Travel Guide: Weekend in Chicago

Photos, left to right: Viceroy Hotel, Tortoise Supper Club

Friday evening:

• Drinks at the Devereaux Bar/Lounge on the 18th floor overlooking Lake Michigan and the Viceroy pool.
• Dinner at Tortoise Supper Club where dined on American cuisine and listened to live jazz.

Saturday:

• A 90-minute Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard the Chicago’s First Lady. Our tour guide was vastly knowledgeable – she knew her dates, architects, city history and new developments… and made learning about Chicago past and present a real journey!
• Lunch at Marisol in the MCA and a visit to the museum store – ranked as the best in the country.
• A jaunt through the new Apple Store on the river and Millennium Park for a photo opportunity at the Bean.
• A lengthy stroll at the Art Institute to take in the breath-taking beauty of John Singer Sargent’s prolific art – his portraits and landscapes in three mediums; oil, charcoal and watercolor. A must-see exhibit with the added bonus of learning more about Chicago’s Gilded Age.

Photos, left to right: Fred’s by Best10; Southern Gothic

Sunday:

• A relaxing brunch on Fred’s shaded 6^th floor terrace at Barney’s Chicago. My favorite salad, Mark’s Madison Avenue with 17 ingredients and a glass of rose, the start to a perfect day.
• An invitation to be invisible guests at Southern Gothic at the Windy City Playhouse. A marvelous and immersive 1960’s cocktail party set in the home of Beau and Ellie Coutier in Ashford, Georgia. As a fly on the wall, listening to multiple conversations occurring during the party and eating and drinking along with the cast made for remarkable theatre! Co-created by Carl Menninger, a friend of Skip and John, this is brilliant!