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Author: Aukse

Celebrating at RPM Steak Chicago: A Modern, High-Energy Steakhouse In Chicago

Celebrating at RPM Steak Chicago: A Modern, High-Energy Steakhouse In Chicago

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Our annual outing for Brian’s birthday usually brings us to a steakhouse in Chicago, and with seemingly zillions to choose from, there’s always something different to try. Also, I’m really trying to hone and curate my top five Chicago steakhouse list before publishing, so they are top of mind right now. We visited RPM Steak in Chicago on November 30, 2024, and were pleased with a lot of the nice, celebratory touches they added to our meal to make it…

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Experience Luxury and Comfort at Pavillon Faubourg Saint Germain, Paris

Experience Luxury and Comfort at Pavillon Faubourg Saint Germain, Paris

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On our recent trip to Paris in October/November of 2024, our primary goal was to view as much art as possible, and eat as much fabulous food as possible during our short, four-day stint in the city. I chose the neighborhood of Saint Germain due to its proximity to the best art museums, and quintessential Parisian vibe. Pavillon Faubourg Saint Germain, or Pavillon FSG, is a boutique hotel made up of three connected buildings, close to the Seine, recently gutted…

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Le Jules Verne: Literally Elevated Dining at the Eiffel Tower

Le Jules Verne: Literally Elevated Dining at the Eiffel Tower

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Did you know that there’s a two-star Michelin restaurant in the Eiffel Tower? Typically, such a huge tourist location (one might even say tourist trap!) will only offer the most basic, mass-produced food to cater to the gobs of tourists moving through. But, here in Paris, you can find one of the city’s most elegant dining rooms occupying the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Le Jules Verne is a very special place, and we ate here on our last…

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Discovering Monet at L’Orangerie, Paris: A Charming Collection

Discovering Monet at L’Orangerie, Paris: A Charming Collection

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The L’Orangerie Musuem, located in the Tuileries Garden opposite the Louvre in Paris, is often overlooked due to its proximity to such an overwhelming place, but you shouldn’t miss this lovely gathering of Impressionist and post-Impressionist Art. We visited in early November, 2024. This museum building literally used to house the royal orange groves, so it has an open and airy feel inside, even if it is minimalistic and modern. Full price tickets are 12.50 Euro, but they are free…

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Ode To Arpege: Stunning Vegetarian(ish) Dining in Paris

Ode To Arpege: Stunning Vegetarian(ish) Dining in Paris

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When you dine at a Three-Star Michelin restaurant, you expect perfection both with the food and the service, and, spoiler alert, Arpege was perfect with food and service. Choosing restaurants in Paris, especially ones with coveted stars, is an extraordinarily daunting task, but I decided to book at Arpege for a couple reasons. First, they allowed bookings relatively far out (over 3 months) which, as a planner, I love. Second, Chef Alain Passard has been serving exclusively a vegetarian tasting…

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Rediscovering Old Favorites At Francois Frankie: Chicago’s Carousel Bar & Brasserie

Rediscovering Old Favorites At Francois Frankie: Chicago’s Carousel Bar & Brasserie

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Did you know there is a French-American Brasserie with an actual working carousel bar in the middle of Chicago’s Loop Theater District? Well, now you do! I’ve enjoyed Francois Frankie a few times in the summer/fall of 2024, and I’m here to give it a resounding recommendation for drinks and dining in Chicago! Francois Frankie opened in Chicago in 2019, but has garnered more attention this year, when Matt Ayala became the Executive Chef. Bringing back his signature “Cochon Volant…

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An Evening At Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf: Chicago’s Premier Steakhouse

An Evening At Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf: Chicago’s Premier Steakhouse

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This is a review of Bavette’s Steakhouse in Chicago. If you are looking for Bavette’s in Las Vegas, you can check out that review here! It had been a while since we checked out Bavette’s in Chicago, probably before COVID, but I was really looking for a nice date night after weeks on end of constant school stuff: games, races, concerts, practices, you name it! Bavette’s is a tough reservation to get in Chicago – they only open up 21…

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Experience the Magic: Harry Potter Studio Tour Essentials

Experience the Magic: Harry Potter Studio Tour Essentials

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We’re a bunch of Harry Potter fans, and when I was planning our trip to London, I knew we had to not only binge all eight movies right before our trip, but we also had to go on the Harry Potter Studio Tour, more formally called the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter. The first thing that you need to know about the HP Studios is that they are not actually in London proper. There are some…

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Bellagio Resort, Las Vegas: Timeless Luxury On The Strip

Bellagio Resort, Las Vegas: Timeless Luxury On The Strip

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Gosh, I rarely stay at The Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas, but when I do, it’s always a treat. I typically don’t care much about the room and where I’m staying in Las Vegas, and I tend towards the more mid-range resorts. Occasionally I will splurge, and stay somewhere a bit higher-end, like the Venetian, or the Bellagio, but I prefer saving my money for restaurants, shows and gambling, since most of the rooms around the strip are pretty similar….

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RH Indianapolis Dining Room: Estate Dining With a Design Flair

RH Indianapolis Dining Room: Estate Dining With a Design Flair

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Just, wow! Pulling up to the RH Gallery in Indianapolis, you get an absolute sense of awe, and you actually forget that you are right smack in the middle of America. As you drive into the Dehaan Estate, a 151 acre property containing a beautiful lake, stunning outdoor sculptures, and even a peep of an obliging pheasant poking around, you can’t help but think that you might actually be in Europe. The driveway is designed to take you all around…

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