And, in thanks to advice to be north of the museum (and Perplexity) , I think I now have a solution--theWit hotel (part of Hilton) is .2 miles north of Museum.
Good night, all, and mille graze.

Thanks to suggestion of north of museum and Perplexity, I think I now have a solution. The Wit hotel (part of Hilton) is .2 miles north of the museum and ok/fine decor. Now a brief look at reviews.

Mille grazie

The Wit is a great location, and will feel very central to you. I think that's a good choice, and any walks to/from there will likely feel shorter with the density of stores, restaurants and people. My office is a block away, so I pass it several times a week, and enjoy the Wit's restaurant (for pre-theater) and rooftop. There's a cluster of hotels right around Wacker X State/Wabash/Michigan which would offer the same conveniences if you were exploring other hotels. London House comes to mind quickly. The State Street Bridge is under construction for a while, so keep that in mind if you were thinking of the Langham or a hotel directly north of the river on state.

I understand being hesitant over the Palmer House, which is a shame as it should be one of Chicago's gems. As for the Lincoln Hotel, I could never stay there without thinking of its sad history surrounding Melanie Stokes. Even decades later, that corner still evokes her memory. Your friend may not know about that so I'd not mention it to her if she recommends it to others (and the event DID happen 20 years back when it was a Days Inn; I was just really affected by her story when the Chicago Tribune devoted a lengthy feature to the Stokes family.) But the Old Town area near where your friend lives is really wonderful. I do like Gemini and the Farmer's Market. I wasn't aware it ran into November. I always vaguely thought it ended around Labor Day.

Sounds like you have zeroed in on a good hotel for you. It's interesting reading suggestions and likes/dislikes. One of the things I liked about staying at the Blackstone is that the immediate area felt a bit tranquil--the density of shops/restaurants/people etc., that another poster mentions as a plus is to me a minus. I am also a daily runner, so going for morning jogs from the Blackstone was easy. I didn't need to weave in and out of people and traffic.

I would love a tranquility feeling by the Blackstone. In New York, I have a favorite hotel near Central Park, in Paris near the Luxembourg Gardens, in Venice 3 minute walk from the Museo Academia, but only 5 to the relatively quiet walk of the Zattere.
Now, though, I want the chance to live out a years old fantasy about Chicago. A good friend's office (she lives. near SF now) was just a few minutes away from the museum. She would sometimes wander in and spend her lunch hour looking at one painting. I've never had that experience, otherwise I'd be at the Hyatt's Lincoln (and you're right ChgoGal, I don't want to learn the story, but understand the feeling.) The Palmer House would be perfect or even the Hyatt Athletic Club--but even Palmer's premium room seems iffy (and too many complaints) and the hypermasculine/buff masculinity of the Athletic Club rooms which are pricey don't feel like 77yo me

I am happy you are pursuing your dream and you will have a wonderful time no matter where you stay. I think you are doing a great job sorting it out.
Your friend must live near our condo, we have had overflow visitors stay at Hotel Lincoln, also.

Leely2, you are so right! Different areas work for different people. I can see that as a runner, the green spaces and lack of crowds would be wonderful. I guess I have found when I am in a new place and on my own, I feel like there is safety in numbers. I don't enjoy the hubbub and the crowds and I am not a shopper of all those luxury stores. I do like to window shop, to be in the center of places on my list and to have a variety of restaurant choices. It is true, nothing is perfect.

I don't stay in hotels there anymore, but my ideal is the Ambassador and its peaceful neighborhood feel or a water view room at the Drake. I love being near the lake walking paths and being away from the crowds. The Drake is at the northern end of Michigan Avenue and the crowds are thinned out up there. But, in no way do either of these hotels work for this scenario.

cmstraf, have a fabulous time!

HI all,
I'm back in the lands of doubts again. I've taken ChgoGal's recommendation of being very close seriously and have been confused by saying that .2-.3 MI difference qualitatively distant from .4-.5. I've now read several reports that say the Wit is anywhere from .2 to .7. I'm going to call tomorrow to see if I can find a concierge.

Another close by certifiably .2 M from Art Institute is the Silversmith, which I left out because of its decor. It gets excellent reviews, but I can't tell from the photos if I'd like the decor (double I'd love it), find it okay/fine, or hate it. (Had a bad experience in DC in December). Do any of you know the Silversmith? I realize it's very individual, but I'd welcome your impressions. I need to decide and act on this by July 4-5, for a number of reasons, including increasing impatience with how much space it's taking in my mind. I really care about hotels, they help me feel rooted, home, relaxed (more than they should), though my tastes and cost range very. (I could not pay more than $1900 tops for the 4 nights, would prefer $1500 - $1600. Do expect Chase points will pick up some of it.

