Sustainable, eco-chic art showcased at 360SEE

360SEE, 1924 N. Damen Ave.

Check out the newest show at 360SEE (1924 North Damen Ave), entitled “2nd Anniversary Show: 3rd Year, 3 New artists, 3 Media” running from July 17 through August 20 (gallery is open Monday-Saturday 10-7, and Sunday 11-2 or by appointment).

The exhibition will feature new work by Eric Bessel, Stefanie Dueck, Heidi Martin Kuster, as well as showcase work by two years of gallery represented artists and designers.

Jordan Witkov, 360SEE director and owner, hand picks artists and designers from around the country and the world exhibiting offerings exclusive to Chicago, the region, and the country. The three new artists in this show, Bessel, Dueck, and Kuster, offer unique, well-executed pieces using a variety of media elements.

Brooklyn photographer Eric Bessel’s newly completed series of photographs, grass / hair , explores the similarities in captured moments of wind-combed marsh grass and the parts and tufts of hair on the back of people’s heads.

Eric Bessel untitled #1 from grass / hair 2010

Metal sculptor, and trained blacksmith, Stefanie Dueck creates fine art, jewelry, and one-of-a-kind flatware out of her Vancouver studio. Her pieces focus on the relationship between animals, material, and environment.

Stefanie Dueck Iguana Box 2009

Chicago trained painter Heidi Martin Kuster currently creates art in Paris. Her series of work focuses on geological forms starting from a micro focus such as small pebbles and rocks developing into images that evoke the feel of vast aerial cartography. Her pieces contain hip, sustainable elements, such as tree-free paper and aluminum from organic food containers.

Heidi Martin Kuster Geographical Notations II 2010

“2nd Anniversary Show: 3rd Year, 3 New artists, 3 Media” is running for a short time only so don’t miss it! We can’t wait to view and learn more about these outstanding (and eco-friendly) works of art. For more on this must-see-event, head to www.360SEEgallery.com, and follow 360SEE on facebook and twitter.

Go on - You deserve it!

1) Give your basic bath a boost

Baths are a simple way to de-stress after a long day and relax tired muscles. Several pure, all-natural household ingredients make it easy to transform your everyday bath into a luxurious soak session. Simply add a cup of milk, two tablespoons of honey, two pinches of sea salt, and a ½ cup of oatmeal to running bathwater. The wholesome ingredients work together to detoxify, soften, and soothe skin.

2) Fix yourself a cup of green tea

The Chinese have been aware of the mind-blowing benefits of this miracle brew since ancient times. A study from Harvard outlines several of the medical benefits to this bloat-banishing drink, including lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of cancer. Steep a green tea bag in a mug of hot water for several minutes, add a spoonful of honey for a little extra sweetness, and cheers to your fabulous self!

photo by northern star

3) A facial regimen to please every green gal

Put your best face forward. The SPA at Hotel Felix offers a number of world-class and environmentally-friendly treatments for your pleasure. Here are two of our favorite eco-friendly facial treatments offered exclusively at the SPA at Hotel Felix:

• Sundari Omega 3 Facial: Breathe new life into dry or stressed skin with this deeply nourishing, intensely hydrating facial. Our own Omega3+ complex uses naturally active ingredients to restore skin’s lost lipids; softening, renewing and awakening your natural glow. ($120*)

• Sundari Facial: Awaken and rejuvenate your skin with this holistic facial that is customized for your skin’s specific needs. Naturally active ingredients like lemon, sandalwood and lavender are custom-blended for an intensive cleansing and gentle exfoliation. Our signature balancing marmassage completes this experience for newly radiant skin. ($105*)

Call to book a treatment with us at 312.256.8000 or make your reservation online.

To keep your skin naturally vibrant and gorgeously glowing in between treatments, be sure to exfoliate at least once a week. Here is a simple, all-natural recipe to transform your face into lustrous, baby soft skin:

photo by tribal

Ingredients:

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• dash of honey

Mix all ingredients together. Smooth the mixture onto face and décolletage and massage gently. Rinse with warm water.

*Prices subject to change, see website (www.hotelfelixchicago.com) for complete pricing details

4) Refresh your feet the all-natural way

Your tootsies are tired! Reward them with a nice, long, relaxing soak. Prepare a pail or bathtub with warm water. While the water is running, add two drops each of chamomile and lavender essential oils. Both herbs are known for their relaxing properties.

