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May 4, 2006
City of Big Showtunes – A Chicago Journal
In November of last year the airlines had a fare sale to Chicago. I’ve never seen the city, so found a weekend in the spring that the Joffrey Ballet was performing to kill two stones with one bird. I asked my pal David in Chicago about the city; it turned out he hasn’t been to NYC in two decades and the fare worked in both directions. So we decided upon a gay version of AFS. I went there last weekend, he’s coming here next and each gets to show off our city.
I traveled after work on a Friday and flew AA first class; I had upgrade points. Not bad for a $131 fare total. The flight to Chcago is about two and one half hours. On AA it’s on an MD-80, in first class it’s two by two seats with a 39 inch seat pitch and they served dinner. Someone had the brains to cater braised boneless short ribs; a dish that benefits from reheating. AA First Class not the Ritz, but that flight was booked solid and a seat in a full first class is infinitely preferable to a seat in a full coach section.
The El Blue Line runs directly into Chicago; it costs $2 and takes 40 minutes – in my case I was at my hotel a bit under one hour from arrival at the gate. The El runs on a fare card system – there are machines at the terminal; bring dollar bills (the cost is $2) or coins. As far as I could tell, there’s no volume discount on the card, so it doesn’t make sense to pay for several rides at a time except for convenience.
I stayed at the Club Quarters, Chicago Loop on West Adams (Priceline, 3* Loop, $70/night). The neighborhood feels like lower Manhattan in NYC, a business section that is vibrant during the daytime and clears out at night. The hotel itself was perfect for a single traveler; the rooms are compact with double beds, but not at all claustrophobic and well designed for work – but they only have showers rather than bathtubs. I was given a room with a double bed; though more than enough for me, it would have been close quarters for a couple. I didn’t use the fitness center or the lounge, but the lounge was pretty constantly occupied. Service was accommodating; there is free wireless but signal is of varying quality. I’d have no problem staying here again at all.
David picked me up at the hotel and drove north. He is an architect, so pointed out designs and landmarks along the way, although it would have to wait for daylight for me to understand more intuitively the lay of the land. We parked at his office and walked a few blocks to the Hancock Building. The Signature Lounge on the 96th Floor was David’s planned destination. In his opinion, it’s the most reasonably priced view of Chicago, and on the only clear night for the weekend it was quite magical.
The city spreads out for miles below in a rigorous grid and boy, does it seem flat and large. David pointed out sites and told me Chicago lore. We got drinks and mediocre sandwiches, either is about $10 per item. You’re eating and drinking the view.
It had been a long day so I headed back to the hotel afterwards for a full day of sightseeing the next day.
Posted by Leigh Witchel at May 4, 2006 6:49 PM
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Comments
Thanks for the scoop on Guest Quarters. My parents are staying there next month and it is good to have an inside commentary on it.
Posted by: Maureen at May 6, 2006 6:38 PM