Tips & Insights -- Chicago Shopping & Travel

•Eating Healthy

It’s easy to forget about diets and make poor choices regarding the foods that are available to us when we travel, so we’ve compiled a short list for healthy eating tips for your Chicago shopping trip. 1) Pack a variety of nutritious foods including fruits, raw vegetables, crackers, granola bars…quick solutions for satisfying an appetite whether you fly or drive. 2) Upon arrival at the hotel, skip the mini-bar. If your hotel offers a Continental breakfast, select fruits, cereals and proteins such as eggs. 3) When you dine out, remember to eat only when hungry. Even the great Chicago restaurants occasionally serve overwhelmingly large portions. If you indulge on one meal, scale back on the next. 4) When possible, avoid large meals at night. When your body slows down and prepares for sleep, it also burns calories less efficiently. Pass on the bread basket at dinner. Choose fish or poultry, and try to eat lots of vegetables.

•Shoes

Chicago Destination Shopping Club located at CDSC, includes a shoe shopping category on its website. The trend for 2008 is all about heels…a myriad of options – wedges, stilettos and sculpted forms, in textured and colorful finishes. Look for the latest trends in a huge selection of Chicago stores including Akira (State Street & Bucktown), Bloomingdale’s (Michigan Ave.), Fratelli Rossetti (Michigan Ave.), Jimmy Choo (Oak Street), Lori’s (Lincoln Park), Nine West Outlet (Lincoln Park) and Nordstrom (Michigan Ave.).

•From $600 Phone to Carrying Case

Now that you have one of the coolest, most talked about cell phones on the market, you need a case. Many designers have taken note of the trend and demand for stylish cases to caress that phone in a stylish manner. At the high end, Louis Vuitton offers alligator leather cases for around $1,100. Depending on the size and model, you can purchase other styles ranging from $15 - $50 at Nokia or the Apple Store. See all these stores and more at www.chicago-dsc.com.

•Traveling with Special Items on Airlines

With many passengers still expecting to bring almost any item on board despite the crackdown in safety and security, we thought it would be important to recap rules and restrictions for most airlines. Please note that airlines in foreign countries may have different regulations.

1. Alcoholic Beverages – Passengers are not allowed to take alcoholic beverages with more than 70% alcohol content in a carry-on or checked luggage.

2. Knives & Tools – Pack knives and tools in your checked luggage. Sheath or securely wrap any sharp edges so they do not injure baggage handlers and security officials.

3. Currency, Coins, Valuable Jewelry – If you are carrying valuable items, ask the security officer to screen you and your carry-on luggage in private. This will maintain your security and avoid scrutiny.

4. Musical Instruments – You may bring musical instruments as carry-on or as checked baggage, but first check with your airline prior to your flight to ensure your instrument meets the size requirements for their aircraft. Security must x-ray or physically screen your instrument, so be prepared.

Women’s Social Life Goes Retail in Chicago

Chicago is filled with social destinations for young, old, single, married, artistic, athletic, and everyone in between. The restaurants, museums, theater and cultural activities are not only among the nation’s finest, but considered world class destinations. Chicago single women can pick from a wide range of social options on any given week, from the Museum of Contemporary Art’s “First Friday,” to Rush Street night life, to sizzling summer block parties, to festive art fairs, and much, much more. Now there is a growing trend among Chicago women and visitors these days that broadens their social boundaries while enhancing their appearances and other skills – Chicago retailers.

Women are filling their social calendars with in-store events, classes, seminars, demonstrations, fashion shows and cocktail parties at stores, shops and boutiques throughout Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, Lincoln Park and Bucktown areas.

“My friends and I attend at least one retail event each week. It’s a way for us to bond, enjoy a night out, and bolster our wardrobe,” says Chicago resident Tina Whittington. And why not. Retailers, who are desperate and demanding to drive more traffic through its front doors, are doing so by introducing in-store events. Retailer marketing staff have been very strategic in implementing store events, which support many objectives -- stimulates store awareness, increases time spent in the store, customer experience and interaction is increased, customer service is heightened, and word-of-mouth is stimulated.

On any given week or weekend, there is an incredible number of events taking place in Chicago stores including, cooking classes and demonstrations (Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store), trunk shows (Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom), new store cocktail parties (Marc Jacobs, Akira), book signings (Borders for Books), bridal events (Vera Wang, Macy’s, Belle Vie Bridal Couture), and more. For girls and young teens, Chicago’s American Girl Place has been the destination for events since the giant retailer opened its doors. In-store activities at this mega retailer includes decorating classes, tea and theater, mother-daughter special occasions, and even tips on how to manage your money. “We come into Chicago every 2 months, and always attend an American Girl event,” says Judy Johnson, Indianapolis mother of four girls.

Planning for Chicago shopping and retail events just got easier with the launch of a new online source called Chicago Destination Shopping Club – www.chicago-dsc.com. The website features more than 500 stores, shops, specialty boutiques, art galleries, day spas and more, and serves as the largest single, online source for Chicago residents and travelers who visit the city to shop. Visitors will also find the largest online source for Chicago store events.

