Jaunt Chicago

We're excited to introduce JAUNTS - our short stay Sojourns as part of our monthly travel & lifestyle blog. Starting with a whirlwind into America's 3rd largest city - Jaunt Chicago, with a focus on the River North neighborhood and surrounding LOOP of Chi-town. Find out The Bear's Jeremy Allen White's go to spot in River North and what the heck is inside the formula used to dye the Chicago River green for St Patrick's?

Jaunt Chicago

River North

Nestled against the majestic Chicago River, River North is an enclave of luxury, art and culture. The pinnacle of city living boasting luxe shops & eateries, posh nightclubs & bars along with sleek art galleries & design studios tucked away in warehouses of the past. An urban and stylish mix of historic buildings and modern high-rises, River North has become one of the city's most popular districts for locals and tourists alike for upscale living that's chic, trendy & bustling. Starting with modern French Bistro Obélix -

Obélix

700 N. Sedgwick St.

FRENCH BISTRO

This James Beard Award-nominated, MICHELIN restaurant takes French Bistro to another level entirely. On a quiet corner in the River North neighborhood - duck and foie gras run up and down a menu that draws on hearty French classics spanning from pâté en croûte to steak frites.

"Owner Oliver Poilevey, a native Chicagoan, began his culinary career at the age of 13 at La Sardine. He worked under the watchful eye of both Chef Gallegos and his father, Chef Jean-Claude Poilevey. At 19 Oliver moved to France to work on a vineyard and at Le Duc Bistro in Paris. Oliver's passion for travel and cooking led him to Hawaii, Los Angeles and Florida where he continued to develop his culinary skills. In 2013, Oliver returned to Chicago and worked at The Publican under Chef Paul Kahan and Brian Houston for a little over a year. In 2014 his father hired him as Sous Chef at Bucktown mainstay, Le Bouchon. As the current chef/owner of Le Bouchon, Oliver and his brother Nicolas, carry on..." the family tradition.

Oliver & Nicolas Poilevey

SUITCASE STYLE

THE LULA CAFE COOKBOOK: Collected Recipes and Stories Debut cookbook from Jason Hammel, showcasing the all-day seasonal food and arty vibe of his iconic Chicago restaurant. A story of 20 years of cooking, love, friendship, community told through food, with each recipe taking a particular moment in time as its inspiration. Beloved by its loyal clientele, Lula Cafe is a meeting place for locals, gourmands, artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians. The personal recipes and stories in this book are infused with their creative spirit – the perfect book for home cooks and for readers who love stories about the ingredients, techniques and people behind the food they eat. Today, Lula Cafe stretches three storefronts - a founding member of the nationally recognized Logan Square culinary community and ‘farm to table’ movement in Chicago $49.95

BIKE A BEE Chicago Honey THE PLANT - Back of Yards is raw Chicago south side honey from one of their 10+ apiaries. Bike a Bee honey is never heated or micro-filtered and is bottled by hand with loving care. Honey may crystallize or harden but this is normal for unfiltered honey, just gently re-liquify it by putting the jar in hot water or on a warm surface. Be careful to not heat honey past 110°F which can destroy the flavor, enzymes and pre-biotic qualities $15.

MARIA PINTO Alize 2 Parka Coat + Kamala 2 Pant in Rhodolite (pink). Maria V. Pinto is a fashion designer from Chicago, she has designed clothing for Oprah Winfrey, the Joffrey Ballet, Marcia Gay Harden, Michelle Obama and Brook Shields. Her Chicago boutique is located in the River North area where all garments are machine-washable, wrinkle-resistant, stain-resistant, fade-proof and made from the best Italian mill fabrics that are truly seasonless - Set $1120.

CHICAGO HIGH – Vilhelm Parfumerie US is structured like classic early 20th century perfumes. A sparkling cocktail of champagne and pineapple infused with honey and tobacco with a base of leather, patchouli and amber. A 1920s party at Jay Gatsby’s mansion of champagne flowing and high spirits that defined an era of utmost extravagance. Chicago High serves as a time machine through scent memory to the experience of the Roaring Twenties. 100ML $275.

