Where to Stay - Chicago 2005 - page 96

4 River North
For accommodations listed in this section, see map “Where to Stay in Chicago” p. 84.
The name River North designates a vast area parallel to the Magnificent Mile.
The zone is bounded by the river to the west and south, and roughly by Clark
Street to the east and by Chicago Avenue to the north. The earthy redbrick
buildings that characterize the area were once warehouses of various kinds and
today hold Chicago's art-gallery district and some very trendy restaurants.
EXPENSIVE
Embassy Suites Although this hotel does a healthy convention
business, its vaguely Floridian ambience—with a gushing waterfall and palm-
lined ponds at the bottom of a huge central atrium—makes the place very fam-
ily-friendly (there's plenty of room for the kids to run around). The
accommodations are spacious enough for both parents and kids: All suites have
two rooms, consisting of a living room with a sleeper sofa, a round table, and
four chairs; and a bedroom with either a king-size bed or two double beds.
Guests staying on the VIP floor get nightly turndown service and in-room fax
machines and robes. At one end of the atrium, the hotel serves a complimentary
cooked-to-order breakfast in the morning and, in the other end, supplies com-
plimentary cocktails and snacks in the evening.
Off the lobby is an excellent restaurant, Papagus Greek Taverna, and next
door is a Starbucks outlet with outdoor seating.
600 N. State St. (at West Ohio St.), Chicago, IL 60610. & 800/EMBASSY or 312/943-3800. Fax 312/943-
7629. www.embassysuites.com. 358 units. $199-$259 king suite; $269-$299 double suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC,
V. Valet parking $34 with in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red Line to Grand/State. Amenities: Restaurant
(Greek); coffee bar; indoor pool; exercise room with whirlpool and sauna; concierge; business center; limited
room service; babysitting; laundry machines; dry cleaning; VIP rooms. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies and
video games, dataport, kitchenette, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
House of Blues Hotel, a Loews Hotel The funky vibe here makes
this a great choice for families with teenagers and anyone who wants a hotel to
be an experience—not just a place to sleep. Blending Gothic, Moroccan, East
Indian, and New Orleans influences, the House of Blues lobby is a riot of crim-
sons and deep blues (stop by to check it out even if you're not staying here). Ban-
quettes and couches heaped with pillows invite lounging—grab a drink at the
Kaz Bar and soak it all in.
You can catch your breath in the lighter, whimsical rooms, which feature
some of the most exciting Southern folk art you'll ever come across. The casu-
ally dressed, friendly staff invents creative nightly turndowns for guests—such as
fragrant mood crystals or a written thought for the day left on your pillow. One
of the hotel's biggest selling points is its location in the entertainment-packed
Marina Towers complex. Within steps of the hotel you've got a bowling alley, a
marina with boat rentals, the riverside Smith & Wollensky steakhouse (an out-
post of the New York restaurant), the innovative Bin 36 wine bar and restaurant
(p. 137), and, of course, the House of Blues Music Hall and Restaurant (don't
miss the Sunday gospel brunch).
333 N. Dearborn St. (at the river), Chicago, IL 60610. & 800/235-6397 or 312/245-0333. Fax [phone].
www.loewshotels.com. 365 units. $139-$349 double; $500-$1,200 suite; weekend and promotional rates
available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $28 with in/out privileges. Subway/El: Brown Line to Clark/Lake
or Red Line to Grand/State. Pets accepted. Amenities: Lounge; access to the very hip Crunch Health & Fit-
ness Center for $15; concierge; business center; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; same-day
dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV w/VCR, pay movies, and video games, CD player, dataport, minibar, coffeemaker
(upon request), hair dryer, iron.

Kids