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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Cultural icons often have signature hairstyles, from Little Orphan Annie's luscious red curls to the bald cap hiding Michael Jordan's luscious red curls. Find your own iconic look with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $25 for a women's haircut (a $19 value), shampoo and style (a $25 value), and conditioning treatment (a $10 value; a $54 total value) $35 for a women's haircut (a $19 value), a shampoo and style (a $25 value), and choice of single-process color or partial highlights (up to a $45 value; up to an $89 total value)

Charlie's East Coast Hair Designs

The seasoned stylists at Charlie's East Coast Hair Designs keep skin radiant and strands carefully arranged with haircuts, facials, and massages. Inside Charlie's, a black leather couch hosts visitors, and the granite-topped color bar holds varied shades of hair for customer perusal. Plants provide a backdrop to the tile-floored beauty palace where aestheticians spruce up visages with facials or makeup, coating skinscapes with elegant coloring or neon-green in-house chlorophyll.

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Golf is one of the few sports in which players can compete against themselves, along with paddleball and seeing how many potatoes they can eat. Put yourself to the test with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options

$16 for an all-day golf package for two (up to a $32 total value)

Unlimited play for two at nine-hole, par-3 course (up to a $15 value) Two regular buckets of driving-range balls (a $9 value) Two drinks (up to an $8 value); options include cocktails, draft beer, soft drinks, and Gatorade

$32 for an all-day golf package for four (up to a $64 total value)

Unlimited play for four at nine-hole, par-3 course (up to a $30 value) Four regular buckets of driving-range balls (an $18 value) Four drinks (up to a $16 value); options include cocktails, draft beer, soft drinks, and Gatorade

Though Raymond Heights Family Golf Center sometimes features a discounted price online, this Groupon still offers the best deal available.

Raymond Heights Family Golf Center

Golf shots soar high over the grounds of Raymond Heights Family Golf Center, looking down upon a beginner-friendly complex that encompasses a nine-hole, par-3 course, a driving range, and a miniature golf course. With five holes measuring in at 100 yards or shorter, the lilliputian links help beginners find their swings and give aces a chance to flaunt their short-game prowess without having to aim chip shots at next-door neighbors' mailboxes.

Open as early as 8 a.m., the 30-stall driving range-equipped with both artificial and natural-grass hitting areas-enables late-night practice sessions with lights that activate after sundown. Glowing balls trace the night sky or roll across turf runways during moonlight play, which Raymond Heights hosts at both the par-3 course and its 18-hole mini golf course, made possible by shimmering flagsticks and caddies that locate hazards using echolocation. After a day on the links, vintage vinyl barstools offer a respite for spiky-soled shoes at the Center's full-service restaurant and bar.

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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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Once upon a time, visiting the petting zoo meant heading out to milk the cows and gather eggs from the henhouse. We can't say we mind the convenience of modern times, but we do miss fraternizing with our furry friends. Luckily, today's deal from Green Meadows Petting Farm can help your family get acclimated with amazing animals. Pay $26, and you'll get admission for four people to the petting zoo. Enjoy a family day trip to Waterford, where everyone will get the opportunity to milk Peace, the friendly resident cow; kids can even score a fun-filled pony ride along with a hayride. In addition, you'll get a hands-on opportunity to hang out in the Kitty Barn and meet and greet pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, ducks, donkeys, and more -- all without having to wake up at the crack of dawn. Want more? Check out Green Meadows Petting Farm on Facebook.

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Watching a play is the second-best way to achieve emotional catharsis, right behind writing a play about achieving emotional catharsis. Tear-stain a playbill with this GrouponLive deal: for $20, you get two tickets for best-available seating to 6 Degrees of Separation at Sunset Playhouse in Elm Grove (up to a $40 value). This Groupon is valid for any performance between Thursday, May 24, and Saturday, June 2.

Since 1960, the nonprofit Sunset Playhouse has grown and flourished alongside the community that helped build it, offering access to lively performances and Broadway classics. In the frank, funny, and potent Pulitzer- and Tony-nominated play 6 Degrees of Separation, playwright John Guare uses the story of conman David Hampton, chronicled by the New York Times, as a springboard for an existential proposal: all of mankind is connected by a string of six acquaintances.

We first meet Paul (the Hampton surrogate) when he doggedly arrives at the doorstep of the bourgeois art-dealing couple Ouisa and Flanjust. Bleeding from a minor stab wound, Paul claims he's just been mugged and needs help. He also claims to be the son of actor Sidney Poitier, a scam that the real-life Hampton pulled on many socialites. From there, the charming conman wiles his way into the heart, house, and wallet of the affluent couple before the jig is finally up, leading to hefty questions about universality and luck. With its adroit, occasionally salty dialogue and sometimes shocking turns, this play is recommended only for mature audiences and dolphins with an appreciation for social commentary.

