It’s been a long, cold spring and Chicagoans are ready to get outside and welcome summer.  Next weekend we hope you’ll join us in doing just that, as the Belmont Sheffield Music Festival returns on Saturday and Sunday May 25 & 26.   This festival, now in its 29th year, is, as its name declares, all about music.   From local to regional acts, both days are filled with a variety of sounds from the main stage.  Although loaded with well loved pop/rock cover bands, the festival includes a popular Dave Mathews tribute band, a hip hop/rap group and even some kid rockers.   Here is this year’s schedule:

The year the festival will have two stages  located just up the street from the Old Chicago Inn,  at 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.  New to the festival this year, and new to Chicago too, Jet’s Pizza will be serving up some thick slices of pizza pie this year.  In the past I’ve blogged about all the wonderful pizza options we have in Lakeview, from Leona’s to Giordanos, and now we have what my husband lovingly refers to as “Detroit-style Pie” to choose from too.  Being from the motor city himself,  Jet’s is close to his ideal of a thick crust, heavy with tomato sauce and edges that are close to caramelized, typical of the pizzerias in the Detroit area.

And don’t forget to check out our sister business, Trader Todd’s,  just two doors south of the Inn.   You can  join the fun by taking the Karaoke stage at Trader Todd’s where you can serenade the crowds from their cafe.   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!

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We are delighted to have guests here this weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day.    We hope all of our guests will enjoy some time away from their daily routines this weekend.    In honor of Mother’s Day,  guests are invited to a complimentary wine and cheese hour this Saturday in our speakeasy lounge, Room 13.  Wine, Champagne and light hors d’oeuvres will be served from 4pm to 5 pm.

Mother’s Day brunch is as popular a tradition here in Chicago as it is throughout the United States, so if you wish to include a Mother’s Day brunch in your plans, please check with us for a complete listing of all the wonderful choices Lake View has to offer, many within walking distance of the Inn.  David, your innkeeper, will be happy to assist with reservations and recommendations.

If my mother were in town this weekend, here’s what I would plan for her.  On Saturday after a leisurely morning and continental breakfast at the Inn, we’d take a nice log walk along the lakefront and Lincoln Park.   Then I’d take her for a little pampering at my favorite nail salon, MyNail.com at 3171 N. Clark for the time honored tradition of the “mani/pedi”.  One of my Mom’s favorite restaurants in Lakeview is right down the street, Twist , a tapas café at 3412 N. Sheffield, so that would be the choice for dinner on Saturday, followed by classic cocktails at Room 13 before retiring for the night.

Then Sunday I’d take Mom to brunch at the Southport Grocery & Café, 3552 N. Southport,  before the 2 pm show time of Barnum at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport.  Southport Grocery is the perfect choice for my Mom, who delights in all things gourmet.   She’d probably enjoy perusing their shelves after brunch for some goodies to take home, like Chicago’s own Metropolis coffee and some of Southport Grocery’s preserves.   Barnum, an acrobatic musical that tells the story of P.T. Barnum, might make any mother muse about the similarities between raising a family and running a three ring circus.  Click here for info and tickets to Barnum.

Whatever your plans this weekend, we hope all of our guests will enjoy a very Happy Mother’s Day here in Lake View.

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Many of our guests this weekend are coming in for the They Might Be Giants  concert at the Vic Theatre, just down the street from the Old Chicago Inn.  One of a hand full of great small theater venues nearby, the Vic Theatre hosts national and international acts year round. Originally called  the Victoria Theatre, the building was completed  in 1912 as a Vaudeville playhouse.  Concert goers today will notice many of the original ornamentation from that era still adorning the lobby and stairwells.   In addition to an interesting history, the Vic theater boasts some terrific acoustics.  With seating up to 1000, I enjoy the balcony best for some great views of the stage.  Tickets for They Might Be Giants are still available.  Guests may purchase them at the box office at the Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield or online at www.victheatre.com    Tickets are $26.50 each (plus fees) and the show is general admission.  Doors open at 6:30 and the concert is scheduled to start at 7:30.

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.”

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This January some of our happy travelers have discovered that, while other events may have brought them to Chicago, they have landed in Lakeview during the height of hilarity, otherwise known as Sketchfest.  The full title of the two week event is The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival.  The name changed, among other reasons, to avoid the misconception that the festival celebrated drawing.  But draw it does, crowds that is.  And at the Old Chicago Inn we highly recommend our guests find time to take in one of the hundreds of performances by comedic artists from all over the US A and Canada.

