This was my first time ever visiting the windy city, good ole’ Chi town! And man, was it everything I expected and more! If you have never felt small standing next to a “lake,” stand next to Lake Michigan, and I guarantee you’ll feel just as small as you do while standing next to the ocean! Truly amazing.
During my short time in Chicago, I stayed at the new breed of hotels: PUBLIC Chicago (opened Oct 11, 2011), which embodies the luxury and boutique lifestyles. The hotel is the home of the historic Pump Room restaurant (which was the place to see and be seen, regular sightings of celebs) and is also a complete transformation of the Gold Coast’s famed Ambassador East Hotel. It’s immersed with cultural heritage that spans decades, and it shows…how beautiful and breathtaking this place was!
One of the main attractions of the hotel was, for sure, the “lobby socializing.” It was transformed every night into a new kind of gathering place. It had the feel of NYC (that being, very sophisticated and stylish). I mean, people were dressed to the 9s! It was totally unexpected to see the lobby in such excitement, but every night (week night or weekend night), I’d be walking through in my sneakers with my camera slung around my shoulder, and felt like I quickly needed to pass through and escape, as if I was out of place. Of course, I went to my room to throw something more chic on and headed back down to the lobby bar, where I found so many walks of life, which I love! But if you didn’t want to socialize in the happening lobby you could walk around the corner to a momentary quiet street with a phenomenal breakfast and dinner restaurant where you could also grab a drink. Then you could walk a little further down the same block for many more restaurants with culinary excellence.
The rooms were clean and simple, had pops of uniqueness such as fur throw over, what was, just a plastic chair, and super cool 5×7 framed black and white photos, hanging by itself on it’s own wall above one bedside table. It almost seemed out of place or lonely, but that’s what made it creatively tasteful. In the frames you could find pictures of cows with hats or blurred Jazz player playing the sax. This place has character and swag! Love it.
I had a fabulous time at Public and I highly recommend staying there when visiting Chicago!!
