The Drake Hotel’s Palm Court is delighted to introduce a new gluten-free alternative to the traditional afternoon tea menu.  The menu, including gluten-free sandwiches, pastries, and scones will be effective May 31, 2013. Today, an increased amount of people have special dietary needs and food allergies, yet very few options cater to their needs.  

“We are pleased to be expanding our menu offerings to fit the health needs of all clientele,” says Food and Beverage Director Eric Benamara.  “We wanted to ensure that the Drake offered them somewhere they could still indulge in the luxury of Afternoon Tea.”

Traditional Afternoon Tea is served daily, gluten-free menu options are available upon request.

Revisit the Palm Court for Special Summer Price!

 This summer is the perfect time to take a break from the hustle and bustle and revisit the Palm Court for afternoon tea.  Starting in June, an exclusive customary tea will be offered in the serene Palm Court atmosphere, just mention the Summertime Tea code to your server and receive a special summer price.  For an extra touch of luxury, enjoy a glass of champagne with afternoon tea and make your experience every inch the elegant and refined occasion it should be. 

Make your afternoon tea reservation, visit OpenTable or contract Shaun Rajah at 312.932.4619 or Shaun.Rajah@hilton.com

Starting June 17, the historic Cape Cod and the Shedd Aquarium will partner to offer families a one-of-a-kind experience exploring the underwater grace and wonders at the Shedd Aquarium with the exclusive hands-on Stingray Touch exhibit and a unique family style meal designed specifically to complement this experience in the Cape Cod restaurant at The Drake Hotel.

The menu, created by Chef Gee Cuyugan, features sustainable seafood items that continues the interactive learning experience from the Shedd exhibit with the introduction of an array of seafood dishes. The menu is served family style, encouraging families to enjoy each other’s company all while exploring these new foods with one another.

“As a father I understand the importance of opening your children up to new experiences,” said Eric Benamara food and beverage director at The Drake. “We feel this partnership will provide families with a unique opportunity, one that encompasses the learning about new species and exploring new cuisines.”

The package includes a 15 minute tour of the exhibit at the Shedd that includes access to the Stingray Touch Exhibit located in a new 20,000-gallon pool, under a tented structure on the aquarium’s south terrace. Here visitors will experience first-hand how a 3 ft long diamond-shaped ray feels as it glides under water, and the movement of approximately 40 cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) and yellow rays (Urobatis jamaicensis).

To make reservations contact the Cape Cod Manager, Ted Daskalopoulos at 312.932.4347

Other Recommendations for hands-on experiences this Summer include:

We invite you and your special girl in for an experience filled with pampering, bonding and memories with our American Girl Package. The special experience starts on Michigan Avenue exploring all that the American Girl Store has to offer. At night, you and your special girl will return to our deluxe accommodations where fresh baked cookies and milk will be waiting at turn down service with a special bed waiting not just for you, but also a special sized doll bed for your American Girl!

Create family fun with your little ones when you explore the endless possibilities of our Explore with LEGOs Package. Your family is sure to build lasting memories with this package, which includes our deluxe accommodations, a personalized welcome letter, fresh baked cookies and milk at turn down service, breakfast in Drake Bros’, a voucher for a Roy Rodgers in any of our outlets, complimentary internet and a $50 Gift Card to Lego Store.

If the weather outside is frightful, inside it’s delightful at The Drake Hotel’s Palm Court. Here kids won’t just play tea, but actually get to have the real deal! Thursdays at 2:30 p.m. is story time and present children will be invited to gather around the story wyvern for a story about the Drake Bear.

Drake Bear is the special bear that if shown in outlets, special rewards are given. Bring your bear to Cape Cod and receive a scoop of ice cream or bring your bear to Palm Court and receive a Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers just for bring your Drake Bear along!

If the kids are feeling a bit more adventurous, it might be time for The Drake scavenger hunt! Seeing all the parts of the hotel and learning a bit of history along the way is a fun way to spend some time!

Looking for some warm sunshine? Head on over to one of the city’s finest beaches to catch some rays or play in the sand. In fact, The Drake Hotel is the only beachfront hotel in the city!