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/

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Every year, my husband and I hop on the red line to the loop for a visit to Daley Plaza’s Christkindlmarket.   The charming recreation of a German Christmas market, complete with food vendors, entertainment, beer and Glühwein, a traditional hot spiced wine, transports us to Bavaria for the afternoon.  German crafts abound and many artists offer demonstrations of their skills.   Crowds are large around the noon hour when office workers take a break to enjoy the cheery scene.  The market stays open until 8 pm Sunday through Thursday and 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

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!

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It’s my favorite time of year, and Christmas in the city couldn’t be better than right here on the north side of Chicago.   Our lights poles are festively wrapped; the CTA’s Santa Train has been spotted; and neighbors and merchants are decorating their homes and storefronts.   And tonight we are all in for a special treat thanks to our neighbors at Wrigley Field.

At 5pm the Cubs will host their annual holiday celebration.  The festivities will include the lighting of the Cubs’ Christmas tree under the famed Marquee at Addison and Clark, a visit from Santa Claus and plenty of hot cocoa.  The event is free.  Residents and fans have through today at 5pm to bring an unwrapped toy for the Cubs’ toy drive for needy children.  In exchange, gift givers will receive a free pass to the Rink at Wrigley.  So grab a gift, bring your skates and start your holiday season with Cubs!

If you are staying with us this winter and want to enjoy ice-skating, the Rink at Wrigley is just four blocks away and offers refreshments and skate rentals.  For hours of operation and more information check out their website.

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Once again, we are expecting a full house at the Old Chicago Inn for the city’s Marathon weekend.  At the moment NOAA is predicting a slight chance of rain for Sunday and a high around 52 degrees (F).   If the rain yields to cloudy skies it will be near perfect conditions for the race.  Rain or shine we wish all of guests who are running a safe and enjoyable day.

If you are a runner staying with us this weekend here are a few local tips.  Is your pre-race favorite a pasta dinner?  You don’t have to go far from the Inn at all.  Leona’s is a great place to fuel up on hearty Italian favorites and they are right across the street.  From decadent lasagnas and macaroni and cheese entrees, to a match your own noodle to sauce option, the menu is full of pasta choices.  The portions at Leona’s are generous so you’ll have plenty of fuel for your run.

In need of last minute gear?  You’re in luck because Lakeview is home to Chicago’s best running specialty store, Universal Sole (3052 North Lincoln).   As their name suggests they are reverent of all things running and carry only the best lines of clothing, shoes, eye wear, accessories and nutritional items.  So if you need an extra pair of socks or want to pick up some power gel or balm before race day, this is the place to shop.

For those of you joining us as spectators this weekend, you’ll be glad to know that one of the eight McDonald’s Runner Update Centers is just a one mile walk from the Inn.   At the McDonald’s at 2635 N. Clark Street (at Wrightwood Avenue) you’ll be able to go online and check the status of your runner.  Miles 6 – 10 bring the race through the eastern part of Lakeview.  For a map of the race route and a complete spectator’s guide consult the marathon’s website www.chicagomarathon.com .

Whether you’re here as a runner, a spectator or for other reasons,  we hope you’ll enjoy this weekend in Chicago.

Happy Running!

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There’s a slight chill in the air, and although we are saying our official good-bye to summer this week, there is still plenty of time to enjoy outdoor activities in Chicago.  With its crisp, bright days, fall is one of my favorite seasons in the city, and an ideal time to enjoy cycling.

Whether you just like to wander along side streets, rolling through the dried leaves along the curbs or you prefer a serious workout along our lakefront, Lakeview is a great neighborhood for cyclists.   If you plan to bring your bicycle with you please let us know when you make your reservation.  The Old Chicago Inn offers a gated area for bike storage during your stay.  If you decide to rent a bicycle during your visit we are happy to assist you in making those arrangements.   For local travel in our neighborhood, we suggest stopping in to the Central Lakeview Merchants Association (CLMA) office for one of their free bike rentals.  The CLMA bikes are provided by Heritage Bicycles, a local premiere cycle manufacturer.   If you’re looking to venture outside our area, then check out Bike and Roll Chicago.  With locations at North Avenue Beach, Millennium Park and Navy Pier,  Bike and Roll has something for everyone: cruisers, tandems, quad cycles, hand cycles, wagon and child seat attachments.   Bike and Roll also offers a variety of bicycle tours.

The city of Chicago enjoys a reputation for being one of the nation’s best big cities for cyclists.  In the past year, the city has begun installation of protected bike lanes on busy thoroughfares throughout the city.  In fact, Chicago, as the city website declares, boasts over “170 miles of on-street protected, buffered and shared bike lanes” and of course many more miles of lake front and park system paths.   Your innkeeper has complimentary copies of the official Chicago bike map which shows all bike paths from shared lanes to trails.

