Beautiful Skyline View from the 96th Floor
The Signature Lounge
A Ride to the Top
Watch the City Lights Glimmer in the Sky from the Signature Lounge
The Signature Lounge, 96th floor on top of the John Hancock Center is a must-do event if you have just moved to Chicago, have lived there forever, or if you are just visiting the city for a few days. From outstanding views of the Omni Hotel on Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile, the crystal blue water of Lake Michigan, or Navy Pier, this drink spot should top your list of memorable experiences.
My family is from the Chicago area and I lived there most of my life. It is an awesome place to experience during the Christmas holidays and I had done that many times; my two sisters and I took my mother every year. We would stay at the Omni Hotel on Michigan Avenue, take the traditional horse and carriage ride, eat at Frogs Restaurant, shop the Magnificent Mile and take in all of the beautiful decorations but had never gone to the Hancock Building. Christmas 2000, we decided to visit the Signature Lounge at the top of the Hancock. It was an unforgettable experience.
The Omni Hotel
My family is from the Chicago area and I lived there most of my life. It is an awesome place to experience during the Christmas holidays and I had done that many times; my two sisters and I took my mother every year. We would stay at the Omni Hotel on Michigan Avenue, take the traditional horse and carriage ride, eat at Frogs Restaurant, shop the Magnificent Mile and take in all of the beautiful decorations but had never gone to the Hancock Building. Christmas 2000, we decided to visit the Signature Lounge at the top of the Hancock. It was an unforgettable experience.
The Omni Hotel
Gibson's/Hugo's Frog Bar and Restaurant
Horse and Carriage Ride - Christmas in Chicago
The Magnificent Mile
We started out at the Omni Hotel, hailed a cab and went to Gibson's/Hugo's Frog Bar and Restaurant on Rush Street and did the horse and carriage ride (my mother loves this). There's something about a horse and carriage to make you feel like Cinderella. After that, we would usually, in previous years, return to the hotel. This year (2000), however, we all decided we should end the evening at the top of the John Hancock Building, on the 96th floor, at the Signature Lounge. We absolutely could not have ended our evening any better. It was so interesting, fun, and scary all at the same time. The experience starts at the elevator. We all took a deep breath and braced ourselves for a scary, traumatic, ear-popping ride up to the 96th floor. Actually, it was a pleasantly smooth, speedy (20 mph) ride up. 
The night view is stunning and breathtaking. You might think this is only for tourists and would provide the expected overpriced cocktail and crowded tables. The Signature Lounge is a tourist attraction, it's true, but more for its unbeatable views and acclaimed reputation as a not-to-be missed sight than an over-hyped tourist trap. They do offer a grand cocktail menu with strong and tasty drinks to enjoy as you take in some of the best views of Chicago and its lake. Enjoy one of the many speciality drinks or sip a Signature martini like the "Sidecar" prepared with Hennessey, Cointreau and lime juice. From the classic dirty martini, cleverly named the Michigan Avenue Martini, to the more exotic Rush Street made with Bailey's Irish Cream, Frangelico, Amaretto DeSaranno, and cream, the beverage choices are endless. You can complete the experience with a light hors d'oeuvre off of the bar menu and you might just find yourself enjoying the perfect cocktail hour. However, don't become too comfortable at your table because some of the angles of the city skyline can best be taken in by making a trip around the room..
This is a list with prices of some of the specialty drinks.
The lounge offers a fantastic view of Navy Pier. Navy Pier is one of Chicago's most popular attractions and features more than 50 acres of parks, promenades and attractions for visitors and residents to enjoy. A 150-foot Ferris wheel offers unparalleled views of Chicago's breathtaking skyline and stunning cityscape. Entertainment options abound, from the Navy Pier IMAX Theater to the Chicago Children's Museum and live entertainment year-round.
Chicago has one of the most beautiful skylines in the country. At the Signature Lounge you're on the 96th floor, so you are as high as the helicopters and planes flying nearby and the wrap around windows give you a perfect eye level view.
Whether for the drinks, dinner, or to just look out the ladies' bathroom, a stop on the 96th floor is definitely a must-see when in Chicago.
SOME FACTS:
John Hancock Center: Chicago's third tallest building. Including its antennas, the John Hancock Center reaches a height of 457m/1,499f. The building has an observatory on the 94th floor (314m/1,030f). You will get 360-degree views of Chicago, and on clear days you can see parts of the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and other parts of Illinois, as well. The observatory is also home to a skywalk (an open-air viewing area) and a history wall, with over 100 photos of Chicago (skyscraper history).
When completed in 1969, the John Hancock Center was the the third tallest building in the world until 1973, when Aon Center (then named Standard Oil Building) took over. The JH Center has the highest residences in the world; it is home to over 700 apartments as well as several floors of office space and shops on the ground floor and basement areas. Because of the X-bracing exterior no inner support beams were necessary, which greatly increased the usable floor area. The 44th floor contains the United States' highest indoor swimming pool. Building costs were an approximate US$95,000,000.
Works Cited
Beckers, P. (2010, May). Retrieved from Welcome to the SKYSCRAPER PICTURE web site:
Chicago, C.o. (2010-2012). Explore Chicago. Retrieved from The City of Chicago's Tourism
Design, D.R. (2012). The Signature Lounge at the 96th. Retrieved from The Signature Room:
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