Looking for a new way to see Chicago? Check out this article in the Chicago Tribune listing the Top Ten Tours of the city. Our personal favorite is the Chicago Chocolate Tour. Feeling guilty after all that chocolate? Try a bike tour of Barack Obama’s old neighborhood or learn about the real life stories of Chicago’s ganster past on the Untouchables Tour. Explore a part of Chicago you’ve never seen before!
Click here to read the full article and then let us know your favorite way to see Chicago.

This past friday, our hotel was thrilled to check in one of our newest guests, “Walk Around Sue”. This 6 foot tall and 13 foot long animatronic dinosaur came over to us, courtesy of the Field Museum in celebration of Sue the T-Rex’s 10th anniversary. If you missed her at our hotel, you can still head over to the Field Museum and challenge RoboSue to a staring contest or check out the 3-D film that tells the story of how Sue was found. And don’t forget, discounted tickets for the Field Museum can be purchased directly at our hotel.

Even Walk Around Sue enjoys our Free Parking

Best Western Chicago - Papers,
originally uploaded by Best Western River North Hotel Chicago.

As part of our Social Consciousness Program, our employees drop off old newspapers to our community neighbor The Anti-Cruelty Society. Anti-Cruelty reuses these newspapers in both the cat and dog adoption rooms.

The Chicago Blues Festival kicks off June 12 through June 14 in Grant Park. Each day of the FREE fest tells a different story about life, loss, independence and freedom and this year we will celebrate the life and work of Robert Nighthawk on the centennial of his birth. Daily Festival hours are from 11am to 9:30pm.

On June 12th, there will be a special 70th Birthday Party for Eddie C. Campbell! He is considered one of the most distinctive, original bluesman ever and is one of the last of the originators of the West Side sound of Chicago blues still performing. The celebration begins at 8:20pm, Friday on the Petrillo stage in Grant Park.

Saturday and Sunday belong to the women of blues! Bettye LaVette performs at 8:20pm, Saturday at the Petrillo stage. LaVette is one of the greatest soul singers in American music history and possesses an incredibly expressive voice that exudes a formidable level of strength and intensity as well as vulnerability. Closing out Sunday night (8:20pm on Petrillo) is Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. Jones is considered a legend for making new music sound “old School.” And The Dap Kings, sometimes a back-up band to Amy Winehouse, have been sampled by everyone from Kanye West to Jurassic 5, together Sharon and The Dap Kings promise to funkify the Blues Festival.

What better way to celebrate the Real Pirates exhibit at the Field Museum than a Pirate and Pizza Party! Guests of the hotel are invited to attend the poolside celebration on April 18, 2009 from 4pm-6pm.

Complimentary pizza will be served and young pirates can enjoy the family friendly pirate themed actvites and games.

In honor of the Real Pirates exhibit at the Field Museum, we would like to see your Real Pirates!

Now through May 31, 2009 e-mail us a photo of your favorite person or pet dressed like a pirate and you will be entered into our random drawing. One Grand Prize winner will receive a complimentary two night stay at Best Western River North Hotel and four tickets to the Real Pirates exhibit at the Field Museum.

E-mail your entries to: contest@rivernorthhotel.com

Best Western River North featured in Best of the Midwest Magazine

We are pleased to announce that Best Western River North Hotel has been featured in the new edition of Midwest Living Magazine’s Best of The Midwest annual edition.

 If there are three foods that Chicago is famous for, they are pizza, hot dogs and Italian Beef. Talk about a “taste” of Chicago and yet still reasonably priced.

Al’s Italian Beef located two blocks from River North is Chicago’s #1 Italian Beef since 1938. A regular (6″) Italian Beef is only $3.59.  Visit www.AlsBeef.com.

At Portillo’s Hot Dogs a Chicago Style Dog starts at $2.45. Portillo’s is located just one block from River North Hotel.

A deep dish Chicago Style Pizza, while worth every penny, can sometimes become costly. We’ve found the perfect solution: At Pizzeria Ora,  located at 545 N LaSalle, you can get traditional deep dish pizza by the slice. The right amount of food at the right price! Visit www.pizzeriaora.com.

Start your day off right at the Ohio House diner. Just across the street from River North Hotel you can enjoy a breakfast of two eggs, two pancakes, two sausages and two bacon strips for only $4.55.