Marcus Hotels Press > Press Coverage
11.27.12 |
Celebrate the Holidays in Style at The Skirvin HiltonThe Skirvin Hilton, located in the heart of downtown, truly knows how to celebrate the holiday season! Martin van der Laan gives us all of the details on their exciting Thanksgiving plans that would be perfect for your family gathering! Delicious food, beautiful presentation, and a wonderful staff will put you in the holiday spirit! Click Here to see the interview by OklaVision with Martin Van der Laan, our General Manager! |
11.27.12 |
OnMilwaukee – Afternoon tea at Blu creates its own special occasionsNovember 16, 2012 | Bobby Tanzilo for OnMilwaukee.com If a night at Blu puts you in the mood for a martini, then soon, the sunset from atop The Pfister Hotel just might conjure the scent of tea. The hotel has returned its afternoon tea service to Blu on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through March 24, 2013. High tea is available from 3 until 4:30 p.m. on those days. Afternoon tea at The Pfister was long a Lobby Bar tradition, but in 2009, the pinkies-up tradition took the elevator 23 flights up. Recently, I brought my little girl for a tea date at Blu. Upon arrival, we were greeted by The Pfister’s charming and knowledgeable tea butler Juan Rodriguez, who wheeled the tea cart over to our seats overlooking East Town. Rodriguez has been the hotel’s tea butler for nearly 30 years. “What makes tea so special for me is, having the opportunity to meet and serve a diversity of guest of all ages,” says Rodriguez, who passion for tea is obvious. “Some of them know a lot about afternoon tea and some know very little about the afternoon tea experience.” So, Rodriguez schools guests on the origins of the tea on offer and the different blends and he passes around each jar so guests can breathe in their scents.  Juan Rodriguez, tea butler at The Pfister for nearly 30 years, explains the tea on his cart. On his cart were 10 jars of tea leaves from Chicago’s Liif, which hand picks its tea from single estates in the mountains of Sri Lanka. The exception is the Egyptian chamomile, which, naturally, comes from Egypt. The selection includes a wide variety of flavors, from the grassy Chinese oolong to the spicy ginger beach black tea, from the floral chamomile to the citrusy Ceylon Black Diyagama and the fruity red berry. Rodridguez’s tea cart is armed with mint, apple slices, cinnamon sticks and other taste enhancers. Because the “All Grown Up” tea menu – aimed at guests 12 and under – offers hot cocoa, I chose the chocolate mint rooibos, to match my daughter’s drink. The tea has extremely low caffeine, but a strong cocoa flavor with a hint of minty spark.  The Pfister Executive Chef Brian Frakes pulls out all the stops for the accompanying treats. The tea is delivered in a classic, ornate silver tipping teapot with a tealight to keep it warm. But “tea” is more than simply tea and The Pfister Executive Chef Brian Frakes pulls out all the stops for the accompanying treats, which come in five menu options. “Simple Elegance” ($14) includes scones, along with mascarpone, strawberry preserves and sumptuous lemon curd to spice them up. “Sweets” ($18) offers the same as “Simple Elegance,” with the addition of opera tortes, chocolate dipped strawberries, madelines and macarons, shortbread cookies. The upgrade will be the best $4 you spend that week. An artisan cheeses option ($24) offers a selection of cheeses with “custom paired accompaniments” and water crackers, silver dollar lavosh and sliced baguette. The “All Grown Up” for kids ($11) offers hot cocoa, lemonade, cider or milk, along with ham and cheddar sandwiches, chicken salad tartlettes, PBJ sconres and madeline cookies. But, the full experience is the “Victorian Tea,” which costs $30. It includes everything from “Sweets,” plus St. Andre mousse cones with fresh honeycomb; watercress and cucumber sandwiches with cervil and beurre demi-sel; curried quail eggs; turkey pinwheels with red onion marmalade; scottish smoked salmon wraps with caviar; and more. The tea and the food and the atmosphere – did I mention harpist Mary Keppler provides musical accompaniment? – and the service are what one would expect from a luxury venue like The Pfister. They set the stage for an experience that is more than an afternoon pick-me-up on an autumn or winter day.  The sweets are a highlight. “When I took the responsibilities of the tea butler I discovered that we had many loyal guests that had been coming to The Pfister for a traditional afternoon tea for a long time with their families,” says Rodriguez. “I love when the parents bring their children. They really get engaged and are a lot of fun to wait on. My goal is to establish a good relationship with the children, as they will be the new generation of the afternoon teatime.” The Pfister’s afternoon tea goes beyond mere refreshment; it is an experience that creates a special occasion and builds fond memories. That makes it a bargain at any price. Reservations are required. Call (414) 935-5942 or (877) 704-5340.