21C MUSEUM HOTELS Ceramic Penguin Collection complete collection of all eight Ceramic Penguins. Each 6 1/2” Penguin is a scaled down replica of the full-size plastic sculptures found at all 21c Museum Hotels, with a unique colour representing each location - Green Penguin in Chicago. The original Penguins were created by Cracking Art Group, a collective of artists who inspire people to think of art as something fun and thought-provoking. $295.

MERZ APOTHECARY Sweet Comb Chicago Merz Apothecary is a Chicago landmark (tour buses from around the Midwest make regular stops here) a mecca for people who want unique and natural products. Chicago pharmacist Peter Merz opened a small drugstore on the city’s North Side in 1875 which has remained a neighborhood staple ever since carrying local and world-wide unique apothecary products such as Sweet Comb Chicago's Beeswax Head Polish $22.

CHICAGO IN 50 OBJECTS by Joseph Gustaitis - investigating the mysteries of Chicago's past from a fiddle played by a Chicago pioneer and a jersey worn by Michael Jordan to a relic of the Great Chicago Fire and the guns used in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. These talismans chronicle the city's tragedies and triumphs, Joseph Gustaitis explores Chicago's history through 50 carefully chosen objects, from a collection of stockyard knives to the world's first portable radio $40.

JEPPSON'S Malört Liqueur is an American brand of bäsk liqueur, a type of brännvin flavored with anise or wormwood. Malört was introduced in Chicago in the 1930s and was long produced by the Carl Jeppson Company. In 2018, as its last employee was retiring, the brand and company name were sold to CH Distillery of Chicago's Pilsen $30.

CHICAGO POET Parfums Karmic Hues is an Aromatic fragrance for men and women - an intoxicating blend that layers luscious late-night elixirs into a potent potion for daydreaming, rumination, and creative trance. Chicago Poet is inspired by the words of Carl Sandburg. A re-discovery of a 1900s flourishing urban city that never sleeps. Nurturing the imaginations of poets and artists with its beauty and glimmer, it never fades. “Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor, Soldier, dusty drinker of dust - Ah! he will go with me - Down the dark stairway” - Carl Sandburg. Notes include: Blood Orange, Dark Chocolate, Espresso, Vanilla, Coconut, Green Cognac, Myrrh, Amber & Musk. 50ml Extrait De Parfum $135.

BLVDier (West Loop) Made-to-Measure Menswear for guys who care about the drape of their jacket and the size of their lapels; the ones who know how to pair a dark blazer with light trousers - clients have trusted Zach Uttich, Founder & Owner with wedding tuxedos that are a work of art and belong in a fashion magazine to their winter tweeds and custom suiting. Working one on one with each of their clients for all first and second fittings - custom consultation by appointment only.

River North

ARBELLA

112 W Grand Ave

photo courtesy Arbella

Arbella - River North’s sophisticated and eclectic lofty lounge, intersects mixology, food, music and art. The allure of Arbella lies in the elongated bar illuminated by dim lights and candles - oozing charisma. The fragrance of the wanderlust cocktails being smoked, shaken and stirred will envelope you - such as Arbella’s martini or the zero-proof - smoking kills. Pair your drink of choice with the BRISKET BAO BUNS (served DIY family-style) smoked brisket, watermelon-cucumber kimchi coleslaw, jalapeños and cilantro. Arbella’s weekly DJ set showcases local talents inside their intimate music space The B-Side.

BASSMENT

353 W Hubbard St

photo courtesy Bassment

The Bassment is one of the most vigorous bars that offer live music in River North. Located below the Hampton Social, the Bassment welcomes patrons through a secret door that leads to a black curtain. Revealing a wide maroon-hued space with a design reminiscent of 1960s British nostalgia - gold accents, brick walls, velvety couches, vast stage and selection of specialty cocktails - including the highly notable "Bathtub” - a quirky mix of Sneaky Fox Vodka, lemon, cucumber, jalapeño, St. Germain and lemon foam.

