HOUSE OF TWO URNS

 CHICAGO BED & BREAKFAST and APARTMENTS

4.5 stars  Audience Winner in the Best of Citysearch Chicago 2007 "Best of Bed and Breakfasts"

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House of Two Urns B&B guestrooms and apartments are ALL located on the: 1200 Block of North Greenview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642  (1500 West, 1200 North) near Division/Ashland/Milwaukee Avenues (Latitude: 41.9022 Longitude: -87.6726)  If you wish to mapquest, use 1239 N. Greenview Ave., Chicago, IL 60642

We are located just 4 minutes from downtown via subway train in the SE corner of the Wicker Park neighborhood - just 1 block away from 3 bus lines - Division (#70), Ashland (#9) and Milwaukee (#56),  1 block to the Blue Line subway, cab stand and 3 blocks to the North Avenue bus line (#72)  or the Kennedy (I-90/94) Expressway.  We are the longest running B&B's in Chicago, celebrating our 17th year in operation this year.
  

Proximity to local sights: 

1 block east and 1/2 block north of  the Blue line Stop at Division/Milwaukee; Division St. and  Ashland Avenue buses and 3.5 blocks north to the North Avenue bus.

2 miles due west of Lake Michigan; the north end of the "Mag" Mile (Michigan and Walton), Oak Street shops, Oak Street Beach

2.5 miles NW of the Loop (downtown Chicago) -Millennium Park or the Art Institute of Chicago

3.25 miles to the Museum Campus  (Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Soldiers' Field)    

6 miles NW from McCormick Place - convention center

9 miles NW of the Hyde Park neighborhood, University of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, DuSable Museum

We are within walking distance from many delightful and award-winning restaurants, bars, coffeehouses, galleries, music venues and eclectic boutiques in the Wicker Park, Bucktown and East Village/West Town neighborhoods.

History of 1239 N. Greenview
The main inn, a charming 1912 brownstone, was originally built as a bakery  by L. Novy & Son, architects, for Zygmunt Jablonawski, a Polish baker, and the Jablonawski family's apartment on the second floor still retains the originally traditional Victorian floor plan for a Chicago flat at the turn of the 20th century.  Long-time residents remember returning home from WWII and heading here first for a loaf of Polish rye from this bakery - reportedly the best in town and a beer at "Ma's" the tavern that was next door at the time.   The building later became a coin and stamp shop in the 1960's when it was owned by Antone Obodzinski and still offers the original tin ceiling and the terrazzo floor in the breakfast room.  One previous owner repaired gumball machines and at one time reportedly, the back of the storefront was filled with hundreds of gumball machines on myriad tables.  Indulge in a penny gumball from our machine, that recalls part of the history of this building and the many stories and lives that have passed through it.  

In 2007, we watched as a local Polish tradesman restored the front of the building to a more traditional storefront window and replaced all the face bricks, but kept as much of the limestone trim as possible restoring the facade of 1239 N. Greenview back to its original glory.  The original stained glass is still present on the second floor, but Miguel restored two stained glass "urns" and they now grace the first floor breakfast room..

We also offer furnished apartments in a 104 year old storefront that was once a candy store on the same 1200 block of N. Greenview  with two apartments available -- the "Bucktown apartment", a 3 bedroom/2 bath unit that can sleep up to 7 guests and the "Wicker Park apartment"  3 bedroom/1 bath unit that can sleep up to 5 guests and one baby.  

Amenities

All guestrooms include spa robes and slippers, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, free local phone calls, satellite TV with DVD or VCR, alarm clock radio, umbrella, complimentary coffee/tea/snack service.

The inn is a smoke-free and pet-free environment; an exterior deck is available for smokers (or non-smokers) to enjoy an urban rooftop view and a lovely side garden allows a quiet respite for guests among flowers, fruit trees and berries.   We do not accept pets as guests.  There is no handicapped access and non-walking infants (up to 12 months) and children  over the age of 6 are welcome in only some of our guestrooms and apartment units - please inform us of the ages of children traveling with you and we will be happy to find the best solution for your needs.  Two of our units offer cribs at no extra cost for infants.   We also have an array of toys, books and board games that can suit families with children of any age.   We also offer high-speed internet access via a computer station for all guests and a  wi-fi connection - all included at no additional cost.  Included in our rates are off-street parking for guestrooms.  The Wicker Park apartment renters are given permits for on-street parking, if a garage space is available, we will notify you at the time of check in..

Two of the guestrooms  (Cat and Alice) share a bathroom; the Porzellanzimmer and Alcova both have private baths and an Eastlake appointed sitting room, computer room, dining room, rooftop deck and side garden afford plenty of comfortable lounging space outside of guestrooms at the main inn.   A guest kitchen is available with complimentary teas, coffee, sodas and snacks.  Garden fresh fruits grace the hearty full breakfast of breads, muffins; cereal and milk; yogurt; orange juice; coffee or tea and a "Blue Plate Special" that consists of a chef's choice hot egg or breakfast dish like french toast, pancakes, waffles, and optional side of meat.