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At Halloween, it's not unusual to see someone standing over a boiling and bubbling cauldron -- but it's summer time. Your little wizard wants to see things froth and fizz no matter what time of year it is, so brew up today's deal from Mad Science of Milwaukee: For just $124, snag a week of kids' science summer camp for ages 5 through 12 (regularly $249). Enroll your pint-sized chemists in either Science Madness Camp (July 23 to 27 or August 13 to 17) or Science Super Heroes Camp (June 11 to 15 or July 30 to August 3), and watch them get down and dirty with fun, imaginative science experiments and demonstrations. Each camp day runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; your kids will have so much fun, they won't even realize they're learning. While they'll have to wait till next October to dress up and eat candy corn, they can get busy on whipping up potions now.

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Paintball hurts less than you think it will, like getting your first haircut or admitting that you don't love Denise. Be brave with this Groupon.

Choose from Six Options $22 for three laser-tag games for two (a $45 value) $39 for three laser-tag games for four (a $90 value) $69 for three laser-tag games for eight (a $180 value) $55 for a paintball outing for two (up to a $145.80 value) $99 for a paintball outing for four (up to a $291.60 value) $145 for a paintball outing for six (up to a $437.40 value)

Paintball outings include admission (a $14.95 value), 500 paintballs (a $22.95 value), gun rental (up to a $35 value), gear, and unlimited air refills for each player.

Brew City Paintball

At Brew City Paintball, paint slingers of all skill levels wage war over 44,000 square feet of indoor battlegrounds peppered with inflatable fortifications. During paintball games, each player loads up with a Tippmann or Planet Eclipse gun, protective vest, antifog mask, and unlimited air refills to take the fight to enemy teams and spotless clothing on multiple all-turf playing fields. Referees monitor each match for signs of foul play, and Brew City organizes games according to player skill so rookies can hone their skills without being sniped by a pro.

As paint flies between bunkers and teams vie for control of the field, parents, friends, and war photographers observe the action from plush leather couches in Brew City's air-conditioned viewing room, complete with WiFi and five flat-screen TVs. For a cleaner version of battle, the facility's 3,000 square feet of black-lit laser tag gives unpainted players a chance to wield lightweight laser guns toward victory amid cover-bearing inflatable castles and tombstones.

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In science-fiction movies, bad guys use lasers to burn down national landmarks, whereas good guys use lasers to burn CDs for cool aliens. Get closer encounters with this Groupon.

$99 for 60-Minute Spider Vein and Rosacea Treatment ($275 Value)

After an initial consultation to explain the treatment and project results based on skin tone and severity of symptoms, the technician takes up the Candela GentleMax and V-Beam Perfecta lasers. The laser's pulsed light can erase the blue and purple tracery of spider veins from the skin or treat hyper-pigmented complexions and remove redness. Opt for a single 60-minute session or two 30-minute visits.

Forever Young Anti-Aging & Weight Loss Center

Dr. Rita Sabeti opened her clinic to smooth the skin's flaws and boost clients' confidence with minimally invasive, medical-grade cosmetic treatments. Experienced aestheticians wield the handheld Candela GentleMax laser, whose multiple wavelengths target a variety of skin issues while a built-in cooling mist keeps patients comfortable and office plants hydrated. Weight-loss experts help clients to leave behind extra pounds with advanced hormone therapies.

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A child's imagination, like the universe or a confused soccer player, knows no bounds. Nurture blossoming creativity with this Groupon.

$8 for Two Kids' Open-Play Passes (Up to $16 Value)

Playnasium opens its gates for free-frolicking kids from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Monday-Saturday. Children younger than 6 months old and parents are admitted to open-play sessions for no additional charge.

Playnasium

Playnasium inspires imaginations inside pint-size frames as kids cavort on sock-clad feet about the approximately 1,800-square-foot facility. Geared toward children aged 6 and younger, the indoor playground showcases a wealth of active options to entertain children as snow and wintry winds roost in outdoor jungle gyms. Kids whip up imaginary snacks in play kitchens, safely leap around in a net-enclosed bounce house, and draft declarations of their pillow fort's national sovereignty from the coloring area's diminutive picnic tables. Staffers clean and disinfect the entire playroom daily with nontoxic and eco-friendly products to protect budding tots. Playnasium serves up piping-hot coffee to keep parents' tummies toasty, and lunches may be brought from home to refuel tuckered-out tykes. After scheduling an appointment ahead of time, verifying their children's health, and filling a knapsack with a day's supply of snacks, parents can drop their kids off for up to 4 hours of Playnasium-provided childcare and go tend to adult duties.

Playnasium shutters its doors during birthday parties, granting hosts and their guests unfettered access to the facilities' attractions. Plates, napkins, and utensils will be provided to accompany food and cake brought by the client. The facility's dedicated staff lends a hand to parents by helping to set up the room prior to the party and cleaning up any messes or leaky big-wheel motors afterward.

