The Peninsula Chicago: Jewel in the windy city's Magnificent Mile crown

On a spring morning this year when Chicago was bracing for waves of celebratory crowds in the streets for its annual big, green St. Patrick's Day, I woke up to a quiet, sublime morning in a hotel suite overlooking Michigan Avenue. 

Chicago 48 Hours: Five compelling experiences in Chi-town

During my last visit to Chicago, my go-to city in the US, I was wondering what new things I could experience. Choose Chicago, the official tourism body of Chi-town, was forthcoming with ideas for me, someone who has already covered over years all the "been-there-done-that" places of the city that I can never get enough of. If you are not a first timer to Chicago (well, you can be a first timer too) and have just a day or two to encounter something really invigorating, that range from immersive cultural experience to some easy-going fun, here is the list beyond the river cruise and Skydeck thrills of the Willis Tower.