London, Madrid, the Outback, Rio de Janeiro, Nassau . . . those are just a few of the fabulous places where I have celebrated New Year’s Eve over the years. While these places might be more exotic than Chicago, none of them came close to topping my unforgettable experience of ringing in 2012 in the Windy City. I would have never had thought of Chicago as a potential New Year’s Eve destination until the magnificent Hyatt Regency Chicago invited my husband and I to their annual NYE Blitz, which is simply the best party the city has to offer.
Lucas and I took our time getting all dolled up for the event in our Monarch Suite before heading to the VIP champagne hour located in the hotel’s BIG bar. The view of downtown Chicago from the bar is truly breathtaking — the perfect spot to sip bubbly.
The excitement between Lucas and I about spending our first New Year’s Eve together ever and as a married couple was palpable and I do not think we stopped smiling the entire night.
My depth of gratitude to the Hyatt Regency Chicago and especially Jennifer Kedinger (pictured on the right) knows no bounds. Jennifer, along with her talented team, are the ones responsible for making the NYE Blitz so successful.
Then it was on to dinner at Stetson’s Chophouse, an award-winning restaurant located in the hotel. Have you ever in all of your dining experiences seen an iPad used as a menu? That was a clear indication that our meal was going to be exceptional.
Over more bubbly, we feasted on mouthwatering cold water lobster tails with truffle mac & cheese.
And for dessert we chose a chocolate & vanilla panna cotta mousse with fresh berries that was absolutely sublime. Just as we were taking our first bite, we realized that it had turned midnight in Buenos Aires. Thanks to Skype, we were able to connect with Lucas’ family and wish them a Feliz Año Nuevo!
Once we were properly satiated it was time for us to join the party. There were two ballrooms to chose from (both with an open bar); one was playing 80’s music and the other was playing current music. Lucas and I have different tastes, thus we kept fluctuating between the two ballrooms. I had intended to take pictures throughout the party, however my darling husband asked me to kindly to put away my camera for the rest of the evening — not before I got a shot of us in our party hats though!
One of the things that I loved most about the NYE Blitz was that it had live Twitter feeds being displayed on giant monitors in each of the ballrooms. Guests could tweet #nyeblitz and get an immediate response from the hotel. So many guests chose to tweet that the party was trending #2 in all of Chicago!
For more information about the NYE Blitz visit here. It is never too early to start planning your next New Year’s Eve adventure and I can promise you will be celebrating in style at the Hyatt Regency Chicago if you chose to attend in 2013. Oh and in case you were wondering, I got my New Year’s Eve kiss at midnight!
Sounds like such a fabulous party!! I have been handed an iPad once for a menu – in Montevideo of all places!!
What really!?! That’s awesome! I can’t believe that in Uruguay of all places!
I’m not one for glitzy New Year’s celebrations, but this is definitely a party I would change my mind for! =)
Wahoooooooooo!!! You should go in 2013 with your hubs.
Looks/sounds like a lot of fun Andi 🙂
Sooooooo much fun!!!
Your dinner sounds so delicious! And you look beautiful in that first picture 🙂 So glad you guys had a great first NYE!
Awww thank you so much sweetheart! It was hard to take good photos when you’ve been drinking bubbly hahaha. We had the best NYE ever — just wish you could have been there. One year!!!
At my restaurant, we just got iPads for the servers to key their orders in, but now this made me think about having them at the tables as the menu. So cool! Though I’d be terrified of someone spilling a drink on them.
Ooooh you own a restaurant? How cool! If you decide to put the menus on their let me know.
what a cool party!
It truly was!
What an amazing experience! The dinner looks scrumptious!
It was so so sooooooo amazing!!!
great post! seems like fun!
http://fashion-gourmet.blogspot.com/
Too much fun! 😉
lovely images! Love Chicago. I was an inern for a lwfirm there some years ago. Happy Friday
Chicago is fabulous right!?!
Glad you had an amazing time in my town on my birthday 🙂
Wish you could have partied with us!
I think it’s so fun when parties play with twitter feeds! You two look so cute — love Lucas’ hat! You look beautiful.
It’s so much fun — so 21st Century huh? 😉 Thanks for your sweet words darling!!!
Now THAT’S a party! It looks like you had a blast with your hubby. 🙂
It was the best party ever!
That is _so_cool tht the hotel invited you to the party and put you up in that suite. You must be doin something right! 😉
Whatever it is I hope I keep doing it! 😉
Chicago is my favorite city in the world…such a wonderful place!
Wow that’s a bold statement — I LOVE it!
As a Windy City girl, I’m biased but Chicago is indeed a great place to ring in the new year!
I will for sure ring in the New Year again there!!!
You both look lovely and it seems like you had a fabulous time! The food and decor looked amazing!