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11.27.12 |
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Marcus sponsors 4th annual cookie contestNovember 26, 2012 | Nancy Stohs for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Cookie bakers, here’s another contest for you. Now through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 10, the public is invited to enter their favorite cookie recipe in Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ 4th Annual Milwaukee’s Favorite Cookie Contest. Recipes should be submitted online to the Marcus Restaurants Facebook page; just click on the“Cookie Contest” tab. The restaurant group’s culinary experts will sift through the entries, considering overall impression, uniqueness, creativity and consumer appeal, and crown one recipe as Milwaukee’s Favorite Cookie 2012. The winning baker will receive a one-on-one baking lesson with Pfister pastry chef Jennifer Carlson, an overnight hotel stay and dinner for two at The Pfister Hotel, InterContinental Milwaukee or Hilton Milwaukee City Center, and a $150 Pick ’n Save gift card courtesy of Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc. The Marcus culinary team will bake the winning cookie recipe and donate 500 cookies to Hope House, a local emergency and transitional living facility. This is the second year Hope House has received the cookie donation. |
11.27.12 |
Afternoon tea at Blu creates its own special occasions
If a night at Blu puts you in the mood for a martini, then soon, the sunset from atop The Pfister Hotel just might conjure the scent of tea.
The hotel has returned its afternoon tea service to Blu on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through March 24, 2013. High tea is available from 3 until 4:30 p.m. on those days.
Afternoon tea at The Pfister was long a Lobby Bar tradition, but in 2009, the pinkies-up tradition took the elevator 23 flights up.
Recently, I brought my little girl for a tea date at Blu. Upon arrival, we were greeted by The Pfister’s charming and knowledgeable tea butler Juan Rodriguez, who wheeled the tea cart over to our seats overlooking East Town.
Rodriguez has been the hotel’s tea butler for nearly 30 years.
“What makes tea so special for me is, having the opportunity to meet and serve a diversity of guest of all ages,” says Rodriguez, who passion for tea is obvious. “Some of them know a lot about afternoon tea and some know very little about the afternoon tea experience.”
So, Rodriguez schools guests on the origins of the tea on offer and the different blends and he passes around each jar so guests can breathe in their scents.
On his cart were 10 jars of tea leaves from Chicago’s Liif, which hand picks its tea from single estates in the mountains of Sri Lanka. The exception is the Egyptian chamomile, which, naturally, comes from Egypt.
The selection includes a wide variety of flavors, from the grassy Chinese oolong to the spicy ginger beach black tea, from the floral chamomile to the citrusy Ceylon Black Diyagama and the fruity red berry. Rodridguez’s tea cart is armed with mint, apple slices, cinnamon sticks and other taste enhancers.
Because the “All Grown Up” tea menu – aimed at guests 12 and under – offers hot cocoa, I chose the chocolate mint rooibos, to match my daughter’s drink. The tea has extremely low caffeine, but a strong cocoa flavor with a hint of minty spark.
The tea is delivered in a classic, ornate silver tipping teapot with a tealight to keep it warm.
But “tea” is more than simply tea and The Pfister Executive Chef Brian Frakes pulls out all the stops for the accompanying treats, which come in five menu options.
“Simple Elegance” ($14) includes scones, along with mascarpone, strawberry preserves and sumptuous lemon curd to spice them up.
“Sweets” ($18) offers the same as “Simple Elegance,” with the addition of opera tortes, chocolate dipped strawberries, madelines and macarons, shortbread cookies. The upgrade will be the best $4 you spend that week.
An artisan cheeses option ($24) offers a selection of cheeses with “custom paired accompaniments” and water crackers, silver dollar lavosh and sliced baguette.
The “All Grown Up” for kids ($11) offers hot cocoa, lemonade, cider or milk, along with ham and cheddar sandwiches, chicken salad tartlettes, PBJ sconres and madeline cookies.
But, the full experience is the “Victorian Tea,” which costs $30. It includes everything from “Sweets,” plus St. Andre mousse cones with fresh honeycomb; watercress and cucumber sandwiches with cervil and beurre demi-sel; curried quail eggs; turkey pinwheels with red onion marmalade; scottish smoked salmon wraps with caviar; and more.
The tea and the food and the atmosphere – did I mention harpist Mary Keppler provides musical accompaniment? – and the service are what one would expect from a luxury venue like The Pfister. They set the stage for an experience that is more than an afternoon pick-me-up on an autumn or winter day.
“When I took the responsibilities of the tea butler I discovered that we had many loyal guests that had been coming to The Pfister for a traditional afternoon tea for a long time with their families,” says Rodriguez.
“I love when the parents bring their children. They really get engaged and are a lot of fun to wait on. My goal is to establish a good relationship with the children, as they will be the new generation of the afternoon teatime.”
The Pfister’s afternoon tea goes beyond mere refreshment; it is an experience that creates a special occasion and builds fond memories. That makes it a bargain at any price.
Reservations are required. Call (414) 935-5942 or (877) 704-5340. |
11.19.12 |
TCD’s 2012 Holiday Fun GuideWhile taking care of all your to-dos this holiday season, don’t forget to pencil in time to enjoy the company of family and friends. Or better yet, save yourself the trouble and let TCD’s 2012 Holiday Guide keep you busy. From tree lighting ceremonies to breakfast with Santa, our guide includes holiday fun for the whole family. Holiday Lights and Decor Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival This magical night is not one to miss. The Holiday Lights Festival is the unofficial start to the holiday season in downtown Milwaukee. Cathedral Square, Zeidler Union Square and Pere Marquette Park are each decorated with a specific theme in mind. See them all in one night, or make an evening out of each park.
Holiday Tree Lighting at Bayshore The tree lighting at Bayshore is always an extravagant event. While you’re getting a head-start on your holiday shopping, why not take a much needed break and walk on by Bayshore’s beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
There is nothing more indicative of the holiday season than Christmas lights, and there’s no better place to see them than Candy Cane Lane. Drive or walk around the neighborhood to witness some of the most unique holiday light displays in the city! Check the MACC Fund website for special entertainment including performances by Comedy Sportz and the Diamond Dancers.
With more than 300,000 LED lights, the “Holiday Lites” show at the Milwaukee Brewery is the largest in the Midwest! And only in Wisconsin does your visit also include a free mini brewery tour with samplings for those 21 and older.
The Wisconsin Christmas Carnival of Lights Join us for Wisconsin’s largest holiday lights display at Jellystone in Campground. The event features 1.3 million lights and dozens of one-of-a-kind displays in an experience that goes on for more than a mile. Be blown away by the the main building adorned with 31,000 lights synchronized to music and and be wowed as you drive through a 250-ft tunnel of lights. One dollar from every car this season will benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin.
Family Fun Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra Dressed in their holiday best, this “beary” unique ensemble of musicians is not only an amusing sight but an entertaining one as well. Every hour the group engages visitors with holiday classics that patrons of all ages will enjoy.
For just a dollar, the Jingle Bus takes you on a scenic tour throughout the city as a Milwaukee Public Service Ambassador talks you through the famous sights of our great downtown. Grab some complimentary cookies and cocoa before the trip, then sit back and enjoy the ride.
Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves invite guests to have lunch with them at the zoo! Come for the lunch, stay to see the animals, including the reindeer!
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Hometown Holiday Tour Milwaukee is fortunate to be home to a nationally acclaimed symphony orchestra and even more fortunate to experience their engrossing performances for free this holiday season! Our hometown orchestra scheduled several shows in various venues throughout the city to reach audiences who wouldn’t otherwise be able to see them.
Build a Gingerbread House & Breakfast with Santa Children are invited to show their artistic taste and customize their own gingerbread house plus have breakfast with Santa at Motor Bar & Restaurant. They will provide everything you need to create the perfect gingerbread house for the family to enjoy.
Winter Activities
Westown Indoor and In-Store Market Enjoy live music performances while you shop the indoor market for home-grown produce and handcrafted art located on the second floor of the mall.
The Historic Pabst Mansion has been a Milwaukee icon over the last hundred years. Treat yourself to their annual Christmas decoration display that has received national acclamation.
“Let it Snow” Show at the Domes There are very few places where you can walk through the desert and then five minutes later roam through a snowy oasis (don’t worry, it’s not real snow). The floral interpretation of the phrase “Let it Snow” is this season’s special exhibit in the Show Dome. Visitors will stroll through a winter wonderland where they’ll see classic sights such as a sleigh and children sledding.
