Downtown Chicago Maps

CANDACE PARKER’S CANDACE PARKER’S Chicago Hot Spots

By Leentje De Leeuw

We asked WNBA All Star player Candace Parker about her favorite places and things to do in Chicago.

ON A BOAT ON LAKE MICHIGAN IN THE SUMMERTIME

Experiencing Chicago from the water is a must for tourists and locals alike. Check out the article on page 26 for plenty of boating tips and other outdoor activities. VISIT THE SHEDD AQUARIUM WITH MY FAMILY

Every Wednesday through August 31, 2022, the Shedd is jazzin’ it up. As the sun goes down, the music heats up and it’s time to relax with a drink on the breezy Shedd terrace, with an amazing view of the skyline. The Shedd Aquarium is open during the concerts and all the animal experiences (stingray touch, stingray feeding, sea star touch., and sturgeon touch) can be enjoyed as well. FOOD! ANY CHICAGO FOOD STAPLE - PORTILLO’S AND GIORDANO’S ARE MY FAVORITE SPOTS

Did you know you can feed a giraffe or meet a penguin at the Brookfield Zoo? The giraffes spend much of their day browsing but they never say no to a meal. Twice each day, you can deliver up some delicious greens that the giraffes will take right from your hand. It's a great way to connect with these majestic animals and also help keep them well-fed and happy. If you’d rather meet & greet with the penguins, or feed them even: make sure to book those popular activities online, in advance of your visit to the zoo.

CATCH A SKY GAME

The 2021 WNBA Champions are on a roll again this year and we highly recommend attending one of their upcoming home games at the Wintrust Arena in the South Loop.

This is the calendar - but many games will be added once the playoffs start! The Chicago-style hotdog was launched as the “Depression Sandwich” in 1929, the year the Great Depression began. A Chicago-style hotdog has a very strict list of ingredients: a poppy seed bun, a 100% beef hot dog, yellow mustard, sweet relish, tomato slices, diced onion, kosher pickle spear, sport peppers & celery salt. And absolutely NO ketchup!

GO TO CENTENNIAL BEACH, IN MY HOMETOWN OF NAPERVILLE

Centennial Beach’s historic stone quarry is not a swimming pool, not a lake but it is a unique swimming experience. Wade (pun intended!) into the zero-depth entry and swim to depths of 15 feet. For generations, Centennial Beach has been the local “swimming hole” for many Naperville residents and their guests. It’s a great place to meet friends, gather with family, or simply relax and enjoy.

Get the Party Started!

Get ready to sing and dance the night away. Howl At the Moon in the Near North is the best place for anything from memorable celebrations, such as holiday parties and bachelor/ bachelorette parties, to just a fun night out with friends.

Their energetic live music show features the best songs from the 80s, 90s, and today. Thirsty? Howl At The Moon offers a wide variety of specialty drinks and cocktails. Hungry? Chow down on some delicious burgers, pizza, tacos, and more. At Howl At The Moon the party never stops.

Keep Cool and Rejuvenate with Iced Coffees and Teas

By Leentje De Leeuw Chicago concierges weigh in on their favorite iced coffees and teas

First Sip Café

“For the most inventive iced coffee you can imagine, there is only one place in Chicago: First Sip Cafe in Uptown. From their Lavender Iced Coffee, Spicy Mango Iced Latte with Cayenne Pepper to their Coconut Jasmine Vietnamese Iced coffee: you’ll always find something interesting and inventive to drink!” Etienne Padin - The Ivy Hotel

Serai

“I love the Malaysian Iced Tea at Serai on Milwaukee Avenue.” Sharyne Tu - Macy’s

About Serai: this Logan Square restaurant aims to bring the best of traditional regional food, with a focus on Malaysian fare. Specialities include char kuey teow, prawn mee, and Serai's signature serai pork chop.

Colectivo Coffee

“I’m not a coffee drinker, but I love a good chai latte. Colectivo Coffee, also located on North Clark Street in Lincoln Park, has a great Lavender flavored iced chai latte. It’s so refreshing!” Morgan Jae Cohen - Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile Asian Mix Café & Bittersweet Coffee

“Asian Mix Cafe does a great Thai Iced Coffee or fruit smoothie on Broadway. Bittersweet Coffee and Patisserie at TimeOut Market makes a great iced coffee or latte.” Flor Sigaran, BuildingHub Concierge

Editor’s Pick: VietFive

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Tuan Huynh's family was displaced from Danang City to the rural central highlands of Vietnam and continues to live there to this day. As seasoned farmers, they have been harvesting Robusta coffee for decades. The coffee beans are grown and harvested in Vietnam and roasted in Chicago. The coffee is sold at the Vietfive shop in the West Loop, where I like to enjoy my Vietnamese Iced Coffee (made with condensed milk) on a hot summer (or Indian Summer) day!

SUMMER LIBATIONS FOR YOUR FEED

Chicago’s Most Instagrammable Cocktails

By Leentje De Leeuw

SO FRESH, SO CLEAN @KITCHEN AMERICAN BISTRO The So Fresh, So Clean is the Kitchen’s new refreshing sipper featuring arette blanco, yellow chartreuse, pisco, fresno chili, cilantro, lemon and agave. The Kitchen is a sexy bar and bistro located on the Chicago River, shaking up killer drinks and flavors from around the world.

