago’s famous “Pedway” – the mysterious underground tunnels downtown that keeps us all warm & dry in bad weather. Walking in the Pedway, through hidden corridors of stained glass and even underground swimming pools, we’ll access interiors that seem to come up out of nowhere as you’re exploring the tunnels. We’ll explore the hidden passages, overlooked details, rich symbolism, and quirky stories that add wonderful bits of color and texture to the overall narrative of the city. The details people walk by every day will amaze you, and you’ll feel like you’ve truly seen a hidden side of Chicago by the end of this walking tour. This is not a typical “must-see” tour for typical tourists – it’s a “must see” experience for travelers who want something BEYOND what’s typical. Ending with a fabulous “secret” interior not far from the Art Institute, you’ll be in the perfect central spot for continuing your exploration of downtown Chicago on your own after the tour. (Neighborhood: The Loop)
Chicago Electric Boat Company, the city’s premier river boat rental operator, has officially announced the launch of private Hot Tub Boats as the newest way to enjoy the river this winter season. Launching from their Marina City location at 300 N. State Street, the heated six-person boats will center cruises on the main branch of the Chicago River for iconic skyline views, taking riders as far east as Michigan Avenue and as far west as Wells Street. If hot tub cruising isn’t your speed, the team will also be unveiling 22-foot Heated Luxury Duffys— a winterized version of a favorite riverboat offering. The easy-to-operate vessels fit groups of 12 of all ages and depart from their Marina City location. (Neighborhood: River North)
One of the best ways to see Chicago is from the water. The city is home to two stunning waterfronts — the Chicago River and Lake Michigan — and each offers plenty of cruise options. Admire the skyline on a lakefront cruise, learn about the city’s iconic architecture on a Chicago River cruise, enjoy dinner and dancing aboard an all-glass vessel, sip cocktails on a tiki-themed boat, paddle your own kayak — the options are truly endless. Here’s your guide to Chicago lake and river cruises, boat tours, dinner cruises, and beyond.
ART on THE MART (April 12 – June 5, 2024) – ART on THE MART’s spring season will kick off to coincide with EXPO Chicago’s 11th edition with a commission by internationally acclaimed artist Nora Turato. On view alongside Turato’s work for the 2024 spring season will be the annual Chicago Public Schools (CPS) projection (May 1 – 12) made in conjunction with the All-City Visual Arts program and featuring artwork by CPS seniors. The 2024 lineup will also include new commissions by leading artists Yinka Ilori, Cory Arcangel, and Brendan Fernandes, as well as a new collaboration with the Poetry Foundation. (Neighborhood: The Loop)
Visitors arriving and departing from O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 5 (T5) will begin to see an extraordinary new public art collection as several works by more than 20 Chicago artists finish the installation. The $3.5 million public art commission, led by Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), is the City’s largest single acquisition of works by Chicago artists in the last 30 years. The exhibition Del Otro Lado / The Other Side featuring 17 original works curated by Behar X Schachman is now on view throughout the International Arrivals Corridor. The new projects at T5 join recently completed projects at the O’Hare Multi-Modal Facility (MMF):
Installed in April 2023, REACH is a large-scale sculpture by New York-based artists Hank Willis Thomas and Coby Kennedy consisting of two arms, approximately 27 and 31 feet long, suspended between nine and 34 feet off the ground in the North Escalator Hall of the MMF.
The final commission Immigrant Owned by Jonathan Michael Castillo will finish installation in 2024 in the Baggage Claim of Terminal 5.
Born in the late 1920s as a movie theater, the newly-preserved iconic Ramova Theatre has made a triumphant return. Reimagined as a 1500-capacity music venue, it is one of the largest of its kind on Chicago’s south side and notable for celebrity co-owners Chance the Rapper, Jennifer Hudson, and Quincy Jones. (Neighborhood: Bridgeport)
Shedd Aquarium recently welcomed a sea otter pup rescued in late October by the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC). The new addition, temporarily referred to as Pup EL2306, is a rescued male northern sea otter. He will remain behind the scenes in the Regenstein Sea Otter Nursery for a few months as he reaches development milestones and builds bonds with the care staff and the other otters at Shedd before being officially introduced to the otter habitat and the other rescued otters at Shedd. (Neighborhood: South Loop)
Get ready for the 10th annual #SwitchOnSummer, the official start of the Summer Season at Buckingham Fountain!
Join the Chicago Park District and ComEd on Saturday, May 11 as Chicago’s iconic Buckingham Fountain is switched on for the 2024 season.
This year conmemorates a decade of this festivities with performances by Night Out in the Parks artists as well as food, fun, FREE giveaways, and more. For more information about event details visit: https://bit.ly/SwitchOnSummer2024.
The event is FREE!
About Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.
Choose Chicago announced today the upcoming release of a new neighborhood travel show titled “The 77: A City of Neighborhoods.” This new series tells the stories of residents and small business owners in five neighborhoods, taking viewers on a captivating and delicious journey to explore the authentic stories, culinary traditions, and preservation efforts that define these remarkable communities.
Choose Chicago will host a launch event for media and invited guests from the communities featured in the series at the CIBC Theatre this Saturday, April 6. The series is one piece of Choose Chicago’s broad efforts to support community-led neighborhood tourism through traditional and digital marketing, neighborhood guides, the Chicago Alfresco Program, and more. The series will be available on April 6th to stream for free on YouTube and at https://www.choosechicago.com/the77.
“Choose Chicago has produced something very special with ‘The 77: A City of Neighborhoods’,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This is more than just a travel series; it is a journey into the soul of Chicago. By showcasing our diverse neighborhoods, we are not only celebrating our cultural heritage but also inviting visitors and residents alike to discover the people and communities that make this the greatest freaking city in the world!”
“We’re taking a new and creative approach to marketing our city with this series,” said Rich Gamble, Interim President and CEO at Choose Chicago. “As a lifelong Chicagoan, it is especially important to me that we encourage visitors to both explore both our iconic downtown attractions and get off the well-trodden tourist paths and into the heart of our communities. There are exciting cultural and culinary experiences to be had year-round throughout Chicago.”
The series will feature five unique Chicago neighborhoods: Pullman/Roseland, Humboldt Park, Bronzeville, Uptown, and Little Village, with versions of the latter available for streaming in both English and Spanish. Through conversations with residents and local business owners, “The 77: A City of Neighborhoods” uncovers untold stories that that make each neighborhood a one-of-a-kind and indispensable part of Chicago. The half hour episodes will be used to continue attracting locals and visitors to explore Chicago’s unique and vibrant neighborhoods.
“As a long-time community member of the Asia on Argyle corridor in Uptown’s Chicago neighborhood, I am honored and humbled in sharing my story, my community’s story in Choose Chicago’s travel series ‘The 77: A City of Neighborhoods’,” said Hac Tran, co-founder of Celebrate Argyle and Culture and Communications Manager at the Uptown Chamber of Commerce. “Chicago is a mosaic of many cultures, histories, and stories, and Choose Chicago’s effort in shining a light on these narratives truly reveals that Chicago is in fact a city of neighborhoods.”
