Another Second City

With all of its hotel and convention traffic, Rosemont (population 5,000) bustles like a city ten times its size. "This area is becoming a second downtown," says Ron Stern, general manager of the stylish Rosemont Theatre. The 4,200-seat facility brings top theatrical productions and music -- from the Chicagoland Pops to Harry Connick, Jr. -- to this community in the shadow of O'Hare. The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, across from the theater, generates a buzz of activity far beyond what a visitor would expect from a much larger community.

A number of top Chicago restaurants have opened sibling eateries in the area. From the choice cuts of meat served at Morton's Steakhouse/Rosemont and the fresh seafood at Nick's Fishmarket to the whopping portions at Harry Caray's Rosemont and deep-dish Chicago-style pizza across the city line at Gino's East, the suburbs offer the fine dining long associated with the city -- without the cab fares, parking fees or crowds.

In fact, because the area depends so heavily on business travelers and conventions, weekend vacationers find popular places even less crowded than they are during the week. That's the case at Harry Caray's Rosemont. The menu and atmosphere are identical to the downtown location, as if the restaurant had transplanted itself to fit a smaller space within an outlying Holiday Inn Select. The same autographed jerseys and vintage sports photos, same festive atmosphere, same oversized portions of pasta. But it's filled with business types during the week and less busy on weekends.

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