New Boutique Hotel Steps from Michigan Avenue

Located one block east of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, Ivy Boutique Hotel opens in May 2012 as the newest work from Arthur Minor, who designed The Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. With swanky amenities including mirror televisions and theater surround sound in all guest rooms, the hotel seems poised to become one of the city's most exclusive hotels. Although the Ivy rises up 15 stories, there are only five guest rooms per floor, providing guests with a mixture of intimacy and comfort that makes it "the only true boutique luxury hotel in the city," according to HotelChatter.

After guests check in via iPad, hotel staff members personally escort them to 675-square-foot king suites. A paragon of modern design, the suites contain platform beds with white leather headboards and floor-to-ceiling windows that open. Eco-friendly bamboo flooring, along with organic towels and rugs made from thistle, help to reduce the hotel's carbon footprint. Guests can watch the flat-screen TV set in the vanity mirror while getting ready in the morning or practice Tarzan-style affirmation chants in the rainforest shower.

The Ivy is also in the process of opening an intimate 30- to 40-person restaurant and bar on the first floor. "We will try to use as much organic produce as possible," manager James Cazares says of his upcoming, reservations-only hot spot. A rooftop lounge opening in June will offer picture-perfect views of the city.

Gold Coast, Chicago: Ritzy Residential Neighborhood with Historical Mansions and Hip Restaurants

Located north of downtown, Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood hugs the shore of Lake Michigan, occupying some of the city's most desirable real estate. Its reputation as an upscale residential spot dates back to 1882, when wealthy businessmen began building castle-like mansions along the waterfront. For a glimpse at these historical estates, head to the Seven Houses on Lake Shore Drive District, where you'll find a French-chateau-inspired mansion that now serves as the International Museum of Surgical Science. A walk down Astor Street reveals some of the city's most unique architecture, including the Charnley-Persky House built by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright in 1892.

Those looking for a hip nightlife will find trendy restaurants and nightclubs-many of which are open until 5 a.m.-catering to a well-dressed crowd. For people watching and the occasional celebrity sighting, head to Rush and Division, a see-and-be-seen spot dotted with upscale shops, classic Chicago bars, and diamond-encrusted parking meters.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

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Midtown Manhattan is home to some of the world's most talked-about landmarks, from the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings to Rockefeller Center and the bright lights of Times Square. Allow us to draw up the blueprints for this week's well-engineered Escape to The Gotham Hotel on 46th Street, a sleek boutique property offering personal touches in a prime locale: sandwiched between all the action of Madison and Fifth Avenues, formerly the space of the beloved Gotham Book Mart. You and a guest will be positively floored by a two-night stay, Fridays through Sundays, in a chic Gotham 2 Room Type-complete with a king bed and private terrace-on floors two through nine ($600). And don't be surprised by the lack of a check-in desk: Upon your arrival, a staff member will greet you with a VIP welcome amenity before escorting you to your accommodations. Airy, light-filled guest rooms are appointed with streamlined European furnishings, tailored minibars, and lavish linens. Your Escape also includes an upgrade to a Gotham 3 Room Type when available. On floors ten through 23, these units feature king beds and private terraces with views of the skyline. Z!NK magazine describes a stay here as "a new type of hotel experience in the center of Midtown Manhattan. With terraces off of every room, guests feel as if they are floating above the city." When hunger comes knocking at the door, rest assured you'll stay well fed with assorted fresh pastries and a daily breakfast for two. In the evening, cozy up to your companion during dinner at on-site restaurant Tenpenny. You'll use your $50 dining credit to savor Italian-American cuisine that Z!NK says "hearkens back to the American cuisine of old" when "New York City was an up-and-comer in the restaurant world." The next morning, structure your day however you like: You'll be within walking distance of some of the city's best sights, including Central Park, the Theatre District, and 30 Rock. Or, browse the likes of Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks along the retail mecca that is Fifth Avenue. For an exciting Escape to the city that never sleeps, the writing's on the wall: Pack your bags and hit the town-at prices that aren't through the roof.