Whether or not you have the skills of Michelle Kwan or can barely walk in skates, the ice rink at Red Arrow Park accepts all ability levels. Ice skates are available to rent at the park and a Starbucks is conveniently located next to the rink to warm-up afterwards.
This holiday themed pub crawl has its roots in Washington D.C. and has since traveled to the Midwest. Participants will enjoy exclusive drink specials in their complimentary mug and, if you’re still standing, are invited to an after party hosted by Buckhead Saloon.
This indoor festival brings more than 50 rides and activities to the Delta (formerly Frontier Airlines) Center in the week leading up to the new year. Highlights include one of the largest indoor zip lines in the state, a roller rink, radar snowball pitch and a polar cafe for parents. Admission is $15 for children and $10 for adults at the door, or $12 and $8 in advance.
Holiday Performances In its tenth year of production, Milwaukee Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker is updated every year to keep the show fresh. Check out our own Tom Strini’s review of last year’s show.
Was it Rudolph? Could it have been Frosty? Or perhaps The Little Drummer Boy? I wouldn’t write off “poor” Tiny Tim either. Like the game of Clue, audience members try and help the detectives figure out which of Santa’s guests turned the holiday party into a murder scene. Written by local playwright Neil Haven, this puppet show is back for its fourth year of production.
Holiday Events I would say that this run would be a good way to burn off all those hearty winter meals and cookies you’ve consumed throughout the season, but with snacks and treats available along the course route, I wouldn’t be fooling anyone. With candy posts throughout the course, this is a run even Santa would consider. By the way, did I mention that you get a Santa hat and beard, and a themed t-shirt with your registration?
A Mason Street Grill Christmas Your Christmas tradition starts at Mason Street Grill featuring classic American favorites and a specially prepared Christmas prix fixe dinner. Private dining rooms are also available for your family gathering whether it’s six or 60.
Your Pfister Christmas features a spectacular buffet filled with a delicious assortment of appetizers, salads, entrees, and decadent desserts presented in our ballroom. Add an overnight stay on December 24 or December 25 for $230 (includes brunch for two), and add a second night for just $99 more. Also, the Lobby Lounge now offers an innovative selection of small bites, Pizzettas and fondues for sharing, and that feature many local ingredients. Guests can take in the luxurious lobby lounge experience while snacking on options like Filet Forks with brown butter mushrooms and tomato hollandaise; Pecan Pizzetta with braised onion and pecan sauce, drunken figs and apricots, merlot syrup rain, and pecan crunch; and Sprecher Amber & Cheddar fondue with salted pumpernickel, local apples fry bread shards, celery hearts and fried curds.
Begin your holiday festivities at Kil@wat on Christmas Eve and enjoy a scrumptious Christmas brunch or dinner. The menu features salads, appetizers, two different entrees and dessert.
The Hilton Milwaukee City Center Cafe is having a holiday breakfast a la carte and buffet. Select from your favorite morning dishes or indulge in the bountiful breakfast buffet. The brunch buffet is $16 per adult.
Tired of cooking over the holiday season? Then Don’t! Make your Christmas Eve less stressful and enjoy tender steak or fresh seafood from Milwaukee Chophouse.