Mille grazie

Hi, cmstraf.

I can't help on the interior of the Silversmith; definitely check google reviews for that. Would be quicker to the museum and still very convenient for meals/drugstores/public transport. I've only been in the restaurant; the entrance is on Wabash, which--at that block--runs beneath the el tracks and is a bit of a canyon, so often you'll be walking in/out into shade. But it's a nice walk, past the Goddess and Baker, left on Monroe, and Michigan Ave/Millenium Park is right ahead.

If it were me, I'd love to stay at the Chicago Athletic Association, right on Michigan, as I think that you'd have a chance of getting a gorgeous view. But the rates may be more than you'd want to pay, and I understand the decor doesn't appeal. But in terms of elegance & prestige, the CAA would rank over the majority of hotels in the area. (Except University Club, which is members only, anyway.) And Cindy's rooftop is very nice.

Staypineapple is also a very good choice, and the entrance in/out is on bright, busy State Street. I'd set it almost even with the Silversmith for your purposes except may trade el track noise with CTA bus noise. The building is pretty and architecturally significant, likely more sunlight reaches it, but the entrance is on busy State Street, similar to the Wit. So there'll usually be a bustling feel out the door. (The Silversmith entrance/exit is quieter.)

As for distance/walking, I still feel the Wit would still be a fine choice for you, (as would the Silversmith or the Staypineapple), because the difference between walking from those locations versus walking from South Michigan location of the Blacksmith, is the density of business and conveniences along your route to the Art Institute. It feels like a shorter walk with so much to see, and places to pop in to. You can cut through Macy's (the former Marshall Field's) or pop into the Walgreen's to pick up water/snacks for your room. Unlike staying in the Blackstone, which feels a bit out of the way with fewer businesses along the route, I don't think I'd be put off in leaving the hotel multiple times in the day, because there's just so much happening right outside the door, always.

Seeing the advertising now for the Caillebotte exhibit!

Hi ChgoGal,
Thanks--you make very good points and I will look into them by contacting hotels and concierges directly on Monday. You also really know your city! I need to find out how many credits will arrive from my credit card July 3, so I'll know how much of my stay wlll be covered by earned hotel points.

I wanted to highly recommend that you consider getting the catalog for the exhibit Caillebotte: Painting Men. It's co written by the Paris, Getty, and Chicago curators of the exhibit and includes 10 very interesting essays. The quality of the photographs is also excellent (don't get kindle). It was pure fine to look at and read them. A friend and her daughter also had the experience with the copy I brought back for her from Paris.

I don't want to overly praise this exhibit (which can bring about disappointment); I simply enjoyed it tremendously (and reading the catalog, which I rarely do so thoroughly). I hope you do the same and that Chicago will be more like the Getty and less like the Orsay in the crowd dimension. Besides the opening, late afternoon, my husband and I several times had great luck with blockbuster exhibits at the Met in New York, going at 6:30-7:00 on a Saturday night, when most people were on their way to dinner, the theatre.The extra hour for members only is great. Many museums have gotten rid of this perk.

Thanks again.

My favorite AIC exhibits were the 2013 Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity exhibit followed by the 1995 Monet exhibit, so Caillebotte is definitely of interest. Should be wonderful. And I will seriously consider the catalog; I kicked myself over not buying the catalog at the time and then bought it used as I didn't want to forgot those beautiful paintings and gowns.

I know the area well as I've worked in the Santa Fe building on Michigan, and then River North, and now near Wabash and Washington; have been in the city for the past 30 years. My favorite office was right on Michigan Avenue in that Santa Fe building, and those were lovely afternoons walking to/from the Art Institute at lunch.

With Chase cards, at least the sapphire preferred, there was a points boost this past week from 1.25 to 1.5X so that will help! Good luck with the hotel choice. It's not always easy.

cmsraf, we are also going to Chicago for the Caillbotte exhibit. Thanks for starting this tread but since I have never been to Chicago it totally confused me. I guess I will find a place to stay before we get there in August.

Hi, AGM,
The original poster had specific needs with her hotel, in wanting to be close to the Art Institute for multiple visits over several days. If you are just planning a single visit, your options are much more plentiful.

You might want to start your own thread for advice, and you definitely want to make reservations during the very busy Chicago summer. The Air Show is August 16-17, and the Pirates are playing the Cubs at Wrigley that weekend, so options may already be limited if that is your time frame.
Enjoy my hometown!

>> 3 miles away, but not close enough.

That is what taxi/Uber is for. Pickup in a covered area protected from rain/sun, climate-controlled ride, delivery to the front door. Do the popping-in from anywhere, not just the hotel. Or a city bus if it is a straight shot, no transfers.

