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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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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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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