Next, immerse your feet in the fragrant water. After soaking for several minutes, gently slough away dead skin and fast track circulation with a pumice stone. Pumice stones are naturally formed from lava and are an excellent tool to smooth your feet. Dip your feet back in the water to rinse off any remaining dead skin. Finish off by slathering on your favorite deep-moisturizing lotion.

5) All-organic (& edible) deep-conditioning hair mask

For a silky smooth mask for your mane, look no further than your kitchen cabinet. Our all-natural hair treatment will turn your limp, lackluster strands into shiny, luscious locks. Simply mix one jar of organic mayonnaise (such as Spectrum®) with one ripe organic avocado (the riper it is, the easier to mash) until you have a uniform mixture. Apply the mask liberally to your hair, from roots to tips. Wrap hair with a slightly damp towel and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and enjoy your newly conditioned coif!

The SPA at Hotel Felix

Celebrate the 4th of July in Chicago

The 4th of July is right around the corner! Headed to Chicago? Or planning a staycation at Sweet Home Chicago? Chicago has countless festivities taking place, plus the Hotel Felix has a special promotion: 30% off when you book three or more nights.

So, roll up your patriotic sleeves and start planning your 4th of July fun. Here are a few ideas:

- Ditch your diet and hit up Chicago’s infamous Taste of Chicago, which kicks off today and celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Dozens of restaurants and food vendors participate in this food fest where 12 tickets costs just $8 and “Taste Portions” cost 2-4 tickets. Location: Columbus Drive from Balbo to Monroe Drive. The Taste of Chicago runs through July 4.

- Grant Park Music Festival takes place July 3 at 1:30 p.m. with the Grant Park Orchestra joining a local tap dancer, Lane Alexander, with patriotic beats. This is a free and kid-friendly event.

- Fireworks and the 4th of July are nearly synonymous. Way back in frigid January, media warned us that the fireworks shows might fizzle out this year to save the city some dough. Don’t fret - there are still plenty of fireworks happening this year with three lakefront displays on July 4. Navy Pier has a fireworks show (in addition to all the shows they do throughout the summer) and there are two additional shows at the South lakefront (viewable from 63rd to Promontory Point at 55th) and North lakefront (viewable from Foster to Montrose). All three shows start at 9 p.m.

Happy Independence Day. Enjoy a safe and happy holiday.

Local Photographer Captures Cool Chicago Pics

We have a great appreciation for the arts - everything from fine art and sustainable designs (check out 360 SEE Gallery) to unique, eye-catching photos. We’re really loving the Chicago pictures by Joseph Lekas Photography. Check out his gallery to see all his great work. Here’s one of our favorites - an interesting shot of Wrigley Field. To do this, the photographer took six vertical shots from left to right and for each of the six, he shot five exposures. Then he lined them up in Photoshop to make a panorama. That sounds like a lot of work to us but the end result is awesome so it must be worth it!

To see more of his work, visit Joseph Lekas Photography.

Photo by Joseph Lekas Photography

Tweet Tweet!

Are you following the Hotel Felix on twitter yet? Follow us now for exclusive discounts!

Bike it!

Bike the Drive is happening on Sunday!  Bike the Drive is the annual Active Transportation Alliance fundraiser where Chicago’s beautiful Lakeshore Drive is closed to car traffic and opened to those who want to bike.  What better way to kick off the summer in Chicago but by enjoying the beautiful lakefront without all the traffic and who really ever misses traffic?  You do need to register if you plan on cruising up and down Lakeshore Drive, go here for more information.

Don’t worry if you don’t  have a bike handy, not only are there several bike rental companies in the area, but some even have special discounts for Bike the Drive.

Bike and Roll Chicago
Bike Chicago
Bobby’s Bike Hike

photo by blue bike

Even if you can’t make it for Bike the Drive, renting a bike and seeing Chicago on two-wheels is an excellent way to explore the city and get a little exercise too!

ASHA Spa Packages

Whether you’re staying at the hotel for business or pleasure, the Hotel Felix has special online booking packages that allow you to indulge in a special 60 minutes massage. The Just Relax package includes guest accommodations, a 60 minute massage, and a $50 gift certificate to the 900 Shops located nearby. The Pamper Me package includes guest accommodations and a 60 minute massage in one of our luxurious and private treatment rooms.

photo by mahesh khanna

At the ASHA SPA, our full trained staff understands that using the best natural products will help rejuvenate and heal our guests. Using only the natural plant and flower extracts in our services, we also only use the current and most effective techniques to cater to individual needs.

click here for package rates and reservations.
view ASHA SPA list of services here.

