Whether you are here for the concert or visiting family in the area, you won’t be able to help notice that on Saturday we will all be Irish.  In our vibrant neighborhood celebrants start early and go late.  Just about every bar and restaurant in the area will have St. Patrick’s Day specials.  If you would like to see the parade downtown Saturday morning, our sister business, Trader Todd’s, will be running a courtesy shuttle all morning for parade goers.  The parade steps off at 12 noon.  For the full downtown experience go early and watch the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers dye the Chicago river a brilliant emerald green at 10 am.

On major holidays, such as St. Patrick’s day, it’s good to allow a little extra time to get around due to increased traffic and pedestrians. Watch for parking restrictions throughout the city and in our area.  I want to remind our guests that Clark St. will have no parking on Saturday, so please avoid parking on Clark as towing will be enforced.  Be sure to carry your ID with you on Saturday – bars and most restaurants will require them for entry.

And, did you remember to pack something green?  If not, the luck of the Irish is still with you, because I am happy to suggest one of our neighborhood favorites for last minute party wear.  Strange Cargo,  a unique vintage clothing and accessory store, is also Chicago’s premier custom T-shirt shop.  Bring your own idea or pick from the several clever suggestions on display and you can walk out with your own customized green St. Patrick’s T-shirt.  What better souvenir to take home?  Be sure to browse the rest of the store while they are lettering your shirt,  as their website says you can find anything from “Converse Chuck Taylors and Whoopee cushions.”  My husband, a self-proclaimed T-shirt poet, and I just love this store; I hope you will too.

If there is anything we can do to make your St. Patrick’s weekend more special just let us know.  And as my grandmother used to say”May the wind be always at your back, and the sun be always on your face.”

Chicago is known of course, for its famous improv venues:  Second City and IO (formerly Improv Olympics) where audiences enjoy shows that are unscripted and spontaneous.  Sketchfest, however, brings a much different type of comedy to the stage.  As the name suggests, sketch comedy is defined by scripted vignettes.  While every group may not tickle your particular funny bone, well written, well rehearsed performances abound at Sketchfest.

One of our very favorite comedy sketch groups, Think Tank, will be appearing at Sketchfest on Saturday, January 12 at 6pm.  It’s no wonder this group has been included in the festival for six years now.  Think Tank’s humor is satirical, absurd, sometimes psychedelic and at its best downright sidesplitting. For a glimpse into their world visit: http://www.thinktankcomedy.blogspot.com/  Complimentary shuttle service to and from Stage 773 is avaible for this show through our sister business Trader Todd’s;  just speak with your innkeeper if you’d like help securing seats.

Sketchfest, which began on January 3^rd and runs through the 13^th, has been an annual event since 2002 where it has made its home at Lakeview’s Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.  For detailed information about performers, schedules and great tidbits of the festivals history be sure and visit the events website http://www.chicagosketchfest.com/

But you don’t have to go downtown this year for Christmas markets.  For the first time, Lakeview is host to its own Christmas Market, just a few blocks west of the Old Chicago Inn on Belmont , between Greenview and Ashland.  This market is produced by the folks at Chicago Special Events who bring us many great summer street festivals, so you know there will be plenty of food vendors, libations and good bands.  In addition,  there will be holiday craft vendors, activities for kids and a tree farm. The festival begins tonight and continues through Sunday.  Your innkeeper, David, can provide you with a complete band schedule and event details.

If shopping is your raison d’être for your visit to Chicago this season, you’ll of course be going to the Magnificent Mile, but a stroll through our neighborhood will lead you to lots of unique stores.  To get a taste of area merchants, start at Central Lakeview Merchants holiday “pop-up” store, located at 3309 N. Clark St.   The holiday store, open through December 22, features 20 local merchants all under one roof, and it’s just around the corner from the Inn.

After shopping, take a break and enjoy some hot chocolate in the lobby by the fireplace.  If you need to wrap a gift while you are here we have complimentary wrapping paper, ribbons and bows available for our guests.   So whether you venture far or near during your stay with us this holiday season we hope you’ll enjoy the many Christmas markets in Chicago!

One of my favorite dinner spots in Lakeview has been around for forty years.  Le Crêperie at 2845 N. Clark Street is a charming little spot that is family owned and operated.    As the name suggests the menu is centered around crêpes, both savory and sweet,  with a variety of fillings that represent classic French fare such as Coq au Vin,  Boeuf Bourguignon, and of course Crêpes Suzette.  They also have some delicious starters including a sampler of three pates served with cornichons and my husband’s favorite, Soup à L’oignon Gratinée. If the weather is nice ask to sit in their patio.   Not a crêpe person?  Then try the fish or Steak Frites, both are sure to please any French friendly palate.

