Chicago Auto Show + Giveaway!!

Do you geek out over fancy cars?  Love seeing all the bells and whistles?  Have I got a treat for you!  Last Friday, I got to attend Media Day at the Chicago Auto Show!  Going to the Auto Show this year, which was my very first time, was a little bittersweet.  Earlier this year my Great Aunt Alice passed away, she had an extremely long interesting life.  One of the nifty things she did was work for Tucker when he was making cars in the Chicago area.  If you're not familiar, Tuckers were manufactured right here in the Chicago area during the late 1940's.  They were truly unique with a third center headlight that would help drivers see around corners along with other innovations. When my Aunt was working for Tucker she got picked up by an Italian race car driver everyday and driven to work in a Tucker!  There were only 51 Tuckers ever made and only 47 survive.

Even though I'm not very car savvy, I wanted to attend the show so I could see some of the brand-new innovative cars coming out.  I did see some pretty interesting things, from a gorgeous $1.5 million dollar Bugatti Veyron to the Honda FCEV concept car.

I saw race car drivers talk about the new Global Rallycross VW beetles.

I saw a BMW that looked like it came out of a futuristic movie and one that looked like it was made out of recycled tweed suits.

I saw a couple Ford Raptors.  :)

I saw the original owners of the very first Ford Mustang.

I saw the Hyundai/Walking Dead Chop Shop winning car designs.

I rode the Jeep course.  (It's not as scary as it looks.)

Thanks to First Look For Charity I also got to attend the gala Friday night.  I had some amazing food, including a sushi based tuna tartare filled shell from Union Sushi and a coconut mojito made with organic Sugar Island Rum.

Now onto the giveaway part of this post!  When I attended the #FLFC14 Auto Show Gala food preview I won the instagram/vine video challenge.  Part of the prize was a pair of tickets to the Chicago Auto Show.  Since I spent all of Friday at the show, I think a lucky Rosie Discovers reader should get to check out all these awesome cars instead.  #FuelCAS

To enter, leave a comment below about what you most want to see at the show this year.  Contest is open to Chicago area readers 18+ (because I want you to be able to use them!).  Contest runs thru 8 pm Central Time Wednesday February 12, 2014.  You'll have 2 hours to respond to the winning email.  I promise to mail the tickets Thursday February 13th.

Going to the Chicago Auto Show? Indulge and stay at the Hyatt McCormick Place!

I'm no stranger to events at McCormick Place after this past summer.  I've been lucky enough to stay at the Hyatt attached to McCormick Place.  It's truly a gorgeous hotel!  When I attend First Look for Charity's Auto Show Gala, February 7th, I'll be staying over at the Hyatt.  After my last stay, I know I may even enjoy my night there more than the Auto Show.  It'll be hard to decide which is better.

If you're planning on attending the auto show this year and are also looking for something special to treat your hubby or boyfriend to for Valentine's Day, I highly recommend the Hyatt.  They've got a special package this year which includes tickets to the Chicago Auto Show, typically $12 each.  The Auto Show Package rates start at $169 including 1 ticket ($12 value), so the overall savings when booked together starts at $22 and only keeps going up the more tickets you include.  The cost for regular room and 4 auto show tickets would be $227, but this package with 4 tickets is $187, a $40 savings.

Their Romance Package is pretty impressive too!  Available for Valentine's Day weekend (2/13 -2/16) which overlaps with the auto show.  It includes:

• Full Breakfast for 2 (Shor Restaurant or In Room Dining)
• Welcome Amenity with Bottle of Lindaurer Sparkling Wine and Mini Chocolate Fondue with Fresh Berries, Shortbreads and Cookies
• VIP Turn Down Service
• 1 PM Late Check Out

You get all this for $160!

The Hyatt McCormick Place finished $110 million remodel June 2013 and I just can't say enough great things about it!  The staff is amazing, did you hear about my disaster with opening booze for bloggers this past summer?  The concierge didn't bat an eye when I ran downstairs with 3 bottles of expensive vodka that I couldn't get open at 10 pm one night.

The rooms are luxury.  Especially if you are as geared up on tech as I am.  Any and all charging outlets that you could possibly desire.  The view is stellar on a clear day you can see all the way to Navy Pier.  Or if it's not you might just end up inside of a cloud which is a different kind of beauty that may be more magical.  Have you ever been inside a rain cloud before?

The parking is hassle free.  Staying at the hotel and you only need your key card.  There is no stress finding a space.  It may be further away from the rest of downtown but if you are coming for the Auto Show then you won't find a better hotel.  The convenience of taking the elevator downstairs and eating your complimentary breakfast is undeniable.  After that you can mosey on over to McCormick Place to take a gander at all the fancy cars.  No need to stress about finding transportation.

The rooms are spacious.  There is enough closet space that you might be able to sneak that new motorcycle into your closet.  We certainly stored our lawnmower in there with ease.  That's another story entirely, but the amenities cannot be beat.  If you're looking for a hotel, then you might as well treat yourself to the Hyatt at McCormick Place.

First Look For Charity Chicago Auto Show Gala Food Preview

About a week ago I was lucky enough to head to McGrath Acura in Chicago to nosh on some of the treats that are going to be available at the First Look For Charity's Chicago Auto Show Gala on February 7th.  Haven't heard of First Look for Charity?  It's a fantastic organization that raises money every year for a slew of local charities including:

100 Club of Chicago, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, Clearbrook, The Cradle Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Franciscan Community Benefit Services, Franciscan St. James Health, Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities, Illinois Spina Bifida Association, JDRF, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, March of Dimes, Misericordia, Special Olympics Illinois, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

The First Look for Charity Gala is going to have some pretty amazing food choices including gluten-free this year.  From pulled pork to sweet treats and even organic alcohol choices, you'll find all that and more at the Auto Show Gala this year.

Here's a few sneak peaks of some of this amazing food:

As far as I know you can still purchase tickets to the First Look For Charity's Chicago Auto Show Gala on their website.  Tickets are $250, but they are for a great cause.  You'll also get to see American Idol's Lee DeWyze perform at the Gala.

I'll be there this year!  If you make it, tweet me and I'll make sure we instagram a photo!