While snow was already falling at my house in Milwaukee, we were in Chicago where there was only rain, which did little to hamper my research for an upcoming travel story for OnMilwaukee.com.
On this visit, we stayed at the Mart Plaza, the city's first LEED-certified hotel -- perched atop the Chicago Sun Times building, across from the Merchandise Mart -- which affords great skyline views in every direction.
From our 16th floor aerie we had a stellar view of the bend in the Chicago River and we could see east along Wacker Drive and south along the river to the Willis Tower, which spent much of Sunday sheathed in fog and clouds. We could also look to the northeast and see the top half of the Hancock.
Luckily, we also had front row seats for two elevated train lines and the tracks headed into (and out of) Union Station, which never failed to keep the kids amused, especially when the blue sparks would fly off the third rail.
Although the lobby also has views in most directions, the best is from the Cityscape Bar, nestled into the corner overlooking the river. At night, as skyscraper lights twinkle and glasses clink and there's the low hum of chatter, the bar is a great place to turn your chair toward the window and breathe it all in.
The hotel has a newly renovated pool, which was well-used by families during our stay. But our little ones especially enjoyed the water wall fountain in the lobby, especially when we sat on the couches right in front of it and craned our heads back. Then it looked like the water was falling upward.
The highlight for me was dinner at Italiasia, the Italian Asian fusion restaurant in the lobby (we also ate a similiar concept in Washington D.C. once called Ciao Mein). The lobster risotto was a big hit with me, although the kids were a little creeped out by the lobster head garnishing the center of the plate. I enjoyed the traditional Italian seafood risotto with a spicy dash of Asian heat.
The staff at the restaurant, at dinner and at breakfast, was really great -- a highlight of our stay -- doting on the kids, offering recommendations to the adults and being charmingly and chattily friendly.
Even though the kids were there and at least one of them was a little tired and edgy, it was a nice treat for mom and dad. Dad especially enjoyed a couple glasses of the full-bodied nebbiolo-based 2005 Travaglini Gattina.
Stay tuned for my upcoming story on a "sweet" Chicago itinerary.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
