My new health club is in the Conrad Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue. It is an incredibly affordable, glamorous option for a workout and a swim. I love that the pool is usually empty as is the well-equipped gym. There is a sundeck with cushioned lounge chairs and great city views.

But I’m finding the thing I like best is the people, the people who come to a large downtown hotel. Every visit is chock full of a people attending a convention, wedding or festival. I notice groups of people wearing lanyards with plastic name tags that are laughing and having drinks together, a luggage cart filled with beer and the Blackhawks conventioneers pushing it, and flight crews coming and going.   There are hugs hello and kisses goodbye.

This week on the side street was a small set of white steps covered in red carpeting and flanked by vases of flowers, waiting in the street was a horse trailer and a fabulously decorated white horse. Upon my entry to the lobby beautiful wedding guests wearing a rainbow of silk saris surrounded me. The horse would carry the groom to the entrance of the hotel. The doorman asked me if I was attending, I was definitely not dressed or I might have been tempted to join in.

I have met people who are traveling and people, who like me, live in the neighborhood. Today I chatted with a small pre-school girl about her morning of ballet, violin and now swimming. She was breathless with excitement as she regaled me of her day. I was captured briefly in the hot tub by 2 guys who could have been Dan Akroyd and John Belushi talking extra Chicago-y. Go ahead say the word ……….sausage.

A giant gingerbread house in the shape of the hotel is past the giant Christmas tree in the lobby. It is made with 300 pounds of flour, 200 pounds of powdered sugar and 30 pounds of egg whites. Quite amazing.

Something about this place makes me feel so happy. Is it the quiet, carpeted opulence, the gently rolling suitcases or the polite, service-oriented employees? If you need a boost for your holiday morale I’ll happily meet you for a drink.