Memorial Day means that summer is here and two Kimpton Chicago hotels are celebrating by taking its fitness classes outside. But it won't be your run-of-the-mill alfresco yoga. You'll get schooled in some ballet basics, maneuver a Segway and get paid to walk in these new outdoor classes.

Work on your flexibility and toning at Hotel Palomar Chicago with its free hourlong Barre Bee Fit class, a blend of Pilates, dance, yoga and light weight work. Early risers can head to the hotel sundeck at 6:30 a.m. Wednesdays starting June 8 for the workout, which revolves around the ballet barre. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-05-31T09:18:37-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/5/5/115315/3505 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/flipencore.jpg" class="top"><p> <a href="http://www.theflip.com/en-us/"><b>Flip Cameras</b></a>, we hardly got to spend enough time with you shooting our hotel stays before Cisco decided to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/technology/13flip.html">shut you down</a>. But if you've never tried a Flip camera before, there's still one place where you can--hotels!<p>At the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/AFFINIA+50/local/2386"><b>Affinia 50 Hotel</b></a> in New York, they are still running a package aimed at folks who want to photobomb the early morning shows like Today and GMA. The "Get Ready for Your Close Up" package includes poster board, glue, markers, glitter and stickers to make an eye-catching sign, an early morning wake-up call, breakfast to go, a backpack filled with goodies and a Flip camera for documenting all the action. Rates start at $269 a juliana 2011-05-05T12:00:34-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/4/4/35255/75118

If you are looking for a Chicago hotel, you may have your sights set on the shiny, new JW Marriott. But you should also consider spending the night at the Hotel Monaco Chicago, whose rooms just got a makeover.

The Chicago hotel looks like it's going for more of a sleeker vibe, though the rooms are supposed to be a nod to world travelers. Objects like an earth-toned steamer trunk nightstand with a red Moroccan lamp, a mahogany table and a European-style chaise covered in pearl-toned pony hair are supposed to give the rooms some global flair. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-04-04T09:30:20-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/3/21/21620/7334

Even though it's March, you can still get a taste of winter at Hotel Monaco Chicago's South Water Kitchen. The restaurant bar is slinging mason jar cocktails with unusual ingredients like pickled watermelon and preserved pears. They're a nice change-up from your usual Cosmo.

Pickling, preserving and canning are all old-school rituals that people would do to preserve the fruits of the fall and summer harvests for the barren winter. In this case, those fruits go into flavorful libations like the Pickled Watermelon, which comes with Bulleit Bourbon, balsamic simple syrup, ginger beer and a pickled watermelon rind garnish made by the bar manager. The rest of the specialty cocktails include:]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-03-21T11:36:44-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/2/25/9319/79023 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/Press_View.JPG" class="top"></p> <p><em>The sweet, sweet view from <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Ink48/local/1019">Ink48</a></b>'s rooftop bar.</em> <p>Kimpton Hotels just sent a "secret" email blast out to its loyalty club members, promising rooms from as little as $79 on weekends at 19 properties in 16 cities across the country. And while these excellent prices are non-refundable and prepaid, the brand promises that "in the event of unruly blizzards, no worries&#151;you may reschedule your weekend stay." Nice one.</p> <p>We're intrigued by the <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Monaco+Chicago+-+a+Kimpton+Hotel/local/469">Hotel Monaco Chicago</a></b> from $109 and the <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Nine+Zero+/local/922">Nine Zero</a></b> in Boston from $139. New York's Ink48 starts at $199 and the <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Palomar+Philadelphia/local/1555">Hotel Palomar Philadelphia</a></b> is at $139. The cheapest of the bunch is the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Monaco+Salt+Lake+City/local/725"><b>Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City</b></a>, which pbb 2011-02-25T10:41:38-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/