Public Hotel – Francois et Moi

Chicago Sleeps & Eats

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 13:09:49 +0000

A few weeks prior to heading to Chicago, Ken and I really had no real plan for how we were going to spend our time. When I thought of Chicago, what came to mind were the quintessential landmarks: the Bean, the Navy Pier, the Chicago Theatre and the Merchandise Mart. These are all great things to see, but what I really wanted to do was get at the heart of what makes up the fabric of the city in terms of the restaurant scene and the local creatives doing cool things. Since both the food and creative scenes are constantly changing and evolving, it was tough to find good, current recommendations on the web, so thank goodness for the kind and thorough recommendations of our friends and colleagues, who put together the most comprehensive lists two tourists could ever hope for and really helped us discover the side of Chicago we were hoping to find! Here’s the breakdown of where we stayed and the restaurants we loved. Tomorrow I’ll breakdown our favorite neighborhood and local shops. We stayed at PUBLIC Chicago because we loved the historic-modern aesthetic, the great location in the heart of the Gold Coast, and the incredible […]

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Photo Journal: 42 Hours in Chicago

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:03:41 +0000

Ken and I spent 42 hours together in Chicago and created a photo journal from the events our trip. We were lucky to have awesome recommendations from resident friends and colleagues to help us maximize our limited time in this cool city (Thanks guys!). Check back tomorrow for the details on our accommodations, favorite restaurants, and recommended shops!

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Chicagoland Treasures

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 13:01:24 +0000

We had an incredible weekend exploring Chicago! Here’s a snapshot of the loot we picked up along the way: ‘Midwest is Best’ Tee: I came across this crazy soft, hand-screen printed tee by Megan Lee Designs at Milk Handmade, and as a proud Minneapolite, I loved the tee’s sentiment immediately. Milk Handmade is an approachable women’s clothing boutique nestled amongst the Andersonville home shops and was voted “Best New Boutique” by TimeOut Chicago in 2012. Milk Handmade. 5137 N. Clark. Rustic Chalk Pencil: Ken and I picked up this bark-wrapped chalk pencil at Brimfield, a fantastically curated vintage home shop where Mad Men meets Teddy Roosevelt’s Hunting Lodge. Think Pendleton Woolen Blankets, stuffed deer heads donning tartan scarves, and Don Draper approved bar ware. Brimfield. 5219 N. Clark. Public Hotel Notepad: We stayed at Public and enjoyed every minute of it. More on our experience later this week! PUBLIC Chicago. 1301 N. State Pkwy. Jimmy Bar!: Have you guys tried Jimmy Bars? They’re Chicago-made, gluten-free, dairy free and natural bars that pack a protein punch to keep you full and energized when you’re, say, exploring the City of Chicago and walking for hours on end. The Peanut Butter Clutter is loaded with simple, honest […]

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