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This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Botulism is a serious foodborne neuroparalytic disease, caused by botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), produced by the anaerobic bacterium
Foodborne botulism is a serious condition that is often fatal if untreated. The causative agent, botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT, EC 220.127.116.11) is produced by
BoNTs are dichain protein toxins consisting of an ~100 kDa heavy chain (HC) and ~50 kDa light chain (LC) linked by a single disulfide bond. The HC functions by binding nerve cells and facilitates the internalization of the LC, a zinc metalloprotease, into pre-synaptic neurons at the neuromuscular junction [
We recently reported development of a sandwich ELISA for the detection of BoNT/A [
Here we report the development of additional BoNT/B mAbs capable of binding toxin in solution. Characterization of these antibodies, their binding specificity and affinity constants is reported. Development of a mAb/mAb capture ELISA capable of detecting BoNT/B in the low pg/mL range in buffer and in complex food matrices is presented.
Solutions at 1 mg·mL−1 of botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A–G and BoNT/A toxoid were purchased from Metabiologics Inc. (Madison, WI, USA). Bovine serum albumin (BSA), ovalbumin (OVA), goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin G conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (IgG-peroxidase) #A-4416, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween-20), Sigma Adjuvant System #6322, Protein-G conjugated Sepharose #P-32196, and the following buffers: 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline (PBS) #P-3813, 0.138 M NaCl, 0.0027 M KCl, pH 7.4; and 0.02 M TRIS-buffered saline (TBS) #T-5912, 0.9% NaCl, pH 7.4 were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, USA). Black, Maxisorp 96-well Nunc microtiter plates were obtained from PGC Scientific (Gaithersburg, MD, USA), and SuperSignal Femto Max Sensitivity substrate was purchased from Pierce Inc. (Rockford, IL, USA). Non-fat dry milk (NFDM) and milk samples used in spiking experiments were purchased from a local food store. Luminescence was measured using a Perkin-Elmer Victor-3 microplate reader. Data were exported to Microsoft Excel for further analysis.
Recombinant fragments of BoNT/B light and heavy chain (Lc1, Lc2, Hc1, Hc2, Hc3, Hc4, and Hc5) fused with glutathione transferase (recBoNT/B-GTS) were generated (see
Schematic of recombinant-GST peptide fragments of BoNT/B light and heavy chains. Pepide fagmens were expressed as fusions to GST at the N-terminal.
Monoclonal antibody production was as previously described [
The capture-capture ELISA screening method used was previously described [
Cells from the wells giving positive signals for antibody production were cloned by limiting dilution, hybridomas expanded, and small amounts (usually less than 10 mL) of ascites fluids obtained (Covance Research Products, Inc., Denver, PA, USA). Antibodies were purified by affinity chromatography on Protein-G Sepharose. Bound antibody was eluted with 0.1 M glycine-HCl, pH 2.7 and dialyzed overnight
The capture ELISA previously described [
Real time binding assays between purified antibodies and purified BoNT/B protein were performed using biolayer interferometry with an Octet QK system (Forte-bio, Menlo Park, CA, USA). The system measures light interference on the surface of a fiber optic sensor, which is directly proportional to the thickness of molecules bound to the surface. Binding of a partner molecule to the tethered target results in thickening of the surface, which is monitored in real time. In this study, mAbs were bound to kinetics grade anti-mouse IgG Fc Capture Biosensors (Forte-bio) at 5 µg/mL in PBS for 3600 s. Unbound antibodies were removed from the surface of the sensors by incubation in PBS (300 s). Probes coupled to antibody were allowed to bind to BoNT/B at 10, 1.0, and 0.1 nM for 3600 s. Binding kinetics were calculated using the Octet QK software package (Data Acquisition 7.0), which fit the observed binding curves to a 1:1 binding model to calculate the association rate constants. The BoNT/B was allowed to dissociate by incubation of the sensors in PBS for 1800 s. Dissociation kinetics were calculated using the Octet QK software package, which fit the observed dissociation curves to a 1:1 model to calculate the dissociation rate constants. Equilibrium dissociation constants were calculated as the kinetic dissociation rate constant divided by the kinetic association rate constant.
