Bus, Trolley, Boat, Bike, Walk…….Segway!

One can see the glorious sights of Chicago in so many ways!

By Sea

Set sail on an architectural cruise along the Chicago River. Take an hour-long tour of the city's structural highlights on a Wendalla Boats Tour as part of our Architectural Tour Package . If you're onboard for a longer boat ride, take First Lady from Michigan Avenue Bridge, or a Chicago Line Cruise (Starbucks included!) from River East Arts Center for fascinating facts on Chicago and its buildings.

If the kids are on deck, a simple sightseeing cruise may be more fitting . Wendella and Mercury both offer a Lake and River Tour and Sunset Cruises. If you don't want to leave your best friend behind, take one of my favorite cruises, a Canine Cruise that Mercury offers on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. throughout July, August and September. If you've left them all behind and you're up for a fast adventure, the Seadog at Navy Pier is a large yellow speed boat to test your nerves on Lake Michigan.

Boats are very popular in the warmer months, so be sure and call me early to book your cruise reservation!

Pedal-Pushing

The Mayor's enthusiasm for bicycling means that this is a bike-friendly town and you'll see bicycles all over the city. One of the best tours is Bobby’s Bike Hike. Located at River East Arts Center, Bobby and his guides will take you to some of best sights of the city. Whether it is checking out the mansions in the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park Zoo or Oprah’s house, you will have a fun and informative tour. Bobby also rents bikes for you own leisure time.

On the Bus

The Chicago Trolley/Double-Decker bus tours are another excellent option. For the price of an all day pass ($25.00), board the bus or trolley at key locations and hear wonderful stories about Chicago. If a particular landmark interests you, get off the trolley or bus, explore, and catch the next trolley that comes along.

Building Up

The Chicago Architecture Foundation, offers wonderful walking and bus tours. A new tour this year is based on the popular book “Devil in the White City” and covers the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition, the last of the nineteenth century's world fairs.

Touch it Up

You may remember a bit of other Chicago History concerning a man named Al Capone. The Untouchable Tours offer the highlights (and lowlights) of the gangster/prohibition era. Your guides, Al Dente and “Southside” Craig Alton, will give you the business…

By Segway...What the heck is a Segway?

A Segway is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation device. In other words, FUN! There are currently two different companies to satisfy your Segway needs-- City Segway Tour and Segway Experience of Chicago Check out both sites!

I'll Lead the Way!

With so many tour options you may not no where to begin. But have no fear, just call me or e-mail me and I will find the best tours for you! See you on the tour!

Chicago-Golf Capital of the World!

People may first think of Palm Springs and Arizona when naming top places for golf, but Chicago is home to six superior public golf courses operated by the Chicago Park District, along with many beautiful private golf courses.

Public courses include the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, Jackson Park Golf Course and the South Shore Cultural Center Golf Course. Marovitz is located along Lake Michigan and consists of nine holes situated on rolling fairways and tight greens. Jackson Park is a historic 18-hole golf course. South Shore, a former private club, is one of the best kept secrets in Chicago. The 2,720 yard, par 33 course offers gorgeous panoramic views of Lake Michigan.

If you want to take a short day trip, some of the best places for golf are located just outside of the city. Harborside International Gulf Course is 16 minutes from downtown and offers two 18-hole championship courses. Cantigny Golf in Wheaton is annually listed as one of the “Top Public Golf Courses in America.” This 27-hole championship venue, with three distinct courses, is open to the public and accepts tee time up to 14 days in advance. Eaglewood Resort, located 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, is one of the most luxurious golf courses in the Midwest. Eaglewood’s 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course offers the perfect outdoor environment for relaxation. Located in Glenview, The Glen Club, which was once home to the Glenview Naval Air Station, has been transformed into an 18-hole nationally acclaimed course.

For information on these clubs, contact me or Cheryl Justak at Golf Now! Chicago.

If you want to practice golf near your hotel in Chicago, just about a mile or so north of the Chicago Radisson Hotel and Suites at Diversey Harbor is the Diversey Driving Range. If you just want to hit some balls, you’ll find me next to the driving range, playing miniature golf. FORE!

