Costa Lota • Vintage 1BR Near Wrigley

This 1BR in Ravenswood is what happens when someone paints everything white and then thinks, “Yes, let’s add a giant Lenin portrait.” Add a few David Shrigley works, some surprisingly soft linens, and you’ve got a space that’s clean, bright, (just a little alarming), and very much on purpose. The space 10 takeaways for people who don’t have the patience to read my ramblings (but still deserve a very nice place to stay) • Entire 1BR apartment in Ravenswood, on Chicago’s North Side • Sleeps 2 (Queen bed) • Full kitchen + fast Wi-Fi • Work-friendly table ideal for remote work • Tub/ shower with (occasionally moody but mostly good) water pressure • Professionally cleaned by people who care deeply and would benefit from other hobbies • 20-minute walk to Wrigley, 10-minute stroll to the Brown Line • Ground-floor unit in a vintage building (quirks included, free of charge) • Hosted by a creative human, managed by professionals who actually pick up the phone • Thoughtful touches, neurotic art • 24/7 phone support after booking • The towels are nice and the bath products aren’t from a gas station. You’ll be fine I also run another apartment in this building, plus a few more in the neighborhood. Each one has its own personality - if you’re curious, look for the other terrible puns: 'Alpaca my Bags' and 'Shingle Life' are a couple of them. You'll find soft, nice sheets (not the nylon nightmares other hosts offer up), good pillows, a nice mattress, thick towels, and Public Goods bath products. I also keep you stocked with coffee and a few small extras to make mornings feel less like punishment. I’ve partnered with a top-tier management team to handle logistics and cleaning, so you get both thoughtful design and professional support. You’re getting the best of both worlds here: I get to be your friendly, creative host...sharing local tips and a well-loved space...without also being the person scrubbing behind the toilet. I wouldn’t list a space I wouldn’t stay in myself, so I like to point out every quirk! Clear expectations make for great stays. There are four steps down into the unit, so it’s not great for guests with limited mobility. And yes, it's the ground floor of a 120-year-old building, so you will hear footsteps above and encounter a radiator that is passionate and not afraid to express itself. But also: you'll sleep well here. It’s quiet for being in the city. It’s comfy. And the fellow on the bedroom wall is watching over you. (Kind of intensely.) This is a vintage Chicago apartment with the layout to prove it: the closet is in the wrong place, the hallway has an attitude, and yes, you may spot the occasional rogue cobweb despite my excellent cleaning team. But if you’re into character, comfort, and staying somewhere that doesn’t feel like an abused IKEA showroom... welcome home. Location: The flat is in Ravenswood, a peaceful, tree-lined neighborhood with its own vibe. You’re tucked into a quiet pocket of the city just a few blocks from Clark Street, where things get lively fast. Walk ten minutes and you’re on the Brown Line train (a super scenic trip that takes you straight into the heart of the city) or hop the Clark bus and you’ll be down in Wrigleyville or up in Andersonville before your phone finishes loading the weather. Wrigley Field really is a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute cab ride. Cubs game nights bring extra energy and temporary parking drama...more on that in the next section. This is also a great spot for longer stays or remote work thanks to quiet surroundings and easy North Side transit. Ravenswood is considered one of the best-connected North Side neighborhoods for exploring Chicago without a car. Parking: I’ll say this, and really mean it: we are so well located with transit and ride share options you probably won’t need a car unless you are using it to get to Chicago. If you are insisting on it, there’s no designated parking spot. Street parking is generally available on our block and surrounding ones, except during Cubs games or Wrigley Field events between 5 and 10pm. At those times, the city enforces a strict “we will absolutely tow your car” vibe. It’s very effective. Your best bet? SpotHero. It’s an app that lets you book a spot in advance and avoid the whole “circling for 40 minutes while reevaluating your life choices” thing. Put in Montrose and Greenview to show the nearest spots. Otherwise, the city parking restrictions drop off a few blocks over even during game days. City street parking in Chicago is an art form, on game days it requires cunning and skill, plus panther-like parallel parking abilities. Also, a universal city tip: please read the signs. All of them. Chicago’s parking rules were clearly written by a sleep-deprived poet with a grudge. Exclusive perks: Guests staying under 14 days get access to The Metropolitan Club, a members-only co-working and dining space on the 66th and 67th floors of the Willis Tower. Yes, it’s fancy. Yes, the view is outrageous. Yes, you can take your laptop and pretend to be someone who owns a watch that ticks. Design notes: The showpiece here is the Lawson-Fenning sofa... impossibly handsome, annoyingly comfortable, and the kind of thing people pretend not to Google the price of. The canopy bed was chosen for its primary function: encouraging you to stay horizontal for an unreasonable portion of the day while feeling utterly fabulous. And then there are the vintage car crash PSA posters. They’re historic, educational, and… well, they’re something. Consider them the apartment’s way of reminding you to make good choices. Guest access You’ve got the entire flat to yourself. I promise you won’t somehow find your host staring into the refrigerator at 2 am. If you’re a smoker, please head off-property. Outside the back door or in the courtyard garden still counts as “on property,” so plan accordingly. Vaping indoors and fun things from our local dispensary also count as “no.” (And no, that one clove cigarette you brought back from Berlin doesn’t get a pass.) Other things to note Q: How do I get to [place] from here? A: Google Maps is your best friend. We’re near the Montrose Brown Line stop, which connects easily to everything. Need to drop in a search pin? Use Greenview and Berteau to explore the immediate area. Q: When is check-in/check-out? A: Check-in is at 4pm. Check-out is at 11am. If you need a place to stash bags before or after, I can recommend a local luggage drop service. It never hurts to ask about early check-in…if we can, we do it. But a late checkout is always going to be a no, as our team of cleaners get their hustle on during the day so they can go home to their family at night. Q: Do you have air conditioning or heat? A: We do! Radiator heat is supplied by the building (and turned on/off by folks who are not us with keys to the boiler room). In warm months, window units will be installed starting mid-May. The space stays comfortable year-round, though folks often crack a window in the winter months when they start feeling the vapors. Why stay here? Because I’ve done the hard part. I’ve figured out how to make a space that’s both beautiful and genuinely comfortable. A space where you can fall asleep under weird art and wake up to good light. A space that feels personal—but doesn’t have anyone’s toothbrush forgotten in the silverware drawer. I’m the kind of host who wants to tell you where to get the best almond croissant and how to dodge Chicago parking tickets. I love sharing this place with people who notice details—who get joy from great sheets, slightly unhinged art, and the quiet thrill of exploring someplace new. Before you book, our virtual front desk is available from 9am to 7pm CST to answer any questions you have. After you book, you’ll get access to that same virtual support during those hours plus a phone number where you can reach a real, live human being 24 hours a day—whether you’re locked out or just panicking about how the stove works. Hope you love it. Hope you come back. Registration details R22000087248