“Our goal with this project is not just to attract visitors but to challenge misperceptions about Chicago’s neighborhoods,” said Rob Fojtik, Vice President of Neighborhood Strategy at Choose Chicago, who acts as the series’ host. “Each of these five episodes are crafted to share the untold stories and hidden gems that make these communities unique, further enriching the visitor experience. We worked with community-based partners to identify and elevate the voices and stories that define the neighborhoods featured. The series is a great asset for anyone looking for authentic, only-in-Chicago experiences.”
Skalawag Productions, an award-winning Chicago-based film studio, was chosen through an RFP process and became an integral partner in weaving together the neighborhood stories that are presented through beautiful food videography, captivating interviews, and industry-leading graphics.
Andrea D. Reed, Executive Director, Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce, said, “I am proud to be featured in this powerful series highlighting the people and places that make Pullman, Roseland, and our whole city great. It is so important to tell the stories of our rich history, local entrepreneurs and community leaders who work hard every day to build better lives and create opportunities for their families and their neighbors.”
Following the launch event on April 6, Choose Chicago will also be hosting neighborhood screenings in each of the communities featured in “The 77: A City of Neighborhoods.”
Humboldt Park: Wednesday, April 10 at 6pm | National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture | RSVP
Little Village: Thursday, April 11 at 6pm | Mi Tierra | RSVP
Bronzeville: Tuesday, April 16 at 6pm | Oakwood Center | RSVP
Uptown: Thursday, April 18 at 6pm | Wilson Abbey | RSVP
Pullman/Roseland: Tuesday, April 23 at 6pm | Pullman National Historical Park | RSVP
The project has been made possible thanks to American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds distributed by the City of Chicago to support neighborhood tourism marketing. In addition to this new video series, Choose Chicago works directly with 30 neighborhoods across Chicago to market our communities and position Chicago’s neighborhoods as prime destinations for residents and visitors alike.
About Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community.
Running now through January 7, 2024, Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden (located in Glencoe, Chicago’s North Shore) returns for its fifth season with an illuminated outdoor trail dazzling with brand new installations from around the world and beloved returning favorites such as the Winter Cathedral and a reimagined version of the Fire Garden.New works from international artists include Lilies, from UK artist Jigantics (illuminated 5-foot lilies float elegantly on water, providing a mesmerizing view from the bridge above and igniting a sense of warmth and excitement), Night Lights, from French artist TILT (delicate lamp-shaped lights that extend nearly 19 feet high amplify a cozy atmosphere with a display of soft ambient colors) and Sea of Light, from UK artist Ithaca (thousands of individually controlled balls of LED light make Evening Island sparkle and dance their way to a bespoke soundtrack in multiple patterns and colors). Tickets sell out quickly so it is recommended to book your time and date in advance; advance tickets for adults (non-members) begin at $34 and children (ages 3-12) at $19.
The Christkindlmarket celebrates its 27th season at Daley Plaza, its fifth year at Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville, and its second time at RiverEdge Park in Aurora. This year, Christkindlmarket is introducing its first ceramic beer stein with a holiday-themed design ($20), as well as location-specific $8 souvenir mugs with unique designs at each market (for example: the Chicago mug shows off downtown landmarks like the City Hall building and Daley Plaza’s Picasso sculpture while the Wrigleyville mug shows off Hotel Zachary, the intersection sign of Clark & Addison, and much more.) These mugs are hotly anticipated collector’s items for locals who have turned Christkindlmarket into a holiday tradition since 1996. Modeled after the 16th-century holiday markets in Germany, the free-admission outdoor bazaar is a hub for traditional German fare, delightful warm beverages and handcrafted gifts for purchase, and charming holiday vibes the entire family can enjoy. And now in its third year, another popular favorite is back – the annual Christkindlmarkt ornament, hand-painted and glass blown in Europe, portraying a market scene with holiday elements on its ice blue background ($41 at all info booths).
Admission to the market is free but food, beverages, and handcrafted gifts all must be purchased. All markets open on November 17; Aurora and Chicago locations close on December 24 and Wrigleyville on December 31.
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light at the Museum of Science and Industry (running through January 7, 2024) is a beloved annual tradition that began in 1942 with a single tree. Today the Museum features a four-story floor-to-dome Grand Tree, surrounded by more than 50 trees and displays decorated by volunteers to represent holiday traditions from cultures around the world.
This year the museum will also be celebrating the wonders of snow, with an exhibition in the Lower Court featuring intricate photographs of snowflakes taken by Caltech physicist Ken Libbrecht.
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum (Though January 6, 2024) invites visitors to celebrate the holidays and marvel at how light transforms a magnificent landscape. Journey along a 1-mile paved walking path (that is fully ADA compliant for guests with limited mobility), amid festive music and lighting effects, explore exciting new features and immersive installations. Afterwards, warm up by a cracking fire and roast marshmallows for s’mores, or stop in one of the concession tents for a snack and beverage. Ginkgo Restaurant in the Visitor Center will serve dinner guests view the display’s finale on Meadow Lake. The Arboretum Store will also be open for holiday shopping; gifts include a special temperature-activated, color-changing ceramic mug that will be available for purchase during all Illumination dates. Tickets start at $28 per person for nonmembers.
People ice skating at the McCormick Tribune Plaza Ice Rink in Chicago’s Millennium Park; December 2021.
The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park offers ice skating all winter, through March, weather permitting. Admission is free, but online reservations are required and skate rentals are available. You’ll be surrounded by the downtown skyline, with magical Christmas lights from the City of Chicago Christmas tree reflected in ‘The Bean’ / Cloud Gate sculpture. OR, head over to Maggie Daley Park, right next to Millennium Park, to the picturesque Skating Ribbon that meanders around snow-dusted pine trees and whimsical play spaces. The path is twice the length of a lap around a traditional skating rink.
The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle (November 24 – December 31, 2023) at Lighthouse Artspace Chicago brings cutting-edge technology to meet the artistry of ballet dancers. This mesmerizing 30-minute immersive experience, set to Tchailkovsky’s music, weaves the classic tale of Marie and her toy nutcracker. Join them, on their magical adventure through the Land of Sweets, brought to life by renowned ballet dancers and innovative projection mapping technology. Pricing begins at $29.99 per person.
While you’re here… Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago is bringing a new pop-up bar experience, Bar Humbug, to reign in the holiday season. The ArtSpace will be transformed into a winter wonderland with wall-to-wall holiday scenes. A lot like traditional German beer halls, there will be long tables and plush banquettes for groups to gather. Bar Humbug will present live musicians and DJs playing the holiday classics. Guests must be 21 to enter.
ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ will include new and exciting LED light displays, photo ops, and interactive programming including a never-before-seen garden-themed light show on the zoo’s South Lawn. Festive photo ops will dot the zoo, as well as costumed characters and Victorian carolers on select nights. Food and beverages including festive cocktails and hot cocoa will be available at Edie Levy’s Landmark Café. Snowy’s Sprits & S’more and various snack stations around the zoo. Check the calendar for special events such as sensory-friendly nights, a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, and adults-only evenings. General admission ZooLights tickets are $7 per person. Tickets on Fridays, Saturdays, Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 22), and New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31) are $10 per person. As part of the zoo’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, general admission is FREE on Mondays. Ticket sales from ZooLights directly support the zoo’s world-class animal care, global conservation efforts, and innovative learning programs and help keep the zoo free to the public 365 days a year. ZooLights will run through January 7, 2024.
For more information on Chicago holiday happenings, visit Choose Chicago.
Hang up your apron this holiday season and opt to either dine out or having the fixings brought to your home table. Want to know how? Check out these options from Choose Chicago.
Chicago Restaurant Specials To Bring Thanksgiving to Your Home:
Avli Taverna(1335 W Wrightwood Ave #1, Chicago, IL 60614) will offer holiday meals for pick-up from November 20-22, 2023). The menu includes Oven-Roasted Lamb Shoulder Meal with greek potatoes, avgolemono soup, spinach and walnut salad, and piece of walnut cake (Price: $46 per person); Greek-Style Half Chicken with greek potatoes, avgolemono soup, spinach and walnut salad, and piece of walnut cake (Price: $39 per person); Tray of Pastichio, a traditional casserole of pasta, ground beef and bechamel (Price: $60, serves 4-6). The meals come hot & ready to eat or cold with reheating instructions. Order on Tock Here.
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen (1559 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622) – Bloom Plant Based Kitchen from James Beard-nominated Chef Rodolfo Cuadros is your vegan and gluten-free friendly option for this year’s Thanksgiving spread. Bloom offers a four-course to-go package for this year’s holiday. Diners can get a Leek & Chestnut Soup for a starter, an Autumn Harvest Salad with a mustard maple vinaigrette, Royal Acorn Squash with stuffed acorn squash, smoked mushrooms and chimichurri and a Pumpkin Pie to close out the meal with cranberry bourbon vanilla preserve, toasted meringue and a lemon balm. Ordering will be available beginning October 20 through their website, and will continue through November 20. Pick-up will be on Wednesday, November 22.
Daisies (2375 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647) – If you’re giving your turkey baster and carving set a break this year, let one of the hottest restaurants in Chicago whip you up a full Turkey Day spread that takes the holiday’s most nostalgic dishes up a notch. Logan Square’s favorite vegetable-focused restaurant, Daisies (New York Times’ Restaurant List 2023) is bringing back their Thanksgiving dinner kits filled with seasonal, Midwestern-inspired holiday classics. Sit back and relax, because Executive Chef Joe Frillman and the team are cooking up a full feast including a Sous Vide Turkey Breast and Confit Leg and Thigh and a variety of sides like Candied Sweet Potatoes with marshmallow, Sage and Maple Stuffing, Brussel Sprouts with Grapes in Bacon Vinaigrette and more. For desserts, take your pick between scrumptious Pumpkin or Apple Crumb Pies (Price: $35 each) whipped up by Executive Pastry Chef Leigh Omilinsky. And of course, if you’re really looking to impress the in-laws, add on a wine trio (Price: $99) to receive three bottles that’ll pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving meal. To-go kits are $240 each and must be ordered in advance with pick-up available on Thanksgiving day. Orders available here on Tock
The Dearborn (145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602) – Take the chaos out of baking and pick up a pie from one of Chicago’s best downtown spots. For $35, guests have the option to order two delicious desserts, the French Silk Pie made with dark chocolate custard, oreo shortbread and mascarpone chantilly or the Dutch Apple Pie made with cinnamon apples, “rough puff” crust and a graham cracker streusel. Link to order here. Price: $35
Farm Bar Lakeview(1300 W Wellington Ave, Chicago, IL 60657)– Lakeview’s quintessential neighborhood tavern, known for their seasonal and approachable menus, are offering the ultimate Thanksgiving to-go box complete with every main, side and dessert that you will need to serve all your loved ones. Two package options are available – smaller size for 2-4 people and large size for 6-8 people. The menu is handcrafted by Executive Chef David Wakefield, including a Carved and Cooked Turkey, Butternut Squash Bisque, Side of Toasted Pepitas and Creme Fraiche, Autumnal Salad, Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes, Gravy, Honey Balsamic Brussel Sprouts, Cornbread and Brioche Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole, Dinner Rolls and Pumpkin Pie. All dishes will only need to be preheated and ready to eat on Thanksgiving Day. Link to order here. Ordering is available until November 15 with pickups available Wednesday, November 22 from 12pm-5pm. Price: Package A (2-4 people): $140, Package B (6-8 people): $200.
Fora(311 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607)– Located in the heart of Fulton Market on the ground floor of The Emily Hotel, Fora is offering a Thanksgiving To-Go feast perfect to pick-up for busy families and hungry gatherings. Menu highlights include a maple sage butter Tom turkey breast, roasted turkey gravy, buttermilk potato purée, heirloom carrots & french beans, orange cranberry sauce, herb sourdough stuffing, farmer’s salad, roasted beets, Hawaiian rolls and apple cranberry pie.Price: $275 (2-4 people), $350 (4-8 people).
Lexington Betty Smokehouse(756 E 111th St., Chicago, IL 60628) – Chicagoland is feeling extra thankful for Lexington Betty Smokehouse this holiday season! The BBQ haven is rolling out its annual Thanksgiving menu, brimming with turkey bliss and rib tips from the season four champion of Food Network’s “BBQ Brawl” and 2023 Master of ‘Cue herself, Chef Dominique Leach. A variety of to-go packs are available for preorder, fit for the hostesses with the mostess and the Friendsgiving goer in need of a ‘homemade’ side alike.
Betty Traditional (Feeds Four) | Smoked Turkey, Gravy, Turkey Gizzard Dressing, Cranberry Relish, Candy Yams, Gouda Mac N Cheese, Cornbread Muffins (Price: $150)
Betty “Smoked” (Feeds Four) | Smoked Chicken, Rib Tips, Brisket Baked Beans, Gouda Mac N Cheese (Price:$125)
Betty Have It Your Way (A La Carte) | $75 Whole Smoked Turkey (12-15 lbs), $28 Brisket (per lb), $70 Gouda Mac N Cheese (Full Pan), $50 Greens, $70 Peach Cobbler
Orders to be placed online at lexingtonbetty.com by Wednesday, November 15th for pickup on Wednesday, November 23. Pricing varies by selected Thanksgiving to-go pack.
Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse(505 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611) – Known for its impressive carnivorous offerings, Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse will be living up to their iconic reputation with an epic Thanksgiving meal available for dine-in or to carry out. A feast of Slagel Family Farm Roasted Turkey served with Apple-cranberry sauce will be served alongside Nuske’s bacon French green beans and Au Gratin Sweet Potatoes. Available from 4 – 8:30 PM, make reservations and order online here. Price: $59
The Publican (837 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607) – Leave the prep to the pros behind One Off Hospitality’s culinary powerhouse, as The Publican comes together once again with acclaimed Head Chef/Butcher Rob Levitt of Publican Quality Meats and James Beard Award-winning baker Greg Wade of Publican Quality Bread to elevate your at-home Thanksgiving! Skip the grocery store chaos and pre-order sustainably-raised Slagel Farms-sourced turkey and ham, with add-ons like brine kits, gravy, and stuffing sausage to make cooking a breeze. Savvy hosts can outsource sides, pies, and everything in between, mixing and matching from Publican holiday favorites like garlic buttermilk mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts with fregola, honey oat pull-apart rolls, house-made desserts, curated wines, and more! Orders can be picked up at The Publican or delivered right to your door for $15 (restrictions apply, please refer to the delivery map on Table22). Pickup and delivery available 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, November 20th, Tuesday, November 21st, and Wednesday, November 22nd. Available here on Table22.
Chicago Hotels & Restaurants That Set a Fine Table
Maple & Ash(8 W Maple St, Chicago, IL 60610) – Chef/Partner Danny Grant and the team are here to take the stress off your plate this year by serving up an indulgent feast featuring beloved Thanksgiving classics made with their signature luxurious flair that’s sure to impress your relatives. Settle into Maple’s elegant dining room and start your dinner off with a toast of bubbles picked from their robust, expertly crafted list of bottles. For the main course, dig into a decadent Black Truffle Turkey plate (Price:$75) complete with favorite sides like pomme puree, brussel sprouts and chanterelles for a dose of classic Thanksgiving comfort. For those who still need their fix, Maple’s wood-fired menu of steaks, seafood towers, and caviar will also be available. Thursday, November 23, 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.; reservations available here.
The Peninsula Chicago (108 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611) – Elaborate holiday brunches have been a signature of The Peninsula Chicago for many years. Guests can usher in the festive fall harvest season with The Lobby’s annual Thanksgiving Brunch on Thursday, November 23, which will feature à la carte plated options and buffet items served via a variety of stations: the carving station features Ferndale turkey, dry aged striploin, suckling pig; local foraged mushrooms and ancient grain station; seafood station with jumbo shrimp, Alaskan king crab, Jonah crab claws, east and west coast oysters, sushi and sashimi, maki and nigiri; an imported and domestic caviar station; a global cheese and charcuterie station; Shanghai Terrace station featuring Peking Duck, handmade dim sum and stir-fried favorites; and a Lobster bisque with winter truffle action station. A decadent dessert buffet rounds out the holiday selections. Entertainment features a string quartet as well as a roving magician for children. Brunch seatings are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Brunch is priced at US$ 325 per adult and US$ 95 per person for children ages 5 to 12 years. Prices exclude tax and gratuity. Reservations are accepted via TOCK.
Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago(401 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611) – Guests can indulge in a 4-course Thanksgiving Dinner at Terrace16 on Thursday, November 23. The first course will include a carrot & parsnip soup, parsnip chips and chives, followed by a second course of kale chicory salad with toasted pecans, apples, acorn squash, pumpkin goddess dressing. The main course will feature slow roasted sliced turkey with black garlic pomme puree, roasted winter vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and turkey demi glaze. To top it all off, dessert will include a slice of pie (pumpkin, pecan, or sweet potato). The Regular Dinner Menu will be available as well.Price: $85 per adult, $39 per child (under 12 years old) prior to taxes & service charges. Booking is available via OpenTable.
Chicago Cooking Classes To Hone Your Kitchen Skills:
Tutore Cooking School (2755 W Belmont Ave. Chicago, IL 60618) – Why buy pies when you can make them from scratch? Tutore Cooking School is offering a number of Thanksgiving pie making classes, teaching the proper steps to make the perfect pie for Thanksgiving dinner. From making the flaky pie crust, finding the best apples, proper baking tips, and general knife skills, students will be able to learn how to make both a Pumpkin and Apple pie. At the end of the class, each guest will be able to bring home a full pie. Classes are available November 19 -November 22, 2023.
A city full of hidden gems and spectacular landmarks, Chicago is hardly a second city. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, it is an all-season destination recently voted for the seventh time as Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Big City in The U.S.
I have to admit when it comes to cities, I’ve always considered Chicago among the best having grown up in the metropolitan area and riding the South Shore, the only remaining interurban in the U.S., to Millennium Station frequently for watercolor classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. Who doesn’t love walking past those bronze larger-than-life lions flanking the entrance whose unofficial names are “On the Prowl” and “An Attitude of Defiance” created by sculptor Edward Kemeys in 1898?
Part of the city’s allure is its fabulous architecture and beyond the lions there’s dining in the 17,000-square-foot Walnut Room at Macy’s on State–sorry, it’ll will always be Marshall Field’s to me–which was the first restaurant in a department store in the U.S. and is famed for its Circassian wood paneling imported from Russia and Austrian chandeliers. Also at Marshall Field’s (ooops Macy’s) is the magnificent Tiffany dome ceiling built in 1907 and crafted with 1.6 billion pieces of Favrile glass. As if one Tiffany dome ceiling isn’t enough, the Chicago Cultural Center just a short walk away from Macy’s, also boasts a Tiffany dome ceiling.
Also made of made of Tiffany Favrile glass–Tiffany patented this type of iridescent art glass in 1894–the 38,000-square-foot dome spanning 1000-squarefeet consists of 30,000 pieces of glass and is the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world. And in interesting historic aside, the glass for the dome was manufactured by the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Company in Kokomo, Indiana a company that dates back to the late 1880s. When pieces of glass were needed to replace those that were missing or broken during the renovation of the dome in the early 2000s, all it took was a call to KOG who still had the original glass recipes on file.
Among the hidden gems is a personal favorite, Green Mill Cocktail Lounge which had already been open for two decades when Al Capone and his men stationed themselves in his favorite booth so that he could see whoever was coming in and out of both the back and front entrances. A gangster has to be prepared, ya know. The Green Mill has been open since 1907 and you can still go there for live jazz every night in the prohibition-era style speakeasy. Capone’s booth is still there–how much closer to history can you get?
Chicago is a city of museums both internationally known such as the Field Museum and the Museum of Science & Industry but also small delights such as the Driehaus Museum, a marvelously restored Gilded Age home filled with treasures, Art on the Mart, the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, and the Chicago History Museum reknowned for its more than more than 50,000 costumes and textiles dating from the eighteenth century to the present including works by Gabrielle Chanel, Mainbocher, Charles James, Christian Dior, Pauline Trigère, and Yves Saint Laurent
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Chicago. Courtesy of Choose Chicago.
There are architecrural boat rides on the Chicago River and a Ferris wheel at Navy Pier known for its grand views of Lake Michigan. Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park is one of the largest fountains in the world, the Gothic Revival-style Rockefeller Memorial Chapel on the campus of the University of Chicago, and, of course, there’s Cloud Gate, nicknamed The Bean in Milliennium Park.
