Travel Guide: Chicago
I am unbelievably lucky- I have two incredible cities that I get to call home: Los Angeles, which is my current home base, and Chicago, my native city. Making the decision to move to LA was not an easy one; As excited as I was about LA sunshine, I knew that I would miss the Windy City (and my amazing, beautiful, incredibly tight-knit family). Flash forward nearly a decade later and I find myself in the position as a Master Hair Colorist where I get to travel (and travel a lot) for work- I am on an airplane multiple times a month and one of my top destinations is always Chicago. A few days ago, as I was packing to fly back there once again, I thought of all of the awesome places I was looking forward to visiting once I landed, and it dawned on me that you might love to hear some of my recommendations. Below is a list of my Top Five Destinations in Chicago:
Fitness: East Bank Club
For me, the quality of the gym I go to really matters because it actually inspires me to work out. I can’t just go to a room with a bunch of fitness equipment, it simply won’t cut it. Enter the East Bank Club- this place is gorgeous and it offers the most extensive list of quality workout classes, there is something going on almost every single hour. There is also an array of options for dining, a juice bar, and a sun deck. It is pretty much a great place to hang out for the day!
Hair Heaven: Bravco
I am a Master Hair Colorist so no matter where you are I am going to be looking out for your hair. This small, family-owned shop off Oak Street has an extensive inventory of quality hair and beauty products- it’s like a beauty mecca!
Shopping: Space519
This cute shop is a fashionista’s heaven; It carries a refined collection of clothing, home decor, and beauty products, and their setup is too cute for words. If you want to see for yourself, check out their adorable Instagram account (@space_519).
Visit: Millennium Park
This park definitely lives up to the hype. It was originally created to celebrate the millennium (hence the name), but ended up opening in 2004, three years behind schedule. You should add it to your list of places to check out when you visit Chicago. The Garfield Conservatory as well as the Wrigley Field should be sight-seeing priorities as well.
Eat: Maple & Ash
Gorgeous restaurant with food so good that I dare say its other-worldly. I am a huge fan of seafood, so I recommend the King Crab Salad and the Grilled Salmon, it is made to perfection. The top-notch service and ambiance make you want to stay forever. However, Chicago has so many incredibly places to eat that it was really hard to narrow it down to one. I have to give an honorable mention to all the Rick Bayless restaurants as well as Piccolo Sogno. Piccolo Sogno definitely the place to go if you are looking for stunning outdoor ambiance, it is a garden oasis.
If you are familiar with Chicago, what are some of your favorite spots? Leave all comments and questions below.
Renee Taglia is located in a Beverly Hills California. Contact her here for a consultation on how to discover (and keep) your perfect color.