We love Chicago and try to visit at least once a year for their Art-Expo. We usually stay at the W Hotel, but this time chose The Ambassador, which was formerly The Public. It looks exactly the same although their Pump Room restaurant recently closed.
One of my favorite boutiques Ikram is a must-stop by and I always discover an interesting piece or two in the rigorously edited racks of clothing. Marcin, my favorite salesman makes shopping a fun, stress-free adventure and he's been known to nudge me into outfits I wouldn't normally consider.
Our first evening was dedicated to dining at the neighborhood Gastro-Tavern & Dining Room The Duck Inn with Wendi Norris, whose namesake gallery is based in San Francisco. We enjoyed what was essentially a feast for kings and queens with their sensational signature dish of whole rotisserie duck, that I can't adequately describe except to say it has to be seen to be believed.
The following day we spent almost entirely at Art-Expo. We look forward to seeing what our favorite artists are up to and also discovering new and unknown talents. Galleries of particular interest to us are Monique Meloche, Kavi Gupta and Rhona Hoffman, all are Chicago based and represent artists we collect.
We had breakfast, lunch or dinner on consecutive days at the Thompson Hotel's Nico Osteria restaurant situated in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast. One of the dishes they're particularly known for is the lobster pasta which happens to be my favorite dish and is one of the very few occasions when I'm definitely off my no-pasta diet.
Rotisserie Duck at the Duck Inn...amazing!
This corner table is the best seat in the room at Nico Osteria
Nico Osteria's lobster pasta - love it
Installation view of work by Genevieve Gainard at the Shulamit Nazarian booth courtesy of Shulamit Nazarian Los Angeles...a couple of years out of grad school and already enjoying an enthusiastic following, Genevieve is an artist to watch
Installation view of Art & Culture Projects booth - Courtesy of Expo Chicago
Installation view of Lévy Gorvy's booth - photo by @soclestudio via Instagram
I fell in love with this wall tapestry and the one below by Faig Ahmed from Baku Azerberjian at the Sapar Contemporary booth
A significant wall tapestry from Ebony G Patterson at the Monique Meloche booth
Firelei Baez anchors both walls with a pair of wondrous works at the Gallery Wendi Norris Booth
Dinner for 8??...Atelier Van Leishout is a new gallery for me that's fortunately based in New York
I like a little design with my art - love this dining chair! Atelier Van Leishout
The living area of our suite at the the Ambassador - the design vibe is very Christian Liaigre