Ok, you will not find a shop like this any where else in Chicago, or...well, anywhere. Just steps from House 5863 Bed & Breakfast you will find the Wooly Mammoth. This video says it all. Visit the store, its one of out favorites here at House 5863 B&B.

Located within walking distance of our bed and breakfast is a great Chicago dive bar called Edgewater Lounge. The place is a gem. Unexpectedly, you will also find that it has some of the best food around and at bargain prices. Check out this video. Our favorite is the beef brisket sandwich and sweet potato chips. They often have unique and awesome soups that are one of a kind. Oh, and yea, its also a bar with tons of great craft beers on tap and it features live music (no cover!) on Tuesdays. Don't let the outside fool you... stop in and find a true Chicago hangout.

Rate our B&B on BedandBreakfast.com and you will be entered for a drawing for a $1,000 gift certificate to any B&B on the site. We also value your opinions, forward us your honest review and we will enter you into our drawing for a two night stay.

The 2013 Chicago Marathon returns October 13, 2013. We usually book up all of our rooms for the event well in advance. If you are planning a trip to Chicago for the marathon, our bed and breakfast offers a great place to stay. We are just two blocks from the Red Line train which will take you directly to the site of the marathon. Make your reservation today! at House5

The Chicago Spring Flower Show is now open at the Lincoln Park Conservatory through May 12, 2013. Our bed and breakfast is just a short train ride to the conservatory. Enjoy spring!

Today's New York Times contained an very intriguing article about hotel check-in automation.  The article discusses how hotels around the world are changing how the typical check-in process works and are moving from a traditional front desk to automated systems. Guests can now book online and receive entry codes that they enter at kiosks located in hotel lobbies and thus effectively bypass the hotel front desk.  Here at House 5863 Chicago bed and breakfast we gotta ask: Where Have You Been?  That is because we have had in place an automated check-in process from our inception in 2006.  Guest can make a reservation online and once confirmed, the guest receives two codes that allow for entry to our front door and to their room. We have found that this system is preferred by most travelers as it allows for flexibility of arrival times and travel weary guests that arrive to Chicago on a late flight can get directly to their room for some needed rest and a hot shower rather than waiting at a desk to be escorted to their room. We remain on site and available for guess that require additional assistance but fr the most part, the system works like a charm. We are proud that our B&B here in Chicago can be such a trendsetter for the world's hospitality industry. Oh, and the next time you are looking for a great place to stay in Chicago, check out House 5863.

Our B&B is close to so many great restaurants and pubs Here is a pic of some great corned beef and cabbage from local pub Mayne Stage which us just a short train ride north of our place. It was a great way to celebrate the Irish holiday.

Although for many decades travelers have been welcomed into the homes of relatives and friends and offered the couch as a cheap place to stay, it was not until this decade that this tried and true option was revolutionized by the internet.  With the advent of Craigslist, Airbnb, and similar sites, almost anyone and everyone is offering up couches, spare bedrooms and even entire homes for rent as a hotel alternative.  While the notion of renting a room in a friendly owner’s home may at first glance seem appealing economically, there are a few words of caution to be offered before you jump in head first.
Renting such accommodations pose risks to both pocketbook and safety.  Here is why.

Hotels, motels, bed and breakfast inns are almost universally regulated by local governmental authorities.  Local statutes provide for minimum safety and health requirements. Establishments must has work smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, operating fire extinguishers, emergency exit lighting, and posted fire exit plans.  I operate a B&B here in Chicago and can personally attest to the fact that each year we get a thorough inspection by the fire department, by the department of buildings, and by the department of health.  If we don’t take appropriate measures to protect the safety and health of our guests, we do not get to operate.

Now compare those protections to what you get when you rent a night on a stranger's couch. Has that stranger devoted the same concern and resources to your safety and health? Do you know what you would do in a fire? How would you get out? Is there anyone on-site that can help you in an emergency? Is the location, building and apartment you are renting safe? Remember, you are staying in an unfamiliar city in an unconventional alternative to a hotel, motel or B&B.  Ask yourself if the potential savings is truly worth the additional risks posed.

You should also be extremely alert for the potential financial pitfalls of renting such accommodations. If you send money to a stranger you found on the internet, is there going to actually be a place for you to stay when you arrive? Sites such as Craigslist are fertile ground for scam artists of all types. They will often go to great lengths to make their scams appear legitimate with wonderful photos of fantastic abodes near all the sites and available just when you are looking to travel and at unbelievable prices. Beware, they are often adept at making you part with your money. Check out the business and ask for references. Legitimate places to stay in most cities like Chicago has a website, a Facebook page, are on Google+, LinkedIn and other social media sites. Determine how you will get a refund if all is not as promised. Because of recent scams and problems with unregulated vacation rentals, many jurisdictions have adopted new local laws that require registration and licensing. Check the locale you intend to visit and check with the local tourism bureau or visitors center for further information.

Traveling to a new city is always an adventure.  Make it a pleasurable, memorable one by heeding these few words of caution.