And what better way to capture your trip to Chicago than through a photo?

A picture’s worth a thousand words but for our guests it could be worth a lot more than that! Every month we’re holding our “Chicago Shot” photo contest to see which of our guests snapped the best photo during their stay.

All guests have to do is take a photo during their stay (of anything) and post it on our Facebook Wall. We compile the photos into an album and let our fans vote on which one is best by “Liking” that particular photo.

At the end of voting, whichever photo scored the most “Likes”, wins! It’s that easy.

So what could be worth more than a thousand words? Well, significant bragging rights for your artistic, funny, heartwarming, or strange picture for one. But perhaps more importantly, our monthly winners advance to the finals.

After six months, our six monthly winners’ photos will compete against each other for the most “likes” – again based on voting by our Facebook Fans. Whoever scores the most votes, wins a FREE Night Stay with us! And that’s just for snapping a picture while you’re already out and about.

So come on into Chicago and bring your camera. Your vacation photos could score you another trip to the Second City!

Book your stay now at BEST WESTERN PLUS River North Hotel in downtown Chicago, the only downtown hotel with FREE Parking.

1.  FREE Suite Upgrade – Our Facebook Fans can access a coupon for a Free Suite Upgrade (based on availability at check-in) for their visit! It’s right on our Facebook Page.  Just show it at the front desk when you check-in.

2.  Tuesday Trivia – Each week we ask a different trivia question, usually relating to Chicago, and one correct answer is randomly chosen to win a Free $10 Gift Card!  How easy is that!
And now, if you answer on our Google+ Page too, you can double your chances of winning Tuesday Trivia.

3.  Click with Mick – During your stay, snap a photo of yourself with our Mick poster and post it on our Facebook Wall.  You’ll be entered into our monthly Click with Mick drawing, where one lucky winner receives a $25 Best Western Travel Card.

New For 2012

4.  Fan of the Week – Already a hit, we select one fan to be our “Fan of the Week,” which not only means bragging rights but also 2,000 Best Western Rewards Points he/she can use toward a free stay at any Best Western Hotel!

5.  Best Western Chicago Shot – What better way to capture your vacation experience than through a photo?  Our fans will be able to submit one photo from their stay in Chicago for our monthly “Best Western Chicago Shot” competition.  It can be of a popular attraction, your family, a skyscraper, or whatever you want! If it’s family-friendly, it’s okay by us.
At the end of the month, we’ll compile all the entries and let our fans vote on which is the best.  The photo with the most votes wins.  The winning photo will compete against other monthly winners every six months for a FREE NIGHT STAY IN CHICAGO!

6.  Giveaways Throughout The Year – Our fans can expect giveaways for treats and Free Stays throughout the year.  Our most recent one is our Valentine’s Day giveaway.  Just “Like” our page to enter and you could be chosen on February 1^st to get a one-night free stay during February, free breakfast, free heart-shaped deep dish pizza from Pizzeria Ora, and tickets to Shedd Aquarium!  Now, what’s not to love about Valentine’s Day?

If you’d like to access these deals then become a Fan! And book your room now at BEST WESTERN PLUS River North Hotel, the only downtown Chicago hotel with FREE Parking.

This month we announced Dance Fridays – our monthly feature of different departments in our downtown Chicago hotel dancing to various songs. But apart from the idea and some general parameters, our Facebook Fan’s get to be in the driver’s seat.

This is because our fans, You, get to suggest the songs, vote for the top suggestions (we have to do the song with the most votes) and then comment on and rate our video once we’re done.

For our opening month of January, we chose our Executive Team as the hotel department who dances and we picked the genre, hip hop. Other than that, the creative direction came from fan feedback. We had a lot of great and potentially side-splitting suggestions (though not all were really “hip hop”). But we narrowed it down to 3 of the most popular: “Single Ladies” by Beyonce, “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO, and “California Gurls” by Katy Perry.

We let everyone weigh in and “Party Rock Anthem” scored the most votes, so we grabbed the camera, took an afternoon, and shot what turned out to be a fairly stellar video based off of LMFAO’s original music video. After some editing, we posted it on Friday to huge critical acclaim. We hope you enjoy!

Be sure to “Like” our Facebook Page and watch for updates to help us choose February’s Dance Friday song.  Dance Fridays are epic. (See? The title of this post didn’t lie.)

