Photo Recap: Grand Reopening of Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort

The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort transformation reveal

The "King of Cool", Dean Martin, and ChiIL Mama, ChiILin' in the western suburbs of Chi, IL with a host of bloggers and press.

Photo Credit: LeVern A. Danley III unless watermarked otherwise

Sometimes my job takes me to interesting locations. On Wednesday I discovered the gorgeous, newly updated Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort.

My family loves to travel, whether it's close to home or continents away, and Hilton hotels always impress. It's my pleasure to partner up with them for this sponsored post. The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort is situated on 150 acres that feature a golf course and Audubon sanctuary which includes 50 species of birds, 7 bee hives and a Monarch butterfly landing station!

Enjoy my full set of original photos in the slideshow below:
Check out the completion of this impressive Three-Year 
$25 Million Transformation!

I was elated to see that The Hidden Gem of the Western Suburbs, Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort, features both indoor and outdoor pools, an outdoor hot tub, fitness center, a new chef, and multiple restaurants. All the rooms are delightfully updated and the one I toured was certainly a room with a view.  

Above all, I was impressed with the people. Everyone, from upper management to front desk staff, was friendly and welcoming. They are truly the heart and soul of this resort. 

I'm confident Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort would be an excellent choice for a range of occasions from weddings and corporate events, to family getaways. 

It was quite a transformation reveal party, with hotel management, Ron Gunter-the Mayor of Westmont, one charismatic crooner, a Spanish dancer and musician, and a host of other press and bloggers, who came out for the ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration last week. 

This holiday season, you too can meet a young Dino, the King of Cool, Dean Martin, and other members of the Rat Pack, fresh from Las Vegas. 

The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort is also known for hosting stellar fireworks viewing parties, come summer. I'll certainly be returning with the family, in the coming months and I'll have another photo feature for you then.

At the grand opening party, it was too chilly to hang out outside, but the plethora of windows afforded tantalizing glimpses of the patio space and gorgeously groomed grounds beyond.

Oak Brook Hills Resort Promo from Kristina Perreault on Vimeo.

For more information, and to book rooms, you can reach The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort here:

– Website
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Instagram
– YouTube
– Trip Advisor
– Yelp

Disclosure: It was our pleasure here at ChiIL Mama to partner up with The Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort on this sponsored post. I have been compensated for sharing this information with my readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

ART BEAT: Navy Pier Hosts Grand Opening of Prismatica in Polk Bros Park This Friday 2/16/18 at 5:30pm

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: Family Friendly Fun

Grand Opening of Prismatica

a free, temporary public art installation in Polk Bros Park

Navy Pier will host a free public ceremony for the grand opening of Prismatica. Guests are invited to count down to the lighting of the installation. Hot chocolate will be available to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. Following the opening ceremony, the installation will be on display and open to public interaction every day during standard Navy Pier operating hours through April 15.

Prismatica, is a dynamic art experience comprised of 25 six-foot pivoting prisms – resembling giant kaleidoscopes – that transform the space into a field of bold colors and bright lights. The prisms reflect every color in the visible spectrum and transmit blissful sounds upon interaction, allowing for infinite interplay with this unique art installation.

Grand Opening  
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago

BACKGROUND:
Navy Pier, Chicago’s mission-driven cultural district, is bringing a splash of color and beam of light in the form of art to the Pier’s Polk Bros Park this winter.  From Friday, February 16 through Sunday, April 15, guests will have the opportunity to interact with Prismatica, a free, temporary public art installation presented in partnership with Quartier des Spectacles and RAW Design and supported by Hilton.

Prismatica is brought to Navy Pier in part by Montreal-based Quartier des Spectacles, the same group that presented last year’s hit art installation, Impulse. They have now teamed up with Toronto-based RAW Design to present the imaginative and whimsical creation that is Prismatica. The intricate design showcases the installation’s stunning prisms, made of panels laminated with a dichronic film, that reflect a variety of colors in juxtaposition to the light source from the standpoint of the observer. The prisms are mounted on bases containing projectors. As the prisms rotate, guests will hear the soothing sounds of soft bells, combining the elements of color, light and music.

Prismatica is part of Navy Pier’s ongoing commitment to offer guests free, one-of-a kind arts and culture programming, designed to inspire, educate and connect communities and guests across the city and globe. Navy Pier’s free cultural and community programming is supported by the Polk Bros. Foundation. For more information on this and other special offerings at the Pier, visit www.navypier.org.

