You are here:
Posts Tagged ‘Gold Coast’
Champagne Chic Wednesdays at Le Bar
Posted on October 7th, 2011 by Mike Chamernik
Come experience elegance and style as Le Bar goes Champagne Chic every Wednesday.
Le Bar, located at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, is holding something special for the ladies every Wednesday night, starting on October 19. The fashionable Gold Coast lounge is designing the weekly event for women. Bottles of champagne and cocktails will be on hand, as will tasty bites made by Chef Greg Biggers and Pastry Chef Patrick Fahy. Famous fashion flicks, both old and new, showing throughout the evening, too.
Champagne Chic at Le Bar
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., guests can choose drinks and snacks from a special cocktail menu. Both food and drink will be $10 each. Cocktails include Prohibition (whisky, loupiac, prosecco), The Emerald (absinthe, mint, champagne), The Gem (basil, mango rum, prosecco) and Sunrise (vanilla rum, fresh orange juice, rosé champagne). Among the bites are smoked salmon and caviar, tuna and hamachi tartar, and truffle frites. Plus, if you want to throw yourself fully into it and succumb to temptation, assorted macarons and lollipops will be $7.
Le Bar itself is part of the Sofitel luxury hotel, and has floor-to-ceiling windows, mood lighting, plush seating, and a stainless steel bar. Treat yourself and your girlfriends to a night with Champagne Chic.
Tags: Champagne Chic Wednesdays, Chicago Events, Girls Night Out, Gold Coast, happy hour, Le Bar, Sofitel Chicago Hotel, Water Tower Place
Feast on Feast’s Summer Specials
Posted on June 14th, 2011 by Stephanie Choporis
For early-risers and commuters who thought they could not get a hearty yet classy meal so early in the morning, think again. Feast restaurant is now offering summer breakfast Monday through Friday starting at 8 a.m. at its Gold Coast location (25 E. Delaware Pl.).
The specials include:
Feast Grand Slam ($11): two eggs any style, applewood smoked bacon, pork sausage links and a buttermilk biscuit
Eggs Royale ($13): two poached eggs, house-cured gravlax, English muffin, hollandaise sauce and caviar
Oatmeal Pancakes ($10) with seasonal fruit compote, whipped honey butter and candied pecans
Diner favorites, such as Lox and Bagel ($13), Healthy Yogurt Parfait ($8) and Build-Your-Own-Omelets (starting at $11)
And for those sophisticated palates looking to quench their thirst, Feast also has summer wine specials at its Gold Coast and Bucktown (1616 N. Damen Ave.) locations. Every Monday and Tuesday, diners can complement their evening meal with a 50 percent discounted bottle from a selection of Spanish Sauvignon Blanc-Muscats, Argentinian Malbecs and California Cabernets. Wednesday guests can choose any two courses and a $25 glass per person.
Lastly, if patrons do not have time to sit and dine, discounted bottles of wine are also available on-the-go for those last minute hostess gifts or weekend picnics. Each bottle is 50 percent off of its menu price.
Reservations can be made by calling 773-772-7100 (Bucktown) and 312-337-4001 (Gold Coast).
Tags: Breakfast, Bucktown, Chicago Restaurants, Chicago Wine Deals, Chicago Wine Shop, dining deals, Feast Restaurant, Gold Coast, Summer Specials
Colonial Cuisine
Posted on April 19th, 2011 by Adam Marks
Politics aside, the French colonization of Vietnam has yielded some pretty delicious gastronomy. No one in Chicago does this better than Le Colonial. Their elegant decor and impeccable service makes it a crowd-pleaser for all, even those who may not have tried Vietnamese food before.
Start off with a rich bowl of Pho, traditional oxtail soup. This warm goodness includes rich and soft beef tenderloin, a whole bunch of fresh herbs, and perfectly delicate rice noodles. As far as appetizers go, I can highly recommend the Cha Gio, traditional crispy spring rolls. Though I’ve had them at many restaurants, these are officially my favorite. Be sure to wrap them in lettuce and include the accompanying mint before dipping in the chili sauce. Perfection in flavor and texture!
Definitely go family style with the entrees. Pick out a delicious salad to share (my favorite is Goi Bo, the spicy beef), and then get a nice mixture of other dishes. One of the main standouts is Bun Thit Nuong, thinly sliced pork with noodles, greens, and peanuts. Rich and warm with deep flavor. It’s one of those dishes you really could eat three of if necessary.
Desserts are not neglected at Le Colonial. Try the coconut macaroon, a beautiful treat to end a memorable meal. Le Colonial is pretty popular, so I’d recommend trying to make a reservation before waltzing in. Don’t let it stop you from dropping in, but if you can plan ahead, do.
Le Colonial is located at 937 North Rush Street in the Gold Coast.
Sprinkles Cupcakes Opening Festivities
Posted on July 25th, 2010 by Adam Marks
After attending a private media party for Sprinkles Cupcakes last week, I can officially tell you that everything you’ve heard about them is true – they’re amazing. Sweet without the sickening and overall, an indulgence worth every single calorie.
For those of you not familiar with Sprinkles, the company opened the world’s first cupcake bakery in Beverly Hills back in 2005. Based on location and taste, Sprinkles has garnered long lines of devoted Hollywood stars looking for a sugar fix. We think it has something to do with the fact that Sprinkles cupcakes are baked fresh in small batches throughout the day, handcrafted from the finest ingredients and contain no preservatives, trans fats or artificial flavors. I was told that my key lime cupcake was made with fresh squeezed lime juice and let me tell you, it tasted like it.
Don’t take my word for it, taste for yourself. On Monday, July 26, celebrity couple Giuliana and Bill Rancic will be on site for the opening of Sprinkles seventh retail location, right in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. The dynamic duo will be on site from 11AM-1PM to greet customers, sign autographs and take photos.
With regular, gluten-free and vegan options on the rotating list of flavors—think cinnamon sugar, summer cherry and peanut butter chocolate—everyone can satisfy their sweet tooth. And keep your eye out for the Sprinkles truck. The eager and friendly Sprinkles staff will be distributing FREE cupcakes during opening week!
Sprinkles Cupcakes, 50 E. Walton St., 312-573-1600, sprinkles.com
Tags: Cupcakes, Cupcakes Chicago, Gold Coast, Sprinkles, Sprinkles Cupcakes
MCA’s “Terrace Tuesdays” combine summer and jazz
Posted on July 8th, 2010 by
Another summer, another slate of great music in an art-filled setting: the Museum of Contemporary Art’s “Tuesdays on the Terrace” series offers visitors the chance to hear music every week, overlooking the impressive sculpture garden. The shows are free – thank Macy’s for picking up the tab – and you can even bring your own lawn chair (although you can also rent one from the museum for $5.) Outside food and beverages are not permitted, but a full menu awaits, ranging from burgers and franks to the $22 buffet laid out by Puck’s Café, the MCA’s restaurateur. (To reserve a table for dinner, call 312-397-4034.)
Performances take place every Tuesday night from 5:30 till 8 through the end of September, with WHPK jazz authority Al Carter Bey and jazz hosts from WDCB acting as hosts. On a clear June evening or in the hazy dusk of August, you can’t beat this picture: patrons arrayed on the MCA terrace and the garden lawn, winding down or ratcheting up to the sounds of jazz. And in case of rain, the music goes on anyway, inside the Puck’s Café space.
Here’s the schedule through the middle of August (click here for entire lineup):
July 13: AACM reedman Mwata Bowden
July 20: bassist and new-jazz composer Matt Ulery
July 27: splashy young trumpeter Corey Wilkes
Aug 3: cellist and new-music improviser Fred Lonberg-Holm
Aug 10: former Miles Davis keyboardist Robert Irving III
Aug 17: vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz’s trio
And the Museum collection remains open later than normal on Tuesdays, too – till 8 PM – so you can combine a set or two of music with an hour or two of art-viewing, and leave with most of your senses enhanced.
The First Friday of the rest of your life
Posted on June 2nd, 2010 by
If you talk to serious historians, you’ll learn that art defines culture. If you get them off the record, most of them will admit that art also has a lot to do with romance – or at least sex. And if you show up this Friday (June 4) at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave.), you can presumably pick up on a little of each. For years, the MCA’s “First Fridays” series has proved to be a perfect blend of the aforementioned and other high-minded activities: drinking, eating, dancing, looking at art, and looking at the opposite (or same) sex. These monthly gatherings have long constituted the toniest meet market in town.
This month’s First Friday has plenty of extra pizazz. A benefit to support the yearly slate of free programs at the MCA, it’s billed as a “Blowout Spectacular” of “carnivalesque chills and thrills,” which is art talk for “crazier than the usual monthly bash.” The headliners, Chicago’s “astounding circus-punk marching band” Mucca Pazza, have more post-modern fun than ought to be allowed (and almost as many costumes). Other attractions include “human sculptures” Michael and Alan Fleming; Ross Moreno, a.k.a. the Maladjusted Clown; and artist Meg Duguid, slated to present a miniature exhibition inside her purse. The night also features six guest DJs, art-inspired midway games, and a carnival-inspired menu from in-house eatery Puck’s, along with the cash bar.
The MCA’s usual First Friday events – held on, um, the first Friday of each month – usually run $8 for MCA members and $16 for civilians. Being a benefit, this one runs a little steeper than usual: $30 in advance and $35 at the door for members and non-members alike, and $50 for VIP access (which is art talk for VIP access). And in case you still were unclear on that whole art=sex thing, you have to be 21 to get in.
Tags: Chicago Nightlife, Gold Coast, Museum of Contemporary Art
The Whiskey Bar & Grill Spices Things Up On Rush Street
Posted on April 23rd, 2010 by
Located in the Gold Coast’s boutique Sutton Place Hotel, on the corner of Bellevue and Rush, Whiskey Bar & Grill has hit a chord with visiting diners and locals alike with its revamped concept, after more than 10 years in business.
