Can anyone recommend a stylish Chicago hotel along the lines of an Ian Schrager hotel or SoHo Grand/Mercer type of hotel. I don't like big Hilton types of places, does anything bijou exist there?

The Allegro is a fun place with funky decor. Location is good also, a couple blocks from Marshall Field's in the "theater district" . I can't recall the exact cross streets. I do not know anything about the hotels you are referring to so I am hoping the Allegro is what you have in mind.

Maria

Dear Rachel: Hotel Allegro was totally redone in 1998, and it used to be the old Blackstone. It also had a great price on hoteldiscounts.com, just last week. Theater is either right next door or very, very close because their addresses are almost identical. Cabaret is playing there in Dec. and ends around the 17th. Wine in the lobby during the evening and lots of easy access to the State Street area of the Loop. Bus/ trolley could get you to Mich. Ave./ Watertower / Navy Pier with no problem.

Unless there were two Blackstones in Chicago, Jeanette, the Allegro is not the old Blackstone and was not redone in 1998. The Blackstone, which was closed up a while back, is located on South Michigan Avenue, across the street from the Chicago Hilton.

Howard, you are so right. I got my old B hotels mixed up. It was the Bismarck, not the Blackstone. BUT it was completely redone in 1998 and it is just like maria said- funky. I think Rachel would like this kind of hotel.

Is it the Sutton Place that's located at Rush and Bellevue? And might that also fit the specs? I'm hoping someone more recently familiar with Chicago hotels than I am can jump in here...Or perhaps Rachel, you can do a search on the name.The location is about two longish blocks from Lake Shore Drive and right in the heart of the Rush St (restaurants/nitelife) area.