This is the perfect place for guests of the Old Chicago Inn to go if they are in search of the right hat to wear for Derby day this Saturday. The have a nice selection of wide brim hats for ladies. Gentlemen can find plenty of derby appropriate hats in their straw collection. In addition they have a small selection of handcrafted women’s Derby hats, trimmed with vintage ribbons, and accented with antique feathers and buttons. These are truly one of a kind hats, guaranteed to make a splash at any Derby gathering.

The majority of the Goorin Brothers collection is handmade.  Many of the vintage styles are modeled on original company patterns as Goorin Brothers has been making hats since 1895.  All of their handmade hats are made in the United States.

Expect to spend $50 – $60 on machine made hats and about $125 – $175 for handmade ones.  Should you decide to invest in one of their handmade creations, I highly recommend purchasing one of their hatboxes for storage; It’s only proper to take good care of your hat, and the boxes themselves are nice decor.

If you stop in to Goorin  Brothers on Broadway be sure and ask for Hannah.  If you fall in love with their hats but live far away, don’t fret, they have several locations nationwide and sell online as well. Check them out at http://www.goorin.com  .

So if you’re all dolled up and looking for that perfect Mint Julep be sure to stop in to Room 13 during your stay. The Old Chicago Inn’s authentic speakeasy, exclusive to guests, serves handcrafted cocktails from the prohibition era from 8 pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Mint Juleps will be on the list of this weekends offerings.

Happy Derby Day from all of us at the Old Chicago Inn.

We left the Inn and headed west on Belmont, stopping to warm up at one of my favorite Lakeview stores Uncle Fun.  Its bright and quirky hand-painted exterior is just the beginning of the “fun.”  True to its name, this little shop is a delightful indulgence for the kid in all of us.  From vintage postcards and party favors, to plastic miniature toys held in old library card catalogue drawers, every inch of space is full of stuff.  I never walk out of Uncle Fun empty handed!  It’s a great place to take children  ( but not very young ones due to the small size of many items) who will be entertained by the assortment of oddities.   And it won’t break the bank to indulge them in a few purchases!  If you stop in to Uncle Fun’s don’t miss the small book department in the back.   It’s worth a look.  Coffee table books, humorous tomes and art catalogues are frequent finds.  I often stumble on the perfect gift here, and always put this spot on my list when I ‘m looking for unique seasonal party decor.   This time I purchased vintage Valentines cards and paper lace heart doilies.

Shopping bags in hand, and warmed, we proceeded on to the grand opening where we met operations manager, Blake Townsley .  Blake explained their expertise in landlord services and leasing and their other specialty, residential real estate.   Even if you’re not in the market, if you happen to walk by their office, take a look at the large canvases of Chicago landmarks on their bright periwinkle walls.   After refreshments and chatting with other neighbors and well wishers, we were on our way back to the Inn.

This time we chose Suburban Secrets, at 1117 W Belmont, as our warm up shopping stop.  Suburban Secrets is new to the neighborhood having opened in the fall of 2011.  Part antique store, part vintage clothing shop, this is a great place for those with eclectic tastes.  The antique selection is carefully displayed without clutter and items are rotated seasonally.  For example in December a large “Christmas tree” made of seashells graced the storefront window.  On my last visit a four foot tall Mardi Gras face was propped up against a wall.   They have a nice selection of costume jewelry all in very good condition and an interesting assortment of ladies clothes, shoes and other accessories.  Since Valentine’s Day is coming up I bought a heart shaped broach before heading back outside.

So for our guests staying with us this winter, don’t be afraid of the cold, just do some warm up shopping along the way.  Your visit will be richer for it.

The lobby is decorated for the holidays, complete with our very own mechanized, life-size Santa Claus.  A recent acquisition to our antique collection, this Santa was found two weekends ago at The Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot-Machine & Jukebox Show .  He dates to the early fifties and was one of several to grace storefront windows around Chicagoland in that decade.

We are certain you’ll have plenty to enjoy during your Thanksgiving visit.  If you find yourself wanting any suggestions for dining options on Thanksgiving please ask David, our innkeeper, for suggestions.  Also our local merchants association has a list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day here in Lakeview.  Should you want to burn off some of those extra holiday calories, you’ll want to know about the third annual reopening of the Rink at Wrigley.

That’s right, adjacent to Wrigley Field, on Clark Street between Addison and Waveland, the Cubs will be home to a full-size, cheerfully decorated Ice Rink .  The Rink at Wrigley officially opens on November 25, 2011 and will operate through February 27, 2012.  Hours for the rink are posted as Monday through Thursday from 2pm until 9pm, Friday from 2pm until 11pm, Saturday from 10 am until 11pm and then Sunday 10 am until 8pm.   Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for kids during peak hours and is as low as $5 for adults, $3 for kids Monday through Wednesday.  Skate rentals are available at reasonable rates.  For complete details you can call 312-617-7017 or visit them online at http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/community/rink_at_wrigley.jsp

The Rink at Wrigley is made possible through the generosity of  the Ricketts family and the Chicago Cubs, Ald. Tom Tunney, the Chicago Park District, Westrec Marinas, the Central Lakeview Merchants Association, Patch Landscaping and the Lake View Citizens’ Council.