Flower Power

Spring is here—at least according to the calendar. Temperatures in Chicago will fluctuate greatly over the next couple of months, but the scent of fresh flowers is everywhere!

Macy’s on State Street presents Gadina Africana, a garden of African culture celebrating the beauty and history of the continent, from March 21^st to April 7. Every spring since 1933, when Marshall Field’s Department Store (now Macy’s) began the flower show, over 3,300 square feet of flowers are displayed on the first floor at Macy’s State Street store.

Chicago is so flower friendly that we’re also home to two conservatories holding Spring Flower Shows. As you explore the Lincoln Park Conservatory and walk among giant banana trees, fragile orchids, staunch cactuses, and in and out of beautiful show rooms, you will feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, as the conservatory was built between 1890 and 1895 and retains a historical atmosphere.

The Garfield Park Conservatory opened in 1908 and was described as a work of “landscape architecture under glass.” Designed by Jens Jensen, the centerpiece of the conservatory is the aquatic or fern room, and includes some of Jensen’s most beautiful stone and water elements. Park admission to both conservatories is always free and the shows run through May 13.

Go just north of Chicago, drive through grandiose homes, and you’ll come to the beautiful Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) where 23 different gardens are situated on 385 acres. The CBG offers many events throughout the year, such as the Antiques and Garden Fair from April 20 through April 22.

Right here on The Magnificent Mile, Tulip Days begin on April 16 and last through May 31. Thousands of tulips will be right outside the doors of the Chicago Radisson Hotel and Suites and line Michigan Avenue. In celebration, we’re offering a special Spring Break Tulip Excursion, beginning April 1, so visitors can fully appreciate Chicago in Bloom!

Taking the bus to school for lunch (and chocolate!) in the classroom

Chicago is a training ground for future food industry talent and boosts the most culinary schools in a major city. This means that there are opportunities for bargain dining and sampling gourmet food at student-run restaurants and schools in locations accessible from the Radisson Chicago Hotel and Suites via bus.

At the The Dining Room of Kendall College, guests can dine on innovative courses such as butter-poached alligator, duck gumbo and Pacific cod served with eggplant caviar and smoked oysters. The Dining Room has recently begun serving prix-fixe lunches for $18 and prix-fixe dinners for $28. Be sure to visit on March 15 when the Advanced Garde Manger class presents “The Grand Buffet,”an all-you-can-eat buffet for $25, prepared by the class for its final exam.

“CHIC Café "is operated by students at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago. This is a friendly spot where the menu changes daily and guests can bring in wine and beer. Students test their creations on the public before going on to work at Chicago’s finest hotels and restaurants, and they thrive off of diners’ feedback. Lunch is $15 and dinner is $25. Reservations are strongly recommended (312.873.2032,) as the café is sometimes closed for parties or due to school breaks.

The French Pasty, located in Chicago’s Loop, is the only school in the area that concentrates solely on desserts and pastries. I got the chance to tour the kitchen at The French Pastry the other night when I attended a Chicago Hotel Concierge Association meeting at the school.The smell of chocolate in the air has me excited for the “World Chocolate Masters 2007 National Championship,” which will be held there May 19 and May 20, 2007. If you can’t wait that long for delicious sweets come, to Chicago on March 10, stay at the Radisson and attend the French Pastry’s “Open House,” featuring an artisan bread and sugar showpiece demonstrations. Many other seminars and exhibtions also occur at The French Pastry throughout the year.

After you have had your fill of food at a Chicago school, take the bus back to the Radisson Chicago Hotel and Suites. Then engage in some physical education by walking around the Magnificent Mile and use your food budget savings toward shopping at all the great shops nearby!

What Does a Concierge do?

Beyond offering guests a friendly greeting and tips on the area, a concierge follows ancient tradition by aiming to fulfill any guest requests that are legally, ethically and morally feasible.

The word "concierge" is derived form the French term "comte des cierges" meaning "keeper of the candles." Keepers were required to stay abreast on all the events going on in the palace and maintain candles for them. As the years progressed, the person occupying this role was the gatekeeper, or keeper of the key, responsible for greeting guests and attending to their needs.

