From: Laura (pinkfest@pinkmyst.com)
Date: Thu Aug 14 2008 - 21:37:04 CDT
Chicago is a huge, diverse, fun, and intersting city with many unique
neighborhoods. Gay, straight, transgender, or otherwise, I have always
thought Boystown to be one of the most fun neighborhoods in Chicago.
Pinkfest has had many successful events in this neighborhood in the
past. I thought this article was helpful in thinking about places to
stay near Boystown:
Chicago: Where to Stay
Chicago's lodging options can accommodate any traveler, and even
those on a modest budget can stay in the heart of the action. Hotels
that are located close to the Boystown bar scene are especially
gay-friendly (perhaps T-friendly too). Travelers will find that the
city's premium hotels are in the heart of downtown, a.k.a. "The
Loop," and scattered along Michigan Avenue and throughout River
North. Because of plentiful public transportation and taxis, however, no
lodging in central Chicago is ever too far from the action.
Three gay-popular boutique hotels are marketed as the Neighborhood Inns of Chicago. Visit their Web site at www.cityinns.com. Rooms at all three are comparable, and all rates include concierge, honor baskets, luxury robes, data ports, complimentary morning newspaper and a continental breakfast served in the hotel lobby. Parking at all three properties is an additional $18-19/day. The crown jewel of the Neighborhood Inns is the Majestic (528 W. Brompton Place; 773/404-3499 or 800/727-5108, fax 773/404-3495; $99-199), with 52 rooms featuring modest English country estate decor. Six of the rooms have enclosed sun porches on the front of the building. The Majestic is on a shady residential street a few minutes north of the heart of Boystown. City Suites Hotel (933 W. Belmont Ave., 773/404-3400 or 800/248-9108, fax 773/404-3405; $99-199) is steps away from the Boystown strip on busy Belmont Avenue. The hotel's location one block from the El is both a
blessing and a curse if the sound of passing trains bothers you. But in
many rooms you might not even notice them, and this property has the
largest gay following by far of the three. Willows Hotel (555 W. Surf
St.; 773/528-8400 or 800/787-3108, fax 773/528-8483; $99-199) is a
European-style hotel with 55 rooms. It is a few minutes south of the
heart of Boystown. Other nearby options include the
gay-owned-and-operated Villa Toscana Guest House (3447 N. Halsted St.;
773/404-2643 or 800/404-2643; www.villa-toscana.com;
info@villa-toscana.com; $99-139), in the heart of the nightclub district
with seven themed rooms (Art Deco, British Colonial and so on) and a
predominately gay clientele. In Boystown, the Hawthorne Terrace Best
Western (3434 N. Broadway St.; 888/675-BEST or 773/244-3434, fax
773/244-3435; www.hawthorneterrace.com; $139-189) is located just blocks
from shopping, dining and nightlife. This small hotel is quite unlike
most of its Best Western counterparts, thanks to a stone facade and
courtyard, and 59 tastefully appointed rooms and junior suites in
various price ranges. The hotel offers a cardiovascular and weight
training equipment with a sauna and whirlpool. It's only two blocks
from Lake Michigan's bike and in-line skating and jogging paths,
golf courses and tennis courts. Wrigley Field,
home of the Chicago Cubs, is a few blocks away.
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