PLACES TO EAT

Dragonfly Mandarin Restaurant, 832 W. Randolph - Official Web Site

This stylish establishment is the place to come for truly delicious Mandarin cuisine. Certainly, the décor is elegant, the service is incredibly refined and the ambience is romantic; yet it is the food that will bring you back to this restaurant again and again.

Sitting under the glowing Asian lanterns, making yourself comfortable in the wide mahogany booth, you are ready for a perfect meal. And that is precisely what you receive. Pick from greens, grains, fish, fowl and meat to create an unforgettable feast, crafted just for you.

The Fiery Chicken is a dish of tender, wok-seared chicken garnished with peanuts and red chili peppers and then stir-fried in spicy sauce. It is delicious, especially when paired with your choice of white or brown rice and ginger soy sauce.

If you are in the mood for steak instead, try the Mongolian Steak. These slices of flank steak are stir-fried and cooked with mushrooms, yellow onions and scallions in an optional wine sauce. The steak is perfectly seasoned and so tasty that you will not want to share!

A meal at Dragonfly is the total package; you are welcomed warmly, seated cozily and served some of the city’s most tempting Asian fare. For a charming experience, you cannot go wrong here.

Chicago Chocolate Company, 847 W. Randolph - Official Web Site

After dinner, treat yourself to a little chocolate. Or treat yourself to a lot of chocolate! For walking into this cozy little café, you will want to try a little of everything. The walls of the Chicago Chocolate Company are lined with glass cases literally bursting with chocolate. Here you will find some of the best chocolate found in the city.

Dark chocolate lovers will find that almost every chocolate comes in Milk and Dark; those who like fillings in their chocolates will not be disappointed either. Whatever your favorite, you can indulge in it here. There are orange creams, dark Lincoln mints, turtles, raspberry meltaways and many, many more.

Be sure to leave room for chocolate fondue! It is rich and comes in a variety of flavors. The hot chocolate comes in flavors as well; choose from Milk, Dark, Mint or even the unique, spicy Mexican hot chocolate!

Truly, this café is a chocolate lover’s dream. Wherever you dine this evening, finish your meal on a sweet note at the Chicago Chocolate Company.

BARS/CLUBS

Plush, 1104 W. Madison - Official Web Site

This lounge is called “Plush” for a reason; walking in, you find yourself in a lush, red den with sprawling, luxurious couches and low-hanging lights. Mosaics and sculptures arranged around the room lend a medieval aura to the place.

You can spend hours at Plush; socialize over drinks and restaurant-style entrees. Or just relax and take in the scene. The couches are so comfortable that you may find yourself in a dreamy haze.

Plush is open Monday through Saturday and each night boasts a different theme. For example there are Wine and Dine Tuesdays and Disco Inferno Wednesdays. Themes are subject to change, but always guarantee a festive air.

Hours: 5 pm to 2 am Mondays through Saturdays. Cover charge varies; no cover on Fridays and Saturdays.

PLACES TO STAY

Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro, 733 W. Madison - Official Web Site

Stepping into the cool, polished lobby of the Crowne Plaza it is evident that here, luxury and taste are emphasized.

This large, welcoming hotel offers rooms that are fit for the most discerning of travelers. With almost 400 guest rooms, each of which includes a flat-screen high definition television, high speed internet access, cordless telephone, weekday newspaper delivery and several other amenities, the Crowne Plaza is truly a luxury establishment.

Located in Greektown with easy access to the Loop, the hotel is ideal for business travelers as well as tourists. The Crowne Plaza offers concierge service, valet laundry and dry cleaning, valet parking, a business center and wireless internet access in all public areas. There are also meeting and banquet facilities on the premises.

Dine, an elegant restaurant that serves American cuisine, is located in the hotel and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

THINGS TO DO

Museum of Holography, 1134 W. Washington - Official Web Site

This eclectic institution is dedicated to “the advancement of holography as an art form.” Since holography does not often register on the public radar, this museum is truly unique in its mission and it succeeds quite well. Upon visiting the museum, you will learn all you ever wanted to know about holography; it is quite an eye-opening experience.

The museum, a non profit organization, was founded in 1976 and consists of both an exhibition area and a school. There are research facilities on the premises as well. The exhibition area consists of four separate galleries, displaying a total of 150 holograms. These holograms picture a number of objects, from fruit to animals to household items.

One of the galleries is currently showing an exhibit called “Transitional States”, which demonstrates how holograms can show movement. One of the moving holograms depicts a painter moving a brush; another is a female warrior swinging her sword. One of the most interesting holograms in the exhibit is that of a man panning for gold over a river.

A different exhibit shows dozens of human body parts; there is a brain, a heart, lungs, and a larynx, among others.

The museum offers lectures for school groups as well as workshops for those interested in the ways holograms can impact the fields of engineering, architecture, art, entertainment and advertising.

Hours: 12.30 am to 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday. General admission: Adults $5, children under 12 $3, children under 6 free. Group tours are available and can include: a walk through the museum, a lecture explaining holography, a movie about holography and a question and answer period. Reservations are required. Fees vary by tour.

For your convenience, the locations of all the businesses mentioned in this article are shown on our West Loop Neighborhood Map.

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