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Press Coverage

03.18.17

Daily Herald

 Midwest travel: Chicago Improv Fest brings the funny to Windy City
Chicago, A guy walks into a bar …

Between the moody weather and muddy politics, it’s no wonder improvisational comedy got its start in Chicago. It all comes together during the 20th anniversary of the Chicago Improv Festival when a diverse collection of performers (145 ensembles) perform at venues around the city. See emerging comic actors as well as well-known types like Jon Barinholtz (“Superstore”); pop-culture pundits and improv duo Frangela; Dan Harmon, creator of the TV show “Community”; Scott Adsit (“30 Rock,” “Big Hero 6”); and Rob Belushi (“How I Met Your Mother,” “Sorority Row”). There are plenty of suburban-born improvisers performing including cast members of I’m a Turtle and Wheaton-based Buzz’s Girlfriend. Don’t miss the Laser Comedy Show, a one-man show featuring Chris Fair, who grew up in St. Charles, and Therapy Players, a group made up of professional psychotherapists from Berwyn, Brookfield, Elmhurst, Evanston, Northbrook and Oak Park. The theme for this year’s festival is “No Ban on Fun!” Monday through Sunday, March 27-April 2. Shows are held at Stage 773, The Annoyance Theatre, the Athenaeum Theatre and Second City’s e.t.c. Theater. Ticket prices range from $5-$25. For details, visit chicagoimprovfestival.org/.

Blue bonnets and buttercups

Macy’s free annual floral festival sprouts once again at Macy’s on State Street. The theme of this year’s exhibition is Carnival so expect a visual extravaganza of brilliantly hued flora expertly landscape into lush gardens that bring the magic of Carnival to life. Walk through the display and notice favorite carnival classics including bumper cars, fun house, concession stand and games created from more than 5,000 types of flowers and plants. Thousands of live flowers, plants and trees from around the globe take root in unexpected settings including the Walnut Room Fountain and throughout the store. Open during regular store hours Sunday, March 26, through Sunday, April 9, at Macy’s, 111 N State St., Chicago. Call the Macy’s Flower Show Hotline at (212) 494-4495 or visit macys.com/flowershow.

Hold the lettuce and tomato

You know that guy who is always saying, “Everything is better with bacon?” Do us all a favor and take him to Baconfest Chicago where the city’s best chefs fashion fabulous bacon dishes for thousands of cured meat lovers. There are cocktails, beer and wine drinks to complement your salty sojourn and vendors exhibit bacon-fueled items. Tickets include: access to the chef area and tasting portions; seven drink tickets (although there are bacon-only tickets); access to Baconfest’s exhibiting sponsors and partners who provide samples of bacon products; a tote bag; and up to $10 in LYFT credit. 7 to 10 p.m. (6 p.m. VIP) Friday, March 31, and noon to 3 p.m. (11 a.m. VIP) and 7 to 10 p.m. (6 p.m. VIP) Saturday, April 1, at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago. General Admission tickets cost $100 plus fees; VIP tickets are $200 plus fees. See baconfestchicago.com/.

Midwest

Rootin’, tootin’, shootin’

The National Congress of Old West Shootists (NCOWS) convention rolls into the Quad Cities beckoning historical re-enactors, cowboy shooters and Old West enthusiasts of the time period from 1865 to 1899. Convention events include an Old West Show and Sale with various vendors offering period clothing, firearms (both reproduction and antique), leather, books, period collectibles and more. Attend a Ladies Tea, an Indoor Western Action Shoot at the Davenport Guns & Shooting Club and seminars from the Evolution of the Colt Pistol to the life and times of Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. Most attendees don historical clothing throughout the weekend, so expect to see a wagon train of colorful characters. Friday through Sunday, March 24-26, at the Radisson Quad City Plaza, Davenport, Iowa. A one-day pass, payable at the door, is $5, which gets you into the show, sale and seminars held that day. See sweetwaterregulators.com/2017_NCOWS_Convention.html.

The National Congress of Old West Shootists (NCOWS) convention rolls into the Quad Cities March 24-26. –

Stay thirsty, my friend

The 2017 Lake Geneva Festival of Wine promises samples of more than 100 wines during its Grand Tasting as well as a weekend full of entertainment, live chef demonstrations, elegant wine dinners, paint ‘n’ sip sessions, nature walks and morning yoga with mimosas. The main event is the Grand Tasting offering samples of wine, premium meats, cheeses and chocolates. Combine the Grand Tasting with a weekend package to get the most out of your vintage experience. Friday through Sunday, March 31-April 2, at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Grand Tasting is $75 per person, check online for the costs of other activities. Call about overnight packages: (800) 558-3417 or see grandgeneva.com/.