CELESTE

111 W Hubbard St

photo courtesy Celeste

It's midnight and you're not ready to go home yet - head to Celeste’s Disco Room where you’ll be transported to That 70’s Show club vibe electroluminescent floor with flashing lights ​​inspired by the clubs of London, Paris and Tulum. Take a break and head to the fourth floor’s Roof Garden, a year-round Victorian-decorated rooftop bar with vine-covered brick walls and tropical greenery. This three-story hangout welcomes you with bottle service and variations of dance music curated by a rotating selection of DJs. This is one of the perfect rooftop bars in Chicago to end your evening on.

POETRY FOUNDATION

61 W Superior St

photo courtesy Poetry Foundation

Poets Gwendolyn Brooks and Carl Sandburg to Margaret Walker - have all written poetry in and about the city of Chicago. It is no surprise that the Poetry Foundation headquarters are in a space dedicated solely to the art of poetry in the city’s River North neighborhood. The Poetry Foundation's building was completed in 2011 and designed by the Chicago-based firm - John Ronan Architects. The space is built with an urban garden that visitors walk through in order to access the entrance. The building’s interior provides a performance space, gallery and library where the public can converge to read and celebrate poetry. The space also serves as Poetry magazine’s first permanent home in its 100-year history. One of the most renowned poetry publications in the country, founded in 1941 - The Poetry Foundation’s mission is to support Poetry magazine and the “vigorous presence of poetry in our culture.”

Jaunt Chicago

The Loop

The Loop is Chicago's central business district located at the center of downtown Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan, it is the second-largest business district in North America after Midtown Manhattan. In Chicago, all trains lead to The Loop - a good starting point to sample the city's energy and vibrant flavor. From luxury shopping on State Street (“that great street”) and the country's 2nd largest art museum, the Art Institute of Chicago- to its many iconic Chicago attractions: historic architecture, river cruises, Chicago Riverwalk, vibrant theatre district, incredible dining and the Millennium Park Campus - home to iconic Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), the Crown Fountain, peaceful Lurie Garden and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion that hosts legendary music festivals like the Chicago Blues Festival and Chicago Jazz Festival.

Art Institute of Chicago

photo courtesy Art Institute of Chicago

"The Art Institute of Chicago just reached a significant curatorial milestone, thanks to a historic donation of 16th–19th century French art. The “transformative” gift from art collectors Jeffrey and Carol Horvitz represents one of the most renowned collections of Old-World French art in the United States, according to the AIC. Consisting of over 2,000 pieces - the collection features works from renowned French artists such as François Boucher, Anne Vallayer-Coster and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun... “We've always envisioned this collection remaining whole so it could be more than the sum of its parts, and we wanted it to go to a major American museum where the most visitors could experience these artistic treasures, said Jeffrey Horvitz, “…There was no more perfect choice than the Art Institute.”

ART on THE MART

ART on THE MART is the one of the world’s largest digital art platforms that transforms an architectural landmark into a permanent, larger-than-life canvas bringing cutting-edge video mapping techniques to Chicago’s Riverwalk with projection displays of contemporary art across the 2.5-acre façade. THE MART is the largest privately held commercial building in the United States, internationally recognized as a global innovator in culture, design, and technology. ART on THE MART's 2025 program will return on April 25th with California-born-and-based artist Shana Moulton - Wandering Inner Eyes for AOTM. In this project, Moulton's alter-ego fails to make progress during a difficult physical therapy session. After receiving a makeover, her consciousness, in the form of her “made-up” eyes - leaves her physical body to wander through a set of surreal scenarios to discover herself as well as the world around her.

Harold Washington

Library Center

WINTER GARDEN

For those pondering beautiful places in Chicago that offer a blend of nature and architecture, The Winter Garden is a testament to Chicago’s commitment to creating public spaces that nourish the mind & soul. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s downtown lies an escape that many overlook - The Winter Garden at the Harold Washington Library Center situated on the library’s top floor. This architectural marvel boasts a vast, airy atrium with a glass ceiling with lush green plants, comfortable seating areas and the serene sound of water from the fountain is an oasis of tranquility. Whether you’re looking to read a book, work on your laptop or simply relax - The Winter Garden is a peaceful retreat to catch your breath.