OCEAN EYES @THE HAMPTON SOCIAL The Hampton Social’s Ocean Eyes is a refreshing mix of Sneaky Fox vodka, coconut, lavender, butterfly pea, and lemon.

SCORCHED EARTH @ROKA AKOR The concept for the Scorched Earth is based on a reimagined Mezcal Margarita. The black lime (Rare Tea Cellars) infused Mezcal offers a softer balance of smoke and acidity. The infused Mezcal base is paired with an aromatized wine Cocchi Americano, and a herbaceous floral liqueur Dolin Génépi le Chamois. The Scorched Earth is balanced with bright acid from Sudachi juice and herbal honey bitters.

PORRONS @BORDEL Porróns are the original large format cocktail receptacle and never go out of style. Guests at Bordel LOVE taking photos and videos drinking from the glass Spanish pitchers making them extremely ‘grammable.

RUBY VROOM @SEPIA Cucumber is one the buzziest ingredients of the season and Keith Meicher at Sepia found an amazing way to incorporate it into his cocktail: he juices the cucumber, freezes it, and lets it slowly dissolve as you sip his Ruby Vroom. The longer you sip, the more the cucumber cools into your drink. Meicher’s Ruby Vroom is specially made for summer and features Avion Reposado tequila, strawberry, Bitter Rosso, lime, cubeb, and cucumber. SUNRISE OVER JALISCO @TABU Sunrise Over Jalisco from the West Loop’s newest Latin restaurant is perfect for tequila enthusiasts. Sunrise is a combination of Hornitos Reposado, oj, hibiscus, calamansi, soda, and Peychaud’s bitters. Where does the sunrise come from? With a final shot of carrot juice!

GTS @BLOOM PLANT BASED KITCHEN Located in Wicker Park, Bloom Plant Based Kitchen is one of Chicago’s only completely gluten free and vegan restaurants. Bloom serves up their GTS—made with gin, house-made Strawberry Rose Cordial and tonic—to pair with a complete plant-based menu

MOJITO @AMARU Amaru from Chef Rodolfo Cuadros is Wicker Park's most beloved Pan-Latin restaurant. They serve up the quintessential cocktail with their Mojito. The cocktail imbues Amaru’s house rum, lime juice, and fresh mint to top off. What’s amazing is that it always tastes better than you remember a Mojito ever could.

BOURBON RENEWAL @THE PRESS ROOM The Press Room in the West Loop is a small restaurant with a large heart. They serve familiar food, friendly wines, and classic cocktails, like the Bourbon Renewal. This second coming of bourbon is shaken and made with bourbon, cassis, lemon, and a twist of cane sugar.

SHIRLEY’S SISTER @THE DEARBORN The Dearborn’s Beverage Director Sarah Clark has reinvented the classic Shirley Temple mocktail to offer an elevated version: Shirley’s Sister. Part of the “All Of The Fun, None Of The Booze” menu, this non-alcoholic cocktail features cranberry, morello cherry, rosemary, lemon, and club soda served in a wine glass over ice. Due to the recent popularity of the Dirty Shirley, The Dearborn offers guests the option to spike the zeroproof cocktail with any booze of their choice.

THE PORNSTAR MARTINI @LG’S BAR & KITCHEN The perfect addition to a warm spring or summer day, this colorful drink is typically served with a champagne shooter or splash of champagne. Unlike the Espresso Martini, The Pornstar Martinis' bold appearance and raunchy name has garnered plenty of attention over the last few decades.

HOT BLOODED @OLD TOWN POUR HOUSE, CITY WORKS AND SWEETWATER The Hot Blooded is an 18 oz. spicy Bloody Mary crowned with fried onion rings, a celery stalk, and a skewer loaded with candied bacon, house-made spicy pickles, a cheese curd, olive, cornichon, pepperoni, pickled jalapeños, and a hard-boiled egg.

Fall Family Shopping:

Local Boutiques, Bookstores, And More

By Leen Yassine Chicago is known for its shopping scene, even far beyond its famous downtown shopping destinations. Concierge Preferred has compiled a list of five local boutiques and shops across the city that offer everything from clothing to books to decor!

Andersonville Galleria

Andersonville is a neighborhood known for its local shopping scene, and this galleria might just be at the heart of it. The Andersonville Galleria is a retail market that features over 100 vendors from across the city. Whether you’re shopping around for clothing, jewelry, artwork, or even gourmet treats, there is something for everyone!

Women and Children First

This independent bookstore in Andersonville is one of the biggest feminist bookstores in the country, offering both books and an inclusive atmosphere for visitors. Women and Children First believes in the transformative power of literature, and it offers a wide variety of books, including plenty by women and LGBTQ+ authors.

Art Effect

This Lincoln Park shopping destination is self-described as a modern day general store with a chic high-low mix. It offers a wide variety of items, from clothing and jewelry to bath and body products to knick knacks. Vintage Underground

This Wicker Park shop boasts a diverse selection of vintage costume, collectible, and high-end jewelry. Filled with timeless treasures, Vintage Underground has pieces that date back to the turn of the century and through the 80s, and each piece is sure to make a statement. Asrai Garden

Another Wicker Park gem, Asrai Garden specializes in stunning floral arrangements, luxurious fine jewelry, and magical curiosities. Whether you’re shopping with a budget of under $50 or over $500, there are plenty of options for shoppers.