Bamboo & Cork Flooring

How often do you take the time to notice flooring? I’m guessing not often.  At the Hotel Felix we want to provide our guests with a comfortable, eco-friendly, environment and that environment includes flooring.  Our use of sustainable and recycled flooring materials is part of the reason why we are Silver LEED certified and Green Seal certified.  If you don’t know much about bamboo or cork flooring, well here’s your chance to learn something new!

photo by danielepesaresi

Bamboo Flooring

• fast growing plant
• harvest replenishes itself within 3-5 years as oppose to the hundred years needed for one tree
• no need for replanting, grows from stem left behind
• little or no pesticides needed
• the Hotel Felix uses bamboo flooring in the Spa

photo by mauroguanandi

Cork Flooring

• it’s “springy” - so it’s perfect for high traffic areas
• made from Cork Oak bark, only the bark is harvested, so the tree remains
• provides insulation, keeping warmth in and acts as a sound barrier
• 9 to 12 years regeneration of bark
• anti-microbial
• the Hotel Felix uses this flooring in the meetings rooms

From there to here!

The Hotel Felix is conveniently located in Chicago’s hot River North area. Our location is not only in the heart of downtown, but close to shopping, restaurants, and nightlife but it’s also very accessible by public transportation.

If you are unfamiliar with Chicago’s transit system, check out www.transitchicago.com - you’ll find fare information, schedules, maps, and trip planners! While this website is user friendly, below are step by step instructions on how to get from there to here!

Both major airports in Chicago are the end/beginning of  two transit lines in Chicago, so upon arrival to Chicago you don’t need to fuss to make sure you’re getting on the train in the right direction, just hop on the train car and pay attention for your stop

O’Hare Airport - Blue Line
Clark and Lake, walk 6 blocks north on Clark Street until you reach the hotel on the corner of Clark and Huron. Or from the train stop, walk one block east to Dearborn and take the #22 bus north, exit on Clark and Huron. Or walk one block west from the train stop to LaSalle and take the #156 bus north, exit on LaSalle and Huron, walk one block east to the hotel.

Midway Airport - Orange Line
Clark and Lake, walk 6 blocks north on Clark Street until you reach the hotel on the corner of Clark and Huron. Or from the train stop, walk one block east to Dearborn and take the #22 bus north, exit on Clark and Huron. Or walk one block west from the train stop to LaSalle and take the #156 bus north, exit on LaSalle and Huron, walk one block east to the hotel.

Depending on the time of day, trips to or from the airport should take around an hour.  And if you want to be green friendly but don’t want to take public transit, a shared ride is another option.  At the either airport, visit the transportation counter and you’ll find information on shared rides.  Prices for shared rides vary on the number of passengers, but a one-way trip from either airport will cost between $20-$30.

If you’re not coming from one of the airports, we are also accessible from one of the several train stations, serving Metra trains and Amtrak trains.

Union Station
Exit the station on Canal and Jackson, take the #156 bus north and exit on LaSalle and Huron. The Hotel Felix is located on Huron just one block west of LaSalle.

Randolph Street Metra
Walk west on Randolph to the Randolph/Wabash train stop and take the Brown Line towards Kimball and exit at the Chicago stop. Walk east down Chicago Ave 3 block until you reach Clark St.  Walk south on Clark St. for 2 blocks to reach the hotel.

Walk west on Randolph to the Randolph and Washington Red Line
stop. Take the Red Line north towards Howard. Exit at Chicago Ave and walk west 2 blocks until you reach Clark St. Walk south on Clark St for 2 blocks to reach the hotel.

Ogilvie Station
Exit on Canal and walk south to Canal and Jackson. Take the #156 bus north and exit on LaSalle and Huron. The Hotel Felix is located on Huron just one block west of LaSalle.

As always, please feel free to contact the Hotel Felix team with questions.

Greenwashing makes us green

The Chicago Tribune recently posted an article by Julie Deardorff titled “Some companies greenwash in effort to clean up.”

This article discusses how some companies mislead the consumer to the green-friendliness of a product in order to make some green (i.e. $$$). With all the promises of green products, earth-friendly materials, and a low carbon foot print, how is a consumer to know if these items are really green? The exact meaning of the word “green” is being argued over by environmentalist but several companies have stepped forward like the U. S. Green Building Council and Green Seal to start putting specifications on being green. Very soon the Federal Trade Commission is going to release the Green Guides, which will provide guidance on which companies are telling the truth when they claim to be green. Check out the full article for tips on how to double-check a product or company “green-ness.”

Read the full article here.

—
The Hotel Felix is proud to be Silver LEED Certified and Silver Green Seal Certified.