All this is just the start of what Chicago has to offer so its no wonder the for the seven straight year it’s been voted best city with over 520,000 votes from Condé Nast Traveler readers after a record-breaking summer travel season that saw all-time highs for hotel revenue.
“Today’s recognition of our great city as the Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Big City in The U.S., for the seventh year in a row, is proof that Chicago continues to be a force as a destination for visitors from all over the globe,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “We have something for everyone — 77 amazing communities, beautiful parks and lakefront, world class arts, culture and food, and much more. This is a distinction to be proud of, and we will continue to welcome travelers from all over the world to experience all our city has to offer and the soul of Chicago.”
“For the seventh year running, I couldn’t be prouder that Chicago has been named the number one big city in the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “From our unmatched infrastructure and picturesque lakefronts to our diverse food scene, world-class museums, and, of course, the kindest people you’ll ever meet, Chicago has it all—and the world is taking notice. Whether you’re looking to take a family trip or to relocate your small business, Chicago has something for everyone and we cannot wait to welcome you home.”
For 36 years, Condé Nast Traveler has captured input from readers to determine the winners of their Readers’ Choice Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. And every year since 2017, Chicago has led the pack as the Best Big City in the U.S. This year’s awards were based on the input of more than half-a-million readers.
“I am so proud to share that Chicago is once again the city of champions,” said Osmond. “For seven straight years, through the challenges of the pandemic and beyond, travelers have recognized the truth about Chicago – ours is a vibrant, hospitable city brimming with attractions and amenities for all types of visitors. I want to thank all Chicagoans for making our city so welcoming to visitors from around the world. I especially want to thank the Choose Chicago staff. This award validates all of our hard work selling and promoting this city we love.”
Chicago’s selection as the Best Big City in the U.S. is a recognition of the city’s incredible hospitality and tourism industries and the people that make our city so welcoming to visitors. For seven straight years, voters have recognized that Chicago is a destination unique among its peers, with something to offer every type of visitor. With 77 vibrant neighborhoods ready for exploration, best-in-class accommodations, an acclaimed dining scene, thrilling live music and theatre, world-renowned museums and cultural institutions, stunning architecture and natural beauty, visitors have endless ways to explore the seven-time Best Big City in the U.S.
“More than half a million people cast votes for this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards,” said Glenn Eden, Chairman of the Choose Chicago Board of Directors. “Clearly, those who come here are having uniquely memorable experiences that stick with them – the kind of experiences that will make them return to Chicago and recommend our city as a vacation destination to their friends and families. Winning this award seven straight years is a recognition of the resilience of Chicago’s tourism and hospitality sector and the unwavering affinity that travelers have for our city. It gives me confidence that we are going to see continued growth in our local visitor economy for years to come.”
Choose Chicago is also thrilled to release summer 2023 performance data today showing that Chicago experienced a strong summer of travel:
Summer (June, July and August) hotel revenue totaled $825 million, and hotel taxes totaled $46 million, both all-time records for summer months.
Over one million room nights were filled each month this summer, totaling 3.24 million hotel room nights. That is 4% higher than last year and represents a 92% recovery share compared to 2019 numbers.
Leisure visitors in particular came to Chicago in droves this summer – buoyed by a packed calendar of concerts, events and festivals, total leisure hotel room demand increased by 8% compared to summer 2022.
International visitation increased by 13% compared to summer 2022.
While it was an excellent summer of travel in Chicago, the excitement does not end now that it’s fall. Visitors to Chicago will continue to experience a full calendar of events and attractions through the end of 2023. Later this week, we will be launching Theater Season, a new campaign to promote local theaters and the over 150 productions taking place across the city. Later this month, we will celebrate the one millionth finisher of the Chicago Marathon during the 45th running of the iconic race, open some of our city’s most notable architecture for exploration through Open House Chicago, and wrap up with Halloween celebrations across the city including Arts in the Dark and the Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade. Later this year, Chicago will transform into America’s premier holiday destination, kicking off with the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and continuing with events and activations through the end of the year.
As Chicago celebrates another Best Big City award, we are well on our way to significantly exceeding last year’s visitation numbers, when we welcomed nearly 50 million visitors. Year-to-date hotel room demand is 13% higher than the same period in 2022.
The 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue.
About Choose Chicago
Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X/Twitter and tag #ChicaGOandKNOW. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.
Photos courtesy of Choose Chicago and the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
The New Year brings a plethora of new opportunities to explore Chicago. Whether it’s the host of new, hot restaurants, haute shopping experiences, or high-energy, immersive shows and attractions,
it’s clear: the Best Big City in the U.S. (six years running!) isn’t resting on its laurels. In fact, it’s just getting started.
January signals the triumphant, sold-out comeback of First Bites Bash after a three-year hiatus. The all-inclusive January 19 event inside the iconic Field Museum kicks off the 16th annual Chicago Restaurant Week, celebrating the area’s acclaimed culinary scene across 17 days and more than 300 top restaurants. Restaurant Week includes special prix fixe menus ($25 for brunch or lunch and $42 and/or $59 for dinner).
These signature events are a great way to indulge in around-the-world delicacies without leaving the city. Immersion takes on a new form with Stage 773’s WHIM, a walk-thru experience inviting guests to partake in a whimsical night out inside a world where every art form comes together – paintings, music, sculpture, street art, and live performance – all by Chicago artists.
February is well-known for being a month dedicated to and all about love, and this year, there’s no shortage of events to fall in love with.
This month marks the beginning of a bevy of bold performances at stages across the city, from Broadway in Chicago, the Belmont Theatre District and the Joffrey Ballet. And with the return of Chicago Theatre Week (now in its 11th year), that means these can’t miss live performances are available from February 16-26 for $30 or less!
The Chicago Auto Show, the largest auto show in North America, returning to McCormick Place Feb. 11-20. And throughout the month, raise a glass to great American writers at the American Writers Museum’s new Get Lit happy hour series.
Complete with the 60-plus-year tradition of dyeing of the Chicago River green, March makes a colorful point to the world that no city celebrates St. Patrick’s Day quite like we do. From the signature parade downtown to neighborhood-specific festivities, Irish history and culture run deep in neighborhoods like Beverly, Albany Park, and Mt. Greenwood.
With so much in store this year, go ahead: Discover big-city culture, Midwestern hospitality, and urban adventure. Come explore the city that feels like home! Visit ChooseChicago.com for more information.
In honor of the occasion, Choose Chicago, Illinois Restaurant Association, and Here Here Marketcollaborate on curated boxes in honor of Chicago’s James Beard Award-nominated chefs.
The Celebrate JBF Chicago Alumni Collection boxes bring together a dream team of Chicago chefs in take-away form. Purchases will directly support both acclaimed local chefs and up-and-coming culinary talent through a dedicated scholarship offered by the James Beard Foundation. Imagine the ultimate foodie day with Mott St.’s Miso Caramel drizzled over waffles, followed by a bowl of Monteverde Gnocchetti for lunch’ Then it’s time for a munching intermission of Luella’s addictively crunchy Baye’s Mix Popcorn in between a Charles Joly-inspired happy hour and a fish taco dinner made with Chef Stephanie Izard’s This Little Goat Yucatan Everything Sauce or a yummy noodle dish featuring Mott St.’s sweet and savory Everything Sauce.