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The only reddish and wrinkly thing you should tolerate is the occasional rotten tomato from your garden. But if your lovely face is beginning to resemble an expired fruit, then today's deal at A Younger You Medical Spa is ripe for the picking: Get a one-hour photofacial for $99 (regularly $199). Used to treat redness caused by acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation -- as well as fine lines caused by aging or sun damage -- the photofacial penetrates the skin with intense pulses of light, causing blood vessels to constrict. Or, pay $1,950 (regularly $3,900) and opt for a one-hour session of ultherapy -- an FDA-approved, nonsurgical procedure that can help erase deep wrinkles by using ultrasound waves to produce collagen and tighten skin from within. At this Burlington establishment on Milwaukee Avenue, Dr. Stacy Kaiser -- a board-certified physician in medicine and surgery -- will help you make a well-informed decision regarding your treatment. Pluck this deal like a fresh tomato or you might find yourself red in the face. Want more? Check out A Younger You Medical Spa on Facebook.

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Chefs' ovens burn much hotter than conventional ovens, allowing them to quickly roast meats and melt glacier chunks into gourmet ice water. Let this Groupon melt in your mouth.

Choose from Four Options $12 for lunch for two and a $5 gift card toward Horny Goat merchandise (up to a $29 value) $22 for lunch for four and a $5 gift card toward Horny Goat merchandise (up to a $53 value) $9 for brunch for two and a $5 gift card toward Horny Goat merchandise (up to a $22.98 value) $19 for dinner for two with one appetizer and two entrees, and a $5 gift card toward Horny Goat merchandise (up to a $46 value)

Diners take a seat at the Horny Goat Hideaway's riverside patio for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. The menu features American dishes such as the Smokey Robinson burger topped with pulled pork, hawaiian pizza, and a deep-fried french-toast sandwich. Dinner patrons begin their meals with a hearty appetizer, such as a hummus platter, a gargantuan soft pretzel served with dips, or loaded tots. Each party receives a $5 gift card to use at the Horny Goat gift shop, stocked with items including a pint glass ($3.99), baseball cap ($12.99), or tap handles ($45).

Horny Goat Hideaway

Horny Goat Hideaway crafts a menu of American comfort fare alongside their private label of craft microbrews, Horny Goat Brewing Co. The recently built BFT, or Big Fun Tent, spans 14,600 square feet and boasts a 20'x20' stage, a 10'x16' flat-screen video wall, and lounge furniture. The heated complex also includes sand volleyball courts. When the aggressive sobbing of ignored stomachs proves too bothersome, the eatery provides appetizers of loaded tots topped with beer cheese sauce and bacon or pulled-pork sandwiches served with apple coleslaw. On Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the brunch menu fulfills diners' desires with savory options such as the Eggs Benny-an english muffin, canadian bacon, and hollandaise-and the crisp belgian waffle served with strawberries and whipped cream.

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Mathematicians have worked to find a formula for beauty, but the best they have done is make a scatterplot that looks like Snow White. Be the fairest one of all with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $749 for one ultherapy treatment on the neck or eye area (a $1,500 value) $1,599 for one ultherapy treatment on the neck, face, and brow (a $4,400 value)

Ultherapy is an FDA--approved treatment that helps to naturally tighten, lift, and tone sagging skin without surgery. During the treatment, which typically lasts 30--60 minutes, a technician uses an ulthera device to catalyze collagen production and thereby restore skin elasticity.

A Younger You Medical Spa

Dr. Stacy Kaiser and her staff of aestheticians and laser technicians at A Younger You Medical Spa assess each client's unique skin type during complimentary cosmetic consultations, looking for the best way to enhance natural beauty with high technology. Dr. Kaiser earned a degree in chemical engineering before becoming a board-certified physician in medicine and surgery in the state of Wisconsin, allowing her to customize treatments using the med spa's own prescription-grade skincare line. In addition to being certified in laser procedures such as photofacials and laser vein and hair removal, the friendly doc specializes in nonsurgical, ultrasound-based ultherapy face lifts. At A Younger You Medical Spa, technological advancements and individualized attention go hand in hand, like an arm-wrestling match between a robot and a butler.

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People who don't have their own bicycles often try to make one by sawing their car in half or affixing an extra wheel to their unicycle. Borrow a traditionally made bicycle with this Groupon.

Choose Between Two Options $10 for $20 worth of bike, paddle boat, and pedal-cart rentals $20 for $40 worth of bike, paddle boat, and pedal-cart rentals

For riders of all ages, the center rents vehicles such as tricycles ($5/30 minutes), three-person creature boats ($20/hour), and tandem cruiser bikes ($15/hour). Click here to view a brochure detailing all available rentals.

High Roller Fun Rentals

Throughout the summer, the paved paths of Frame Park welcome outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and interests, including riders seated on High Roller Fun Rentals's unique bikes and pedal carts. Two-, three-, and four-wheel vehicles transport groups down the 1.7-mile river walk-a path flanked by playground equipment, picnic areas, gardens, and volleyball courts that double as suitable retirement homes for pet hermit crabs.

For those looking to make a splash, High Roller Fun Rentals also maintains a floating fleet of creature boats, canoes, and kayaks. These inventive vessels allow groups of two, three, or four to navigate the Fox River with ease. And for added convenience, the rental center hands out maps to encourage exploration and discourage people from leaning off the edge of the world.

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