Via For VIP Car Service

Sick of the subway?  If you’ve been in NY long enough, you’ll surely have subway horror stories to share.  I once got my purse snatched in the middle of the day while riding the subway uptown for instance!  And I’ve seen so many unmentionable things while riding the subway that I wish I could erase from my memory but can’t haha!  Daily complaints abound from MTA commuters and include but are not limited to:

  • Express trains suddenly running local
  • Trains running on the wrong track or not running at all -no explanation
  • no AC in the waiting areas
  • dirty all the time
  • being crammed in during rush hour and having to worry about pick-pocket-ers or worse
  • not being able to get a seat even if you’re pregnant
  • not having elevator access, a huge problem if you have a stroller!
  • Rats.  Ew the rats!

In comes Via to save the day!

Cheaper than getting a private car or jumping into a NY taxi cab, Via gets you to and from your destination like a VIP.  You can avoid all the aforementioned subway issues and have your own personal driver or share a ride with others going the same way for a fraction of the price.

I love that with Via, I get to rest my feet, relax with AC on, and charge up my phone (drivers often let you use their chargers!)

And the ride share program is perfect for a guilt-free, affordable car service. The NY Times likens it to taking a luxury bus lol. You split the cost by picking up /dropping up other passenger(s) along the way.  Their easy-to-navigate app, has an algorithm that will magically match you and your destination with someone going the same direction.

With all the places we needed to be as a busy mom and active school-aged child, I am so happy to rely on Via for pickups in all 5 NY boroughs.  The back to school and NYFW periods the first couple weeks of September were super-action-packed, sometimes requiring 3-5 destinations a day between my child and me.  With Via, I avoided meltdowns from the overheated subway, meltdowns from my child who hates to walk long distances, and got everywhere I needed to be on time and without the chaos associated with packed trains.

Via operates 24/7 through the 5 boroughs – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. They also transport to and from LaGuardia, John F. Kennedy, and Newark International Airports, as well as operating in Chicago and DC.

via car, nyc shared ride, shared ride, via logo, via car service, via review

For $10 of free credit, which you can use toward your first Via ride, download the app through the link here and enter promo code ” STYLISHLYSTELLA10″  Enjoy!!

This is a sponsored post but as always, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

 

 

\

Afternoon Tea in Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel – Everything You Want To Know

peninsula hotel review, chicago peninsula hotel, chicago bloggers, chicago hotel review, chicago afternoon tea

Time for a tea party!

My minifashionista loves a good tea party.  Whether it is at home with princess playmates and pretend tea set, or to celebrate a birthday, or in London (her first fancy afternoon tea), she (and I) are always up for a little afternoon tea.  So when daddy proposed the grand and impromptu idea to enjoy a little afternoon tea during our stay at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago this summer, we excitedly agreed to it!

The setting

We just love the beautiful restaurant, located in the lobby of the hotel with its dramatic floral arrangements, 20 ft. high, floor-to-ceiling windows, and elegant atmosphere.  It’s certainly the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or just to celebrate the everyday like we did!

(this picture taken from Peninsula’s website)

The menu

The afternoon tea included a delectable sampling of savory and sweet bites.

peninsula hotel afternoon tea, peninsula hotel tea service, peninsula hotel chicago

For the adults, sandwiches included the traditional variety: salmon and cream cheese, egg salad, tuna fish, and cucumber.  The middle tray included 2 scones and the top tray featured all the pretty desserts and treats.  As you can imagine, it took all my willpower not to start there first!

For kids

Everything was so perfectly pretty that the tiered tray just begged for a picture.  Juliet enjoyed ordering from the kid’s menu which also featured a decadent afternoon tea with treats including: gummy bears, jello shot, and her own collection of bite-sized pastries and chocolates prepared by the Peninsula’s world-renowned culinary team.  We should note that children’s, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free afternoon tea menus are also available upon request.

afternoon tea at the peninsula hotel chicago, peninsula hotel chicago, chicago peninsula hotel, chicago afternoon tea

French fries, baby burger, a ham and cheese sandwich shaped like a teddy bear, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich slice rounded out her plate. When she accidentally dropped her PB&J, the waiter jumped to offer her another one.  What service!  But he didn’t just come back with her replacement sandwich.

The surprises

He returned to also magically place the Peninsula bear on her seat without her realizing.  She discovered it moments after he left and was left curious as to how he got there.  When she asked the waiter about it, he playfully guessed that the bear must’ve jumped up onto her chair when she wasn’t looking, hoping to find a new home!  Juliet was ecstatic to find a new friend to enjoy tea with and she quickly introduced him to her pet bunny.  Together we all had a grand old time! The tea selection is vast and impressive ranging from oolong, herbal, green, black teas.  And we found that ordering one afternoon tea set, and one children’s set was enough for the 3 of us to enjoy as a family.

peninsula afternoon tea review, afternoon tea at the peninsula hotel chicago, peninsula hotel tea

And what made the afternoon tea even more memorable was the live music that we were treated to!  chicago peninsula hotel tea, chicago peninsula hotel, afternoon tea at peninsula hotel

A cellist and violinist serenaded us!

Location and times

The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago is located at 108 E. Superior St. between N. Michigan Avenue and Rush St.  And afternoon tea times are:
2:30 pm, 4:30 pm (Mon – Sat) and 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm (Sun). $65 for the adult tea order and $39 for the kid’s portion.

We highly recommend this AND the chocolate buffet served Friday and Sundays (7pm-10:30pm)

the penninsula hotel, luxury chicago hotel, penninsula hotel,chicago hotels, 5 star hotel,

We hope you enjoyed this insider’s peek into the Peninsula’s perfect afternoon tea!

Click here to read about how to plan a kids’ tea party – princess style!

Click here to see the teddy bear tea party we planned!

Click here to see the first tea party for toddlers that we hosted at home!

© 2024 Stylishly Stella