What differentiates the new and improved Whiskey Bar & Grill is the more modern aesthetic. You might remember its former Mexican flair, long gone and replaced by more of a rock and roll vibe.
Offering two bar areas, each with their own distinct energy, and an outdoor patio (prime real estate for people watching), everybody is sure to be pleased with their options. The main dining room is an inviting space with reclaimed wood walls and an eclectic mix of photographs and mirrors to create a hip, welcoming atmosphere. Guests can enjoy the company of others at the oversized communal table located in the center of the space or visit the second room that features a long wooden bar, a variety of enticing lounge seats and cork walls lined with candid photographs of classic musicians from Rande Gerber’s personal collection.
The food and drinks are nothing to be ignored. Straightforward dishes with a twist highlight the juxtaposition of flavors within the masterful creations of Executive Chef Vince Zhanay, formerly of Sola and Park Grill. You will find a bit of everything, a melting pot of a menu, with Asian, Mexican and American dishes sitting comfortably next to each other. Enjoy exceptionally fresh seasonal specials and the all-day Sunday brunch with an infused Bloody Mary bar coming in May.
Feel like a medley of small plates? Be sure to try the exquisitely tender grilled Skirt Steak Skewers accompanied by a hoisin glaze, the Fish Tacos with a jalapeno tartar sauce or the melt-in-your-mouth 3-Cheese Mac & Cheese.
Health nut? Don’t pass up the Chop’t Salad – definitely a crowd pleaser. Feel like something a bit more substantial? Try the Kobe Burger with Chef Vince’s specially grilled Whiskey onions and blue cheese.
Enjoy the perfect night of rocker-chic style and original dishes at Whiskey Bar & Grill.
A Local or a Tourist? CTB Meets TLT
Posted on January 21st, 2010 by Rebecca Taras
Here at the Chicago Travel Blog (CTB), we filter our content through a prism RE: how helpful it will be to visitors to our fair city. After all, we’re Concierge Preferred, Chicago’s leading visitor industry publication and marketing company.
In the end, we hope the info we publish here on the CTB and on ConciergePreferred.com is helpful to visitors and locals alike. We also disseminate that content through @CP_Chicago on Twitter, and on our Facebook fan page–with help from our social media friends and allies, like @thelocaltourist.
The Local Tourist is owned and operated by Theresa Carter, an active and proud member of the Chicago social media community and the city’s cultural scene, as well. Her goal? “Help locals experience the fascination of a tourist and the tourist feel the comfort of a local.”
“There is so much to do in this city, you can get stuck in a rut going to the same bar or restaurant because it’s what you know,” says Carter. “Take the time to find a new restaurant, or visit one of the many Chicago museums free admission days. Yes, it’s a tourist activity, but there’s a reason so many tourists come to Chicago to see our museums–these things just aren’t in the locals’ consciousness.” (more…)
Tags: Chicago, Chicago Entertainment & Attractions, Chicago Nightlife, Downtown Chicago, Gold Coast, River North
Buy Designer Fashions in a Tough Economy?
Posted on December 11th, 2009 by Adam Marks
Ahh, yes…that Gucci handbag. It seemed like such a great idea after a bottle of wine with your girlfriend at lunch, but reality hits your mailbox every time you open up that monthly credit card statement. There are plenty of fabulous, low-priced shopping options, but for some, there’s still something missing….it’s not designer. For those with a passion for Jimmy (as in Choo), there’s a new happy medium.
Gold Coast local Corri McFadden opened Edrop-off Express in 2004 after graduating from the International Academy of Design and Technology. McFadden lives and breathes a great designer pump, but in the current economy, decided to create a resource for buying designer goods at a fraction of the cost: Edrop-off Express.
Her service is much more than just a purchase portal. You can turn in your “designer trash” (or spontaneous fashion mistakes), sit back and let McFadden handle the rest. There are no upfront costs and fees are strictly commission-based: the fee structure is 38% on the first $1,000 and 28% on the remaining amount over $1,000.
No ambition to navigate eBay? McFadden does it all, maximizing the value of your goods by researching the product, taking professional photos, writing detailed descriptions and auctioning at the most opportune moment. That could explain why she’s achieved eBay’s Power Seller platinum status, with over 30,000 successful transactions.
Here’s a fun example of an ensemble (right) put together with items from Edrop-off Express, showing you their costs compared to the actual retail value.
Dress: Vintage Tom Ford for Gucci $375/$2,800
Belt: Givenchy: $105/$700
Bag: YSL Muse: $750/$1800
Shoes: Azzedine Alaia: $400/$1850
For more information on selling your designer duds or finding great new looks at discounted prices, check out Edrop-off Express online and follow @INFLUENCEbyEDE on Twitter!
Tags: Designer Fashion, eBay, Fashion, Gold Coast
Follow