And finally we invite all our guests to stop by Room 13, the Old Chicago Inn’s speakeasy, as we kick off our weekend this Friday.  We will be featuring wines from France.  On the list this weekend:  a  white Bordeaux from Chateau Grand Jean,  a red Grenache, Esprit du Rhône, from Côte du Rhône, as well as our house favorite, the bubbly St. Hillaire.  I hope to see you there, and raise a glass to say “A votre santé!”

Room 13 is closed for a private event on Saturday, July 14.

Saturday, May 26
12:30 p.m. 2nd Generation Pilots
2:00 p.m. Our Name Is Jonas
4:00 p.m. Stache
5:30 p.m. Dot Dot Dot
8:00 p.m. Wedding Banned

Sunday, May 27
Noon School of Rock
1:30 p.m. A Thousand Julys
3:30 p.m. Your Villain, My Hero
6:00 p.m. Infinity
8:30 p.m. Trippin’ Billies

The main stage is located just up the street from the Old Chicago Inn,  north of the intersection of School Street and Sheffield Avenue.   In addition to the music, the festival offers an assortment of vendors.  There are plenty of local restaurants showcasing their fare this weekend and lots of craft vendors as well.  I’m especially happy to see local business Bottle and Bottega joining the festival this year.  They will have a booth set up where attendees can paint their own 6×6 canvas for just $5.  What a great souvenir for your stay in the city this weekend ~ your own masterpiece painted at a Chicago street festival!

And don’t forget to check out our sister business, Trader Todd’s,  just two doors south of the Inn.   You can also join the fun by taking the Karaoke stage at Trader Todd’s where you can serenade the crowds from their cafe.    Then you will have bragging rights, a la Ferris Bueller, to tell your friends that you sang at a Chicago street festival during your visit.  As usual you will be able to use your meal vouchers at Trader Todd’s over the weekend,  but we recommend arriving early for a table as reservations are not accepted during the festival weekend.

Guests of the Inn are able to come and go as usual and will be provided with courtesy passes for the gate entrances.  Our street will be closed to all but pedestrian traffic from late Friday night to very early Monday morning.  Please be sure to ask your innkeeper David about parking restrictions if you are bringing your vehicle and planning to street park. Please call ahead for assistance at check in if you are arriving over the weekend.

The proceeds from the festival benefit the Central Lakeview Merchants Association which provides a variety of services to our neighborhood including street cleaning and beautification.  For more festival information  click here.

Throughout the summer there a many festivals on any given weekend so if you are interested in experiencing this Chicago tradition please ask your innkeeper for a list of current festivals and their locations. Once again Happy Summer, Happy Festing!

Need a gift for Sunday?  Several retailers in the area are offering discounts for Mother’s Day but here’s one perfect for travelers! The adventurous Mom is sure to enjoy Uncle Dan’s at 3551 N Southport Avenue, one of three locations of this Chicagoland retailer of fine adventure and travel gear.  From clothing and footwear, to camping tools to travel gadgets, there’s sure to be something to catch the active Mom’s eye.  And just mention this post to receive 15% OFF any one single item for MOM! (Now though Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13th, 15% OFF any one single item).

Want to pamper Mom?  Salon Fugu, “an Italian Escape,” at 3853 N. Southport Avenue is offering some great spa packages at nice discounts for Moms.  Take Mom for the Bella Mamma Escape which includes a Fuga Signature Facial and 1 hour Therapeutic Massage.  This package is priced at $150, a great deal which normally goes for $215!   Other packages are available; call 773.880.1280 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

And after her fabulous Italian salon experience, why not take Mom to a great Italian dinner?  Fiorentino’s Cucina at 2901 North Ashland is opening early for Mother’s Day.  This cozy restaurant features rustic Italian fare and has a wine list from “small but distinguished wineries.”  They have a special Mother’s Day menu with offerings such as a Mission Fig & Blue Cheese Salad and Capesante al Porcini e Farro (translation: porcini crusted sea scallop with farro, a wheat type grain, in a white wine sauce with spinach and tomato).  Check out the complete Mother’s Day menu on their website: http://fiorentinoscucina.com/mothers-day .  Plus every mother gets a $25 gift card to use on her return visit ~ what better reason to come back to Chicago!