Food samples, fat free milk, 2% fat milk, whole milk, 73% and 92% lean ground beef, were obtained from local grocery stores, spiked with BoNT/B, and analyzed by capture ELISA. All samples were spiked as follows. Milk samples (1 mL) were spiked by addition of 10 µL of toxin at the level indicated. Non-spiked control samples also were prepared and analyzed. Following addition of toxin the samples were incubated at room temperature for 30 min, centrifuged at 1000 × g for 5 min at 4 °C using a microcentrifuge. An aliquot was then recovered, below the fat layer, diluted 1:1 with TBST, and analyzed by capture ELISA, see above. For ground beef sample, 1 g of sample was placed into a small zip lock plastic bag, spiked, and incubated for 30 min. TBST (2 mL) was then added to the bag and the sample was stomached by hand (30–60 s). A second 2 mL of TBST was added to the sample, the bag tilted and the liquid removed and centrifuged at 1000 × g for 5 min at 20 °C. The supernatant was recovered and diluted 1:1 with TBST and analyzed by the capture ELISA described above.
Earlier studies aimed at development of a sensitive capture ELISA for BoNT/B using mAbs for both the capture and detection reagents meet with only partial success [
Following cell fusions, putative capture mAbs were trapped on microassay plates pre-coated with anti-mouse Ig (Fc) specific antiserum (see methods). We identified positive responses in 18 of ~2000 fusion wells screened. Wells were considered positive if the measured activity was at least 2–3 times the average response of all wells on the plate. Incorporating authentic BoNT/B into the screen (see methods) eliminates isolation of peptide specific mAbs in favor of those mAbs capable of binding the intact toxin molecule. It was hoped that this approach would guarantee that all of the mAbs detected in the screen were capable of capturing BoNT/B in solution. Equally important, the capture-capture screen does not detect the vast majority of monoclonal antibodies that are detected in a traditional ELISA screen but fail to capture antigen in solution. None of the 18 mAbs identified in the initial screen bound toxin immobilized on microassay plates by ELISA. However, analysis of antibody binding to microtiter plate immobilized recGST-HcP5 peptide (the immunogen) demonstrated that 13 of the 18 mAbs bound the recGST-HcP5 peptide by ELISA, but only to the recGST-HcP5 peptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence found in toxin serotype B1, but not the H5 fragments based on the A1 or E1 serotypes (
Four of the mAbs, BoB90-1, BoB90-21, BoB92-23, and BoB92-32, survived multiple rounds of cloning by limited dilution and were further analyzed. All four were able to function at capture antibody in a sandwich ELISA using a polyclonal anti-BoNT/B serum as detector (
In an effort to further characterize the binding epitopes each mAbs was analyzed for binding to the recGST-peptide panel: LcP1; LcP2; HcP1; HcP2; HcP3; HcP4; and HcP5 peptides (
Antibody binding to recombinant BoNT-GST fusion proteins representing the receptor binding domain of the toxin HC for serotypes A, B, and E. Hybridoma supernatants analyzed by ELISA using recombinant peptides as antigen.
Capture-Capture sandwich ELISA. Identification of capture mAbs immobilized on anti-mouse Ig coated microtiter plates. Detection of bound toxin using a polyclonal anti-BoNT/B antiserum with mAb capture antibodies indicated. Data represents average of three replicates, error bars = ±standard deviation.
Monoclonal antibody binding to recombinant peptides of BoNT/B (see
Bilayer interferometry was used to measure the affinity constant (KD) of each of the four mAbs described here (
Characteristics of BoNT/B monoclonal antibodies.
|IgG1, kappa
|IgG1, kappa
|IgG2b, kappa
|IgG1, kappa
Weak antibody binding to the 50 kDa toxin Hc and to the 150 kDa non-reduced holotoxin was observed on Western blots (
The ability of the four mAbs (mAbs BoB90-1, BoB90-21, BoB92-23, and BoB92-32) to function as detector antibodies using a previously produced capture mAb (MCS6-27) (Scotcher
Western blot analysis of anti-botulinum serotype B mAbs. Lane 1, BoB90-1; Lane 2, BoB90-21; Lane 3, BoB92-23; Lane 4, BoB92-32. Each lane contained BoNT/B at 10 µg/mL plus DTT and probed with 10 µg/mL antibody. All lanes exposed for 10 min. Standards on right side represent Kilo Daltons.