While you’re out and about be sure to stop in to Heritage Bicycles at 2959 North Lincoln Avenue.  This local shop produces unique handcrafted bicycles, accessories and clothing, as well as a coffee and sandwich counter.  My husband and I like to peddle over there in the morning and grab a cup of coffee and a scone.  If the weather’s nice we’ll sit outside at the bike shop’s picnic tables in the adjacent lot or better yet in the new “people spot” out front.  The parklet, or “people spot,” is one of the first of its kind in the city. Sponsored by the Lakeview Chamber this three space parking area has been designated and converted for pedestrian use, and transformed into a rest stop along the Lincoln Avenue retail corridor.   The People Spot is a small masterpiece of scenery, designed by Patch Landscaping, and definitely a neighborhood gem.

If you brought your bicycle to the city and need a repair, Johnny Sprockets is not too far from the Inn.  Located at 3001 North Broadway, this shop offers complete repair work seven days a week, starting with a free evaluation and estimate.   They accept walk in repairs, but, you may wish to call ahead for an appointment to avoid wait time.  This is the place to go if you’re looking for racing wear and accessories too.

As with every season we hope our guests will enjoy our neighborhood and city this autumn, and maybe even take in a bike ride.  This weekend we will be giving away two complimentary bike rentals for Bike and Roll Chicago.   To enter the drawing, simply sign in at the front desk any time Friday.  The lucky winner will be announced at breakfast on Saturday morning.

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I’m a bit of a Francophile, and with Bastille day upon us I wanted to let our guests of the Old Chicago Inn know about some local ways to celebrate all things French this weekend.   If you want to learn about French culture, a visit to L’École Française, right around the corner at 3349 N Clark St, is the perfect way to start.  Their motto is “Le Bonheur, c’est d’apprendre,” translated that means:  learning is happiness.  It certainly will be on Saturday for their Bastille Day celebration.   Join them for Le Fête National on Saturday, July 14, from 7pm to 10pm, for an immersion into French culture complete with wines and cheese from France as well as French music.  Who knows you might even learn a phrase or two.  The event is $15 for non-students.

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.

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Whether you’re a sketch, stand up or improv fan you’ll find plenty to laugh about right here in Lakeview.  Chicago is known of course for Second City – the breeding ground for so many world renowned comics but here in our neighborhood we have venues of equal measure.  And in a neighborhood with lots of small stages you can often find a surprisingly good show for less than $10!   Top that off with several local venues hosting shows for TBS’s “Just for Laughs Chicago ‘12” and you’ll be chuckling all the way home.

Lakeview’s iO Theater was founded in 1981 as the Improv Olympic.  The name was relinquished under pressure from International Olympic Committee during Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid and changed to the initials that many performers and regulars already used as the theater’s nickname.  iO, located at 3541 N. Clark St.,  has two stages,  both with bars, and specializes in the “long form improvisation” created by the theater’s founders Charna Halpern and Del Close.   Like Second City, iO boasts a long list of comedic alumni including Tina Fey, Mike Myers and Adam McKay.   iO has shows seven nights a week; prices range from free for student shows to $20 for well known troupes.

A newcomer on the scene, Laugh Factory, opened its doors at 3175 N Broadway just a few months ago. The original Laugh Factory opened in southern California in 1979.  Robin Williams, Damon Wayans, Ellen DeGeneres, Andy Kaufman and Bob Hope are just a few of the famous comics that have appeared on their stage.  Here in Chicago a lot of local talent entertains audiences with special guests, such as Mike Marino and Kevin Nealon, making  week-long  appearances.  Laugh Factory renovated the former Lakeshore Theater making a fairly large space seem rather intimate.   Ticket prices average around $20 – $30 per night and there is a two drink minimum.

One of the cheapest laughs you’ll find in Lakeview is at the non-profit Studio Be, just down the street from the Old Chicago Inn at 3110 N. Sheffield.  On Tuesday nights, check out Potential Boyfriends featuring Peter Corey, Pat Ivansek, Nick Johnson, and Joey Lesiak .  These guys are just that – guys being quintessential guys, while popping back and forth between sketch comedy and improv.   The theater is BYOB so take a bottle of wine if you like.  You innkeeper David will be happy to provide you with a wine opener and plastic cups to take along.

If you are staying with us the second week in June be sure and pick up a festival schedule for TBS’s “Just for Laughs Chicago ‘12”.  Laugh Factory, iO, Playground Theater and the Vic Theater all are hosting shows during the festival and are all in walking distance of the Inn.

So come visit Lakeview and laugh a little (or a lot)!

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