An American Girl's Day in Chicago

1. Shopping at the American Girl Place
2. Watching American Girl's Theater "Circle Of Friends"
3. Dining at the American Girl Cafe
4. Strolling Navy Pier
5. Catching the latest and hottest show in Chicago's Theater District
6. Devouring the largest pizza slices ever at Bacci's
7. Staying at the funky and theatrical Hotel Allegro
8. Shopping the Magnificent Mile

Quick Tips:

The Hotel Allegro is smack in the middle of Chicago's Theatre District. Within a short walking distance are the Cadillac Palace Theatre and the Oriental Theatre (Ford Center for the Performing Arts), featuring broadway hits, musicals, and great theatre.

Best Way To Get Around:

Take the train to downtown (Chicago Transit Authority) and save bundles of money by staying at the Hotel Allegro. You can ride the train from Midway or O'Hara airport for about .00 USD round-trip for adults and .00 for children - a real bargain. The train takes you to within a block of the hotel, where you can catch a taxi (about .00 USD) to the American Girl Place on Chicago Avenue, by the Magnificent Mile.

The Hotel Allegro is located right in the midst of Chicago's theatre district - smack next door to the Cadillac Palace Theatre -offering convenience and easy access to downtown culture and the performing arts. Within a short walking distance are the Oriental, Chicago, Schubert, and Goodman Theatres. The "Magnificent Mile" and the Navy Pier are a short taxi-ride away. O'Hare and Midway Airports are only 25 minutes away by train (Chicago Transit Authority), with the station located one block from the hotel.

Theatrical quirkiness defines the Hotel Allegro with lines, whimsical designs, and motifs that are colorful, bold and yet comfortable. Upon check-in you will be invited to a 5 p.m. complimentary wine reception in the lobby. A modern fitness room in the same building makes it easy to "stay fit" during your stay.

My daughter and I stayed in a King Bedroom that sported ample closet space with hanging spa robes for lounging. Amenities included Aveeda bath products (my favorite!) along with in-room Italian-roasted coffee. Good bedside lighting and log "bolster" pillows provided me with homey comfort for my nightly reading ritual, while my daughter enjoyed her favorite Nickelodian shows.

A walkway on the third floor leads to the 312 Chicago Restaurant, serving an innovative menu of Italian-inspired American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (See separate write-up for culinary details).

The Hotel Allegro offers both value and convenience with a wonderfully central city location. However, expect service to be professionally "aloof."

The American Girl Café offers in-house dining for American girls and their families for seatings that include lunch, tea, and dinner. This is a "one-of-a-kind" cafe that features custom doll chairs to seat your girl's American doll at the table; the doll will also have her own place setting. For those girls without dolls, loaners are available.

The surprises continue with hair scrunchies that hold linen napkins - souvenirs that your American girl can take home as a remembrance of her day. On each table is a brightly decorated box containing "conversation starters" - pieces of paper, much like fortune cookies, that prompt mothers and families to discuss things such as, "What is (was) your favorite subject in school?"

The fixed-price menu offers second-course entree selections for lunch and dinner that will meet the discriminating tastes of young ladies and appeal to more sophisticated tastes as well.

For example, lunch choices might include a broccoli quiche with sharp cheddar cheese served with a petite salad or a grilled chicken breast served on a soft onion roll with roasted red peppers, alfalfa sprouts and sundried tomato pesto mayonnaise with a petite salad also. Comfort food is available for the younger girls and includes familiar items such as baked chicken tenders with fresh fruit, apple sauce and homemade yogurt dipping sauce or an American Girl Picnic Lunch - a miniature hamburger and hot dog served with corn on the cob and oven roasted potato wedges.

The dinner menu features entree selections such as stuffed chicken breast with spinach, goat cheese and pine nuts served with roasted red bliss potatoes and steamed broccoli or a penne pasta with meatballs and fresh tomato-meat sauce.

All seatings start with a warm welcome of American Girl Cinnamon Buns served on a heart-shaped plate. At dinner, the first course consists of grilled and fresh vegetables served with garlic toasts, cheese triangles and boursin-filled cucumber boats. "Sweet Surprises" complete the meal and feature a chocolate mousse flower pot with carrot cake heart and a homemade sugar cookie.

The majority of diners were mothers and their daughters celebrating and sharing special times that are the "stuff" of wonderful childhood memories. My daughter and I were no exception; we thoroughly enjoyed our magical moment and meal together. And even though my American girl and her doll were the only ones dressed like soccer players, we entered a special zone that only a mother and daughter can share – a space that tells my daughter it is okay to be herself.

Lunch is $17 per person plus tax, with gratuity included. Tea is $16 per person while the dinner seating is $18 per person. Hours vary based on the season and day of the week, so be sure and check. Reservations are required.

312 Chicago is an exquisite dining spot serving "Italian-inspired American Cuisine." My daughter and I stopped by for an early Saturday breakfast - not finding much else open at 8 a.m. While Kosette would have been satisfied with a couple Dunkin Donuts, I confess to having had the best fritta in years!

The restaurant is actually connected by an interior walkway from Hotel Allegro - you need only walk past the reservation desk and then past the lounge. The walkway leads you to the second deck of 312 Chicago, presenting you with a dining room surrounded with vintage wines, art decor, and just plain luxury. Take the spiral stair case down to the hostess podium for seating.

