Homewood Suites Chicago Blog

The Christkindlmarket, a traditional German American Holiday market, is officially open.  The market runs from November 24, 2010 until December 24, 2010, and features traditional German cuisine and plenty of traditional items to purchase.  The Christkindlmarket has been in operation for 15 years here in Chicago and attracts visitors from around the world.

The Christkind is known among German-speaking:  which include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, as well as in the Czech Republic, Italy, and Liechtenstein.  She is said to be a fairy-like being, dressed in a white and gold robe with a crown.

The Christkindlmarket hours are as follows:

• Sunday – Thursday: 11 am to 8 pm
• Friday & Saturday: 11 am to 9 pm

You can find this magical market at the Daley Plaza, located at 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602.  The Homewood Suites by Hilton Chicago Downtown is located with walking distance to the market, and also steps from the Magnificent Mile.

Enjoy the holiday season everyone!

The Homewood Suites team would like to welcome our weekend travelers!  Chicago weather will be gloomy, so be sure to take advantage of everything our city has to offer indoors. 

The first item on the a Chicago “to do” list should be locating and indulging on a deep dish pizza.  Located just one block from the hotel, you will find yourself torn between two of the best:  Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due.  My personal choice is Pizzeria Due because of the buttery crust, however guests in the lobby feel otherwise.  Pizzeria Uno is the original.  How will you decide?

Second on the Chicago “to do” list should be supporting our very own Blackhawks and Bulls; wear your red and black!  Step inside ESPN Zone to find yourself surrounded by over 100 flat panel HD TV and great food.  Another great place to support Chicago’s teams is at Rock Bottom Brewery, where not only do they give you a great place to watch sports and eat food, but they also give you a distinguished selection of beer.

Don’t forget there are over 250 restaurants in an 8 block area of the hotel, so no family member will go hungry.  Enjoy the Second City, and take lots of pictures!

Another busy weekend is under way at the Homewood Suites Chicago!  A total of 4 charter buses greeted the hotel this afternoon, and we wish our guests a wonderful weekend.  When speaking with a couple guests checking in today, they were amazed at how close Nordstroms was to the hotel.  First order of business for our guests is running out and picking up Chicago Souviners.  For any sports fans out there, ESPN Zone has a very large selection of sports appearl and items.

There is no doubt this weekend the hotel will be vibrant and filled with activity.  A couple tips to get the most out of this weekends stay is to grab your complimentary breakfast early, and also don’t forget you can always bring your breakfast to your room and enjoy it on your kitchen table.  The swimming pool is open from 6 am to 10 pm, and the city views at night are simply incredible!

This weekend is also Chicago’s very own restaurant week!  We encourage you to inquire with our front desk on all the special offers our restaurants have to offer during this very special week.  For one week, individuals can experience everything from fine dining to casual food; 3 courses for a great price.

Welcome to our second lobby blogger shift!  The weekend shoppers should remember to bundle up before they hit the Mag Mile, it is going to be very cold.  Chicago would like to welcome the very funny Jim Gaffigan, who will be performing this weekend at the Chicago Theater.

Also featured this weekend is the Strictly Sail Chicago show located at Navy Pier, which will feature the latest and greatest in the sailing world.  Also new this year to the show will be the Green Boating Zone, and attendees can also take advantage of important seminars and giveaway opportunities.

For anyone interested in the Arts, the Art Institute will be showcasing their Curator’s Tour: Apostles of Beauty, Arts and Crafts from Britain to Chicago.  The Field Museum is another hot spot to consider in the cold windy city, which is featuring the Nature of Diamonds exhibit.  If you plan on traveling to the Museum campus from our hotel, consider taking public transportation.  All you need to do is simply catch the 146 bus right outside the Eddie Bauer store, and they will take you right to the front door!

Welcome to our first lobby blog post, as well as our first post!  Our lobby blogger program will feature one member of our sales team every Friday at 4:00 pm to assist guests with various needs.  Not only can we answer questions about the hotel features, we can also help guests with restaurant and attraction recommendations.

Other features of our blog will include up-to-date information on hotel upgrades and programs, in addition to opprotunity to connect with hotel staff members.  Readers of our blog are encouraged to respond to our posts and ask any questions they may have.

Must see attractions include the Shedd Aquarium and IMAX theater.  Shedd Aquarium currently showcases an amazing Fantasea show great for kids, where they will get a up close experiences with penquins and dolphins.  The IMAX is featuring the box office smash hit Avator; a must see!  And of course the hotel features packages for both.

We hope everyone enjoys their weekend stay, and we’ll see you soon!