Chicago Athletic Association

"This 1893 Venetian Gothic landmark is a living, breathing ode to Chicago’s rich story - where the spirit of play reigned supreme. After all, this is the city where the can-do attitude of Ernie “Let’s Play Two!” Banks lives on. Where the father of Chicago blues, Muddy Waters, shook all night long. And Sir Duke tickled the ivories at The Blue Note. And this was the club whose venerable members swam with five-time Olympic gold medalist Johnny Weissmuller (the original Hollywood Tarzan) and watched fellow member Pudge Heffelfinger own so much end zone, he became football’s first pro. Reserved for the elite and privileged for 122 years - until doors opened to welcome everyone." Today, Chicago Athletic Association is both a novel downtown destination hotel on the doorstep of Millennium Park and a historic monument to the big-shouldered spirit that defines old world Chicago with evocative traces of athletic heritage paired with a new-world modern design by award-winning Roman & Williams (of Fast Company) celebrating sport and competition - pommel horse-inspired benches, vintage swimming pool tilework and elevators that feature pristine basketball-like floorboards. The all-seasoned rooftop restaurant Cindy's has sweeping views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan while providing a remarkable backdrop for Top Chef contestant Executive Chef Kaleena Bliss and her inspired menu featuring local, wild, seasonal produce and fresh seafood. While the James Beard award-winning Cherry Circle Room restaurant in the way back melds the building’s historic original features with modern design and a refined dining menu featuring throwback cocktails and fancy tableside presentations. But our favourite draw is literally - The Drawing Room on the second-floor lobby. This grand room makes you feel like you’re in one of Europe’s centuries-old university libraries with dozens of seating areas interspersed among the room’s three fireplaces, an ideal setting to sip your morning coffee or dig into a good book and a classic cocktail. The Drawing Room offers an afternoon and evening dining menu for guests, with options ranging from light bites to more substantial entrées, seasonal & classic cocktails and curated spirits.

photos courtesy Chicago Athletic Association

SCENE & SEEN

PATTI SMITH

Patricia Lee Smith born in Chicago, Illinois is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter, author and photographer. She is currently touring across 10 countries and will be at The Chicago Theater November 2025. Coined as the ‘Godmother of Punk’, a hugely prestigious title, due to her original and unique fusion of genres that combine rock and poetry to create her music. Patti Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 and she won the 2010 National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids.

"M TRAIN"

FROM PATTI SMITH'S MEMOIR

"An unwinding pool of obscure angles, a glass of tea, an opened journal, and a round metal table balanced with an empty matchbook. Cafés. Le Rouquet in Paris, Café Josephinum in Vienna, Bluebird Coffeeshop in Amsterdam, Ice Café in Sydney, Café Aquí in Tucson, Wow Café at Point Loma, Caffe Trieste in North Beach, Caffè del Professore in Naples, Café Uroxen in Uppsala, Lula Cafe in Logan Square, Lion Cafe in Shibuya, and Café Zoo in the Berlin train station..."

LULA CAFE

2537 North Kedzie Blvd.

Logan Square

It all began with a bowl of soup- on the day that he moved to Chicago, Jason Hammel first tasted his now-wife’s cooking in the space that they would eventually turn into the cherished restaurant Lula Cafe. It was a bowl of sweet and sour cabbage soup, noted as “Lea’s Amazing Soup” on the board of the Logan Beach coffee shop, that led him to rent in Logan Square in the first place. A founding member of the nationally recognized Logan Square culinary community and ‘farm to table’ movement in Chicago -

Chef Jason Hammel has been nominated three times as a finalist for James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes. and Lula Cafe has been featured on NPR’s “This American Life,” in The New York Times, Food and Wine, Bon Appetit, and in Chicago press named an LTH Forum Great Neighborhood Restaurant, a Michelin Bib Gourmande, Jean Banchet Best Neighborhood Restaurant and a member of the “Eater Essential 38.

