Romantic Winter Dates in Chicago

My husband and I, had a wonderful time in downtown Chicago this month. We had a romantic dinner and went to see a play. This sounds like a very common outing but to my surprise, we had a wonderful time.

Downtown Chicago is beautiful. The night life is breathtaking. We walked hand and hand admiring the buildings, the lights, the lake, and the friendly people. It was a chilly night but I didn't really notice, because there was so much to look at. Navy Pier is especially beautiful.

They had indoor parking. Because we were going to see Shakespeare, we were given a 40% discount. We parked our car and enjoyed the city.

We ate dinner at The Rivera Restaurant, located at 700 E. Grand Ave. The restaurant was beautiful, pretty secluded and overlooking the lake. You could see the Chicago skyline while eating also. We had a window seat and the lake was approx. 40 feet from our window. The dinner was delicious. The River Restaurant specializes in seafood, steak, and pasta dishes. Our meal was less than $100. You also receive a 20 percent discount if you're going to see Shakespeare, which we were.

After eating, we admired the beautiful colored glass exhibits. They had colored glass windows and doors, dating from the 1700s to present, which was exquisite and educational. I could have stayed there forever.

We went to see Richard III at The Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave. The theater was within walking distance from the restaurant and enclosed. We didn't have to go outside. If you've never seen a play by Shakespeare, you have to go. Richard III was one of the best plays I've ever seen. The Chicago Shakespeare Theater won the 2008 Regional Tony Award for a very good reason. They offer year-round theatrical plays from William Shakespeare.

The theater has a 500-seat auditorium that seats three sides of the stage. Having good seats is not a problem. Every seat is a good seat. The actors were amazing. I felt as if I was actually living in Shakespeare's time.

The tickets were $55.00 a person. They have day and evening plays, also. You can buy tickets online at chicagoshakes.com. Richard III will be playing until 11-22-2009.

The Shakespeare Theater will be playing Private Lives, by Noel Coward from 1-6-2010 until 3-7-2010.
Short Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors, by William Shakespeare from 1-23-2010 until 3-7-2010.