Make check-in special for Mother’s Day.  We are pleased to offer many add-ons to your stay, including wine or champagne service upon arrival, cheese trays, cookies, balloon bouquets or fresh cut flowers.   Our weekday reservation staff, Sarah and myself, Virginia, will be happy to assist with arrangements for any of these items at reasonable prices.   We can be reached at the Old Chicago Inn, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5pm (cst), by calling 773.472.2278.  Or via email at innkeeper@oldchicagoinn.com .

Special thanks to Central Lakeview Merchants Association and Lakeview Chamber of Commerce for providing us with extensive listings.  Be sure and check them out for great deals in Lakeview all year long.

However you celebrate, we wish all Moms in Lakeview a very Happy Mother’s Day!

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.

True Chicago-style pizza is a deep dish pizza, baked in a buttery round pan which crisps the dough.  The dough is thick and hearty with cornmeal to hold the substantial fillings and usually rises a good half inch or so above the rest of the pie at the edges.   This style of pizza, the story goes, was invented at Pizzeria Uno back in the late 1940′s.  The style was translated by other Chicago pizzerias, a handful of which remain legendary as well today, such as Gino’s East and Lou Mahlnati’s.  In the seventies a pinnacle was reached in deep dish pizza and a new Chicago tradition was born: the stuffed pizza.  We are fortunate to be just a few blocks away from one of the many Giordano’s Pizza restaurant at 1040 W. Belmont.   A large stuffed pizza, which can feed 4- 5 hungry adults,  will run from $20 for a plain chesse to upwards of $30 for one loaded with toppings.  Choices include sausage,spinach, pepperoni, mushroom, shrimp, ground beef, green peppers, fresh tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, onions, black olives, fresh garlic, broccoli, green olives, anchovies, pineapple, and Canadian bacon.   Keep in mind if you fall in love with the stuffed pizza while you are visiting, you don’t necessarily have to wait until your next visit to enjoy some Chicago style pie – Giordano’s ships!

Now while my husband loves to attack the Chicago style pizzas with a fork and knife, I tend to prefer a thin crust pizza known by that other town’s name out east.  But New York isn’t the only place to get a delish thin crust slice of  pie.  In fact, if it’s thin crust you like, you don’t need to even leave our block. Leona’s at 3215 N. Sheffield, a neighborhood staple since 1956 and now a Chicago wide chain, serves one of the best thin crusts around.  Leona’s dishes up a lot more than pizza, in fact they have a menu that reads like a book with choices for carnivores, vegans, and everything in between, but I’ll save that for another post.  I simply love Leona’s thin crust and enjoy a 9″ on my own or as large as a 16″ for myself and three others.  They have an extensive list of specialty thin crust pizzas that include: the Chipotle Chicken, the Mediterranean, and the Italian Meats but of course, like Giordano’s you can create your own from another impressive list of toppings.  At Leona’s roasted garlic, grilled tofu and sun dried tomatoes are also on the list.   In fact, you can even get a gluten free thin crust pizza there.

So whether your a thin or thick crust fan we’ve covered right here in Lakeview.  So mangia, mangia!

For those of you traveling to the Inn in the coming weeks we look forward to hosting you.  Whether your coming for the first time or you stayed with us before; and whether you coming to cheer on the Cubs or following your team on the road, we want you to feel at home.  During baseball season the Old Chicago Inn has some added amenities for our guests.  We offer free shuttle service to Wrigley Field (in conjunction with our sister business Trader Todd’s).    If you need tickets to a game at Wrigley be sure and check with your innkeeper.  We have ticket packages available to many games this season at reasonable prices.

Every home game your innkeeper David will post the game times in the lobby and the weather forecast for the day.   If you left your umbrella at home, just ask, we have a few extras available for guests to use.   We also have a limited number of stadium blankets for those cold day games early in the season.

If you want to gear up in style we recommend shopping at  Wrigleyville Sports.   Wrigleyville Sports expanded there store at the corner of Sheffield and  Addison, doubling their size over the winter.  They have a great selection of wearables,  accessories and novelties.  We stopped in opening week and bought a cool little camera bag emblazoned with the Cubs logo of course.  The folks at Wrigleyville Sports are helpful and nice.  Be sure and ask David for a coupon good for 10% off merchandise if you plan on shopping there.

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.