RICHARD BIASI

2545 West North Ave

Richard's Fabulous Finds

Proprietor, Richard Biasi, draws on his extensive background in luxury menswear and boasts a resume which includes client facing positions at Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren, and Neiman Marcus. His years of experience dressing the most discerning clients coupled with his love of fashion history inspired him to open his vintage menswear boutique, Richard's Fabulous Finds, in Chicago's Humboldt Park in 2014. Richard caters to men with an eye for style and quality who appreciate the silhouettes, construction, and refinements of a bygone era, bringing those elements into the 21st century by keeping them fresh and relevant. Richard is known for his uncanny ability to pull together the perfect look for each unique client. He also dresses models and actors for various projects in the Chicago area and consults on the historical accuracy of costumes. Richard's Fabulous Finds is a true vintage haberdashery.

THE VIOLET HOUR

1520 N Damen Ave

Wicker Park

From Bernard DeVoto’s The Hour, “This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affections glow and valor is reborn.” This bar is located in a building lacking any signage with the only identifier being the rotating street artwork. Widely known as the bar that put Chicago cocktail bars on the map and was started by the guys who did the same for New York City with Milk & Honey. The Violet Hour has maintained its crown as the city’s best cocktail bar for sixteen+ years and counting. A velvet-curtained entrance entreats guests to wait until the right table or bar seating is available. If this is your first time, order the now ubiquitous Paper Plane. It was within these walls; the modern classic cocktail was created for Violet Hour’s opening menu by none other than the king of modern classic cocktails himself - Sam Ross. Toby Maloney, who helped open The Violet Hour, asked bartender Sam Ross, with whom he had worked at Milk & Honey in New York, to create an original cocktail for the Chicago bar. Ross came up with a drink he called the Paper Plane, after a song by M.I.A. (The tune’s name is actually “Paper Planes.”). The drink first served at The Violet Hour did contain Campari - the Italian aperitivo was original to the drink that Ross conceived as an equal-parts riff on the Last Word, the pre-Prohibition cocktail that was resurrected in the aughts by Seattle bartender Murray Stenson. But two days later, he was having second thoughts - he subbed in Aperol and was immediately satisfied with the result and thus was born the bright orange drink that has gone on to conquer the world. Rooted in pre-prohibition style libations, this James Beard Award-winning bar program has a seasonally rotating cocktail list and selection of sought-after spirits - an iconic destination for cocktail enthusiasts.

Paper Plane Cocktail

THE WHEELER MANSION

Sunday Brunch

2020 S Calumet Ave

Calumet Heights

Sip Mimosas & Bloody Marys complete with live music for Sunday Brunch at The Wheeler Mansion built in 1870, The Wheeler Mansion is one of the last remaining mansions that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Successful banker and President of The Chicago Board of Trade, Calvin T. Wheeler, commissioned the house to rebuilt by local architect, Otis Wheelock inspired by French architecture of the 19th century. The mansion boasts 11 guest rooms and suites, each has its own unique, elegant style. In 1997, just before it was about to be torn down, the mansion was purchased by Manor Home LLC. It was designated as a Chicago Landmark in 1998. Shortly after in 1999, The Wheeler Mansion opened as a luxury hotel & venue.

photos courtesy Wheeler Mansion

Chicago Green

Chicago once again went all out for St. Patrick's Day with one of the city's most iconic traditions which was originally started by the Chicago Plumbers Union - The Chicago River Dyeing where boats spread dye throughout the river until the water is a bright, emerald-green. The eco-friendly dye is often visible several days after the event and through St. Patrick's Day. The story goes that in 1961 a man by the name of Stephen Bailey who was the business manager of the plumbers union, was approached by one of his plumbers dressed in white coveralls when he noticed they had stained in "a perfect shade of green" or "an Irish green to better describe it." Bailey and his plumbers discovered that it was from the dye used to detect leaks in the river. That's when Mr. Bailey bellowed, "Call the mayor ... we will dye the Chicago River green!" According to Local 130, other cities have attempted similar feats but never found success. "As the late Stephen Bailey has said, the road from Chicago to Ireland is marked in green, ... from the Chicago River to the Illinois River, then to the Mississippi, up the Gulf Stream and across the Atlantic you can see the beautiful green enter the Irish Sea, clearly marking the way from Chicago to Ireland." What's in the dye? The plumbers union still holds the river-dyeing honors today, but you won't be able to find their recipe - the environmentally friendly dye remains a closely kept secret.