The James Beard Awards weekend in Chicago provides a particularly proud opportunity to celebrate the city’s vibrant hospitality community through a wide array of public events, including cross-country restaurant collaborations, education sessions, special menus, backyard BBQs, and now Here Here Market’s exclusive Celebrate JBF Chicago Alumni Collection boxes.
About Choose Chicago
JBF Sauce, Spice & Everything Nice
Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city and its member business community. For more information, visit www.choosechicago.com and follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #CaptureChicagoExcitement
About Illinois Restaurant Association
Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois. The IRA owns and produces Chicago Gourmet – the annual food and wine festival uniting hundreds of restaurants, chefs and beverage experts for a weekend filled with food and drink tastings, entertainment and more. For more information, visit www.illinoisrestaurants.org and follow @illinoisrestaurants on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Here Here Market
Bill Kim, Mott St.
Here Here Market is an online marketplace for food and drink enthusiasts to discover and buy specialty products from chef-preneurs, small-batch artisans, and local product makers, delivered right to your door nationwide. Launched in 2021, Here Here Market’s mission is to support and enable culinary creators at any point in their journey through a platform to share their talent and products with the world. Co-founded by Disha Gulati and Nicholas Florek, Here Here Market is a woman, minority, and LGBTQ+ company based in Chicago with a goal to uplift a diverse community of culinary creators. For more information, visit www.hereheremarket.com and follow @hereheremkt on Facebook and Instagram.
About the James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation (JBF) celebrates and supports the people behind America’s food culture, while pushing for new standards in the restaurant industry to create a future where all have the opportunity to thrive. Established over 30 years ago, the Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives and is committed to supporting a resilient and flourishing industry that honors its diverse communities. By amplifying new voices, celebrating those leading the way, and supporting those on the path to do so, the Foundation is working to create a more equitable and sustainable future—what we call Good Food for Good™.
As a 501c3 non-profit organization, JBF brings its mission to life through annual Awards, industry and community-focused initiatives and programs, advocacy, and events. Current programs include the Open For Good Campaign, Chef’s Bootcamp for Policy and Change, Beard House Fellows, Legacy Network, Scholarship Programs, Smart Catch, and Women’s Leadership Programs. In addition, JBF celebrates the chefs and local independent restaurants at the heart of our communities with numerous events and partnerships nationwide throughout the year—including the Taste America culinary tour, JBF Greens events for foodies under 40, the soon-to-open Pier 57 Market Hall, food festivals, and more. For more information, subscribe to the digital newsletter Beard Bites and follow @beardfoundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Clubhouse.
Chef Sarah Grueneberg’s Gnocchetti con Pesto
Serves 4
1 pound Monteverde Gnocchetti Pasta
2 tablespoons Kosher Salt
4 Tbs cold butter, unsalted, cubed
handful basil leaves
1 cup Basil Pesto
1/2 cup whole ricotta
1/4 cup grated pecorino, for garnish
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts, preferably Italian
Bring a large pot of water to boil, season with kosher salt. Add the pasta to the water and cook 1 minute less than directions specify. Using a skimmer, remove cooked pasta from pot and place in a large sauce pot or sauté pan, along with a 1/4 cup of the pasta water over medium heat. Stir cubed butter into the sauce until thickened.
Add basil leaves and serve in bowls, then drizzle basil pesto on top (about 1/4 cup per bowl). Garnish each bowl with a few spoonfuls of ricotta, grated pecorino and toasted pine nuts.
1/2 cup fruity, mild extra-virgin olive oil (plus a touch more if needed)
1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt, like Maldon
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1⁄4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Place blender jar in freezer to chill. Meanwhile, submerge the herbs in a large bowl of cold water add a few ice cubes; let stand 5 minutes.
Using hands, gently lift leaves from water. Repeat again, using fresh cold water. Let soak for 15 minutes. Remove blender jar from freezer. Place the garlic, salt and oil in the blender and blend until smooth.
Working in batches, lift herbs from water, shaking excess but not all water from leaves (a bit of water will make a smooth pesto) add to blender. Blend using short pulses for each addition, just to breakdown the larger leaves (do not over-blend.)
Finally, add the cheeses, and blend on medium high until smooth. Remove and place over an ice bath and chill until cold. Reserve for drizzling over your favorite pasta.
The stages of Chicago’s theaters are once again lighting up after more than a year of darkness with myriad new performances that capture Chicago’s creative spirit, including the North American tours of Come From Away, Hadestown, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, SIX, To Kill a Mockingbird and others. The recently reopened Steppenwolf Theatre Company now has a new $54 million arts and education center that includes a theatre-in-the-round is hosting the world-premiere of King James, an intimate exploration of the place that sports and athletes (think “King” LeBron James) occupy in our emotional lives and relationships.
More Chicago Theater Offerings
Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) Commissioner Erin Harkey have just announced the designation of 2022 as the “Year of Chicago Dance”, a yearlong collaborative initiative which will activate Chicago’s dance industry to address critical issues facing dancers and showcase dance performances, social dancing, and special events for the public in dozens of venues throughout the city.
With careful COVID-19 protocols and social distancing in place, hybrid and live events will return to the city with the
Chicago Restaurant Week will follow soon after in late March/early April, celebrating the city’s award-winning culinary scene with special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus (ranging from $25-$55) available via dine-in or takeout/delivery options. At long last EXPO Chicago, the international exhibition of contemporary and modern art, will return to Navy Pier in early April.
Come find out why Chicago was once again designated by Conde Nast Traveler’s readers as the Best Big City in the U.S. in 2021, for the fifth year in a row and check out what’s new for Winter/Spring 2022! Visit www.ChooseChicago.com for more information.
Chicago Accolades!
The Langham Chicago
Chicago was ranked “Best Big City in the U.S.” in 2021 for the fifth consecutive year by Condé Nast Traveler’s discerning readers in the CNT Readers’ Choice Awards.
Tripadvisor’s new Winter Travel Index listed Chicago as one of the Top 10 Winter Domestic Destinations in the U.S.
Forbes Travel Guide honored three Chicago hotels (The Four Seasons, The Langham, Chicago and The Peninsula Chicago) with 5-star ratings in the 2021 Star Awards Winners – Forbes Travel Guide.
The Michelin Guide celebrated Chicago’s resilient culinary scene by granting three new restaurants Michelin stars, including:
Ever (West Loop – Two Star), where Chef Curtis Duffy and Michael Muser preside over a bespoke room in which fine dining enchants palates with complex flavors, stirring textures and visual fireworks;
Moody Tongue (South Loop – Two Star), Jared Wentworth’s seasonal, ingredient-driven tasting menu concept housed in the Moody Tongue brewery building;
Porto(Bucktown – One Star), where Chef Marcos Campos’ style is anchored by his Spanish heritage and explores the Atlantic coast of Spain and Portugal through its conservas, seafood and specialty rice dishes.