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Constantly plucking body hair is one of life's most tedious and futile chores, such as cleaning feathers from a wind tunnel or vacuuming the vacuum. Foil your follicles once and for all with this deal.

Choose Between Two Options $30 for one Brazilian wax (a $65 value) $75 for three Brazilian waxes (a $195 value)

Experienced, friendly hair-removal specialists tend to customers efficiently, with each wax taking roughly 30 to 45 minutes. This deal is only good at NewStyle Salons' Bellevue location.

NewStyle Salons

The savvy stylists and artful nail techs at NewStyle Salons spruce up hairstyles, wax bodies, and beautify nails, helping guests look and feel their best. With a laid-back demeanor, each salon's team cultivates a relaxed atmosphere in which tresses are tamed and styled and men get mustaches trimmed without feeling rushed or compared to Magnum, P.I. Each location offers an assortment of services ready to mollycoddle guests from head to toe, and nail techs at the Appleton and Bellevue locations lavish digits with regular or shellac mani-pedis or refresh finger helmets with a polish change.

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Explore Amazon Rainforest, Incan Ruins, and Ancient Mountain Cities

In addition to South America's extensive collection of pre-Columbian ruins, Peru is a land of immense geographic diversity, ranging from the Andes Mountains in the west to the Amazonian Basin in the northeast. In fact, of the world's 32 defined climate zones, Peru has 28. Travelers get an up-close view of the country's varied landscape during G Adventure's 10-day tour led by experienced local guides. Take an expedition through the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, hike through the Amazonian rainforest, and spend an afternoon exploring Machu Picchu. A flexible itinerary gives visitors plenty of free time to wander off the beaten path. View the full itinerary here.

Day 1: After arriving in Lima and taking a shuttle to a comfortable hotel, visitors spend the afternoon exploring the Peruvian capital on their own. Head to The Plaza de Armas, the city's historic square, to watch the changing of the guards outside of Government Palace, or continue on to the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian art at Museu Rafeal Larco Herrera. For a taste of local seafood, try the ceviche-a dish of raw fish marinated in fresh lime juice-which is so popular with Peruvians that June 28 has been declared National Day of Ceviche.

Days 2-3: After a flight to Puerto Maldonado, you'll venture deep in the Amazon rainforest via a motorized canoe and a one-hour hike to reach the jungle lodge where you'll be staying. The majority of this journey takes place in the Tambopata Rainforest, which harbors thousands of different species. A canopy of towering trees shelters the jaguar, the red howler monkey, and more than 1,300 bird species. Guides lead the way through this tropical frontier to G Lodge Amazon, the group's home base for two days.

Days 4-7: A morning flight takes guests to Cuzco, the former Incan capital that's nestled in the Andes Mountains. A living museum of Peruvian history, the city is dotted with Incan stonewalls, Spanish colonial churches, and several art museums. During a day trip to the nearby fishing village of Ollantaytambo, climb to the top of the Fortress Ruins. Located on a rocky outcrop, this defense structure made of dozens of steep stone terraces is known as the best surviving example of advanced Inca architecture.

Days 8-10: After an overnight stay in the village of Aguas Calientes, the tour takes a scenic train ride to Machu Picchu, the fabled "lost city" of the Incas, which was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley, the 15th-century Incan sanctuary dazzles visitors with 12 acres of stone staircases, grassy terraces, and thatch-roofed homes-all surrounded by tropical mountains. A train ride and van transfer brings guests back to Cuzco. From here, guests can journey home or continue to explore on their own.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.

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It's always inadvisable to bite the hand that feeds you, especially since it's usually your own hand and the food is on the fork part anyway. Sink your teeth into this Groupon.

Choose from Three Options

 $7 for $15 worth of Tex-Mex and American fare, valid for dine-in for one $10 for $20 worth of Tex-Mex and American fare, valid for dine-in for two $15 for $30 worth of Tex-Mex and American fare, valid for dine-in for three or four or for family take-out

The full menu features Tex-Mex favorites such as three soft tacos with marinated steak ($5.75), homestyle treats such as roast-beef subs ($4.95), and bowls of the restaurant's eponymous chili ($5.95+).