Travelle

St. Patrick's Celebration

THE LANGHAM Chicago

St. Patrick's Day celebration at Travelle kicked off ahead of the 9am river dyeing with prime window seating by reservation only. Front-row seats to the spectacular show at the Langham Hotel's window-framed lounge overlooking the Chicago River with full panoramic cityscape and skyline views. Adding to the enchantment of the day, a live Irish fiddle duo, St. Patrick’s Day-inspired cocktails and festive fare.

photos courtesy Langham Hotels

THE GREEN MILL

Lounge & Jazz Club

4802 N Broadway

The Green Mill Jazz Club has played host to a number of famous and often infamous celebrities. Opened in 1907 as Pop Morse's Roadhouse, the "Mill" was a stopping place for mourners to celebrate the passing of a friend before proceeding to St. Boniface's Cemetery. By 1910, new owners converted the roadhouse into the Green Mill Gardens, complete with lantern-lit outdoor dancing and drinking areas and boasting such headliners as Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and Sophie Tucker. As the twenties roared, The Green Mill became mobster territory when Al Capone's henchman - "Machinegun" Jack McGurn, gained a 25% ownership of the club. The cocktail lounge is best known as a former speakeasy and mobster hangout for Italian boss Al Capone. Capone had his own lush green booth that allowed him to enjoy nightly shows while keeping an eye on both entrances. In the case of raids, tunnels beneath the bar lead out to the streets for a quick escape and also served to smuggle alcohol in. While the trap door to the tunnels still exists - you can’t explore them. Throughout the 1930s, '40s, and 50s, The Green Mill continued to pack 'em in with a heady mix of swing, dance and jazz music. Uptown crowds from Aragon Ballroom or Uptown and Riviera Theaters would "stop in for one" before or after shows. Business began to slip in the mid-seventies, then in 1986, owner Dave Jemilo bought The Green Mill and restored it to its prohibition-era, speakeasy décor. Walking into the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge is like taking a step back into the 1920s. Jazz and Blues play hard and loud all week with multiple bands per night. Many patrons dress in clothes from the era and swing dance steps away from the band stage. The nightclub hosts a number of bands, poetry slams and jam sessions that often last until 5 am 7 nights a week.

WANDERLUST

INSPIRATIONS

Jeremy Allen White

Jeremy Allen White just might be Chicago’s favorite fictional chef in THE BEAR - but when asked which Chicago restaurants are his go-tos, he replied “Bavette’s or La Scarola”. What about Season 4 of The Bear?

Season 4 premiere THE BEAR is scheduled for June 2025

Here are the filming locations for season 3 and 4:

• Chicago: The show was filmed in River North and South Port including

  • 666 North Orleans Street

  • 831 N State St

  • 3733 N Southport Ave

• Skokie: Endeavor Health Skokie Hospital

• Evanston: Sugar’s House is located in Evanston

• Glenview: Cicero’s House is located in Glenview

• Cinespace Chicago Film Studios: Filming has taken place at the Cinespace Chicago Film Studios

Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf

218 W Kinzie Street

River North

No stranger to accolades, Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf ranks No. 67 in last year’s roundup of the 101 Best Steakhouses in the World. This upscale restaurant is known for its signature dry-aged bone-in ribeye, homemade sourdough and old-school ambiance. Bavette’s menu doesn’t change that often when you get as much right as they do. Start with the egg-yolk topped beef tartare accompanied by huge slices of freshly baked sourdough followed by the smoked trout Caesar and then for the main event choose from a top-tier steak - wet or dry-aged, boneless or bone-in, each paired with Bavette’s homemade bearnaise sauce and steak salt. Finish out your evening with an Espresso Martini -Tito’s vodka, project x espresso & Mozart chocolate liqueur to a 1920s jazz soundtrack and candlelight of Bavette’s swanky dining room.

LA SCAROLA

721 West Grand Avenue

River West

Where families and local celebrities sit elbow to elbow for no-nonsense dishes in gigantic portions. Classic Italian fare from the kind of place Frank Sinatra would have dined in - the walls are lined with head shots from Hollywood from Jim Belushi and Nicolas Cage to Sophia Loren. Old school, traditional style food with a no-attitude service and with some of the best Cannoli in Chicago.

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