FYI, there is an out-of-print board game called Masterpiece (Parker Brothers), an art auction game. Players bid against each other for art. All of the 'masterpiece cards' depict paintings from the designer's hometown Art Institute of Chicago. I had this when I was a kid, and the images of the paintings became seared in my mind.

As an adult, I found a copy on the internet and gave it as a gift to an art teacher.

This post got me interested so I think I"m going for a couple days to see that exhibition, also, as Caillebotte is one of my favorites and I have tons of SWA miles to use. I think I'll go second week in AUgust, not weekends.

cmstaf, the Hilton website is totally bogus in claiming the Wit is 0.2 miles from the Art Institute. They also claim that for Grant Park which is even more absurd as it is south of that. YOu can see on Google maps that it is about 6 blocks (the Wit to the AI), and a block is about 0.1 mile. And that's to the north side entrance. So it is about 0.6 miles, Google maps agrees.

I just want something close to the orange line stop as I'll be taking that from Midway. I personally would never stay in a hotel 3 miles away and plan to use Uber/taxis to get around. I won't use Uber anyway, but would never do that in a city with good public transport, it wastes a lot of time and money, also.

The Athletic Club looks terrible to me, not only is the decor kind of ugly (masculine isn't quite the word, the small queen room has like a pommel horse thing at the end of the bed, totally worthless, and the bed frames are ugly). But that hotel has all kinds of public events in it and even has roller skating lessons on one floor, I can't even imagine. The ground floor is a Shake Shack, it appears and the public can go in and out for all kinds of things there, like some sports room, etc. I wouldn't stay in a hotel like that, and it costs about $100 more a night than the Silversmith.

Bottom line, the Wit is NOT 0.2 miles from the Art Institute.

I am heading to Chicago this week and am excited visit the Art institute. Keep in mind when planning that it is closed on Tuesday. Also, the Orange Line is a fantastic way to get from Midway, but I wouldn't schedule flights with an arrival later than evening rush hour. It can get a little iffy after that, especially if you are on your own. Enjoy!

After looking at a map I booked a Jr Suite in the Silversmith Hotel. Since I travel with an insomniac a little extra room helps.

Suggestions on how to get from O'Hare to the hotel? We don't usually Uber or Lyft.

Also we will be in Chicago August 13-16 if anyone wants to get together.

AGM, sounds good! The CTA covers both airports, but O'Hare is on the Blue Line. Very economical and a quick trip in. Taxis are always an option, but with the construction on 90/94 it could be a slow and expensive. You will get to enjoy some of the Air Show, pretty fabulous!

Hi all,
Coral 22 was correct; it's the hope to make multiple visits to the Art Institute over several days that makes me want to be really close. Christina, thanks for that news about the DeWit; I've had trouble getting through to them directly. Being north was an advantage, because another poster said north was best for member's entrance. I plan to join before I go. I'm vacillating between Silversmith and Chicago Athletic (the Madison corner rooms more attractive), will probably go with Silversmith despite my reservations about room decor. They get really good reviews and are considerably more economical.

I'm flying into Midway with Southwest. Unfortunately, I'm at high risk for both severe Covid and long Covid, so public transportation not an option from airport, probably will take Lyft (with SWA, used miles for business place in line, aiming for window seat as near front as possible (prefer aisle) and masking. I'd planned to restrict myself to walking in the area for that part of my visit except for Chicago architectural boat tour; I'll mask. I did that years ago and loved it.

It looks to me like the Caillebotte will be less crowded than in Paris (mobbed even during the week, 2/3 through its stay), more crowded than at the Getty, where we went on a weekday morning and it was virtually empty. There's an Exhibition on Screen Dawn of Impressionism: 1874, which you might enjoy watching before you come. Also one on Pissarro. As I wrote above, I found the Catalog for the Caillebotte to be excellent, not only excellent illustrations to keep the memories, but 10 very good essays.

One good things about the crowds in Paris was that other popular areas of the Orsay were quite empty early morning. Chicago gal, I'll be rereading your suggestions about things to do when the time gets closer. Coral 22, do you know if it should be completed by late September, when I'm coming? Arriving from the relatively cool SF area, I'm planning on its being hot and humid outside, cool on inside. Thanks again to everybody.

The 90/94 construction will be going on for years. It makes getting from OHare very slow. From Midway, the cabs can take Lake Shore Drive up, so they avoid that mess. We are past dealing with our luggage on the CTA, so an Uber is very easy for us from Midway. We avoid arrival times at either rush hour.

The weather in September can be anything, in the 90s and humid or in the 70s and delightful. Also, bring some rain gear and very comfortable shoes.