Holiday Getaways Each of these vacation destinations have special themed activities scheduled throughout the holiday season
Places to Grab a Christmas Meal |
11.16.12 |
Turkey CountdownOriginal Article – MilwaukeeMag.com Your Bun Runneth Over Hot Crust In Denial Iron Horse Hotel: Three courses served family style. First seating at 11 a.m.; last at 4 p.m. Adults $32; children 3-10 $14. Call 414-831-4615. (500 W. Florida St.) Mason Street Grill (PFister Hotel): Open 1-7 p.m. Serving the daily menu, plus a prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu. Adults $35; children 12 and under $12.95. Call 414-298-3131. (425 E. Mason St.) Kilawat (Intercontinental Hotel): Serving brunch, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner tasting menu, 3-8 p.m. Call 414-276-8686. (139 E. Kilbourn Ave.) |
11.16.12 |
Turkey CountdownYour Bun Runneth Over Hot Crust In Denial Iron Horse Hotel: Three courses served family style. First seating at 11 a.m.; last at 4 p.m. Adults $32; children 3-10 $14. Call 414-831-4615. (500 W. Florida St.) Mason Street Grill (PFister Hotel): Open 1-7 p.m. Serving the daily menu, plus a prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu. Adults $35; children 12 and under $12.95. Call 414-298-3131. (425 E. Mason St.) Kilawat (Intercontinental Hotel): Serving brunch, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner tasting menu, 3-8 p.m. Call 414-276-8686. (139 E. Kilbourn Ave.) |
11.08.12 |
Marcus RestaurantsAs part of Wine & Dine Week, Marcus Restaurants is showcasing many of their restaurant and lounge options. Their locations include Mason Street Grill, Milwaukee ChopHouse, and Kil@wat. Looking to host a private event? Marcus Restaurants has many options available! Visit www.marcusrestaurants.com for more information. View original article and video on The Morning Blend. |
11.07.12 |
Paradise Landing at Hilton Milwaukee City Center – An Urban Oasis!Original Article – MommyBunch.com About a week and a half ago, my kids and I went to see the How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular in Milwaukee. We had a ton of fun at the show, but after it was over we got to head back to a wonderful hotel, and enjoyed a weekend splashing around at an amazing Oasis in the middle of the city! We stayed at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center hotel, which also includes an attached water park; Paradise Landing. I was actually quite surprised to find such an awesome treat right in the middle of downtown! My family and I used to live about one half hour north of Milwaukee, and I never even knew this water park was there! Paradise Landing features the following:
In addition to the water park, you can find even more fun in the arcade, or get your fill at the Cabana Cove snack and beverage center!
Family Fun CenterNeed a break from aquatic action? Visit the Family Fun Center and try your hand at a wide variety of video, table and arcade games. The more you play, the more tickets you win to redeem for fun prizes. Tokens for games are available for purchase in the arcade and the tickets can be redeemed at the arcade hospitality desk. Cabana Cove“A Taste of Paradise” awaits you at Cabana Cove, serving your favorite snacks and refreshments perched above the water park. WHAT THE MOMMY BUNCH SAYS (all pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them) My kids were ecstatic to not only stay in a hotel room (they love staying at hotels), but also to get to spend a whole weekend at a water park with mom! This particular water park is not huge, but I think just the right size for a family looking for a little escape and to have a little fun! They have four water slides, but you have to pass a swim test to go on two of them unless you are over a certain height. My five year old son was determined to go on those slides, but was disappointed in that he cannot quite swim well enough to pass the test. He still had fun on the other two slides though, and my three year old daughter even went down a slide by herself for the first time ever! The last time we went to a water park, I couldn’t even get her to go down the baby slide with me, and now she is going down this huge slide all by herself! The other things my children enjoyed, were splashing around in the water geysers, and playing with the turtle and canons that both sprayed water. fter splashing around and heading down the slides, we would take a few breaks here and there in the hydro-therapy spa. The kids really loved it, and I did too because it was nice and warm. After we warmed up for a few minutes, we would head back out for more fun (the pool water was warm, but this was obviously much warmer so we really enjoyed it as a treat every so often!). The hotel was very generous and gave us all VIP passes to the water park, which included food and drinks for us. This was great, because we were really hungry after all the fun we had! After playing for a few hours (yes hours), we headed up to the Cabana Cove and grabbed some hot dogs, chips, and drinks. I don’t usually let my kids have soda, but when we are out having fun a root beer here or there isn’t going to hurt. The hot dogs were actually the really large style, which was great because I was expecting the really small ones. My kids ate them down in no time and were ready to head down to the arcade for a little fun. The kids had a good time playing games and winning tickets. In the end they cashed in about 130 tickets, which was enough to get my son a yo-yo and some candy, and get my daughter a bracelet and candy. Mom snuck a few pieces of candy for herself. The only thing we did not like about the arcade was that there were quite a few games that seemed to be out of working order. The air hockey machine was also very hard to play. I tried playing my son in a game, but so little air came out of the holes that the puck kept getting stuck in the sides and didn’t