Chili John's Restaurant

Soon after John Issac immigrated to the United States from Lithuania, he opened a small restaurant whose simple, one-word sign conveyed all patrons needed to know-there was chili. As John's recipe caught on, he earned the moniker Chili John, and today-nearly a century since John first dipped his ladle into the American melting pot-chefs still cook up his time-honored blend of beans, spaghetti, and four varying levels of spiciness. At the Green Bay restaurant that bears his name, John's legacy tops everything from hot dogs to burritos, complementing a full menu of Tex-Mex and homestyle favorites that includes Cajun-steak subs and quarter-pound cookies.

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Children occupied by afterschool activities are shown to be less likely to buy spray paint or hang out with stray dogs that are willing to buy children spray paint. Keep kids away from man's worst friend with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$12 for three holiday or weekend open-play passes (a $24 value)
$89 for a two-hour birthday party for up to 10 kids (a $180 value)

Use of party room and play space Party host Party room setup and clean up Plates, utensils, and napkins

During open play and birthday parties, kids 1 year and older romp through custom-built playhouses and on soft mats or compete on foosball and ping-pong tables in Kids Unleashed's 12,000-square-foot play area. Guests may bring a cake into the party room during birthday parties. Admission for adults and infants is always free.

Kids Unleashed

Sky-blue walls and sand-colored carpets greet each family at Kids Unleashed, where slides, hula hoops, and playhouses invite young ones to explore as they hone their gross motor skills. The make-believe beach beckons stocking-dressed feet to roam its shores, where children ride rocking horses and parents surf free WiFi instead of the carpet in a nearby lounge filled with coffee, conversation, and clear views of the kids' activities. Story time piques young children's interest in reading, and ping-pong tables help older kids to develop enough hand-eye coordination to read a book while performing a cartwheel. Parents may depart during most of the center's classes and camps, as the creation of art projects stimulates inventiveness in each child, and cupcake-baking demonstrates that cakes have children too. After class or playtime, the cafe teems with homemade, health-conscious snacks.

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Before car detailing, wax only existed for candle making and polishing the king's collection of Most Improved King trophies. Give your car the royal treatment with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $64 for full-service detailing for a car (a $129.95 value) $69 for full-service detailing for an SUV or truck (a $139.95 value)

Each full-service appointment includes an interior detailing, engine cleaning, and buffing and polishing to the exterior. The service lasts four to six hours.

Car-Gard

Car-Gard has been catering to autos for more than 25 years. Its trained and fully insured specialists thoroughly buff and polish exteriors, using powerful machinery to work waxes deep into the paint job, or, if necessary, they can completely recondition a faded veneer. Inside the vehicle, staff members focus their efforts on safely cleaning soft interior fabrics and surfaces, and under the hood they restore engines to pristine running order. Car-Gard can also harness high-quality chemicals to clean foggy headlights, thus improving the clarity of your shadow-puppet soap operas.

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Flowers are a symbol of life, along with chicks hatching from eggs and babies crawling away from cliff edges. See the world in bloom with this Groupon.

$20 for $40 Worth of Plants and Garden Supplies

Customers can search the shop for colorful perennials in hanging baskets ($12.99-$19.99), yard art ($5.99-$18.99), leafy annuals ($2.99), or fresh arrangements ($9.99).

Best Choice Floral & Landscape

When not designing eye-catching bouquets for graduations, anniversaries, and other special occasions, Best Choice Floral & Landscape helps at-home gardeners plan and care for their own efflorescent outdoor spaces. The nursery stocks annual and perennial plants and flowers to add colorful pop to any plot, as well as a varied selection of shrubs and trees great for providing shade or privacy for a pet minotaur. Along with delivering colored, natural mulch to homesteads, the landscaping team can also help design and execute complex garden schematics in backyards, working around each owner's preferences and available space.

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