Say Spa-ah

Avani Spa, located within The Abbey Resort on Geneva Lake, has been named one of the Top 100 Spas of 2016 and one of the Top 10 Lake Spa experiences in North America by travel directory Spas of America. Just an hour or two drive from most points in Chicago and the suburbs, Avani Spa is currently featuring seasonal coconut lime treatments, including massages, body scrubs, facials, manicures and pedicures. Relax by the expansive atrium pool and consider an overnight stay for an indulgent or necessary getaway close to home. Avani Spa is at The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Blvd., Fontana, Wisconsin. Get details about available treatments and services by calling (800) SPA-1000 or visiting theabbeyresort.com/spa. To make a reservation, call (800) 709-1323 or visit theabbeyresort.com/special-pkg/seasonal-specials.aspx.

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03.13.17

Walworth County Today

Festival of Wine returning to Lake Geneva

The Lake Geneva Festival of Wine returns to Grand Geneva Resort & Spa for a weekend of wine-centric entertainment, tastings, wellness activities, and seminars March 31 – April 2.

A grand tasting April 1 will feature wineries from around the country. Samplings from Sartori Cheese, Lake Geneva Country Meats and Indulgence Chocolatiers will also be available.

Additionally, attendees can support the United Way of Walworth County by participating in the Cork Pull, were guests draw a cork and win a bottle of wine.  A portion of proceeds will also go towards the local charity.

The event will include seminars, yoga classes, nature hikes, painting classes, and chef demonstrations.

Wine tastings from vineyards around the country, samplings of cheese and chocolate, seminars, yoga and painting classes, chef demonstrations and more will be featured at the Festival of Wine March 31 to April 2 at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.

For the full agenda and more information see the website or call 1-800-558-3417.

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03.12.17

Video, photos & interviews: Acclaimed Oklahoma artist Mike Wimmer working on new project as Skirvin artist in residence

The Skirvin Hotel’s fifth artist-in-residence, Mike Wimmer, was featured in The Oklahoman as he describes his plans for his new portrait series. Learn more about the nationally recognized painter and illustrator here.

03.10.17

Omaha Herald: Chef chosen for new Capitol District hotel

The Omaha Herald had a feature on Chef Brent Hockenberry, executive chef at the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District. Chef Hockenberry will create the hotel’s food and beverage program, including catering, banquet and in-room services. Learn more here.

03.08.17

Milwaukee’s Best Hotel Bar, 2017

“Bar Month” at OnMilwaukee is back for another round. The whole month of March, we’re serving up intoxicatingly fun articles on bars and clubs – including guides, the latest trends, bar reviews, the results of our Best of Bars readers poll and more. Grab a designated driver and dive in!

Blu at The Pfister

Readers named Blu in The Pfister Hotel as their favorite hotel bar, edging out County Clare for the first time in years.

Blu boasts a breathtaking view of the eastern-end of Downtown and the lake – which is not surprising from 23 floors up – but the swanky-yet-comfy cocktail lounge also boasts great craft cocktails, plush chairs, live jazz and free snack mixes. Plus, the ladies’ restroom at Blu offers a similarly amazing view to the west.

OnMilwaukee editors’ choice: The Pfister Lobby Lounge

Runners-up:

2. The Outsider at the Kimpton
3. County Clare
4. Branded at Iron Horse
5. The Yard at Iron Horse

This year we also asked a variety of prominent Milwaukeeans to weigh in on their pick for specific categories. For this category, we consulted Kyle Cherek of “Wisconsin Foodie.”

I currently like The Outsider best, a rooftop bar at the Kimpton Hotel – where, after a long engagement and a winning game of Connect Four, my wife promised to marry me. The drinks are smart but not too tricky, and the views give me a sense that I might be in another town … one with myriad of hotel bars full of elegance and poise, dramaturge and an ineffable cool. A space in which the comings and goings, the expectations and inferences, disappointments and escapism of our hearts can settle or collide over a drink.

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03.07.17

Hotel Business: Pet project: Increase the perks to pamper your guests’ best friends

Hotel Business mentioned Marcus Hotels & Resorts in its article on pet friendly hotels in the March issue. Marcus Hotels has 80% of its properties as pet-friendly, and the properties provide more than just a room and some doggy treats. Read about the special amenities Marcus Hotels offers to guests’ best friends here.