Chicago is among the best sports cities in the world, according to 2021 Burson Cohn & Wolfe’s annual World Sports City Ranking.
Chicago’s New Accomodations
Canopy by Hilton Central Loop, located directly across the street from Willis Tower, in the epicenter of Chicago’s financial district, features a total of 215 total guest rooms (192 regular rooms and 23 suites). Famous attractions such as The Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and Chicago Riverwalk are less than 10 minutes away.
Open all day, the onsite Depot 226, a Bistro, market and coffee shop, offers a stylish, retro space that is inviting and comfortable and perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or even a casual dinner.
The Chicago Hotel Collection welcomed a new location in Millennium Park this summer featuring 4-Star all-suite accommodations with full kitchens, perfect for business, leisure, extended stays, corporate relocations, or large groups/families.
Guests will have access to an expert Concierge Team and receive an incredible daily amenity package featuring 3 drinks per night, free Wi-Fi, use of Peloton Bikes on-site with reservation, early check-in/late check-out, booking credits to use for their next stay when booked direct and a complimentary 1-year Club 1 Hotels membership. Another outpost, the Magnificent Mile Hotel & Suites, opened December 2021, just 350 feet from Michigan Avenue.
The LaSalle Hotel, Autograph Collection, situated in the heart of the Financial District, offers a sophisticated and tailored experience for business and leisure travelers.
Experience fine dining at Grill on 21, an elevated and modern take on the classic American grill concept featuring a focus on quality and sustainability. An expansive gym offers premiere TechnoGym equipment as well as Peloton bikes. World-class accommodations include spacious rooms averaging 430 square feet, oversized Calacatta marble bathrooms with luxurious walk-in showers, and a window-side marble top dining table. The hotel is projected to open in March 2022.
Pendry Hotels & Resorts announced its further U.S. expansion with the renovation of the Art Deco Chicago landmark, the Carbide & Carbon Building (and former St. Jane Hotel), as Pendry Chicago in spring 2021.
Featuring 364 redesigned guestrooms and suites in a contemporary palette awash in warm minimal tones and comfortable finishes, the Pendry Chicago also features public spaces thoughtfully designed by Alessandro Munge’s Studio Munge. The hotel’s signature restaurant and bar concept, Venteux, is helmed by Executive Chef-Partner Donald Young (Temporis, Les Nomades, Bistrot Saveurs), Chicago’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, and overseen by hospitality and nightlife pioneer, Andy Masi, and his Clique Hospitality group. In addition, the hotel features a lobby bar and lounge, a spectacular rooftop lounge, 12,000 square feet of meetings and event space, curated fitness and wellness programming, and an extensive art collection.
Through architectural ingenuity and a shimmering homage to sky and water, the 101-story St. Regis Chicago, designed by award-winning architect Jeanne Gang, has changed Chicago’s iconic skyline. It is now the third tallest building in Chicago, the 10th tallest in the United States, and the tallest building in the world designed by a female. The tower’s crystalline form was inspired by the facets of a shimmering gem and the building is coated in six varying shades of blue-green glass to reflect the changing colors of Lake Michigan. The Hotel will comprise the first 11 floors of the building, featuring 192 luxurious guest rooms, multiple signature dining options, a 12,000 square foot, world-class St. Regis Spa, a fitness center, indoor pool and outdoor sunken terrace with scenic views, a 5,000 square foot ballroom and 3,000 square feet of executive and pre-function space and the St. Regis Signature Butler Service. The Hotel’s backyard is a six-acre wide open botanical green space featuring a children’s play park, dog park, and attractive ornamental and water gardens.
Chicago Restaurant Week
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Chicago Restaurant Week (March 25-April 10, 2022), a celebration of the city’s award-winning culinary scene bringing together hundreds of the area’s top restaurants across more than thirty Chicago neighborhoods. This year there are 50+ women- and minority-owned restaurants participating (many for the first time) from neighborhoods as far ranging as South Shore and Bronzeville. Diners can enjoy special prix fixe menus from restaurants throughout Chicago and nearby suburbs, with multi-course meals available at $25 for brunch or lunch, and $39 and/or $55 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax, gratuity, and delivery fees). This year, diners will continue to have the flexibility to experience Chicago Restaurant Week through dine-in or takeout/delivery options.
Chicago Restaurants & Dining
Adalina
Opened last summer in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, Adalina serves a modern and engaging Italian menu by Michelin-starred chef Soo Ahn, previously with Band of Bohemia. Adalina’s menu creates a balance between Northern and Southern cuisines; guests can expect house-made extruded and stuffed pastas, imported meats and cheeses, and hand-selected beef and seafood selections.
Alla Vita
Opened in September 2021 in the West Loop neighborhood, Alla Vita (which means “to life” in Italian) is the newest concept from Executive Chef Lee Wolen and Boka Restaurant Group, serving a casual, family-style menu of fresh, delicious Italian food made simply with the best ingredients.
Chef/Owner Stephen Gillanders (S.K.Y., Somerset) debuted his newest concept, Apolonia in the South Loop in April 2021. Named after Gillanders’ grandmother, Apolonia offers seasonal, seafood-centric coastal European and Mediterranean fare. Pastry chef Tatum Sinclair has developed a collection of noteworthy items such as a savory black truffle puff bread, and a signature pistachio gelato. Sommelier Jelena Prodan has created a distinct beverage program with wines thoughtfully sourced from all around the globe, an expansive by-the-glass selection, and an exciting, one-of-a-kind vermouth program with custom-blended Apolonia vermouth on tap.
In partnership with the famous Gibsons Restaurant Group. Chef José Andrés debuted Bazaar Meat and Bar Mar in December 2021 inside Bank of America’s new Chicago headquarters, near the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Bazaar Meat celebrates all things carnivorous, including personalized tasting menus featuring expertly dry-aged Wagyu and the like hand-selected from more than 400 cuts of meat, while Bar Mar is a true celebration of the bounty of the sea, with modern takes on iconic seafood classics like fried calamari and lobster rolls.
Eric Williams, owner of The Silver Room boutique, has partnered with global hospitality design trailblazer Cecilia Cuff of The Nascent Group on his newest venture: Bronzeville Winery. Opening in 2022, guests of the winery will enjoy a rotating wine list with selections from around the world highlighting African American-owned labels paired with an ever-changing seasonal menu that pays homage to the flavors of the African diaspora, paired with wine, craft cocktails and beer for every palate. The team’s goal in the design of the Winery is to encourage guests to spend time, to socialize and network in the space. To that end, the decor will feature a revolving art collection, and a state-of-the-art sound system will pipe in a well-curated playlist and live music. Programming will feature wine talks, art openings, and cultural events; the space will also be available for private events.
