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Come Saturday and Sunday, however, the Loop is pretty dead; on Sundays,
almost all the stores are closed. If nightlife is a priority, you won't find much
here, but you do have some very good dining options.
VERY EXPENSIVE
Fairmont Hotel The Fairmont is easily one of the city's most luxurious
hotels, offering an array of deluxe amenities and services and regularly hosting
high-level politicians and high-profile fundraisers. Open since the mid-1980s, its
overall effect is chic but a bit impersonal. The entrance faces anonymous office
towers, and you're likely to wander the circular lobby awhile before finding the
check-in desk. Still, the rooms are large and decorated in a comfortable, upscale
style (ask for one with a lake view, although city-view rooms aren't bad either). The
posh bathrooms feature extra-large tubs, separate vanity areas, and swivel TVs. The
windows open (a rarity in high-rise hotels), so you can enjoy the breeze drifting off
Lake Michigan. Suites have one or two bedrooms, a living room, a dining area,
and a built-in bar—and all come with lake views. The hotel is connected to the
city's underground “pedway” system, through which you can walk all the way to
Marshall Field's on State Street—a bonus on inclement days (a florist, pharmacy,
and salon are conveniently located in an adjoining building).
200 N. Columbus Dr. (at Lake St.), Chicago, IL 60601. & 800/526-2008 or 312/565-8000. Fax 312/856-1032.
www.fairmont.com. 692 units. $129-$389 double; $229-$539 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $30
with in/out privileges. Subway/El: Red, Green, Orange, Brown, or Blue line to State/Lake. Small pets accepted.
Amenities: Restaurant (American/eclectic); lounge; access to Lakeshore Athletic Club, one of the top health
clubs in the city (with full-court basketball, climbing wall, pool, and spa); concierge; business center; 24-hr.
room service; babysitting; laundry service; 24-hr. dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV w/pay movies, high-speed
Internet access, minibar, hair dryer, iron.
EXPENSIVE
Crowne Plaza Chicago—The Silversmith You might call The Sil-
versmith a hidden gem. The landmark building, designed by the celebrated firm
of D. H. Burnham and Company, was built in 1897 to serve the jewelry and sil-
ver trade on Wabash Avenue, still known as Jeweler's Row. Rooms come in vary-
ing configurations, with 12-foot-high ceilings, 10-foot picture windows, Frank
Lloyd Wright-inspired wrought-iron fixtures, armoires, and homey bedding;
bathrooms are generously sized. Because buildings surround this very urban
hotel, natural light is limited in the rooms; those along the hotel's main corridor
tend to be quite dark. Rooms at the front on the fifth floor or higher have a quin-
tessentially Chicago view: the El tracks along Wabash Avenue. Yes, the windows
are extra-thick to muffle the noise of the rumbling trains, but you'll want to avoid
the lower-level floors if you like things quiet. For the best combination of natu-
ral light and views, request a Wabash Avenue room on the 9th or 10th floor.
Word about The Silversmith has been slow getting out (even Loop office work-
ers who pass by it daily don't know it's there), so rooms don't book up as quickly
as other, hotter spots. That's good news for thrifty travelers looking for deals (I
hear the suites often get discounted). You also are more likely to find a room here
during the busy convention season. Guest-friendly touches include an evening
wine-and-cheese reception and complimentary desserts available at night in the
lobby (including Eli's cheesecake, one of the city's signature sweet treats).
10 S. Wabash Ave. (at Madison St.), Chicago, IL 60603. & 800/2CROWNE or 312/372-7696. Fax 312/372-
7320. www.silversmith.crowneplaza.com. 143 units. $149-$279 double; from $289 suite; weekend rates
available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $28 with in/out privileges. Subway/El: Brown, Green, or Orange
line to Madison/Wabash, or Red Line to Washington/State. Amenities: Restaurant (deli); lounge; tiny fitness
room (with access to nearby health club at a charge); concierge; business center and secretarial services;
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