Guest Info
Hotel Partners
Guests of the Ivy Room received preferred rates at its Hotel Partners
including:
See the linked document for appropriate people to contact at each of
the hotels to learn more about preferred rates and reservations.
Other nearby hotel options include:
·
Embassy Suites (within
one block of the Ivy Room)
·
Chicago
Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
·
Courtyard
Chicago River North
·
Hilton
Garden Inn
·
Homewood
Suites by Hilton
We’ve learned that we are competing with the 35,000 attendees of the
American Society of
Clinical Oncologists convention that weekend, which might make
affordable hotel rooms difficult to find (unless you choose to be
affiliated with the conference and ask for that rate). Be sure to check the Ivy
Room-affiliated hotels, or consider alternatives such as B&Bs – you
can check availability here, or search here. In addition, some folks are having
success with condominium rentals using these links: VacationRent
Chicago, HomeAway, and Vacation Rentals By Owner.
Attire
Black Tie Optional
FAQ
- What the heck does “Black Tie Optional” mean?
There’s a lot written on etiquette sites on this. The most
succinct we’ve seen is:
“For men this
means that if you would like to wear a tuxedo, you should feel
welcome to do so, but your host has no preference and would be
happy as long as you wear a dark (black or navy) suit and tie. (To me, this means no Cosby sweaters and
slacks, jeans, rips, shreds, flip-flops or gym shoes of any kind.)
For women, black
tie optional is the same as black tie. Women have more variety in
what is available to wear in these situations but should stick
with the long gown or nice cocktail-length dress” (To
me, this means pull out the evening gown, or your party dress –
Sparkly! Poufy! Shiny! Slinky! Bright! Black! Dramatic! Strappy!
Dazzling!)
- Why
are you choosing this dress code?
This is a HUGELY important evening for us. We like dressing up,
and hope dressing up will help everyone else feel as special about
the evening as we do. We’ve got quite a few friends who have
tuxedos and great dresses who are always looking for the
opportunity to go all James Bond and wear them, and we’d love to
make that happen.
- I
HATE dressing up!
It’s OK. You can do it,
just this once, please.
- I
don’t have a fancy-enough outfit, and can’t shell out for
something I’ll wear only once.
For women, if you’re
anywhere between a size 6 and a size 12, and between 5’2” and
5’8”ish, there’s a great chance Christina has something “down
cellar” for you to borrow. Actually, probably enough for all the
female guests (seriously, have you seen her basement?)
For men, there’s always
rental.
- If you’d like to rent a tuxedo, we have an
account set up with Men’s
Wearhouse
- There are only three pricing levels and
they’re not too different (between about $120-$160). If you
reference our group number/account, you get a discount ($20 – they
discontinued it this year, but since we set up our contract last
year, it is still good. Don’t let them tell you otherwise.)
- Group Name: Skupien/Pulawski
Group Number: 2430311
- For this, you get the tux and all the
accoutrements, including shoes, tie, two shirts (yes, they
believe you will sweat/spill on the first in the course of the
day), cufflinks, etc.
- Important location point:
If you decide to do this in the Chicago area, GO TO A STORE IN
THE SUBURBS. Chicago considers tux rental to be a good, and taxes
at 10.25%; the suburbs and rest of Illinois considers it to be a
service and doesn't tax at all. You can use the store locator
tool on their web site.
- We set things up with a very helpful woman at
the one by my house (7227 Forest Preserve Drive, Norridge -
across from the Harlem Irving Plaza) - Kelly Giannakopoulos. If
you'd like, we're happy to go with you.
Parking
CEREMONY:
We will have pre-paid tickets available to allow you to exit the
garage at 111 E. Chestnut
(entrance is on Pearson,
right next to the Chapel, and Bistro 110). They are good for 8 hours of
parking. Be sure to ask one of our ushers at the ceremony if you need
one.
RECEPTION:
We are working on valet parking arrangements. Stay tuned.
You can use Chicago
Parking Map to find information about the closest garages to the
ceremony and reception. To use
the site, you can fill in 835 N. Rush St. for the ceremony and 12 E.
Ohio St. for the reception location.
Additional Travel Info
Some things that are going on during and around the weekend of June
5:
·
The Avon
Walk for Breast Cancer is happening June 5th and 6th;
the route hasn’t been publicized yet, but will probably include the
downtown areas near the chapel and reception. Be prepared for extra
travel time.
·
If coming from the western suburbs,
you’re probably already aware of the major construction projects along
the Eisenhower Expressway (290) and its arteries into the city. See the construction routes and
schedules here.
·
The Do Division Street Fest
is one of the early season street fests in Chicago, with great music
stages. No travel challenges, but if you’re coming in from out of town,
a great way to experience Chicago’s street fests.
·
The June Jam is
another street fest, one of several that happen in the Roscoe Village
neighborhood over the summer. Lots of activities for kids.
·
Lincoln Square’s Mayfest (yes, we know it’s in
June) is in a formerly heavy German neighborhood, and features a
Maypole, brats, beer and music.
·
Gospel
Fest will be happening June 5th and 6th in
Millennium Park
·
Beer
Hoptacular (link to tickets here),
June 4th and 5th for beer enthusiasts, featuring
beer sampling, demonstrations from craft brewers, food from local
artisans. At the 3,000-capacity Aragon Ballroom.
·
57th Street Art
Fair, Chicago’s oldest juried art fair, is happening June 5-6 in
the historic Hyde Park neighborhood (including “Art Buying Boot Camp”).
·
The Art Institute’s exhibit Matisse:
Radical Invention 1913-1917 is running through June 20. We will
check it out in late March or early April, but it looks like a “don’t
miss.”
·
Billy
Elliot the Musical will still be at the Ford Center for the
Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre through July, if you’re into
musicals.
·
The Chicago History Museum will have an
exhibit appropriately focused on weddings: I
Do! Chicago Ties The Knot, featuring wedding garments over time and
cultures.
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