By Mary Whalen
The 2012 STC Summit will be held just outside of the city of Chicago at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. If you are planning to attend the Summit, you might be looking forward to heading to downtown Chicago for the great tourist attractions it offers. The town of Rosemont, however, offers enough to do that you might end up having a hard time fitting in a trip to downtown Chicago.
For restaurants, Rosemont can give you a taste of Chicago, the familiar flavors of home, or something new. Within walking distance of the hotel is Ram Brewery and Restaurant. Ram brews its own beer and serves comfort pub food such as burgers, wings, chips and dips, and also salads and chicken. And if you're looking for a familiar chain, you can find TGIFridays or Chili's, where you can hang out in the bar for drinks and appetizers or enjoy a meal.
It might be on your list to get some of Chicago's famous pizza while you're here. While there are many Chicago pizza places in Chicago city proper, there is a Giordano's just a few blocks from the Summit location where you can stuff yourself with stuffed pizza.
One Rosemont hometown favorite is the Rosewood. This upscale restaurant serves steak, lobster, and seafood, and all the accompaniments. But there's no shortage of steakhouses in Rosemont. You also can choose Gibson's, Morton's, or Wildfire to satisfy your hankering for beef.
For nightlife, you don't need to venture far from the Summit location. In nearby Des Plaines, you can visit the Rivers Casino, which opened in July 2011. The casino has over 1,000 slots and almost 50 table games. Yet gambling is not the only entertainment offered at the casino. The Cube lounge offers live entertainment, while Lotus is an upscale lounge where you can relax and enjoy specialty mixed drinks.
In case you're hungry while you're at the casino, you can enjoy salad, soup, rotisserie, noodles, and more at the Canopy buffet. But if you're more in the mood for a sit-down meal, you can get a steak or seafood dinner at Hugo's Frog Bar and Chop House or an Asian meal at Mian. And if you just want a bite, you can grab a sandwich, pastry, or dessert at the Coffee House or eat a burger at Flipt.
Also nearby the Summit location are the Rosemont Theater and Allstate Arena. The Allstate Arena holds sporting events, musical concerts, and other special events, while the Rosemont Theater has plays, musicals, and other theater productions. The Park at Rosemont, scheduled to be completed in spring of 2012, will offer nightlife, restaurants, and other entertainment. The Park is a short walk from the Hyatt Regency hotel. More information about the restaurants and entertainment at The Park (and other places) will be available later on the Summit website and STC Chicago blog.
If you do decide to trek into the city, know that transportation is just a short walk away. The Chicago “L” (Elevated) Train station can take you downtown and to all the hopping Chicago neighborhoods. The next issue of Intercom will include tips on what to see in Chicago.
Enjoy your stay at the Summit. STC Chicago welcomes you and hopes that you have a wonderful visit.