03.06.17

THE PFISTER® HOTEL NAMES MARGARET MUZA NEXT ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

THE PFISTER® HOTEL NAMES MARGARET MUZA NEXT ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

Ninth Artist-in-Residence Succeeds Pamela Anderson

 

Milwaukee, Wis., March 1, 2017 – The historic AAA Four-Diamond Pfister Hotel, owned and managed by Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, today announced Margaret Muza as its ninth resident artist. Muza, a Milwaukee-area tintype photographer, will begin working in the hotel’s lobby-level Artist’s Studio for one year beginning April 1, 2017, succeeding current Pfister artist and abstract expressionist painter, Pamela Anderson. For only the second time in the history of the Artist-in-Residence program, Muza was also selected as the winner of the public vote.

“I am thrilled to be chosen as The Pfister Hotel’s ninth Artist in Residence. I plan to transform the studio space into an authentic tintype studio where guests can witness this historic photography process that dates back to the Civil War era,” said Muza. “My love of history made me familiar with tintypes. The beauty of older portraits such as Abraham Lincoln, Fredrick Douglass and others moved me and I fell in love with the process. I am eager to begin interacting with hotel guests and teaching them the inner workings of tintype photography. As part of my work in the studio, I will be able to capture memorable moments as they happen and give guests their own unique tintype portrait only a few minutes after the picture is taken. I look forward to capturing the many faces of guests and associates and telling their story through my work.”

 

Tintype is a photograph made by creating a direct positive on a thin sheet of metal coated with a dark lacquer or enamel and used as the support for the photograph emulsion. Tintype photography became popular during the 1860s, and was commonly made by photographers in booths at open fairs and carnivals, as well as by sidewalk photographers. As the ninth Artist in Residence, Muza will engage guests in the tintype process. Taking only about fifteen minutes from start to finish, Muza mixes a liquid “film” called collodion and pours it directly onto the metal plate which will then sensitize in silver nitrate making it light sensitive. The plate is then loaded onto the back of a large format view camera and exposed for anywhere between one and 15 seconds depending on a few variables. Finally, the plate is developed on site.

As part of her residency, Muza plans to create a book of the images she captures throughout her year as a Legacy Piece for the hotel.

“Margaret’s work truly encompasses what the Pfister hotel symbolizes – timeless elegance and tradition,” said Tim Smith, general manager of The Pfister Hotel. “Her tintype photography will document the daily activity and unique moments in time that will serve as memories for years to come. Her photography will also be a nice complement to our guests who find the history of our 120-year old hotel fascinating. We welcome Margaret to our Pfister family and look forward to seeing how her beautiful work will further enhance our personal guest experience.”

 

Muza was one of six finalists included in a four-week public voting period. In addition to the public vote via Facebook and in-person ballots, a selection committee, consisting of leaders in the local art community, made the final decision in choosing the next Artist in Residence. This year’s selection committee was comprised of representatives from the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, and past Pfister artists in residence.

 

The public vote winner typically receives the opportunity to display his/her work in a solo exhibit at Gallerie M, inside InterContinental Milwaukee, also owned and managed by Marcus Hotels & Resorts. Because Muza was also selected as the winner of the public vote, the public vote runner-up, Ariana Vaeth, a local Milwaukee painter, will receive the honor to showcase her pieces at Gallerie M this year. All finalists from this year and years past will be offered additional opportunities to show their work at future Pfister-sponsored events.

 

For more information on the latest news and updates from Marcus Hotels & Resorts, please visit: https://media.marcushotels.com.

 

About The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence Program

Entering its ninth year, The Pfister’s Artist-in-Residence program features a working art studio and gallery that is open to hotel guests and visitors. The program encourages the public to interact with the artist and witness the evolution of each piece first-hand.

Over the years, The Pfister has received national attention for its Artist-in-Residence program. Since 2009, the hotel has been a member of the Alliance of Artist Communities, www.artistcommunities.org, an international association of artists’ communities and residencies featuring a diverse field of more than 1,000 programs worldwide. Additionally, The Pfister’s program has inspired similar residencies at two of its sister properties: The Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City and the Lincoln Marriot Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Neb.

The program’s current artist is Pamela Anderson (2016-2017), www.pamelaandersonstudio.com. Past artists include Todd Mrozinski (2015-2016), toddmrozinski.com; Niki Johnson (2014-2015), www.nikijohnson.com; Stephanie Barenz (2013-2014), stephaniebarenz.com; Timothy Westbrook (2012-2013), www.unicorns.carbonmade.com; Shelby Keefe (2011-2012), www.studioshelby.com; Katie Musolff (2010-2011), www.katiemusolff.com; and Reginald Baylor (2009-2010), www.reginaldbaylor.com.