At the beginning of the 20th century, European hotels employed concierges to keep track of their guests' needs. They began meeting and networking in order to improve their services and eventually developed Les Clefs d’Or, the international association of professional hotel concierges.

As a member of Les Clefs d'Or, I wear a gold key on my lapel. The gold key signifies that the wearer is a professionally trained concierge who has built up the skills and contacts to open doors for guests throughout the city.

Not all concierges are members of Les Clefs d’Or. We must obtain five years experience as concierges, acquire sponsors, and pass rigorous testing. I am the only Les Clefs d’Or concierge in the Radisson chain in the U.S. But don’t worry... I'll still let you in on where you can find the best hot dog in Chicago!

Suites for Sweethearts

Doesn't Valentine’s Day in Chicago makes you feel warm all over? Maybe not, since the temperature isn't even in the double digits, but if you stay at the Radisson Chicago Hotel and Suites with the one you love, you're guaranteed to defrost.

Imagine getting dolled up in one of the overstuffed suites at the Radisson and then exiting the hotel into a horse-drawn carriage. As you ride through the streets viewing city lights, you might begin to think you are in Paris….if not for the 'Go Bears!' Signs left over from football season.

Have your carriage drop you off at one of my favorite restaurants. Volare offers scrumptious Italian food. Rosebud Steakhouse is one of the best steakhouses in the city. Pane Caldo serves northern Italian food at it’s finest and boasts a superb wine list. Le Colonial offers it’s wonderful food in a great atmosphere.

If you stay on Satuday, you can view breathtaking fireworks along the Chicago River.

After the fireworks, work off the meal by going out dancing on Rush Street. If you're over 30, check out Syn, go to Level if you're under 30 or pary at Le Passage if age doesn't matter.

Feel like a little live music? The Back Room has jazz and blues, but if you brought your own musical instrument, head over to Andy’s on Hubbard for a bit of a jazz session.

Make sure you pace yourself because many of the bars and clubs are open until 5:00 am on Sunday mornings. When you've finished paryting, return to the Radisson for chilled champagne and chocolate covered strawberries and get some much needed rest.

On Sunday, get those juices flowing at Rockit, my favorite place for brunch. Great Bloody Marys!

Then buy your Valentine a present outside on Michicagn Avenue or go to Bucktown/Wicker Park for unique shopping at stores like Apartment No. 9, Akira and City Soles.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Chicago River Goes Green on St. Patrick's Day

Due to Chicago's thriving Irish-American community, tourists always enjoy spending St. Patrick's Day in a city that celebrates the holiday with bagpipes, stepdancing and the crowning of "Chicago's Fairest Colleen." However, the most compelling reason to come to Chicago and stay at the Radisson Chicago Hotel and Suites on March 17 is to see the Chicago River turn Emerald Green due to the magic of a closely guarded secret forumula.

On March 16, come to the Radisson Chicago Hotel and Suites and you can get an early start at celebrating the holiday at nearby pubs restaurants and still get up in time to witness the transformation of the Chicago River. At 10:45 in the morning on March 17, crowds will gather at the upper bridges at Michigan Avenue or Columbus Drive and watch as the River Dyeing Crew unleashes an orange dye into the water which turns the water bright green.

Legend has at that this tradition began over 40 years ago when Stephen Bailey, Business Manager of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union, was making plans for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration and noticed a plumber whose clothing was splotched with fluorescent green spots. Upon hearing that the plumber had been using the dye to detect waste leaks in the Chicago River, Bailey had the idea of turning the whole river green for St. Patrick’s Day.

The first time that the transformation took place, in 1962, over 100 pounds of were used and the Chicago River stayed green for a week. Over the years the formula was down and it was found that 25 pounds of dye would keep the Chicago River for one day.

In 1966, the chemical dye used to color the waters was changed to a vegetable based dye at the request of environmenalits. About 40 pounds of this dye is used to keep the river green for the day.

Chicago claims to be the only city that has the capability of changing its waters green. After you've witnessed this St. Patrick's Day miracle, watch the parade at noon, then come back to the Chicago Hotel and Suites and have some 'bangers in blankets' or 'Guinness Irish Stew' at Elephant and Castle Pub, located in the hotel.