BoNT/B detection in a capture ELISA using mAb MCS6-27 as capture antibody and the four mAbs described here as detector antibodies. Points for MCS 92-23 and 90-1 hidden by the points for MCS 90-21. Line represents a linear curve fit,
These data are consistent with competition ELISA experiments (
All possible combinations of the four mAbs described here plus mAb MCS6-27 were evaluated for development of a sandwich ELISA. These experiments (data not shown) demonstrated that only two capture/detector antibody pairs (BoB92-23/BoB92-32 and MCS6-27/BoB92-32) were useful for development of a capture ELISA. Careful titration experiments using BoNT/B holotoxin suggest that the combination BoB92-23 (capture) and BoB92-32 (detector) resulted in a more sensitive assay than pairing MCS6-27 (capture) with BoB92-32 (detector) (
Competition capture -ELISA using mAb MCS6-27 as capture antibody. Toxin mixed with increasing concentrations of competing mAb (indicated on figure) and immediately added to the capture antibody coated well. Toxin detection using a polyclonal anti-BoNT/B.
Capture ELISA comparing assay performance using either MCS6-27 (open blue circle) or BoB92-23 (open orange square) as capture antibody and BoB92-32 as detector antibody. Bars represent standard deviation (N = 3). Data fitted using 4-paramater-curve fitting. The average of the zero toxin control plus three standard deviations represented by the horizontal lines for BoB92-21 (solid) and MCS6-27 (dashed).
In an effort to determine if the four mAbs represented separate fusion products of a clonally expanded lymphocyte population, the amino acid sequences of the light and heavy chain variable regions were determined. Inspection of the translated amino acid sequences of the combining region of each antibody (
The assay was next applied for evaluation of foods fortified at different concentrations with BoNT/B. In these experiments, all samples were fortified with BoNT/B at a constant volume (10 µL) of toxin and the samples were incubated at room temperature for 30 min before processing. These data (
Clustal W2 alignment of the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA of the variable regions of the anti-BoNT/B monoclonal antibodies. The Framework Regions (FWR) and Complementarity Determining Regions (CD-1, -2, and -3) are indicated (boxed), bold text indicates constant region sequences.
Percentage recovery of BoNT/B spiked into different food matrices.
|Percentage Recovery
|Matrix/Spike Level
|50 ng/mL
|10 ng/mL
|5 ng/mL
|2 ng/mL
|0.5 ng/mL
|Non Fat Milk
|108 (54)1
|89 (4.45)
|131 (0.655)
|2% Milk
|97 (48.5)
|76 (3.35)
|73 (0.365)
|Whole Milk
|101 (50.5)
|105 (5.25)
|116 (0.58)
|Ground Beef 95% Lean
|63.8 (31.9)
|116 (5.8)
|100 (2)3
Notes: 1. Numbers in brackets refer to toxin level measured at each spike concentration using a buffer standard curve. Percent recovery = measured concentration/spike concentration × 100; 2. nd = not done; 3. The signal from beef sample spiked at 2 ng/mL was just at the L.O.D. for standard.
We have previously used recombinant GST-fusion peptides of BoNT/B fragments for the successful generation of mAbs that bind intact neurotoxin. While these studies demonstrated the feasibility of using recombinant peptides of BoNT/B as immunogens, all of the resulting mAbs, except one, were unable to bind toxin in solution or act as a capture or detector antibody in a sandwich ELISA [
The poor binding observed following toxin adsorption to microassay plates and on Western blots following SDS-PAGE suggests that the binding epitope, localized to the receptor binding domain of the toxin Hc, is disrupted or masked by these treatments and each mAb is binding a conformational epitope. This is consistent with antibody binding to only the recombinant peptide corresponding to the entire receptor-binding domain of the toxin but not peptides H2 and H3 that divide the receptor-binding domain.
The four new capture mAbs described here have epitopes located in the receptor-binding domain of BoNT/B Hc. Sequence analysis of the combining regions suggests that these antibodies are unique and different from our earlier developed capture mAb MCS6-27. However, competition ELISA experiments demonstrate that BoB90-1, BoB90-21, and BoB92-21 compete with mAb6-27 for toxin binding. In fact, BoB92-21 has a substantially stronger competition curve than seen when MCS6-27 competes with itself for toxin binding. These data and the assay performance observed in a sandwich ELISA using MCS6-27
Preliminary results indicate that a prophylactic, intravenous (iv) injection of µg amounts of BoB90-1, BoB90-21, BoB92-23, and BoB92-32 per mouse protected 100% of the mice studied from death or any symptoms of intoxication from an iv injection of 460 pg (100 mouse iv LD50 doses) of BoNT/B, consistent with the observation that these mAbs could bind BoNT/B
Using our previously developed mAb MCS6-27 as the capture antibody, only mAb BoB92-32 was able to function as a detector antibody (
The ability of BoB92-32 to act as a detector antibody is consistent with its failure to compete with MCS6-27 for toxin binding. Of the remaining three mAbs, BoB92-21 showed the strongest competition, greater than competing MCS6-27 with itself. The exact nature of this competition is not clear. The DNA sequences of the combining regions of these antibodies suggest that each represents a uniquely derived monoclonal antibody.
