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.”

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!

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.

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.

If your New Years Plans take you out of the neighborhood, remember to take advantage of the penny rides on Chicago’s public transit system.  According to the Sun-Times “the 1-cent fares on the L and CTA buses start at 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, and end at 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1.”

For the ladies staying with us, if you’re still looking for that perfect dress or perhaps just a little bling to add to your outfit check out one of our favorite neighborhood boutiques.  Hubba Hubba, located at 3309 N. Clark Street, has been a neighborhood favorite since 1988.  They offer fashions and accessories, from many unique sources, so you’ll be sure to find something that will stand out in the crowd.  Hubba Hubba is open on New Year’s Eve from 11am to 3pm.

Need an up do for your big night out?  May I suggest a visit to Genacelli Salon and The East Studio? Both are full service hair salons offering everything from simple blow outs to full glamour hairstyles and makeup application, including lash extensions!   “Blow Outs” start at $25 and “Full Glam” styles start at $65.  Makeup can be added to any style service for $45.  Both salons, located just seven blocks south of the Inn, will open on New Year’s Eve at 10 am. If you’d like assistance making an appointment please see your innkeeper.

As usual, all guests staying at the Old Chicago Inn for New Year’s Eve will receive our complimentary “New Year’s Survival Kits” with a few things to help you ease in to 2012 after all the parties have ended, including a nice big bottle of water and a voucher for brunch at our sister business Trader Todd’s on New Year’s day.  Brunch is served until 3pm on New Year’s Day and everyone who stops in will get a side of black eyed peas, a southern tradition to bring you good luck in 2012.

Wishing you a stylish, safe and happy New Year!

This event is popular and some show times do sell out so you’ll want to call ahead.  Tickets can be purchased for just one movie or both as a double feature and are available for purchase at the box office,over the phone at 773-871-6607, or online at www.musicboxtheatre.com.  Seating is assigned for these shows. Tickets prices start at $12 for adults for a single show or $17 for the double feature.

Another opportunity to enjoy some caroling in Lakeview presents itself this Wednesday evening at Lake View Presbyterian Church.  As part of their advent celebration members of Lake View Presbyterian will be singing Christmas carols on the front porch of the church starting at 6pm.  It’s a little under a mile to walk there, including a slight detour down Clark to see the Cubs Christmas tree.  (Just ask you innkeeper David for a map.)  The Cub’s towering evergreen stands by the main entrance at Clark and Addison, and with the marquis just behind, it’s a great spot to get a photo.   If you need a warm-up on your way, duck into Starbucks at 1023 W. Addison for an Eggnog or Gingerbread Latte.

And of course any evening in the holiday season guests of the Old Chicago Inn can enjoy “Merry-oke”  (that’s Karaoke holiday style)  at our sister business Trader Todd’s.  Recently featured on WGN’s morning show, Trader Todd’s is Chicago’s favorite karaoke destination.  And with lots of seasonal song selections, the holidays are no exception.  Stop in and enjoy your complimentary meal with your stay and you take your turn on the stage with some “Jingle Bell Rock.”

We look forward to having you with us this holiday season.  If we can assist you in last minute gift shopping, dining options for Christmas Eve or Christmas day, or holiday worship services please let us know.   We wish you happy travels and a Merry Christmas from all of us at the Old Chicago Inn.

             How would you like to take home a customized Monopoly Board Game, featuring local businesses and “el stops” in place of the traditional spots like Park Place and Reading Railroad.  The Central Lakeview Edition Monopoly Board game is FREE, while supplies last, when you spend $200 or more at any of the 250+ Central Lakeview Merchants. So dinner out, a show at a local comedy club, and a gift or two from one of our local boutiques and you could qualify for that Monopoly game. For a full list of participants go to:  www.centrallakview.biz .

             If you want to check out the Central Lakeview Edition Monopoly Board, our innkeeper David will be happy to let you use ours in the lounge.  You’ll find The Old Chicago Inn and our sister business Trader Todd’s featured on the board along with other neighborhood favorites.   So roll high, pass go and don’t forget to collect $200!

 Happy Holidays!