Nico Osteria Restaurant

It's no secret Chicago's restaurant scene is among the best in the country, but with new places opening up at seemingly mind-blowing rates, it's hard to keep track of what's hot and what's not when it comes to dining here in the Windy City. Earlier this week, popular Men's magazine Esquire released its Best New Restaurants in America list for 2014, and one local Chicago establishment was lucky enough to make the cut.   

Although officially making its debut back in early December of 2013, Nico Osteria has been delighting Chicago foodies throughout 2014, and likely for many, many more years to come. Located inside the Thompson Hotel at 1015 N. Rush Street in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, Nico Osteria is an authentic Italian…

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Open House Chicago 2014

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, Open House Chicago will be happening on October 18th and 19th, which gives local residents and visitors alike a unique behind-the-scenes look at many of Chicago's coolest places and spaces. This year, 150 different buildings will be part of the event, which range from the city's most iconic theatres and hotels to many of the most historic mansions, cathedrals, and landmarks in all of downtown Chicago.  

Presented by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, there's no better way to learn about Chicago's rich history than to experience it first-hand, and that's exactly what Open House Chicago offers. Explore the diversity of Chicago's neighborhoods, the architectural treasures that help shape…

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Block 37 Apartments For Rent

Prior to the announcement of the new AMC theatre coming to Block 37, Crain’s Chicago Business reported that owners of the Loop’s largest shopping mall will also be starting construction on a brand new 34-story, 690-unit apartment tower on top of the already existing four story structure—a project that will be the largest rental development the Loop has seen in decades.
 
The new tower, which was designed by renowned Chicago architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates, is expected to further enhance what many consider to be one of downtown’s most challenging properties, and bring even more life to a part of Chicago that’s known most for its commercial real estate and big business.
 
Just within the last year, other major high-end rental…

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South Loop Lofts For Sale

One common complaint about lofts for sale in Chicago is the openness and lack of privacy the bedroom(s) may offer to potential buyers. When it comes to the interior space of a loft condo, many of the authentic and original characteristics like exposed brick and timber or concrete ceilings can certainly enhance the desirability of a loft unit, and even a spacious open concept can sometimes be a positive feature—but not when it comes to the bedrooms.   
 
Being able to have some sort of division of space can be important for a number of different reasons, especially when it comes to the noise factor. For home owners with a baby or small children, enclosed bedrooms certainly provide an added convenience when it comes time to try and get some rest.…

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New Movie Theatre Coming to Block 37

There’s been a recent push lately to help further the Loop’s reputation as being a night and weekend destination for both local Chicago residents and tourists alike, and earlier this week, another step in the right direction has been made. As first reported by the Chicago Tribune, it seems Block 37 has signed a lease with AMC Theatres that will bring a unique, 11-screen dine-in movie theatre concept to the State Street Mall, which should help draw shoppers to the mall’s long-vacant upper levels.

Scheduled to open sometime in 2016, the new theatre will inhabit 44,000 square feet on the mall’s top floor, and will also feature AMC’s signature MacGuffin’s Bar and Lounge in the main lobby. In addition, this will be Chicago’s first AMC theatre location to…

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Luxury Chicago Condo Building Directory

Although buildings like Trump Tower, The Ritz Carlton Residences, Aqua, and the Waldorf Astoria seem to garner a lot of attention from high-end home buyers, downtown Chicago is loaded with dozens of luxury condo buildings that all have a unique sense of exclusivity and appeal.

While it’s true that many of Chicago’s most expensive condos are housed in the newer construction hotel-condo combination developments, plenty of other luxury options are available all throughout downtown Chicago in buildings that are about much more than just convenience.

Known more for the architecture and exquisite finishes inside than what kinds of amenities are included, Lucien Lagrange buildings like 65 E. Goethe and 840 N. Lake Shore Drive offer an exceptional living…

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1345 S. Wabash Condos For Sale, South Loop

It’s hard to deny that the South Loop real estate market seems to be trending upward, as a number of new developments in the neighborhood are already underway. Earlier this year it was announced that DePaul will be building a massive new $400 million athletic arena that will also include a hotel and park space, while on the residential side of things, the AMLI Lofts are an exciting new rental development over in Printer’s Row, and 1345 S. Wabash should be making its grand opening sometime in early 2015.

And speaking of 1345 S. Wabash, if you haven’t heard much about this trendy new condo development, it should be one of the more dynamic buildings to come to market in the South Loop for some time. Its concrete structure and modern interiors offer a…

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400 W. Huron Condos For Sale, Chicago IL

In recent months, much of Chicago’s development news has been related to luxury rentals—most notably at buildings like 111 W. Wacker, 500 N. Lake Shore, 73 E. Lake, and 850 N. Lake Shore. But as the downtown Chicago real estate market continues to thrive, we’re slowly but surely starting to see more condo projects in the works, just like what will soon be located at 400 W. Huron.

Just last month, Smithfield Properties LLC filed a zoning application that will allow them to build a 15-story, 46-unit boutique condo tower that will also include ground-level retail space. As luxury rentals continue to saturate the market, many believe the demand for condominium residences in downtown Chicago is back on the rise, especially for the luxury demographic.

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Last week, Zillow released their monthly Buyer-Seller Index for Chicago—a report that helps determine the top buyer’s and seller’s markets in a given area based on stats like days on market, rate of price cuts, and sales-to-list price ratio. To the surprise of some, Streeterville and the Gold Coast are among Chicago’s top buyer’s markets due to what seem like two somewhat compelling figures.  

Although Streeterville and the Gold Coast are widely considered to be among the most prominent neighborhoods in all of Chicago, the average stay on the market for listings in these areas is still in the four to five month range, while nearly half of the recent homes and condos to come to market have experienced from sort of price reduction. To be exact, 41.4…

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Best Bars to Watch the Chicago Bears in 2014

As we enter the third week of the NFL season, the hype surrounding the Chicago Bears continues to grow, especially after an impressive win in San Francisco last weekend against what many consider one of the best teams in the league. Whether you’re from Chicago or not, it’s hard to escape the NFL buzz, especially when you live here in the heart of downtown Chicago. And if you’re like most who bleed blue and orange in the fall, you’ll want to take full advantage of the great game day atmosphere that so many local establishments offer each and every Sunday from now until the end of the season in January.

Although Soldier Field only seats around 61,000 fans, it’s nice to know that dozens of restaurants and bars all around downtown Chicago also make for a…

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