Salutations™!!
I’m going to start by saying I’m not at all putting down or taking away from people that have money or people that spend said money. I may only talk bad about the things that they buy and who sells it to them.
So The BCPF finally got a reprieve from her work duties and we started our weekend “early,” yesterday. So we moved hotels. I will say I miss that view, as I knew I would and the new hotel, Hotel Chicago, is a bit “unique.” It’s in the same parking lot as the original House of Blues. The lobby is a little old-styled. Lots of lines and just a few places to sit with the obligatory backlit bar. We went to the elevators and there was a lot of wood paneling there; 1960s-early 70s style. The lift itself was also heavy with dark wood and lush. We then got off the lift there is metallic silver wallpaper lining the hallways with dark wood trim. There is a room called the Millennium Club which more closely resembles the 1960s view of the Jetsons version of the Millennium. It only has a few block sofas with a coffee table (I believe it was wooden) but it does have a huge flatscreen TV (like when George would talk to Mr. Spacely, right? Right). But, as far as I can tell, there is NOTHING else in that room. It’s behind a glass door that is locked so we could only look in.
We get to our room and there is a lot of straight lines with grey wallpaper on one wall with a large, light brown desk “system” with a glass top and glass ball handle upon a door that reads “Honor Bar.” When you open said door, there is a fridge lined with slotted space for bottles of alcoholic, and presumably, non-alcoholic items. The problem? While it is on, there is nothing in it. I guess they don’t trust me. There is also a large wooden piece on the wall that houses a Samsung flatscreen. It’s obviously the newest thing in here. The trim around the door is three inch crown molding that is painted either black or dark grey. The carpet seems to be kind of new but it’s also dark grey or black with speckles. Another, very large “wardrobe” styled closet with ’60s-styled silver handles is in the “hallway.” It wraps around to the side and displays a large beveled mirror that has been overlaid with some artsy pictures of Marina City (think the cover of Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot album); very bizarre. The end tables are both also the light 
brown wood. The left of the bed has one shaped like a trapazoid. The right of the bed has one that is somewhat bulbous on four curved legs and a hollowed out section on the top with some strange black marbles covered by glass. The weirdest (yes it gets better) part of the main room is the off-white, somewhat dirty looking background with darker olive green or even brown designs of which I can’t even begin to describe the shapes. For that, I’m including a pic (that’s it –> ). It’s not easy on the eyes. And the “headboard” of the bed is a paisley-laden and buttoned grey leather.
The bathroom’s floor is black and white squared tile. The wallpaper is avocado green, not quite 70s but not quite not. The tub looks to be from at least the early 1980s and they have squirt bottles in the tub that are labeled “gel douche” (shower gel in French), “après-shampoo” (after shampoo) and “shampoo”. The vanity is (of course) dark grey or black and the mirror is framed with a more modern black matte. So they tried to get some modern in there, I guess. And the view? I must have used all the mojo for the Swisshôtel view because now I get a rooftop with a big watertower. I get some of the city, yay me. This is a hotel that would make Don Draper feel very at home. In fact it is like the apartment that he and Megan shared in NYC. I’m not knocking it, I just find it bizarre. The staff have all been wonderful. I think I need to go get an old fashioned (incidentally my and Don’s favorite drink) just because.
So, we walked about and looked at stores and shops. For fun, we walked into both Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue. The selection in this Tiffany seemed very slim and limited. I’m sure the one in NYC would have more. But, it was ridiculous at how expensive things were. Stuff that I really don’t see people wearing much. But, that wasn’t offensive. We moved to Saks right across the street. First we had to walk through a wall of perfume and let me tell you holding your breath after you’ve been walking several miles, and you’re fat… is very difficult. So we made it to the back to where their jewelery was, it was funny how you saw (nearly) no price tags. They want you to look closer and touch it, I get it. There was an escalator which turns out there are about six floors in this store. We went up and the first three upper floors were women’s clothing. We decided to walk about the floors and look. The clothing was elegant and I can see people wearing this everyday. What I can’t see is people paying this kind of money for them. There was a ladies’ tank top that was made of very thin material (you could see through it) and it was $120! You can buy an identical piece of clothing, of the same quality but without the “brand” at JCPenny or Sears or Walmart for $25 or less. We stood beside a “business” top that cost $1495. I was starting to get really bothered by this. We made it to the men’s section and the prices on jeans were around $220. Nope. The top floor was more “urban” wear with pixelated urban camouflage shirts and a long sleeved sweatshirt with rubber flames that were each $750. A shirt. $750. There was a show that looked like “boots with the fur” and had spikes on the back spine that was $1300. The top floor also has a bar called “Sohpie’s.” I didn’t even go over there because I figured a beer would have be $35 at least and a cocktail would have been around $80. I don’t know, just a guess. At this time I told The BCPF that my level of disgust was to its tipping point and we had to leave. We made our descent.
Again, I don’t have a problem with people having money or how they spend their money. However, the fact that this stuff was the cost it was for what you were actually buying, that is quite offensive to me and I truly was disgusted. If I had money, I’d not spend that kind of money on a shirt or stupid shoes with fur and spikes. I may buy the stuff but not at that cost. It’s ridiculous and the fact that the stores flaunt it like that is, frankly, gross. I can say that I went in Saks Fifth Avenue and never have to go back. But, Dear Reader, let me say, (and here is a warning for TMI and something that I normally wouldn’t say) that there is nothing and I mean NOTHING as satisfying as passing a little gas right by a women’s business jacket that costs $1495. That made the whole trip inside worth it. Then there was the rush through the perfume to get out.
I have more to talk about from yesterday but I’m already approaching 1300 words. Another time. Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!
—
“The saddest thing I can imagine is to get used to luxury.” – Charles Chaplin