If you’d like to visit the actual location where this sensation was shot, book a room now with BEST WESTERN PLUS River North Hotel, the only downtown hotel to offer FREE Parking!

And what could be better than listing them in a video?  Sit back, relax, and click play already!

Chicago takes its sports seriously, especially if it’s in the “B” trifecta – the Bulls, the Bears, the Blackhawks.  If you’re looking to catch a Chicago Bulls game (six-time NBA champions!), these tips will help you with some practical pointers.

1. WHICH WAY IS RIGHT? You can get to the stadium easily enough either by car or public transportation. The United Center is west of the Loop, so though you could go by foot it’s a pretty long walk from downtown Chicago and our hotel. We recommend taking public transportation (CTA) with the #20 Bus. Ask one of our hotel’s concierges for directions.

2. COME EARLY. Well…not too early. You can’t get in more than an hour and a half before the game. But you do want to get in when you can so you can enjoy the pregame shows and hype. Plus you’ll have time to walk around before finding your seat.

3. EXPECT AN INSPECTION. You probably won’t have to go through any sort of inspection upon entering the arena, but the United Center does reserve the right to inspect your person and any bags you bring. Just be prepared for this and it will go more smoothly if they give you the ol’ once-over.

4. GRAB GEAR DURING PRE-GAME. Who doesn’t want to remember their trip to a Bulls game with some fan gear? But as with any game, the stands and shops get crowded once the game starts. If you purchase what you want before tipoff, you’ll not only avoid lines but you’ll be able to choose from a full stock of merchandise.

5. DINING FOR GOLD. The stadium has all your Chicago favorites – Chicago dogs, deep dish, you name it. But in addition to the standard fare there are also some cool bars and restaurants. There’s a Budweiser Brew Pub, Stadium Club ,and Ketel One Club, as well as an upscale restaurant, Bar One. If you’re looking for specialty concession stand food, check the corners of the arena.

6. THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY. There are plenty of acts and attractions for fans of all ages, including jugglers, dancers, a dunk team, face painters, and more! Check the concourse for kid-friendly booths but not during the half-time show! You don’t want to miss their featured act or the mascot, Benny the Bull.

7. POINT ME TO THE EXIT. When the game is over, there are plenty of exits. It does tend to get jammed up around the escalators, but once you’re through you’re really home free. If this will be a problem for you then arrange your exit time accordingly.

Ready to go experience a Chicago Bulls game for yourself? Get Bulls Tickets here and Book a Room Now with BEST WESTERN PLUS River North Hotel, the only downtown Chicago hotel with FREE Parking.

Half-Acre Beer Company

Head north on N. Lincoln Ave. until you get to #4257. There you’ll find Half-Acre Beer Company – a 2006 startup that has quickly developed its own style, local following, and unique beer, with names like Ginger Twin, Big Hugs, and Marty Stouffer’s Wild America. Daisy Cutter, the perennial favorite brew, is a west coast pale ale “chock full of dank, aromatic hops.” This creative brewery is a great destination for beer lovers.

Goose Island Beer Co.

One of the better-known breweries in Chicago, Goose Island on N. Clybourn and Sheffield has been around since the late ‘80s and brews a wide variety of ales. They have their “classics,” “vintage ales,” and a healthy sampling of “extreme ales,” sure to entice even the most seasoned beer drinker. They even have an environment sustainability initiative. Right now, we’d recommend one of their many seasonal ales: Mild Winter, made with caramel malt and spicy rye flavors and aromas of “raisins and freshly baked dark bread.” Mmmm.

Haymarket Pub & Brewery

Haymarket is brand new, having just celebrated their one year anniversary. Located at the corner of Halsted and Randolph, they brew several different beers, mostly IPAs. They also offer selections from other breweries, including local breweries. We recommend their award-winning Mathias Imperial IPA, a beer with strong citrus and mango notes. Pair it with their restaurant’s pizza and you won’t regret it.

Metropolitan Brewing Co.

Without a restaurant or store, Metro is only a Production Brewery. They brew lagers and were inspired to provide fresh lagers to the Midwest. Right now they only sell to the Chicagoland area, brewing in Ravenswood. But if you fancy a good Lager, it’s worth checking their website to see where you can get your hands on some.