glide very easily. I think it is time for a few new machines, but otherwise we did have fun playing around! THE HOTEL STAY The hotel itself was amazing as well. The Hilton City Center is considered a Four Diamond Hotel so you know it should be exceptional, and it did not disappoint. The staff was very friendly and helpful, and our whole experience was great. I am a bit of a sucker for nice details and historical features, so I do have quite a few pictures to share. I’ll just let them speak for themselves as you take a look at some of the finer details of the hotel and our room. Our room was clean, the view was great, and the nice little details always make me smile. Overall we had a wonderful weekend at a great hotel and water park. If you are going to be in the Milwaukee area, I high recommend staying at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center. Not only is the hotel spectacular, but there is something for the whole family to do! The Bradley Center is only two blocks away, and a quick walk down Wisconsin Ave brings you right to the children’s museum (plus a walk like this does a great job tiring out two rambunctious little kids If you live in the Milwaukee area, and are just looking for something fun to do on a cold weekend, head over to Paradise Landing and have a little family fun. This is the perfect urban oasis that most people probably don’t even realize is there! I would recommend calling first, as guests do get first chance at using the water park. |
)!11.05.12 |
Milwaukee – the City of Creativity
Pfister Hotel Lobby Milwaukeeans want to set the record straight. Yes, they love their outdoor festivals, which probably began with the Algonquian Indians who named the area: Millioki, which means “gathering place by the waters”. Hardly a week goes by without some hoopla, which might be their Irish Fest, Polish Fest, Pride Fest, Oktoberfest, etc.etc.etc. or the granddaddy of them all, Summerfest- the “World’s Largest Music Festival” featuring over 700 entertainers on 11 stages during its annual 11-day run. They are immensely proud of their melting-pot heritage (hence great ethnic grub is readily available) as well as their new Riverwalk and iconic addition to the Art Museum. This brings us to the little known fact that Milwaukee ranks as one of the top cities in the country for per capita donations for the arts. The results of this generosity is a world-class symphony, ballet, opera, as well as many theater venues, which include the First Stage Children’s Theater, the highly regarded Milwaukee Rep (known for off-beat yet compelling theatrical productions) and the gorgeously restored Pabst theater. Milwaukee is also architecturally unique. Not only because of the golden “Cream City” brick made from local clay and used in many of the old buildings but also because, unlike many cities, they managed to create a happy marriage of preservation and progress with exciting re-purposing of historic old buildings and carefully planned revitalization projects. The rapid development of hip, indie hotels, breweries, farm-to-table eateries, eclectic theaters and galleries all testify that Milwaukee residents are smart, hard-working, brimming with creativity and incredibly entrepreneurial. As a matter of fact, about the only thing small-town about Milwaukee is that they’ve managed to hang on to their mid-western strong family values and genuine niceness. I recently returned from a surprisingly fabulous girlfriend getaway trip there, joined by my NYC big sis. When I invited her to join me she exclaimed, “Why would I want to visit Milwaukee? Isn’t that where Laverne & Shirley lived? Have you ever heard me say I’d really like more beer, brats and ballgames?” A couple of days later she sure was singing another tune about this all to often-overlooked city. Here are just a few of her faves to get you started: … The Pfister Hotel: Milwaukee’s Victorian grand dame may date back to 1893, but she carries her age extremely well, with a little help from a recent renovation. The impressive architecture and priceless Victorian art collection, the elegant, three-story high lobby filled with gold leaf, graceful sculptures and a stunning marble staircase, coupled with the impeccably trained staff transport you back to the golden era of gracious hospitality. Nods to a younger generation include a rooftop pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, the penthouse-level martini and wine bar, Blu, that offer spectacular skyline views. The Pfister also deserves major kudos for their yearlong, Artist-In-Residence program. The hotel renovated a main floor space into a working art studio for the chosen artist and guests to enjoy. The artist selected the first year was Milwaukee native, Reginald Baylor. According to Joe Kurth, The Pfister’s General Manager, “For decades, The Pfister has hosted the much acclaimed Victorian Art Collection, the largest of its kind in any hotel in the world. We want to expand on our reputation as a destination hotel for art connoisseurs by offering our guests and the public a glimpse into the world of art as it is being created – in real time, by amazingly talented artists.” Tip: No girlfriend getaway would be complete without at least one appt (or better yet, splurge on a day of beauty) at their simply marvelous Well Spa. Each treatment room is a two-room suite, which includes your own private bathroom and shower, and some include a personal hamman. The pedicure room, with four chairs, is often reserved by a quartette of men who might be closing a big business deal over a footie massage. Could this be the new golf? When we were there, the distinguished gentleman getting a manicure turned out to be baseball commissioner, Bud Selig. *Ask about their BFF package, which offers some great discounts for dining, drinks, spa treatments, and valet parking.
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