Service was prompt and attentive, delivered with an Italian accent. I ordered the baby artichoke and goat cheese frittata with cherrry tomato ragu for $9.95, while my daughter ordered french toast - egg-battered cinnamon brioche with warm banana compote and walnuts for $8.50. Expecting Aunt Jemima French toast, she was disappointed; I promised her donuts later. However, I reveled with my repast of artichoke frittata, and when we got back to Baltimore, I even asked my husband - the chef in our family - to try his hand at frittata cloning.

I would definitely go back, but "sans" children. The decor, taste, and elegance are too refined for most children - and the prices scream "gourmet".

We arrived at Hotel Allegro just after the noon hour. Having flown to Midway on Southwest airlines, and then riding the train to our hotel, my daughter and I found ourselves wanting for some refueling. From our 11th floor window I spotted Bacci Pizzeria just across the street; within moments we were off - on a mission.

Opening the door to Bacci Pizzeria, we found a room filled with people queing and tables overflowing with patrons. Even though it was going on 1:30 pm, my spontaneous thought was that the food must really be good.

My turn came quickly and I asked what the place was noted for. Too easy apparently for the instanteous response was a Bacci slice of pizza and free drink for $3.50 plus tax. "I'll take two of them with pepperoni," I replied. Was I ever in for a surprise!

The next line of people were waiting for piping hot pizzas straight from the oven. After I saw the spinach and tomato, I quickly changed my mind and my order - no problem. Then I saw the size of the slices - easily a whole pizza in a slice. When I took the two "humongous" slices of pizza to my daughter who had found a table by then, she too had that look of incredulousness.

I'm ashamed to say that neither one of us were able to finish our slice. Next time I go to Bacci's Pizzeria, I'll order one slice to share with two.

There are seven other locations in Chicago. You can also check them out on the web at: click here.

The American Girl Place is geared for girls from 8-14, highlighting stories of American girls from the past that includes perspectives from immigrant, hispanic, african-american, victorian, and depression-era view points. This destination celebrates the spirit of American girls with a product line that includes historical and contemporary clothing, dolls, books, and accessories.

The American Girl Place includes a cafe and a live musical theater, along with a photo studio where girls and their dolls can be photographed for magazine covers bearing their likeness. Girls may also bring their dolls to the hair salon for styling and tips on maintaining their doll's hair-do.

The best way to spend a day at the American Girl Place is to prepurchase the package for a price of $250 that includes sales tax, postage, handling, and gratuities. The "Day at American Girl Place" in Chicago arrives in a beautifully wrapped box containing planning information, vouchers, travel suggestions, and instructions on how to make her dream come true.

The package price includes lunch for two in the Cafe, two tickets to Circle of Friends: An American Girls Musical, Musical souvenir pack with program, CD, and lapel pin, $120 to spend in the boutiques, and studio time for your American girl to get her photo on a souvenir copy of American Girl magazine. The Theater and Cafe require advance reservations. Note that children must be 6 years and older to attend the Circle of Friends musical show.

My 8 year-old daughter declares that her day at American Girl Place was absolutely the best day of her life - she is already planning on coming back for her next year's birthday. The fact that I was able to share in making her memories, was indeed the most "priceless" part of the package.

The American Girl theatre's current musical production, "A Circle of Friends" incorporates stories from American girls of the past that are relevant for girls today. The stories - ever timeless - are about friends, misunderstandings, and how to listen to another's point of view. The various cameo stories of Josephina, Kit, Molly, Addy, Samantha, Kirsten, and Felicity play out as a group of girls plan a surprise birthday party for a friend. In the process, the girls learn a little more about themselves, and how they must reach out sometimes for their friends.

I know it sounds a little idealistic and perhaps trite - but my 8 year-old daughter was spell-bound through out the entire 90-minute musical, hanging on every word that was spoken and every song that was sung. And after it was over, she couldn't and wouldn't let go of the message.

I'll admit that the casting was excellent - the girls for the most part, looked like their American Girl namesake. Acting was professional and their voices were melodious. I was really impressed with the young girl that played Addy - not for her acting so much, but for her singing. She was able to belt out tunes with a soulful refrain that could easily compete for top billing on contemporary music charts.

No photography is permitted during the performance - a common and courteous request for any theatrical production. However, cast members graciously entertain requests for autographs after the last evening performance. My daughter, with pen and book in hand, was leading the line and was able to get autographs and several photographs with the stars of the show. Her absolute favorite was the girl who played Josephina. We share those photos with you in the gallery below.

The Navy Pier in Chicago offers a variety of entertainment choices in an amusement-like park setting for families, couples, and shakespeare-lovers. The great thing is that outdoor and indoor activities offer choices independent of prevailing weather conditions.

With over 50 acres along the lakefront, attractions include the IMAX Theater; the Chicago Children's Museum; the Chicago Shakespeare Theater; carousel and ferris-wheel rides, ice-skating, harbor boat rides, and bike rentals. And of course there is walking, talking, eating, and shopping as favorite past-times under the sun or stars.

Pier hours are Monday - Thursday, 10am-8pm; Friday and Saturday from 10am-10pm; and Sundays from 10am-7pm. Call 312-595-PIER for information on hours and cruise ships. And of course, you will see young men and women in U.S. Navy uniforms strolling the pier that bears the name of their service.