CHICAGO

POWER PLAYER , RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES

Chicago-based fine jewelry brand Dana Rebecca Designs is celebrating 15 years in business this summer. “Dana Rebecca Designs turning 15 is still hard for me to grasp,” says founder Dana Gordon. “I never dreamt this big. It's wild to think we have been doing this for 15 years, and we would have never made it to 15 without our incredible community of jewelry lovers.” Gordon's accessible luxury jewelry brand offers a variety of price points, and the company skyrocketed to success after being featured as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2010. “Our collections are named after the nearest and dearest women in my life,” says Gordon. “They’re named for the women spanning generations to my oldest friends and their children. The designs themselves are all about timeless pieces you’ll wear for the rest of your life. They are versatile, effortless and easy to style. As we grow, our latest designs are bolder and a bit modern. We are building on the foundation of delicate everyday essentials by adding more substantial pieces to mix in.”

danarebeccadesigns.com

Dana Gordon

14k yellow gold and diamond Sylvie Rose Disc and Pavé Bar necklace, $1,895,

DANA REBECCA

DESIGNS, danarebecca designs.com EAT HERE NOW .

A MEATY MOMENT

El Che Steakhouse & Bar is executive chef/partner John Manion’s homage to Argentina’s beloved asados, traditional backyard barbecues featuring platters of rustic flame-finished grilled beef. The 12-foot custom-built wood-burning hearth—on which 90 percent of the menu is cooked—and chef Manion’s passion for South American grilling techniques serve as inspiration for the menu. Those looking for unique, grilled South American-tinged meats, seasonal vegetables and seafood will be blown away by the new restaurant’s offerings. The oysters are served with smoked onion aioli, bacon and house-spiced chips and make for a delicious flavor combination when served hot off the coals. Chef Manion’s passion for Latin America, where he lived as a child, imbues the deeply flavorful dishes and dramatic setting of the 100-seat restaurant. The wonderfully simple, ingredient-focused food is complemented by a 100-percent South American wine list that highlights the unique and expanding varietals of the region. elchechicago.com

Five Iron Golf The dining room at El Che Steakhouse & Bar

TAKING A SWING

Quickly making a name for itself in the Chicago market, Five Iron Golf, the nation’s leading indoor golf and entertainment experience, has opened its third Chicago location in Lincoln Park. Reshaping modern golf culture in Chicago and beyond, Five Iron Golf offers a reimagined, high-tech, inclusive golf experience for both golfers and non-golfers alike. The new 13,150-square-foot space features 10 TrackMan simulators with down-the-line and front-facing cameras in each bay, allowing each guest to practice and play like the pros, with instant video analysis and virtual rounds on many of the world’s greatest courses. In addition to golf, the venue features a full-service bar and restaurant, with a chef-inspired menu, craft cocktails and local favorites on tap. fiveirongolf.com

Chef John Manion

ROOM REQUEST

The Waldorf Astoria Chicago has reemerged from a top-down renovation, led by Chicago-based hospitality design and architecture firm KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group, who first designed the interiors in 2009. With a refreshed lobby, lounge, dining spaces and guest rooms, the reimagined Chicago mainstay combines modern amenities and luxurious details with a timeless flare. “With grander accommodations, new dining settings and the return of a beloved Chicago cocktail lounge, Waldorf Astoria Chicago will sit at the epicenter of a quintessential Gold Coast experience,” says Ari Glass, the head of real estate at Mansueto Office, which owns the property. The guest rooms and suites boast Coco Chanel-inspired redesigns, with Parisian accents in the form of black and white color palettes, polished wood flooring, lavish mirrors and furnishings, dramatic floral headboards and more. The Presidential Suite will offer guests superior luxuries such as Peloton bikes, a spa and wellness room with an infrared sauna and other state-of-the-art wellness equipment. A major highlight of the hotel’s renovation includes the return of Bernard’s, a chic cocktail bar infused with a new design featuring rich colors, tweeds from the Scottish Highlands and equestrian details. waldorfastoriachicagohotel.com

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FROM LEFT: The entrance of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago; a guest room terrace

The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection, situated in the heart of the Financial District, offers spacious rooms (averaging 430 square feet) oversized Calacatta marble bathrooms with luxurious walk-in showers and a fitness center with TechnoGym equipment and Peloton bikes.

The presidential suite bedroom at The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection