MOD does Chicago

Last weekend, I tried to get some relief from the Texas heat by jetting off to the Windy City. I absolutely LOVE Chicago. The energy and vibe is contagious and, for a foodie like me, the restaurants are amazing. If you’re planning a visit soon, here are just a handful of the things you MUST do or see:

1. Stay at the W Lakeshore
2. Brunch at Nana’s Organic -delicious organic grub, fair-trade coffee and shots of wheatgrass. If all the healthy stuff is not your thing, try the Nanadict.
3. Michigan Avenue – aka the Magnificent Mile – a shopaholic’s dream!  There is a mixture of upscale department stores, restaurants, high-end retailers, office buildings and hotels, and the area caters primarily to tourists and the affluent city-dwellers. {The area also has a high concentration of the city’s major media firms, and advertising agencies, including the Chicago Tribune newspaper. }
4. The Bean at Millennium Park– touristy, but still very cool!
5. The brand new Marilyn Monroe statue in front of the Chicago Tribune building – only a few weeks old, this statue has already caused outrage among both residents and tourists, but mostly it’s stirring up exactly what the developers hoped for- conversation.
6. Blu13 – fabulous tapas-style restaurant where the lobster pizza lived up to all the rave reviews.
7. Chicago Architecture Boat Tour  – hop on board the ‘first lady’ for an hour-long overview of historic and modern architectural styles and stories about the people who designed the city.
8. And finally, after all that walking, stop by Bliss Spa at the W for the head over ‘peels’ pedicure