Ritz Carlton Chicago by Color Our Town

Color Chicago Presented By CHICAGO

EXPERIENCE CHICAGO FROM THIS GOLD COAST HOTEL

Chicago is a city rich in experiences, captivating the senses with its collection of architectural landmarks, culinary diversity, rich history and local charm. Located downtown near the luxury boutiques on Michigan Avenue, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago provides the ideal base for exploration including Navy Pier, Oak Street Beach, Millennium Park, Hancock Tower and Wrigley Field.

Chicago - where people can fall in love with design

Chock full of history, Chicago is home to many of America's most important architectural edifices.

Some of the Windy City's most notable buildings include the Home Insurance Building (the world's first skyscraper), the Willis Tower (formerly the world's tallest building), Frank Lloyd Wright's influential home and studio in Oak Park, and the Chicago Water Tower, which became a symbol of perseverance after the city was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1871.

Providing the highest level of hospitality is our number one priority

We look forward to welcoming you to The Ritz-Carlton Chicago.

1. The Ritz-Carlton Chicago

Set within downtown Chicago’s coveted Gold Coast, this luxury hotel is an opportunity to experience the city’s past and present through eye-catching visuals and curated experiences. History is told through craft cocktails in the Club Lounge; an expansive art collection showcases modern design and architectural heritage; reimagined accommodations reflect the iconic skyline and signature journeys pair dedicated service with exclusive access.

2. The Cafe

This greenhouse-inspired space, flooded with natural light, is perfect for enjoying specialty coffees from Starbucks, fresh-squeezed juices, sandwiches, pastries and decadent desserts.

3. Willis Tower

Formerly known as the Sears Tower, Willis Tower is located deep in the heart of Chicago’s downtown. Reaching 110 stories high into the sky, Willis Tower is not only one of the world’s tallest buildings–it’s also a magnificent icon that is impossible to miss within Chicago’s skyline. Deciding that they needed one large office space for their employees, Sears had Skidmore, Owings and Merrill design the tower, while Fazlur Khan created its iconic bundled tube design. Completed in 1973, Sears Tower contains 25 miles of plumbing, 1,500 miles of electric wires, 80 miles of elevator cable, and over 145,000 lights. In 1988, Sears sold and moved out of the building, but the Sears Tower name remained until 2009 when the building was renamed after the Willis Group, a global insurance broker. Located on the building’s 103rd floor, Skydeck Chicago is the observation deck where you can see over 50 miles in each direction on a clear day. Skydeck Chicago’s best feature is The Ledge, four glass boxes that each extend over four feet outside the Tower and stand 1,353 feet above Wacker Drive. With glass on all sides, it makes for a truly unforgettable experience.

Photo by Jonathan Weiss

4. Millennium Park / The Bean

Millennium Park is more than an attraction – it’s an expression of the Chicago experience. Located on the northwest portion of Grant Park, Millennium Park was envisioned by Mayor Richard Daley in the late 1990s as a way to provide more public green space. Its completion in 2004 gave Chicagoans a brand new way to define themselves in their hometown. Home to the Cloud Gate statue (aka “The Bean”), interactive fountains, tranquil gardens, free events, public art, skating rinks, rock climbing, and plenty of green space, Millennium Park has everything to offer for Chicago’s many residents and tourists.

One of Chicago’s most popular sights, Cloud Gate, aka “The Bean”, reflects Chicago’s skyline and the surrounding green space. Designed by Anish Kapoor in 2004, the sculpture is one of the world’s largest permanent outdoor art installations. Inspired by liquid mercury, the Bean’s shiny exterior reflects the people moving around the park, the lights of Michigan Avenue, and the surrounding skyline and green space – perfectly encapsulating the Millennium Park experience.

Photo by Luis Boacault

5. Art Institute of Chicago

Founded in 1879 as the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s major museums, housing and sharing an extraordinary collection of objects from across places, cultures, and time. Designed by Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge in 1893, the Institute’s classical Beaux-Arts building is flanked by two imposing bronze lions. The permanent collection has grown from plaster casts to nearly 300,000 works of art in fields ranging from Chinese bronzes to contemporary design and from textiles to installation art. They are also a place of active learning for all–dedicated to investigation, innovation, education, and dialogue–continually aspiring to greater public service and civic engagement. Together, the Art Institute of Chicago’s school and the museum are both recognized as two of the United States’ leading fine-arts institutions.

Photo by Tony Hisgett

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DVRER MICHAEL ANGELO RAPHAEL

ANDREA DEL SARTO TIAN CORREGGIO HOLBEIN

6. The Chicago Theatre

The Chicago Theatre’s grandeur often leaves visitors breathless. The elegant lobby, grand balcony, majestic staircase, and a beautiful mural-filled auditorium all combine together to make it the "Wonder Theatre of the World”. Built by the Balaban and Katz theatre chain and designed by Cornelius and George Rapp, the Chicago Theatre opened in 1921 as America’s first lavish movie palace. The Theatre’s French Baroque exterior features a terra cotta replica of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe above its marquee. Within the arch is a window that has a stained-glass panel bearing Balaban and Katz’s coat-of-arms–two horses holding ribbons of film in their mouths. At six stories high, the “C-H-I-C-A-G-O” sign is a landmark symbol of State Street and Chicago. Saved from demolition by Chicago Theatre Restoration Associates, restored by Daniel Coffey & Associates, Ltd. and A.T. Heinsbergen & Co., and reopened in 1986, the entertainment world’s brightest stars have since graced the Chicago Theatre’s stage, including Kelly Clarkson, Aretha Franklin, Indigo Girls, Alicia Keys, David Letterman, Oasis, Dolly Parton, Prince, Diana Ross, and Robin Williams.

Photo by f11photo

7. Wrigley Field

Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is Major League Baseball’s second-oldest ballpark and the home to the Chicago Cubs. Originally known as Weeghman Park after its owner Charles Weeghman, the ballpark was home to the Chicago Federals of the Federal League. When the Federal League folded after the 1915 campaign, Weeghman bought the Cubs from the Taft family and moved the club to the ballpark–where the Cubs have played ever since. Renamed as Cubs Park in 1920 when the Wrigley family bought the team from Weeghman, the ballpark obtained its current name Wrigley Field in 1926 in honor of the club's owner William Wrigley Jr. Wrigley Field’s most well-known feature is its vined walls. Bought, planted, and strung by Bill Veeck in 1937, the bittersweet vines give the walls a naturalist feel. Wrigley Field added lights in 1988, making it the last stadium to have a night game. Hosting epic pitching duels, milestone hits, and Babe Ruth's historic "called shot", you will never know what you’ll see at Wrigley Field.

Photo by Ryan Dickey

8. The Navy Pier

As one of the world’s most visited destinations, Navy Pier is where you go in Chicago for events, programs, attractions, culture, dining, and shopping. As the place where fun lives large, the People's Pier offers a diverse range of activities and experiences that ignite the imagination, stimulate the senses, and allow spirits to soar. It is no surprise it's a place that continues to inspire discovery and wonder after over a century. Designed in 1909 by Daniel Burnham, the facility opened in 1916 as Municipal Pier No. 2 – the first of its kind to combine shipping with public entertainment. Built for $5 million, the People’s Pier is still to this day the world’s largest pier, projecting over 3,000 feet into Lake Michigan. Obtaining its current name Navy Pier in 1927 and reopening in 1995, this lakefront treasure has evolved into an impressive entertainment center that consists of awe-inspiring features like the gigantic Centennial Wheel, the gorgeous Aon Grand Ballroom, the magnificent Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the beautiful Polk Bros Park, the spacious East End Plaza, and the iconic Head House.

Photo by Moses8910

9. Field Museum

The Field Museum fuels a journey of discovery across time to enable solutions for a brighter future rich in nature and culture. Located on the Lake Michigan shore, the Field Museum opened its current building in Grant Park in 1921. Designed by Peirce Anderson of Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, the building is a castle dedicated to unlocking the secret of natural sciences. However, its story really begins with the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, as the Expo’s many natural wonders and cultural artifacts would eventually find a home at the Museum. The museum is named after Marshall Field, the man who donated $1 million to make the dream of a permanent museum a reality. Since the Museum opened in 1894 in the Palace of Fine Arts Building in Jackson Park, their collection has grown to nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens–most notably including SUE, the largest and most complete T. rex ever discovered. Always evolving, the museum continues to research the objects in their collections, document new species, conserve ecosystems, and educate scientists–all to ensure that the planet thrives for generations to come.

Photo by Joe Ravi

10. Lincoln Park Zoo

Since its opening in 1868, Lincoln Park Zoo has grown side by side with Chicago–from swans to science and from trading post to metropolis. Now, they touch so many lives in so many ways: their visitors learn about diverse species from around the planet, their animals receive enrichment that inspires natural behaviors, and their scientists protect ecosystems from Chicago to the Republic of Congo. As the zoo evolved, they have become one of Illinois’ most popular cultural destinations and the nation’s only privately managed free zoo. They’re proud of these accomplishments–and those yet to come–and they thank you for your support.

Photo by erikccooper

11. Deep Dish Pizza

Created by Uno's Pizzeria in 1943, the deep-dish pizza is a staple of Chicago cuisine. What makes deep dish so unique compared to its cheesy brethren is its high crust, which holds the chunky tomato sauce like a glove.

The Pizzaria Uno that started it all is at 29 E Ohio Street, just a short walk from our hotel. Gino's East and Labriola are also nearby and are renown for their Deep Dish Pizza.

Art by Christine Anderson

Interesting Things to Look Out For:

1. The Ritz-Carlton Chicago

A luxury retreat situated in the heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile.

2. The Cafe

Enjoy our tasty delicacies while bathed in the natural light.

3. Willis Tower

Go up to the Skydeck and view the magnificent Chicago Skyline.

4. Millennium Park/ The Bean

See your warped reflection on the Bean.

5. Art Institute of Chicago

Explore the more than 300,000 pieces of art that are featured in the Institute and find a favorite among them.

6. Chicago Theatre

Marvel at the elegant lobby, majestic staircase and beautiful auditorium complete with murals above the stage and on the ceiling.

7. Wrigley Field

Catch a ballgame and be amazed at the Chicago cityscape

8. Navy Pier

Explore the Pier and ride on the gigantic Centennial Wheel.

9. Field Museum

Look for the massive T. Rex SUE.

10. Lincoln Park Zoo

Discover the hundreds of animal and plant species that live at the zoo, from lemurs to lizards, flora to fauna.

11. Deep Dish Pizza

Take a bite of our delicious deep dish pizza.

Copyright © 2023, Jake Rose

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email author at jake@colorourtown.com.

Cover art and back cover art by Brenda Zabala.

Line illustrations by Ivan Myerchuk, and Jake Rose

Printed in USA

Opposite Page - Torali Bar

Torali Bar features both local and authentic Italian spirits and innovative cocktails, limoncello, beer, and wine to complement the dining experience.