The website is free to all visitors who will have access to numerous specialized features. Visitors can also register to become members, which is free, to receive additional store discounts, gifts, and other benefits from popular Chicago retailers such as Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, ~H2O+, and more.

Make Your Space More Beautiful and Functional

After Spending several hours at work most of us would love to spend rest of the time sitting outside on patio, porch, deck or backyard, Enjoying drinks, parties with friends and family members. Such habits really keep you cool and bring freshness to you.

The outdoor space is the best place for such parties and celebrations. As per the recent surveys 90-95 % of Americans have some kind of well customized outdoor living space to get some fresh air and enjoying sunshine out there.

To give our patio, porch, deck or backyard more functional, stylish and beautiful all we need to have latest, trendy and contemporary line of furniture. Now a day’s outdoor living is getting quite popular in USA and homeowners are dying to get an attractive outdoor living space for their guest and family members. Homeowners are investing most of their in decorating and maintaining the beauty and functionality of their outdoor spaces.

CDSC is so boast of having a big list of furniture stores dealing with beautiful, comfortable and functional outdoor as well as indoor luxurious furniture available in all styles and colors of your choice which really improves your quality of living either outdoor or indoor help you furnish and decorate your living space.

These stores offer finest collections of antiques and furniture accessories including beds, cabinets, chests, desks, picnic benches, tables etc and they ships anywhere around the world.

List of Major Chicago Furniture Stores:

Jean Alan
Pavilion
Christine's Concepts in Design
Crossell & Co
Design Shoppe
Design Within Reach
Elements
Embelezar
Home Element
Material Possessions
Painted Lady
Porte Rouge
Room & Board
The Sharper Image
Symmetry

Best Jewelry Shopping Destinations in Chicago

If I ask you who is Your Best Friend and who fascinates you the most?

It may be anything, but jewelry is the common answer to all women either diamond, gem, pearl, gold, silver or platinum.

Jewelry is women’s best friend and it has always fascinated them the most, infact most of the men as well. Jewelry enhances women’s beauty and also declared as a major source of establishing good status or standard in your society.

Now days there are several jewelry stores available in the market offering and featuring diamond, gem, pearl, gold, silver or platinum jewelries for men, women and kids as well and jewelry designers can also customize them as per customer requirements without any charge.

CDSC is the right place to help you find the best jewelry shopping destinations in Chicago. Here you will get a wide array of Chicago Jewelry Stores dealing with high-end jewelry and luxury goods.

List of Major Chicago Jewelry Stores:

ARIS Jewelry

Bvlgari

C.D. Peacock

Cartier

Christian Bernard

Claire's

Ellie Thompson & Co.

Erwin Pearl

Forever Silver by Erwin Pearl

Chicago Luxury Hotels - Exceptional and Personalized guest services

Shopping, shopping and shopping, CDSC is not just limited to offer their clients the best and healthy shopping experiences. Just think it will be totally a win-win case when we are getting everything at our disposal. Means shopping is good but to make it more exciting and successful CDSC has a big list of great luxury Chicago Hotels.

If you are a regular traveler or on tour with your family members in Chicago then you are at right place to make all yours shopping and stay Related Decisions. CDSC really helps you searching for the best shopping destinations in Chicago and several luxury Chicago Hotels with exceptional and personalized guest service where customers will be getting several other personal services like fitness room, day SPA offerings, massages, gift wrapping services during winter holidays and special Chicago shopping events booking services.

CDSC customers will be getting special American Girls Shopping Packages, Retail Discounts and several online Benefits including FREE Chicago Weekend Stay! as well.

CDSC Customers will get Lots of Website Bonuses as well which includes:

· Customized Shopping Planner!
· Shopping Itineraries!
· Monthly Newsletter!
· Personal Shopper!

So get registered to CDSC one of the largest online source for Chicago Shopping Events, Chicago Shopping Malls, Chicago Hotels.

American Girls Place – Major Shopping Attraction in Chicago

If we talk about the major attractions in Chicago , American Girls Place is one of the strongest contenders in race, Not just the best Retail Place it is one of the major attractions in Chicago which is well known for its friendly, Personalized services and Vast Collections of girls accessories, outfits, apparels, fictional dolls etc.

There are several retail destinations in Chicago offering and featuring several unique products, amazing entertainments, exceptional personalized services and Fantastic Chicago Shopping Events and more, for giving their customers the best shopping experiences ever. Customers are most welcome and can browse through the vast array of girl’s outfits, gifts, beautiful dolls, several girls’ accessories. No doubt you will get more than what you expect.

If we talk about the parking facility which is one the major issues in concern and needs to be resolved first. American Girls place has several established affiliates for parking garages for complete security of your 4wds and belongings.

So, Girls if you are really looking to buy something best and special for you or your loved ones, you are most welcome to Chicago’s one the largest shopping destinations, Where our registered customers will be getting special American Girls Hotel Packages in selected Chicago Hotels.

Registered customers will be getting special hotel packages along with latest updates related to all shopping events in Chicago and stores offering special monthly sales located in major Shopping Areas:

Michigan Avenue Shopping, Oak Street Shopping, State Street Shopping, Lincoln Park Shopping, Buck town Wicker Park Shopping.