With a special guest in town this weekend, my husband and I felt it our civic duty to ensure he saw the best of Chicago.  So along with pounding the pavement to show him the standard tourist spots, we hit up two new Chicago lounges.

The first one, Vertigo Sky (pic below) - located on the 26th floor of the Dana Hotel and Spa at 660 N. State- is absolutely going to be my new hot spot.  Fun and interesting drinks, a great mix of people and lively music quickly welcomed us as we arrived.   What I absolutely - and without one doubt - loved was the outdoor area covered in faux grass and  curvy wooden benches.  Bright balls of light illuminated my drink and my conversation, making for a perfect ambiance.  And....the BEST part yet...was the floor-to-sky wall of glass.  I have to admit my curious side came out a bit, as I was trying to peer into the open windows in the condos next door.  I found some very unusual decor in some of these places, which led to some interesting cocktail conversations .  ***Please do not think bad of my eavesdropping - they left their blinds open after all! 

The guys enjoyed some local beer and I went for the unique and fun drink selection that was often served in very convenient carts.  Loved the sushi too! Mmm....

A sign of success - I actually went to this bar two nights in a row!  And, we hit up Portillo's afterward for hot dogs.  As you can tell, fun times.

Our next stop- Rebar, Trump International Hotel & Tower at 401 N. Wabash- had caught my attention when I recently heard Trump discussing what is on his mind - the 92-story gem  of a tower in downtown Chicago and his thoughts on the bailout.  I would rather skip the depressing bailout discussion and get on with my  exciting thoughts on Rebar, located in the 2nd tallest building in the US after the Sears Tower (Go Chicago!).

As I approached the building I knew I was in for a treat of sorts -the stunning lobby seemed to wet my appetite for what was to come and I was certainly expecting a view. 

Rebar delivered on that! Offering sweeping views of the Chicago River and of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, I immediately grabbed a sofa right next to the view.

 Rebar, named after the 50,000 short tons of reinforced steel, stood strong in the service and the trendy drink options.  The waitress was extremely knowledgeable and attentive.  She helped me pick out a solid drink, the homemade pink lemonade with champagne ($15).  I liked it, but will probably go for something else next time.

The people were very "Real Housewives of Chicago" with a mix of 30 & 20-somethings.  I found it an excellent place to people watch and to river watch, so I was entertained.  The decor- not my style per se, but perhaps it is Donald's.

All in all, it may be a pricier spot by Chicago standards, but it is worth the trip to check out the building and to have a fun time!  Oh, and the sushi was delicious too.