To make your afternoon tea reservation, visit OpenTable or contact Shaun Rajah at 312 932 4619/ shaun.rajah@hilton.com.

“It feels amazing to have it back on my finger,” said the giddy Jodi Eastgate while showing off the wedding ring she feared she would never see again.

Eastgate had taken it off the night before, and in the rush of checking out Sunday morning, she forgot to put it back on. It wasn’t until 15 minutes later that she realized it wasn’t on her finger. She rushed back up to her room, thinking she might have knocked the ring into a Cheesecake Factory bag by the bed, but the room had already been cleaned.

She described feeling sick and being in tears when the family departed the hotel for the airport. Once at Midway International Airport, Eastgate couldn’t bring herself to leave. Her husband and daughter boarded their flight home, and she headed back to The Drake in hopes there still might be a chance of finding her ring.

Back at The Drake, it was confirmed that the Cheesecake Factory bag from her room was already in the hotel’s trash compactor, and couldn’t be searched safely until Monday.

Hank Hawerbier, Director of Operations at The Drake said, “I thought it was worse than finding a needle in a haystack, and a lot messier”.

Once the compactor was disconnected, Hawerbier asked staff member David Lyons to help search for the ring. Lyons agreed and suited up, but after three hours, hope started fading. Eastgate took a step away and just moments later when she returned, Lyons had started finding pieces of everything Eastgate said might be found in their hotel room trash, including the Cheesecake Factory bag with the ring inside. Lyons took the ring out of the bag and handed it to Eastgate, who immediately put the ring in its rightful -place back on her ring finger- and as of a week later, she still hasn’t taken the wedding ring off.

Here is the story from CBS

Forgoing the traditional runway show in favor of a more dynamic in-the-round presentation, models on elevated platforms will present three to five looks from each of the 12 designers in a display created around the Palm Court fountain. For tickets, visit saicmdespost-baccfashion2013.eventbrite.com.

The 12 student designers represent two degrees offered through SAIC’s Fashion, Body and Garment program. Collections by Master of Design students demonstrate the culmination of technical skills and conceptual themes cultivated throughout the curriculum. Designs by Post-Baccalaureate Certificate students expand on one of two themes—sustainability and historical costumes—explored through semester-long studios.

For reservations, please contact Shaun Rajah at shaun.rajah@hilton.com or call 312-932-4619.

Marquis Hill Trio
A well-known name on the Chicago Jazz scene, trumpeter Marquis Hill has toured the U.S. and abroad with Dee Alexander, Ernest Dawkins and Willierm Delsifort, and leads his own group the Marquis Hill Black-tet. With a distinctly clean, clear approach, Hill helps define the sound of Chicago’s new generation of jazz artists. He released his debut album “New Gospel” in 2011, and recently released his sophomore album “Sounds of the City” to critical acclaim.

Coq d’Or is known for the seasonal Quiche and this spring is no different. The featured savory baked egg custard with seasonal vegetables in a homemade crust, is served with petite gem lettuce and an heirloom tomato vinaigrette making this fluffy quiche a flavor you’re sure to enjoy.

Also new on the menu is a Mezze Platter which features the freshest flavors of the season with a unique duo of dips. The Fava Bean Hummus incorporates all the jewels of spring with mint, cilantro, green onion, jalapeño, and rice wine vinegar.  The Spiced Eggplant Spread is blended with caramelized onions, dark roasted eggplant, and has a tartness that comes from dried mango and pomegranate.  Served with vegetable crudite and warm Naan bread.

Cape Cod also has a fresh menu featuring grilled Mahi Mahi topped with a variety of spring vegetables, making this dish not only a tasty choice but a healthy one too.  The 8 oz Mahi Mahi is grilled and served with a mix of toasted orzo, including red pepper coulis, haricot vert, roasted red bell peppers and served with capers and chopped kalamata olives.

Vibrant spring colors shine in the new seasonal Mussels.  The mussels are from Prince Edward Island’s mussel industry, which is Canada’s top producer and exporter of rope cultured blue mussels. The one pound of mussels are cooked in white wine, leaks, garlic chips and served with a grilled crostini.