Piece Brewery

This brewery regularly wins exceptional awards at beer competitions, including being the 2006 World Beer Cup “Small Brewpub” Champion. This brewery, obviously exceptional, also provides a good variety of different beers from Kölsch to Pilsners, from American-style Strong Pale Ale to German Hefeweizens. Also offering pizza, this makes a great dining destination for those looking for prestigious beer. Of course, if you care nothing for the ribbons and trophies, you’ll still admire the taste. Stop by their location at 1927 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park.

Ready to visit Chicago’s breweries?  Book a room now with BEST WESTERN PLUS River North Hotel, the only downtown Chicago hotel with FREE Parking.

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*While Best Western Plus River North Hotel lists breweries above, we do so only to recommend travel destinations to our guests. This post is informative in nature and is in no way intended to encourage readers to consume alcohol. We advise that any consumption of alcohol be done in a legal and safe manner.

On a Mission

Open Books provides these workshops for children in Chicago’s schools as part of their mission to combat illiteracy in Chicago, which has shockingly high numbers.  One statistic shows 53% of Chicago’s adults would struggle just to read a single sentence of this blog.

Solutions, Solutions

But this part of Open Books’ solution – the creative writing workshops – is a huge win-win for schools in the area.  The students get a field trip in a safe, creative atmosphere AND they’re learning to share their experiences through a valuable skill: creative writing. On top of that, it’s fun! Case and point: see the photo of the kid in the Pencil Costume?  I mean, come on!

Getting with the Program

With 35 7^th graders, the room was packed.  Our staff split up and each of us worked with a group of 5-6 students.   Even though you might think middle schoolers would feel “too cool” for creative writing, the kids dove in.  Open Books’ myriad of workshops focus on different topics, like narratives, fiction, and slam poetry.  In last week’s workshop we taught students about perspective in a story, relating different viewpoints and how best to express your own.

The workshop involved reading poetry and short stories, organizing thoughts on paper, and sharing and writing the students’ own experiences, whichever ones they wanted.  The students showed a real desire to read and write well and were surprisingly creative.  For an icebreaker we all had to name what superpower we’d want and the students’ answers covered everything from your typical “flight” to “I don’t want superpowers, I just want to collect antiques.”  Talk about creative!

What’s the Takeaway, Anyway?

Overall it was great to spend a day helping students read, write, and develop critical thinking skills that are increasingly necessary in both schools and careers.  The workshop was also an invaluable outlet for these kids.  We heard their stories about everything from the seeing the Twilight Movies to struggling with their parents’ divorce. And at the end of the day, we got to be a part of helping students express themselves in a constructive way.

We loved volunteering in our most recent creative writing workshop and we look forward to doing it again with the amazing staff from Open Books who is fighting the good fight in promoting literacy in Chicago.

If you’d like to visit Chicago yourself, book a room with Best Western Plus River North Hotel, the only downtown Chicago hotel with FREE Parking!

1. Skating at Millennium Park – the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is right downtown in Millennium Park and whenever open (weather permitting) you can skate here for free, though renting skates does cost $10. Still, for an outdoor skating experience in the heart of a major city, you can’t beat Millennium Park. This attraction has broad appeal: perfect for kids, adults, dates, groups, and hey, even solo time if you’re going for that lone figure skater vibe.

2. Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier – located indoors, this is a nice respite from the weather while still getting to enjoy a lot of holiday fun. This attraction, primarily for children, brings the holidays to life with costumed characters, inflatable rides, Christmas décor, ice skating, live music, carnival rides and plenty of food! Just be careful about mixing the last two together. (For a photo preview of Winter Wonderfest, see our Facebook photo album here.)

3. Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza – this is an open-air European-style Christmas market and an iconic Chicago attraction. You can find traditional German crafts, gifts, and food, including tons of delicious pastries and sweets. The rich holiday atmosphere is sure to get you in the spirit of the season. Tip: Grab a glass of Glühwein (pronounced “glue-vine”) to keep you warm while you shop, and afterward you can take your boot-shaped mug home as a souvenir!

4. Magnificent Mile Shopping – the Holiday Season is an especially good time to shop on Michigan Avenue, just blocks from our downtown hotel in River North. Not only do you need to find gifts, but the shops have plenty of great specials to get you in the doors. And with so many stores, you could literally shop until you drop…though we don’t recommend that.

