Because of C2E2, a bunch of my nonlocal friends stayed at Hyatt McCormick Place. Even though I live just north of Chicago, I joined them, knowing I’d be spending so much time there all weekend.
Since debuting in 2010, Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo has grown into one of Chicago’s biggest conventions, as well as one of the largest comic cons in the country. Organizer ReedPop runs about 30 other events worldwide, including New York Comic Con, also one of my yearly comic con stops.
While C2E2 features a big celebrity guest lineup, panels, contests, vendors and more, I am most interested in Artist Alley. Over the years I have become friends with many creative artists and authors. Since most live out of town, C2E2 is a perfect place to catch up and also to see their new projects.
II Culaccino was our dining highlight. A couple blocks away from McCormick Place, its airy, casual but elegant vibe was a great change of pace from the fun chaos of C2E2. Splitting several dishes, I enjoyed portions of Shrimp Fra Diavolo, the signature Chicken Giardiniera and Chicken Vesuvio. All were light, with multilevel flavors.
While my friends were busy at C2E2, I roamed downtown. Within nearby Grant Park, I took a close look at Agora, a sculpture comprised of 106 nine-foot-tall headless torsos. Deriving its name from the Greek word for meeting place, cast iron sculptures stand in groups.
I happened to find Stan’s Donuts. Since 2014 Stan’s has become a beloved Chicago institution. While I do not usually eat donuts, I had to try one, and lemon pistachio old fashioned did not disappoint. I also bought a pretzel bun for later, but it smelled so good, I ate it on the way back to C2E2.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
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Sep 6, 2024Indio, California is “Hot” Right Now, and We’re Not Talking About the Weather
Although most travelers are familiar with the name Palm Springs, the oldest city in the Greater Palm Springs region is Indio, California, Coachella Valley's "City of Festivals,” which has been experiencing an exciting downtown revitalization.
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Colombia: A Different Kind of Beauty
Colombia’s beauty defies description — it’s that unique, that special, that different — and travelers are taking notice as 2023 marked the country’s best year for tourism, welcoming more than 6 million international travelers. The Country of Beauty looks to continue growing and enhancing its regions and communities in 2024 and beyond.
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Sep 6, 2024Escape to Tahiti for a Captivating Island-Hopping Cruise
The 118 islands of French Polynesia reveal themselves layer by fascinating layer, with the spirit of mana (vital force) linking them all the way from Tahiti to the remote reaches of the Marquesas. This is part of the world best savored on a journey that dives as deep into culture as natural beauty, both above and below the water’s surface. A cruise makes it easy to cover a lot of ground while unpacking just once (and sneaking in some work done in comfort, too, during at-sea days). And cruising offers particular appeal within this semi-autonomous French territory sprawling across nearly 2 million square miles of ocean and covering five archipelagos.
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Sep 6, 2024Experience the Awe of Fall Foliage at These 5 U.S. Hotels
‘Tis the season for flannels, pumpkin spice and beautiful fall colors. With seasons changing, leaves turn to stunning gold, red, orange and yellow, making it the perfect time for travelers to hit the open road and explore five fall foliage hotels in the United States.
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Daejeon Prepares for Its Iconic Zero O’Clock Festival
Daejeon, South Korea, looks forward to August 2024 and the return of its iconic tradition, the Zero O’Clock Festival. This year, the event is held Aug. 9 –17 with a time travel theme featuring past, present and future zones. Find events pertaining to each zone’s characteristics in the area of Jungang-ro Street, from Daejeon Station to the former site of the South Chungcheong Provincial Office. These streets will be free of vehicles, and public transportation is highly recommended.
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Sep 6, 2024Finnair Celebrates 5 Years of Platinum Wing Lounge
Finnair’s exclusive Platinum Wing lounge in Helsinki opened in summer 2019 and recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Open to Finnair and oneworld’s top-tier customers, the lounge offers travelers a place to drink, dine and unwind pre-flight. Featuring Nordic-inspired design, the lounge offers areas for working, relaxing and dining, accommodating up to 155 customers at a time.
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Sep 5, 2024eFlyer Reviews
Sep 4, 2024The Shelbourne Review
Facing the vast St. Stephen’s Green in the heart of Dublin sits the iconic and historic The Shelbourne. Few hotels master the perfect blend of history and luxury, but The Shelbourne gets it right. The site of the signing of the Irish Constitution in 1922 granting the Republic of Ireland its freedom from England, The Shelbourne has hosted its fair share of notable figures, from Michael Collins to Princess Grace Kelly to John Ford, the latter of which was the name of my suite.
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Remarkable Medellín
Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.
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Sep 4, 2024Illinois Becomes First Great Lakes State to Ban Certain Single-Use Plastic Bottles in Hotels
All hotels in Illinois with 50 or more guestrooms are now required to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan 1, 2026, all hotels are expected to make this transition.
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