Okay, the Bulls are terrible, the winters are subarctic, and that famous Italian sausage will, science has proved, demolish your arteries. But Chicago’s moved past all that. A new, mellow attitude has taken over. Start your Second City weekend with an afternoon at Salon and Spa Blue, a New Age establishment specializing in an assortment of “glows” and wraps. Bed down at the low-key, boutiquey Willows Hotel, located two blocks from Lake Michigan, where a psyche-cleansing sundown stroll reveals the skyline in all its Thomas Edison splendor. For dinner, sup at Tru, the restaurant of the moment, run by the celebrated husband-and-wife cooking team Gale Gand and Rick Tramonto. No kielbasa here; try the steamed halibut and braised vegetables for a healthy meal, Chicago-style.
DETAILS Willows Hotel, 773-528-8400 (rooms start at $119); Salon and Spa Blue, 773-525-2583; Tru, 312-202-0001.