Free Gifts Galore at the Ashley Homestore Downers Grove Grand Opening This Saturday at 9:30am

Hey Chicago area readers, this Saturday ChiIL Mama will be ChiILin' at the grand opening event at Chi, IL's newest Ashley Homestore in Downers Grove. The location is 2900 South Highland Avenue, Downers Grove, IL 60515. We're pleased to partner up with them for this sponsored post and have been compensated for sharing this information with our readers. 



Come on out to The new Ashley Homestore in Downers Grove and check off your gift list in style. 

You are invited to celebrate the grand opening of the newest Chicagoland Ashley HomeStore at 2900 S. Highland Avenue in Downers Grove. The festivities begin at 9:30am on Saturday, Dec. 9th and continue throughout the day.

The day will kick off with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. The first 100 guests in line will receive a $100 gift cards and the first 200 in line will receive a Bluetooth headsets. Guests will also enter to win over $30,000 in prize giveaways that include a $1,000 Dining Room, $1,500 Bedroom and a $2,000 Living Room and even a $15,000 home makeover. There will also be a prize wheel with spaces for items such as tumblers, wine glasses and chances to enter a money machine.

Making a special appearance will be Kelly Rizzo, the rocker-chic host of “Eat Travel Rock TV,” the popular on-demand entertainment series where she goes behind the scenes with master chefs, rock stars and creative industry heavyweights. Rizzo will get insights from an Ashley HomeStore Lifestyle Expert on how visitors can make their homes ready for the holidays and will share a mocktail recipe.

Refreshments will be served and families will have the opportunity to take their own photos with Santa. Rounding out the entertainment will be face painters, balloon artists and live music from your favorite local radio deejays.

Help Out:
Ashley HomeStores is committed to serving its communities. This location is partnering with Northern Illinois Food Bank of Geneva to accept donations for its holiday food drive. Guests are encouraged to drop off nonperishable food items in special donation boxes.


Please follow the grand opening fun with #myashleyhome.





Disclosure: Once again this is a sponsored post, and I have been compensated for sharing this information with my readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

PHOTO FEATURE: ChiIL Mama's Adventures at The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op Grand Opening Celebration

What's green and new and next to the blue? 

The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op's excellent expanded home! 

Yes, there's a newcomer next to the Logan Square Blue Line "L" stop that's bike friendly, neighborhoody, and full of loads of fresh local finds, organic goodies, bulk buys, and more. It's locally owned by your neighbors, but anyone can shop there, not just co-op members. Have you stopped in yet? You can see the cheerful, bright green roof from blocks away, and the inside is just as colorful and welcoming.

October was an exciting month for The Dill Pickle Co-Op. They've been around since 2009, in a much smaller space on Fullerton, but their new Milwaukee Avenue home will allow them to grow and really come into their own. Here's our photo recap of the first hours of their grand opening party in the new space earlier this month. 



They had a day long celebration packed with live music, dance, martial arts, bounce house fun and crafts for the littles, and loads of vendor samples/coupons/demos. We were lucky to catch a fantastic Capoeira demo.

Check out our full photo feature in the slideshow here and more favorites below:

Back in the day, when I heard the word food co-op, it conjured up dusty images of wholesome hippies stocking barrels of grains and aisles of bulk bins, with 20 types of granola. 





The Dill Pickle Co-Op is so much more. Sure, they have great bulk bin deals, but also a host of fabulous vegan, vegetarian, and carnivore finds, and eco-friendly non food items too. They have plenty of frozen items that are quick to fix. They also have loads of love for the locals, stocking a plethora of fresh produce, dairy and meat from farms in the region. And their homemade hummus is to die for.



This spot is sure to be an "L" commuter hit, on the way to or from work. They have a liquor license, a gorgeous salad bar, coffee bar, ready made sandwiches and lots of great grab n go items. They even have kombucha machines, in case keeping a kombucha scoby alive to DIY seems like a daunting task.







Family Friendly:
My kids are teens now, but it wasn't long ago that both were in tow, just about every time I went shopping. The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op loves littles, and has kid sized carts, goodies and a club, to make shopping with your offspring less stress.










The Dill Pickle Food Co-Op also has coupons and rockin' specials. They've joined with a collective of other co-ops for bulk purchasing power and better discounts. And they pass on the savings locally. The profits stay in our neighborhood, too.







Come on by and check it out! All are welcome. We bought a $250 share as owners, at a very reasonable $10 a month. This gives my family extra coupons, discounts and the chance for even deeper discounts with a work/barter program of a couple hours a week as a HOO (Hands On Owner). Here's their website, so you can keep up with happenings, sales, and more. Also follow them on social media on Facebook and Twitter.






Welcome to the neighborhood, Dill Pickle Co-Op! We'll be in to shop like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often!

 Click image to check out current specials, join, or see more info 

More Photo Favorites: