Edition: Hot Town: Summer in the City
Celebrity Concierge: Ozzie Guillen
Author: Jody Robbins
Ozzie's Ideal Day in Chicago: We've distilled a day in the Windy City as spent by Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. For those of you expecting it to be as jaw-dropping as his on-field personality, relax--everybody's got to have a little fun.
9 a.m. Wake up and go to Starbuck's in the West Loop. I've got to have my coffee first thing.
10 a.m. I love to go shopping, especially for shoes at Battaglia Footwear and for clothes at Morris & Sons.
Noon Then, I have lunch at either Sushi Wabi or Vivo. Sushi Wabi I go to for sushi; it's fresh and keeps me right in my neighborhood, which is West Town, an up-and-coming area really worth a visit. Vivo's Southern Italian cuisine is a little more filling, but still clean and contemporary. If you don't like either of those, there are more restaurants on that stretch of West Randolph Street than you can shake a stick at...or a bat, even.
2 p.m. Since I don't have a game, I go home and take a nap, then relax with my family. It's nice to get away from the stress of the job once in a while--not that it's a stressful job or anything. A few recommendations for family fun include the always-hopping Navy Pier or the beautiful Museum Campus located right along Lake Michigan. It's an easy stroll over to Grant and Millennium Parks from here, too.
6 p.m. I like to have dinner and drinks at either Nine or Volare. The first is a really modern steakhouse where the steaks are classic and the atmosphere is out of the park. The second, Volare, is a favorite for lots of the athletes in town and has some serious, authentic Italian food. Always a good choice for carbo-loading.
9 p.m. Now I stop in at home and take my two dogs for a walk. I have an English Bulldog named DH and a Bichon Frise named Second Baseman. I named one after Harold Baines because it's so laid back and the other after Joey Cora because it's so hyper. Fortunately Chicago is a terrific walking town, so the dogs and I always get in some great scenery during our strolls.
10 p.m. To finish it off, I might have a drink with my wife at Plush, a lounge that focuses on the good things in life. It's very classy and we like the music and the crowd. It's also not too far from home and we don't have to stay all night to have a good time.
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave. , Chicago, IL 60605
Navy Pier, one of the top tourist attractions in Chicago and the country, is visited by almost nine million visitors per years. From dining to shopping, boat tours to countless entertainment options, Navy Pier in Chicago is a must-stop for a wide range of visitors--Chicago residents already know and love it!
Watch our latest video offering and take a quick, two-minute narrated tour through the highlights at Navy Pier, stern to bow.