5. Winter Wonderland in John Hancock Observatory – Not to be confused with Winter Wonderfest, Winter Wonderland is also indoors, but has a decidedly different feel. It promises fun for the whole family with holiday decorations, Chicago’s largest model train exhibit, and even regular appearances from Santa! It’s a great place to take young kids, so be sure to bring your camera!

Ready to experience all Chicago has to offer during the holidays? Book your room now at Best Western Plus River North Hotel, the only downtown hotel in Chicago with FREE PARKING.

It’s not every day you get to walk down the middle of the street on Michigan Avenue. Even less likely is that you get to do it twice in one day. But that’s exactly where I found myself last Saturday during the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

A few months ago I was hired at Best Western Plus River North Hotel in downtown Chicago. What I didn’t know at the time was that the job came with some significant perks, like getting to walk in the annual Lights Festival parade. I recently moved to the Chicago area and the whole “big city” idea is still a bit foreign to me.

Our float for the parade featured the cast of Disney Channel’s original movie, Lemonade Mouth. If I didn’t know before the parade, the kids’ reactions during made it abundantly clear just how popular these young stars were. Walking next to the float and hearing ear-piercing screams every few seconds, I was reminded of those old videos of the Beatles appearing before thousands of star-struck and screaming fans.

We do the parade route and Lemonade Mouth smiles and waves enthusiastically to everyone along Michigan Avenue. Just before crossing the Chicago River our float pauses for the scheduled tv spot. Lemonade Mouth performs “Determinate” on the Best Western Hotels of Illinois float for ABC7 and nails it. (They’re professionals after all.) And then we begin to move again and we slowly cross the Chicago River. This was my favorite moment of the entire parade – sitting on that big, rust-colored bridge and as far as you can see on the shores of the Chicago River are people. Masses of them are west around Trump Tower, east along Wacker, and both north and south along Michigan Ave., and standing on that bridge you can’t help but feel that you’re in the center of it all.

We eventually do cross the river and turn east on Upper Wacker. When our float finally comes to a stop, there is a small but very enthusiastic group of fans waiting for Lemonade Mouth. My second favorite part of the parade happens now – seeing Lemonade Mouth be unconditionally gracious to their fans. Once the 4-14 yr. old fans found the courage to approach the float, the cast high-fived every one of them (which took several minutes) and even stayed to make sure everyone who wanted an autograph got one.

Our part in the parade was officially over and as we employees walk back to the hotel we get stuck in the crowd waiting for fireworks. The streets are wall-to-wall people, there’s nowhere to go, and I’m visibly frustrated. But then the fireworks start. And here I am, stuck in a crowd with thousands of strangers, some speaking languages I can’t recognize, and I decide to just wait and enjoy the show, to be a part of it. I watch the fireworks with the rest of Chicago and for the first time since moving here, I feel that this is now my city.

When the fireworks end and everyone has sufficiently oohed and aahed, the crowd finally starts moving, and I begin to walk back down the middle of Michigan Ave. with thousands of others. And despite the cold, the crowds, and the heavy traffic I know is waiting for me on the drive home, I find that I love it.

What’s The Deal?

Imagine a night of wonderful food, conversation, cocktails and sophistication, and games and prizes. Now add to that a great nonprofit that’s benefiting from all the fun you’re having! That’s exactly what you’ll find at Revelry, Open Books’ largest annual fundraiser.

Open Books, of course, is a nonprofit in our own neighborhood aimed at promoting literacy in Chicago and beyond. Their bookstore and events like Revelry help them to run workshops and programs for students in Chicago’s public schools and elsewhere.

This year’s Revelry was held at Catalyst Ranch, an eclectic space with a bit of a hip flare. We attended this year and experienced Super-Sized Scrabble (we know, awesome right?), a Silent Auction for some major prizes, a Green Screen Photo Booth – we took our photo on a tropical island – and a Phantom Ticket Booth with randomly drawn prizes in unmarked envelopes.

All of this adds up to a great fundraiser for us – the guests – as well as Open Books’, who raised over $40,000 this year.

How We Help

Our own Best Western Plus River North Hotel received runner-up honors in the competition for board members and the planning committee to see who could raise the most in donated goods, ticket sales, monetary donations, and auction purchases. And at the beginning of next month, our staff will take a volunteer day and go over to Open Books’ bookstore and offices to lend a hand.

Interested in Open Books and how our hotel is involved? Come stay with us and see! BEST WESTERN PLUS River North Hotel, the only downtown Chicago hotel with Free Parking.