City House Information

Getting to/From Chicago

O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is 22 miles north of our home, Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is about 14 miles away. As United only flys into O'Hare, we encourage you to fly into O'Hare...

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From ORD, you can easily take the CTA Blue Line into town.  At ORD, look for the "Trains to City" signs on the Baggage Claim level.  You will go down one escalator to a terminal transfer level.  When you arrive in the train departure area, there is a vending machine where you can purchase a variety of passes.  It costs $5 to take the train to the city (departing O'Hare), but all other train rides are currently $2.50.  (To check the current fares, click here.) You may want to buy a multi-day pass or load a specific amount on money on the "Ventra" card - which can be used on any CTA trains and buses.

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If you take the Blue Line into downtown, you can get off at a couple of stops.  We recommend the "Clark and Lake" or "Washington" stops. From ORD to downtown is about 45 minutes on the train. If you get off at Clark and Lake it is an inexpensive cab ride to our home.  If you get off at Washington stop, you can catch CTA Bus #60 at the Washington and State bus stop. Take the 60 to the very end of the line, and our home is at the end of N. Harbor Drive (a block from the last bus stop).

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If you want to take a taxi from ORD, taxi's pick up on the Arrivals Level (near baggage claim).  If you want to take an Uber, pick-up is on the Departure Level - between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.  A taxi will cost about $50 and an Uber about $35 (of course depending on traffic).  A car can take from as little as 25 minutes to over 2 hours.

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If you rent a car, there are a number of parking garages near us.  Check this site to see some parking options.

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Automated Lighting

​We have automated lighting in the Living Room area that turns on just by speaking your request.  The only challenge is that you have to use the exact terminology to request lighting.

To turn on the Google Home Assistant lights, please use these statements:

• Hey Google, turn on everything                 All lights will turn on

• Hey Google, turn on sofa                           Turns on the lights on either end of the sofa

• Hey Google, turn on bookcases                Turns on the lights in the bookcases by the TV

• Hey Google, turn on China                         Turns on the lights on the China cabinet

• Hey Google, turn on pineapple                  Turns on the pineapple night light in the China cabinet

• Hey Google, turn on elephant                    Turns on the lights on the elephant case

• Hey Google, turn on entry                          Turns on the pineapple lamp by the front door

• Hey Google, turn on master bedroom       Turns on the table lamp in the master bedroom
   

To turn off any of the lights, say Hey Google, turn off ____________.

Wi-Fi

To join our wi-fi, join Honolulu.

The password is Pineapplehouse (no spaces, capital P).  

Note:  occasionally, the password will not work - in that case use 

pineapple house (with a lower case p)

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Bose Music System

We have a Bose SoundTouch player in almost every room in the house.  To play music, you can use one of the presets on top of each unit, or the remote near each unit.

Preset 1       Hawaiian music from Pandora

Preset 2      Christian music from Pandora

Preset 3      40's-60's radio from Pandora

Preset 4      Broadway show tunes from Pandora

Preset 5      70’s Dance Party from Amazon Music

Preset 6      Changes with the season (Currently nature sounds (birds, crickets, babbling brook))

To play the same music in every room:

1. Download the Bose SoundTouch app.

2. Join the Honolulu Wi-Fi on your phone.

3. Select a room.

4. Select a station.

5. Then add the rooms where you want to play the same music.

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TV

• To watch normal TV, use the Xfinity remote to turn on the TV and select a program.

  • To record a show, press the Record button (either while the show is live or while hovering over it on the Guide).  

  • To watch recorded shows, press the Xfinity button, then Saved.

  • Popular channels:

    • 173    ESPN

    • 179    HGTV

    • 185    Showtime

    • 186    HBO

    • 187    ABC

    • 188    NBC

    • 189    CBS

    • 227   Hallmark Movies and Mysteries

    • 321    Hallmark Channel

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• To use the Apple TV (Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc.), on the Xfinity remote press “TV input” on the lower right corner.  Now you will use the small silver remote to select the app to play. You may also show pictures and videos from your iPhone using Air Play and the Apple TV device.

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Parking Space

• Our parking space is 188, on level 3. To get into the parking garage elevator, you need to use the key fob.  From inside the garage, the garage door opens when you approach.  From outside, press the center button on the sun visor to open the garage door.

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Laundry

• The laundry room is in the kitchen.
   

• Laundry soap in under the washing machine.

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Trash

• The trash chute is located near the elevator.  All trash must be in sealed trash bags.

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Supplies/Towels

• There are supplies (tissue paper, toilet paper, soap, etc.) and extra towels in the guest bedroom closet.
   

• An iron and ironing board are in the guest bedroom closet.

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Fitness Center, Great Room and Game Rooms

• To access the fitness center, great room (large screen TV) or the game rooms, go to the 1st floor.  Go through the doorway that is opposite the lobby - and all of the rooms are connected. The game room has a ping pong table, pool table, foosball table and darts.

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Library

• The library is located across the lobby from the front desk.  You will need the key fob to enter the library.  Books are free to borrow - simply take any book you'd like.

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Swimming Pool

• The pool is open daily from ___ to ___.  The pool is located on the 2nd floor, and requires the key fob for access.  No food or beverage is allowed in the pool area.

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Shopping/Food/Entertainment

• The closest grocery store is the Marino's on far corner of the park just across the street from our building.

• The closest drug store is CVS on Columbus Dr.  You can get there by walking through the park and walking up the steps on the west side of the park, or taking the Aqua building elevator up to the 'upper street level'.

• Domino's delivers to our house:  (312) 666-5900.​

• For more an upscale shopping experience, check out the Magnificent Mile. The Magnificent Mile starts is on Michigan Avenue starting at the river and going north.

• We are very fortunate to have some of Chicago's best attractions within easy walking distance of our home.

  • Art Institute of Chicago

  • Adler Planetarium

  • Field Museum of Natural History

  • Shedd Aquarium

  • Cloud Gate

  • Maggie Daily Park

  • Millennium Park

  • Navy Pier

  • Broadway in Chicago

  • North Avenue Beach

  • Architecture Boat Cruise

  • Chicago River Walk

  • Urban Kayaks

  • Chicago Architecture Foundation

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Getting Around

It is easy to order an Uber, but you may need to help them find our house.  Call your Uber driver and tell them to take Upper Randolph all the way to the end (towards Lake Michigan).  At the end of Randolph, turn left on North Harbor Drive, and at the end of the street, turn left towards the Regatta (420 E Waterside).

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Chicago offers a bike share program called Divvy Bikes.  There are nearly 600 bike stations all around the city, with nearly 6,000 bikes available. Check out how the program works, by clicking here.

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Contacts

Mike McMurry cell...................312-405-7600 or 832-332-3807

Steven Baalson cell................832-656-7185

Regatta Office..........................312-819-1754

Paul Mierzwa - Manager                                                            

420 E. Waterside Drive, #508

Chicago, IL 60601