Earlier this month I co-hosted a fun event with Techlicious and The Traveling Mom here in Chicago. We talked car tech, SEO, travel, and food! Yes, that’s right… just about all of my favorite things.
I was very thankful to be asked to participate. We had a great turnout. Several awesome Chicago bloggers attended. I got to see some old friends and meet some new ones for the first time. Guests were treated to several different things. We ate well, we explored the hotel a bit, and we learned a few things about SEO.
This Thursday, October 1, join us for a fun Twitter party to talk about some of the technologies that we discussed. Details below.
Where: Twitter
Date: October 1, 2015
Time: 8-9pm CST
Hashtag: #TNTChicago
InterContinental Chicago
The event was held at the beautiful Intercontinental Chicago Hotel which is located in the heart of the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Ave. I’m lucky that I was finally able to have a peek inside. I have walked past the building several times, but it was my first time being able to see the inner beauty of the hotel. We got a brief tour and learned a lot about the history of the hotel. The Intercontinental is actually the only hotel that has a front entrance right onto the Mag Mile. Originally built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, a men-only athletic facility, it was purchased in 1988 to be converted to a hotel. The building underwent an extensive renovation, and the InterContinental Chicago opened in 1990.
The hotel now has two newly renovated towers—the Historic Tower and the Executive Tower. During the tour we saw one of the guest rooms in the Executive Tower. The rooms are very spacious with all the amenities that you need. Depending on the room location you get a great view of Michigan Ave.
And the bed looks fantastic and comfortable. I really wanted to jump in. I love a good hotel bed. I always sleep very well when in hotels. I think it’s the peace and quiet and knowing that I have no responsibilities there. No dishes to wash, no meals to cook, and no kids to look after. It’s just me in my hotel room with my comfy bed.
We also got to see the fantastic pool. That area is beautiful. The architecture and the detail are amazing. However I will say that the pool is not very kid friendly. I’m assuming that it is the original pool from its Athletic Club days. While it is a historic landmark Junior Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool, recognized as one of the top indoor pools in the country, its size may be intimidating to children. The depth goes from 5 ft – 10 ft, so unless your little one is a great swimmer they cannot exactly just stand in it and splash around.
The InterContinental now offers the Family Fun Package. This packages includes the following amenities when booking a room at the hotel:
- A Nintendo Wii Console set up in your room
- An in-room movie rental and some Garrett’s popcorn for the perfect movie night in
- Two tickets to the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
- A deck of cards for games anywhere
- Two Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse hats for the kids
Delicious Apple Dumplings
During the event we got a demo from the InterContinental chef. He showed us how to make awesome Apple Dumplings like I’ve never seen before.
And the kicker?? The Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey Caramel which is then lit up for a Flambe’!
Click here for the complete recipe.
The Technology
One of the sponsors of the event was CEA (Consumer Electronics Association). They came to show us some of the latest gadgets to bring older cars up to the 21st Century.
Did you know that most vehicles on our roads are more than 11-years-old? This surprises me a bit. This means that even though car tech has advanced and is better than ever, most U.S. drivers aren’t yet reaping the benefits of The Connected Car.
Available technologies include a lane departure warning system, Bluetooth solutions for audio streaming and hands-free calling, back up cameras, dashboard cameras, and even connected emergency response systems. Visit org/ConnectMyCar for more information on aftermarket electronics for your car.
I had a blast at the event. And I am looking forward to the Twitter party. I hope to see you there!
Disclosure: I was compensated for my involvement in this event. All opinions are my own.
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