Ah, apartment life! Such was the scene when my
wife and I descended on University
Quarters Bed and Breakfast which is very nearby the University of
Chicago. The University Quarters Bed and Breakfast is located on the first two floors of a
vintage, updated greystone which is literally next door to the campus.
University Quarters has four suites; three on the ground floor and one on the
second floor. The first floor is the common area but can be rented out as a
full floor, private suite. The main common area has a number of comfortable
chairs, satellite television, tea, coffee, and access to the kitchen area.
The evening that my wife and I were there, we
stayed in the Ellis Suite which was a simple room on the first floor. The Ellis
Suite had a private bath across the hall, closet, clock, and full sized bed.
There are two other suites on the first floor; the occupied other suite had a
private bath in the room; the third suite with two twin beds, did not have a
bath. For this reason University Quarters is a great place for families or
parents and kids all traveling together as they can share the bath.
University Quarters has a bunch of modern
amenities like wireless internet, cable satellite television, and the Cuisinart
Grind and Brew coffee maker. However the biggest asset to the University
Quarters Bed and Breakfast is undoubtedly its location. The University Quarters
is close to Chicago without having to deal with all the insanity of city life.
Moreover, University Quarters Bed & Breakfast & Suites is "perfect
for parents, prospective students, professors, McCormick Place visitors, and
corporate and vacation travelers to Chicago." The day that my wife and I
were at University Quarters, the other guest staying on our floor was an
English professor who was giving a lecture at the University.
If you're looking for a slice of Chicago that
regular tourists might miss, University Quarters is the place to be. According
to the University Quarters website, "The neighborhoods surrounding the campus are among Chicago's most beautiful and historic
-- close to Lake Michigan and a short drive or 10-minute train to McCormick
Place, and a few minutes more to Soldier Field, Chicago's Museum Campus, the
Art Institute, Millennium Park, The Loop, and shopping on Michigan
Avenue." The evening that my wife and I arrived at University Quarters it
was raining so we stayed pretty close to the University area; however for the
more adventurous long term visitor, University Quarters is nearby the Metro.
With parking in Chicago beginning at $3.50 an hour at the meters (24 hours a
day to boot!) visitors are advised to make arrangements to get where they need
to be or take the public transit.
I awoke early the next day after a comfortable
night's sleep and shuffled out into the common area with my computer. I
expected to just sit quietly and not really be noticed. However something
really great happened; Innkeeper Paula came down and began puttering around the
kitchen area and for a good two hours or so Innkeeper Paula, Innkeeper Peter
(whom I had not met to that point), my dear wife, and the other guest staying
in the house all went in and out of an ongoing conversation. Innkeeper Paula
was mindful to keep our coffee cups full (a fact which is still rearing its
caffeinated head several hours later) and eventually got to preparing the three
of us an individual, home cooked breakfast. This morning was a great
opportunity for this naturally gregarious individual to get some feelings off
my chest; it was even more fun to talk with these wonderful people, learn all
about their coming to opening the University Quarters Bed and Breakfast, and
find out about their (unrelated) experiences with the likes of coffee makers,
Michele Obama, and wallpaper.
For breakfast my wife and I had a single fried
egg, whole wheat raisin toast, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee. One more thing I
noticed about University Quarters Bed and Breakfast is that the place appears
and is lived in. Innkeepers Paula and Peter live just upstairs and are always
accessible, if needed. The lecturer had tea and commented on the lovely taste
of it; Innkeeper Paula mentioned that it was actually the tea of Chicago
representative Carol Moseley Braun; Ambassador Tea. Where else but a local
Chicago business were you going to find the tea of a local elected official?!?
Who even knew it existed? In the bathroom there was a smattering of all
different types of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and the like. These little
facts gave the University Quarters Bed and Breakfast a definite feeling of
being at home.
Many people don't feel like they can vacation in
cities like New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago because of costs or discomfort.
If you're looking for a place to stay in Chicago and those exorbitant prices at
Westin in the Loop have thrown you for a loop, stop on over to the University
Quarters Bed and Breakfast.
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