Get the latest meeting and event planning industry news: the rooftop Laurel Room opens at Pacific Standard Time, Moody Tongue Brewing Company relocates to the South Loop, Lululemon opens its first-ever experiential store and restaurant in Chicago, Hyde Park’s Virtue is an Eater Best New Restaurant, and three top Chicago properties are named to Travel + Leisure’s list of Best 15 City Hotels in the U.S. 

Pacific Standard Time Opens the Rooftop Laurel Room

The Laurel Room ©Anjali Pinto

Chicago’s lauded Pacific Standard Time (named Restaurant of the Year by Eater Chicago) debuted its new Laurel Room rooftop lounge and eatery. The seasonal eighth-floor River North hot spot features light California-inspired bites and drinks, and echoes the West Coast design vibe of Pacific Standard Time. Three semi-private event spaces accommodate up to 65 guests (or 130 with a full buyout).

Learn more about The Laurel Room.

Moody Tongue Brewing Debuts New Dining Room and Bar

©Moody Tongue Brewing Company

Moody Tongue Brewing Company has relocated to the South Loop, expanding to include a casual bar/tasting room (with pub grub that includes oysters and German chocolate cake) and a 25-seat fine dining room featuring a globally inspired 10-course tasting menu from Michelin-starred chef Jared Wentworth. Full buyouts are available.

Learn more about Moody Tongue Brewing Company.

Lululemon Launches First-Ever Experiential Store and Restaurant in Chicago

Fuel Space at ©Lululemon

Iconic athletic wear brand Lululemon chose Chicago’s Lincoln Park as the site for its new 20,000-square-foot flagship store. Lululemon’s first-ever experiential store sells its complete line of yoga and running gear for men and women, in addition to offering group fitness and meditation classes, plus wellness events. Lululemon also features its first restaurant, Fuel Space, which serves healthy snacks like smoothies, black bean burgers, and acai bowls.

Learn more about Lululemon.

Virtue in Hyde Park Makes Eater’s 2019 Best New Restaurants List

Catfish at Virtue

South Side restaurant Virtue was the only Chicago establishment to rank on Eater’s roster of the Best New Restaurants in America. Virtue received accolades for chef Erick Williams’ “multicultural approach to Southern cuisine,” with Eater pointing to his braised cauliflower steak spiked with Egyptian spices as a delicious example.

Learn more about Virtue.  

Three Chicago Properties Snag Spots on Travel + Leisure’s List of 15 Best City Hotels

The Langham Club

The Langham, Chicago, Hotel Zachary at Gallagher Way and Viceroy Chicago all received Travel + Leisure 2019 World’s Best Awards in the Best 15 City Hotels in the Continental United States category. Travel + Leisure readers ranked their favorite urban American hotels based on facilities, location, service, food, and overall value.

Learn more about Travel + Leisure’s Best 15 City Hotels.