The Union League Club Offers Culture and Exclusivity
If you're used to the finer things in life and travel to Chicago a lot, you might want to consider joining a culturally-minded group such as the Union League Club of Chicago at 65 W. Jackson Blvd. Think of it as a country club/luxury hotel, located downtown--within walking distance of exciting restaurants, museums, merchants and businesses including Grant Park and the Art Institute.
This five-star private club was founded in 1879 to encourage non-partisan patriotism and support the U.S. government. But the group has a deep history of involvement in the social and civic arts-its founding members were involved with the planning of the 1893 Columbian Exposition and the founding of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Auditorium Theater. More recently, they also helped to build the Harold Washington Library Center. Philanthropy is a big part of the club's mission, offering arts scholarships, launching engineering careers and helping kids with Union League Boys and Girls Clubs.
As you might expect, an organization this storied includes dozens of programs each month, from wine tastings and concert outings to tours and sporting events. The building itself includes a five story athletic facility with classes of all kinds plus a spa and a pool, a library, business center and 190 guest rooms and suites. It's a dignified place with lots of dark wood, excellent service, award-winning food and elegant rooms. But the thing that really makes the Union League Club stand out is its art collection. Billed as one of the largest and most important collections of American art held by a private institution in the Midwest, the building boasts over 750 pieces of art.
The pride of the collection is "Pommiers en fleurs," a landscape by Claude Monet that was purchased for $500 in 1895. It dates from 1872 and was shown at the second of the Impressionist salons in Paris in 1876. Many of the other pictures in the collection are by American artists working in the mid-19th century to mid-20th century. They include works by George Healy, William Wendt, social realist Anna Lou Matthews, Blue Rider Albert Bloch and many, many others of both local and international significance. But you will find a few more modern works as well. The collection is spread out all over the hotel, with a second floor salon of particular interest. And if I remember correctly, it's the ninth floor that holds a nice collection of black-and-white photos from Chicago's much vaunted Columbian Exposition.
To get a room here, you need to be a member or become sponsored by a member. Members also get privileges at a number of local country clubs and golf courses, in addition to the on-site amenities. Valet parking is expensive at $18 for the first four hours ($21 for overnight), but a parking garage just down the street is available for half that price. Directions are easy-just take I90/94 to Jackson, then go east until you reach the club. Turn right (south) at S. Federal Street for parking. The site is also easily accessible from the Red Line CTA, the Blue Line CTA or any Loop el train. For membership and additional information, go to www.ulcc.org.