Esmé Chicagoopened August 2021 in Lincoln Square, from Chef Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo. This fine-dining concept is also mission-driven and community-focused as they partner with local artists on collaborative tasting menus.
Gordon Ramsay Burger, a new concept from celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay, opened in a 5,000 square foot space in the city’s River North neighborhood in December 2021. The Chicago location, equipped with an island bar and seating for 120, will be the second Gordon Ramsay Burger location in the U.S – and the chef’s first restaurant in Chicago. Alongside elevated, butter-based burgers (blending different cuts of meat to impart a bolder flavor), the developing menu also plans to include milkshakes, fries, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. There are also ketchup-laden hot dogs on the menu (a bold choice for a Chicago audience).
Hinoki Sushiko from Chef Otto Phan & Chef Gustavo Barahona, opened April 2021. This two-story space in the Elston corridor offers two types of chef-driven experiences under one roof: a 50-seat izakaya-style downstairs lounge serves traditional Japanese comfort food with a modern take, along with craft cocktails and Sake and a 40-person upstairs dining room (and 8-seat sushi counter) for Edomae-style Omakase dining serving a 15 piece meal.
Kitchen United MIX, a to-go food hall, is opening a second Chicago location in the former Wells St. Market. Kitchen United MIX, the future of takeout & delivery, is the nation’s first “Multi-Restaurant Ordering” to-go experience, the only destination that allows foodie fans who love variety to order meals from 10+ restaurants, all on the same bill. They have locations around the nation, including one in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. The new 10,500 square-foot facility houses local, regional and national restaurant brands, including Hawaiian Bros, Greenleaf, Siri Indian Express, Trejo’s Tacos, Dog Haus, Plant B and more.
Black owned Kitchen + Kocktails, which made its debut last summer 2021, has taken the city by storm. From flavored fried chicken and lobster tails, to shrimp and grits and southern classics with a twist, this is a great addition to the River North culinary scene.
KOVAL Distillery opened its hotly anticipated tasting room last fall on Chicago’s Malt Row, named for the bevy of breweries in the Ravenswood neighborhood. The sun-filled tasting room, outfitted with a marble bar and leather sofas, seats 96. French doors open to an ivy-covered outdoor patio that accommodates up to 30 people. Guests can sample flights of whiskey and gin, or try cocktails made with KOVAL spirits and paired with small bites.
DineAmic Hospitality reinvented its popular, decade-old concept Public House, as Radio Room last summer, an American restaurant sports bar and music lounge set. The 10,000-square-foot space can seat 300 guests at full capacity in four unique spaces and becomes a go-to for everything from game day to late-night jam sessions.
A 15-foot stage is backlit with a wall of smart marquee bulbs that strobe and dance with the music during late-night live performances or laid-back sets at brunch, and the design theme juxtaposes vintage kitsch with today’s tech. At The Studio, an intimate private event and daytime dining space inspired by a real-life recording studio, guests can partake in blue-tooth headphone karaoke that only their party can hear. Meanwhile, nostalgia reigns in The Deck, a 10-by-10-foot space housing the Pop-A-Shot Shot Bar, where guests can shoot baskets and sip throwback shooters like Flaming Doctor Peppers and Pickle-backs. Chef Nolan Narut, former Executive Chef of Ella Elli and Stefani Prime, hits all the right notes with a menu inspired by American Southern comfort food from culinary cities like Nashville and Charleston but made with fresh, local ingredients.
Joe Flamm, the South Side Chicago native, Spiaggia alum and Season 15 winner of Top Chef, debuted Rose Mary in April 2021, inspired by his Italian heritage and the bold, bright flavors of Croatian cuisine.
The space, located in the historic Fulton Market District and named for Flamm’s grandmothers, as well as the herb rosemary which grows natively along the Italian and Croatian coastlines, offers a seasonal menu of rustic yet refined dishes that encapsulate what Flamm has coined “Adriatic drinking food.” Designed by award-winning Los Angeles-based firm Studio UNLTD, the dynamic interior with whitewashed brick walls, honey-colored oak millwork, and pale stone surfaces—all accented by moments of red clay and deep, azure blue tilework—reflects the utilitarian yet celebratory spirit of traditional family-run, age-old taverns in Croatia known as konobas. Rose Mary has also taken second place in TimeOut’s list of The 21 best new restaurants in the world right now.
In Summer 2021, José Andrés, chef, restaurateur and founder of the nonprofit World Central Kitchen, and his ThinkFoodGroup— opened Jaleo, in River North, bringing alive the spirit and flavors of modern-day Spain through an impressive assortment of tapas, paellas, sangrias, Spanish wines and sherries, all within a festive, casual atmosphere. In fall, he opened Pigtail, an intimate, speakeasy-style bar on the lower level of Jaleo, taking its name from the ibérico pork which infuses almost every dish on the menu (Pig), and the bespoke cocktails (tail).
Time Out Market Chicago is excited to add to its carefully curated showcase of delicious cuisine with Lil Amaru set to open late January 2022 . A spinoff of its sister restaurant Amaru, located in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, Lil Amaru will feature globally inspired Latin Street Food and Tacos.
Opened this past April 2021 in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, Tree House is a flourishing, nature-inspired, chef-driven bar and restaurant serving up elevated renditions of comfort food and bar classics, including three distinct styles of pizza. Marco Colin (The Publican, Soho House, Alinea), executive chef at La Luna Chicago, will take on the additional role of executive chef at Tree House with a high quality, ingredient-focused approach to modern Italian fare. The kitchen’s two ovens, a custom-built, wood-burning brick oven and traditional deck oven, serve up Tree House’s three styles of pizza. The bar program pairs well with chef Colin’s playful menus, featuring an array of vibrant cocktails curated for celebrating, such as Negronis, spritzers and frozen cocktails. In full capacity, the restaurant holds 200-seats, glistening with a disco ball fixture overhead and an aesthetic enlivened through fixtures like tree-inspired installations made by local artists, sprawling greenery, exposed concrete and bright colors and patterns.
New York food hall Urbanspace will open two Chicago locations, the city’s first new food hall since the pandemic. Urbanspace West Washingtonrecently opened while a second 12,000 square foot location, inside Willis Tower, is projected to open in Winter 2022.
This spring, Chicago’s youngest Michelin-starred chef, Donald Young (Temporis, Les Nomades, Bistrot Saveurs) debuted Venteux, a lively French brasserie featuring a swanky oyster and Champagne bar located in the new Pendry Chicago. As Executive Chef-Partner, Young opened the high-energy brasserie in partnership with acclaimed national entertainment maverick and restaurant operator, Clique Hospitality (Pendry Hotels & Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Blackstone Group). Located at 230 North Michigan Avenue within the city’s historic 1920s art deco landmark Carbide & Carbon Building, Venteux commissioned world-renowned design firm Studio Munge to create a luxurious ambiance that invites guests in to get wrapped up in comforting French fare imbued with Young’s signature creativity.
Cover photo courtesy Christopher|F Photography featured on Choose Chicago.
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