 

About Marcus Hotels & Resorts

Marcus Hotels & Resorts owns and/or manages 18 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. The company’s distinctive portfolio includes city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts, historic properties, and premium branded and independent first-class hotels. Marcus Hotels & Resorts is an approved operator for all major lodging brands. A leader in the hospitality industry since 1962, Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning, including hotel food and beverage concepts developed by its Marcus Restaurant Group, including Mason Street Grill, ChopHouse and Miller Time Pub & Grill. The company is also growing its experiential restaurant concept, The SafeHouse, with a Chicago location opening in early 2017. For more information, please visit: https://media.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).

03.03.17

Urban Milwaukee: How I Became a Cheesehead

Executive Chef Garold Spire from Kil@Wat in the InterContinental Milwaukee was featured in Urban Milwaukee’s Chef Chat column. Learn how Chef Spire became a cheesehead and what dishes you will find at Kil@Wat here.

03.03.17

Madison Magazine: Chef Sean Pharr revamps Hilton Madison’s steakhouse

Milwaukee Magazine featured Chef Sean Pharr and the Capitol ChopHouse in a recent article in their “Best of Madison” issue. Read the full article here.

Madison Magazine Chef Sean Pharr

03.02.17

Chicago Tribune

Fun in the snow in Michigan, a bike trip across Italy and more

Phil MartyChicago Tribune

Here are some of the more interesting events, deals, websites and other travel tidbits that have come across our desk recently:

•Trek Travel offers a challenge to bicyclists with its coast-to-coast Ride Across Italy. The six-day/five-night trip crosses the Apennine Mountains and totals more than 280 miles with 24,000 feet of climbing. There are dates in April, May, June and September, and it’s priced from $3,699 per person, double occupancy.  International air is extra. 866-464-8735, http://tinyurl.com/zjfkbnd

•Sunnyland Tours has a six-day/five-night tour of Ecuador priced from $1,399 per person, double occupancy. The trip visits Quito and outlying towns with visits to hot springs, a butterfly farm and indigenous communities. The price does not include international air. 800-783-7839, http://tinyurl.com/zdon9ez

•The 2017 Vacation Planner for Colorado Springs, Colo., can be ordered or viewed online at http://tinyurl.com/hyx849g.

•The Seabreeze Jazz Festival will be April 19-23 in Panama City Beach, Fla. Among the headliners will be Kenny G. http://tinyurl.com/d4u4tl

•Visitors to the Seneca Lake Wine Trail in New York’s Finger Lakes wine region can purchase a Wine Weekday Passport for $25 that’s good for a free tasting at each of the area’s 30-plus wineries through June 30. The passports can be purchased online or at the wineries. http://tinyurl.com/hflv8tu

•There’s still fun to be had in the snow at ski resorts, even when the snow turns to slop. Shanty Creek Resorts in Mancelona, Mich., will host the Schuss Mountain Snow Challenge on April 1-2. Trucks will race side-by-side up 400-yard stretches of snowy slopes, and there will be a similar competition for ATVs. http://tinyurl.com/jkhy9tm

•The 41st annual Duneland Woodcarvers Show will be April 1-2 at Woodland Park in Portage, Ind. Wood and gourd carvings will be on display, and there will be judging in numerous categories. http://tinyurl.com/jhvf3q8

•The Rockford Dance Company will perform “Snow White” on March 31 and April 1 at the Hononegah Performing Arts Center in Rockton, Ill. There will be 7 p.m. performances both days and a 1 p.m. matinee April 1. Tickets are available online or by phone. 815-963-3341. www.rockforddancecompany.com

•”The Magical History Tour: A Beatles Exhibition” is on display through June 14 at the Putnam Museum in Davenport, Iowa. The exhibit traces the career of the Fab Four from their beginning in Liverpool, England, to North America and later recording dates in the U.K. http://tinyurl.com/zasotxa

•With winter wrapping up, it’s time for people who like to fish for trout to head to Missouri. From March 1 to Oct. 31, the catch-and-keep trout fishing season is open, and sites that are particularly popular are Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park southwest of Salem, Roaring River State Park near Cassville and Maramec Spring Park near St. James. Fishing after that is catch-and-release. http://tinyurl.com/jctl89l

•The Lake Geneva Festival of Wine is scheduled for March 31 to April 2 at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wis. The Grand Tasting on Saturday is the highlight event, but there are also wine dinners, a chef demonstration, seminars and fitness activities. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended. http://tinyurl.com/zrue4j7

•The Indianapolis tourism folks were thinking of Valentine’s Day when they put together their list of 50 Date Ideas for less than $50 in Downtown Indy, but there are ideas here that you can use year-round when visiting. http://tinyurl.com/lbd5jrm

Deals and websites have been checked for availability as of press time. Listings are not endorsements. Send tips at least a month in advance to ChicagoTribTravel@gmail.com.

Phil Marty is a freelancer.

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