Guests staying in the Bucktown or Chambre des Amis join guests at the main inn for breakfast.  However, please note that the Wicker Park, Bucktown and Two Urns apartment rentals do not include breakfast.    "August" , a local specialty grocer is just 1/2 block away at the corner.   Maid service is not provided in these self-contained  apartments, but free laundry facilities are available in the basement of the annex building for any guests to use during daytime hours.

History of the B&B
Kapra Fleming opened the B&B in July 1991 with one guest room and Two Urns gradually expanded as business demand grew.  In January, 1992 an article appeared in Chicago magazine announcing the addition of Alice's Room (see below). Expanding into a family run business, Kapra was joined by spouse, Miguel, in running the inn in 2002 with two newly renovated apartment units which opened in the late winter of 2002.  

International Flavor
Guests from around the world have enjoyed the hospitality of the resident Inn mates and artists, Kapra and Miguel, who as hosts, are very knowledgeable about the arts in Chicago, sightseeing and cultural events and will make your trip a very enjoyable and memorable one. English, German, Spanish and limited French are all spoken here.   Miguel's prints, photographs, sculptures and etchings are available for sale in the breakfast room.  Just ask to see his portfolio.

As a professionally run inn we are members of:

About the Host
Kapra Fleming is a video artist who has taught  video to youth in Chicago public schools and through at-risk programs and produces video "portraits" of people or places.   She is the president of the Pulaski Park Neighborhood Association and is involved in starting an oral history project about the neighborhood.  She started the B&B by fate more than fantasy, and laughs at the guests, who dream about "retiring" with a B&B.  Two Urns has developed into a major part of her work schedule that is now busy with a 13 year old daughter and her "Karate Mom" schedule of after-school karate and choir; and husband, Miguel Lopez-Lemus, a sculptor, poet and theatre director helps out as the resident IT expert, plumbing guru and native Spanish speaker.

For more information regarding cultural events in Chicago please check out these websites:
 www.visitchicago.com or www.arteenchicago.net .

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Travel Guides

BlackBook List: Chicago 2006, Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Hotels, p. 123

Hughes, Claire, Waking up in Chicago, 2004, p. 13

Levine, Dan, Avant-Guide Chicago, 2004, p. 18

Moon Metro Chicago, Avalon Travel Publishing, 2002, Quaint Hotels, p. 74
Kelly, Michelle Roy and Wood,Jennifer M.

Mr. Cheap's Chicago, "Holbrook: Adams Media Corporation, 2000" p.229                   

McHugh, Rich The Rough Guide to Chicago, 2000, p. 137

Aibel, Daniel, etal. Cognoscenti Mapguides Chicago "Cambridge: Cognoscenti Mapguides, 2000"

Lanier, Pamela. The Complete Guide to Bed & Breakfasts, Inns & Guesthouses in the United States, Canada & Worldwide, " Berkeley: Lanier Publishing Intl., Ltd., 1999" p.167

Sakach, Deborah Edwards. The Official Guide to American Historic Inns, "Dana Point: American Historic Inns, Inc., 2000" p.113


Periodicals

Aiglon, Kelly, "B&B Brunch", Chicago Tribune, April 4, 2007, Good Eating, Section 7

Bertagnoli, Lisa, "City B&Bs: Do you dare?", Crain's Chicago Business, July 4, 2005, The Business of Life, pp 23-24.

Elder, Robert. "Beyond the hotels: Other unusual places to stay", Chicago Tribune, June 2, 2005, At Play, section 5A p.10.

Fowler, Brenda. "The Many Accents of Wicker Park", The New York Times, 24 March 2002 TR9
 

Lee, Gary. "Out of the Loop in Chicago", The Washington Post, 10 September 2000: E1+

Lauerman, Connie. "City B&Bs",The Chicago Tribune, 7 September 1999: 5A+

Lee, Gary. "Finding a bed and breakfast tucked into the big city," The Plain Dealer, 30 May 1999: 6J

Lee, Gary. "Urban B&Bs," The Washington Post, 20 December 1998: E1+

"Der Blues", Das Reisemagazin Geosaison, Hamburg: Geosaison, Heft 4/1999: 91

Gaines, Sallie. "Houses of Inn Repute," The Chicago Tribune, 16 March 1997: Real Estate section

Sherrod, Pamela. "Side Trips," The Chicago Tribune, 5 February 1995: Section 15, p.3

Stamets, Bill. "Inn Style," Chicago Magazine, January, 1992: p.13

The House of Two Urns B&B is fully inspected, licensed and approved by the City of Chicago and the Illinois Bed and Breakfast Association and is a member of the Chicago Bed and Breakfast Association and the American and Illinois Hotel Motel Associations.  Chicago Bed & Breakfast Establishments are required to be licensed and inspected, but not all are, if we do not have space, please check with one of our city licensed and inspected colleagues at:  www.chicago-bed-breakfast.com the ONLY website where only licensed and inspected B&Bs can be found.

  This Inn is an Avant-Guide Chicago Editor's Choice Award Winner.

House of Two Urns 1239 N. Greenview. Chicago, Illinois, 60622. USA  Tel: 773 /235-1408 Fax: 773/235-1410

Send e-mail to:  info@twourns.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003
Last modified: 04/14/09

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