Thanks for stopping by and your sweet comments. Happy weekend!
xoxo,
Chic ‘n Cheap Living
Thanks a million for your kind words! You’re SO welcome!!! Happy weekend! XOXO
Honestly you two are the cutest couple ever! Love that Lucas asked you to put the camera away to enjoy the evening together. The Chitown skyline at night is amazing .. miss it! And that bar woah.. i need to visit it lol.
Awwww I can’t wait to show my Lucas this comment! How could I say no to his handsome face??? It was hard to put the camera down, but I knew how important it was to him that we be 100% in the moment. The Chitown skyline is fabulous. Let me know if you visit the BIG bar!
Travel plans are in the works so hopefully sooner rather than later!!
Wahooooo very exciting!
Wow that is a pretty amazing NYE celebration!
Beyond amazing! I hope we do it again in the future!!!
So what is your main occupation? Just curious…do you write reviews for hotels?
I have 2 professions. I’m a Chinese Medicine Doctor with a Wellness Center and I am travel writer/photographer with my niche luxury travel. 🙂
It all looks AMAZING!!
I think you should make it a tradition to always be with your new husband on New Year 🙂
Virginie ♥
Oh yes, I will ALWAYS get a midnight kiss from him I can promise you that!!!!!!
This place looks so amazing! I wish I wasn’t such a poor art student when I lived in Chicago so I could go to places like this…haha
Awww, I wish you could have too, though it actually wasn’t too expensive at all!
I’m usually in Paris, France or Plymouth, UK celebrating NYE – kind of a contrast! Looks like it was a great night 🙂
Emma xx
Paris would be an awesome place to ring in the new year!
This looks like an amazing NYE celebration! And the food looks delish, nom nom nom!
Yes and yes!!!!!!!! 🙂
Great photos! You look fantastic. Your smile is wonderful 🙂
Thank you sweetheart!!!!!!!
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I love Chicago!!! You look beautiful in that 5th pic!!! And the dessert looks So yummy!
Me tooooo! Thanks sweetheart — you’re the best! XO
Hi Andi,
It was lovely to discover your blog and meet you and many thanks for visiting me.
Looks like you had a fun night out celebrating.
enjoy the rest of the weekend
Carolyn
Ditto! We had SO much fun!!! 🙂
Oh my gosh, it all looks like so much fun! Jealous!
It was so much fun! Don’t be jealous, go in 2013! 😉
Cute post! Beautiful! <3
xoxo
Linda from http://www.moonon.com
Thanks! XOOX
the desserts look fabulous!
Chicago seems nice for a party!
It was fabulous, would go back there for NYE in a heartbeat! And yes that dessert was yuuuuummy!!!
As always completely jealous of your adventures, your NYE looks like such a good time.
Awww and I’m jealous of your awesome adventures!!!!!!
OMG, these meal looks amazing! And so clever using an ipad as menu!
Isn’t that clever? Yes, this meal was unforgettable!!!
Looks like a fabulous time ! One of my favorite New Years was the year I celebrated at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago as well. It was many years ago but a night I’ll never forget. 🙂
Oh my gosh really????? That’s SO awesome to hear! Very synchronistic.
Fabulous! I wish I could travel this much!
XoXo
Plami
http://www.fashionthrill.com/
Dream big darling!
You guys are too cute! What a posh way to bring in the new year! Much more classy than our “we drank too much on the beach” affair. <3
Lookin good lady!
Hey getting drunk on the beach is my idea of fuuuuuun! Thanks gorgeous!!! XO
Now this is what I call an amazing time!! Fun pics.
SO amazing!!! Thanks! 🙂
This looks like SO much fun! I’m crazy-jealous… That food looks amazing.
xo Josie
http://www.winksmilestyle.com
Awww don’t be jealous! But yeah it was crazy fun and amazing!!! XO
I LOVE your blog Andi!!!!!
Thanks a million Tom!
i want to visit Chicago again 🙂
just liked your fb page
please check mine at http://www.facebook.com/pinklemonincrystal
Thank for the like! I want to visit Chicago again too. 🙂
Andi I love your adventures!
Me tooooo! 🙂
I love the picture of the bubbly glasses.
Great way to start the new year.
Thanks, I love that pic too! Happy New Year!!!!!!!
Sounds like you had a great time in Chicago, I haven’t been there in over ten years, thanks for the memories.
You’re sooo welcome! 😉
Lovely post!
Thanks Andrea!
Good outfit! I really love your blog
Thank you and thank you darling!
Gorgeous pics!
Thank you!
Fabulous. A Belated Happy New Year, Andi & Lucas. I know 2012 is going to be a wonderful year for you both.
Happy Belated New Year too darling girl! Thank you!!!!!!!!!! XO