Evaluation of all possible capture/detector combinations demonstrated that the best performance of a sandwich ELISA was observed using either BoB92-23 or MCS6-27 as capture antibody coupled with BoB92-32 as detector antibody. The combination BoB92-23/BoB92-32 showed slightly better performance than MCS6/27/BoB92-32 (
In summary, we have developed a sensitive sandwich ELISA specific for BoNT/B that is both rapid and easy to use. This assay is based on monoclonal antibodies for both the capture and detector reagents and thus represents an assay that can be consistently produced over time without the use of animals and the variability inherent in polyclonal antisera. We are currently exploring other labels and assay formats, including a lateral flow immunoassay able to detect and distinguish BoNT/A and BoNT/B in a few minutes [
We gratefully thank Thomas Henderson for assistance with recombinant peptide expression and purification and Paul Merrill for antibody purification and biotin conjugation. We acknowledge funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, CRIS project 5325-42000-048-00D, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security IAA #40768.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.


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Related Top Stories
More Infos About "World"
The headquarters of the Free Syrian Army had previously been in Turkey, and its move into Syria signifies just how far rebels have come.
Soldiers from the rebel Free Syrian Army stand guard near the Turkish-Syrian border crossing of Tal Abad on Saturday. Rebel forces captured the crossing last week.
The leaders of the rebel Free Syrian Army said Saturday they moved their command center from Turkey to Syria with the aim of uniting rebels and speeding up the fall of leader Bashar Assad's regime.
Brig. Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, who heads the FSA's Military Council, told The Associated Press that the group made the move last week. He would not say where the new headquarters is located or give other details.
The FSA is the most prominent of the rebel groups trying to topple Assad, though its authority over networks of fighters in Syria is limited. Its commanders have been criticized for being based in Turkey while thousands are killed inside Syria.

subset: commoncrawl


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Friday's Caught on the Web
Things that caught our eye around the finance and business-related web. Think you've got something for tomorrow's list? Email Lauren Mills or direct message us on Twitter @wsjthesource
Peston's Picks: Public-sector pension lose platinum coat
John Hutton's public sector pension reforms may not be as bad as they seem.
Business Insider: Friday of Rage: Saudi minister warns "any finger lifted in the face of the kingdom will be cut off
Police are gearing up in Riyadh in case protestors step up their efforts on the Day of Rage.
Clusterstock: Watch a Japanese airport get flooded by the tsunami in under 60 seconds
Frightening to see just how quickly a tsunami can wreak havoc.
Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis: ECB stuck in sovereign debt garbage, seeks German help to unload it; anger in Greece, Ireland; Germany sets high price for bailout changes
So the leaders of 17 euro zone countries meet Friday to discuss the sovereign debt crisis and the stabilization pact, "but don't expect anything much to come of it." Sounds depressingly familiar.


text: Need help getting contracts. My father and i have started a landscaping and lawncare business. He's been in the Landscaping business for a little over 20 years. Our main concern is that he works for a different company and we dont have enough business for him to work full time in our small company. If anyone can help in any way by guiding me into the right directing please let me know


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Mini Brush Kit
Yes, I love mini sizes.... easy to travel and soooo cute! These are quality brushes and come with a neat carrying case too!
How handy!
Being the ebay junkie I admit that I am. I am always looking for good quality brushes. I found this set on ebay. Technically.........it is the Socialite Brush Set. Haha, good 'ol ebay. The set I have is the socialite brush set... Being the ebay junkie I admit that I am. I am always looking for good quality brushes. I found this set on ebay. Technically.........it is the Socialite Brush Set. Haha, good 'ol ebay. The set I have is the socialite brush set, but it just didn't come in the Socialite brush set case. I really don't care about that. The case I received was just as good, and cute. and it's still Smashbox. It's a quilted looking, pink material with a pink ribbon that ties the bag close. The socialite bag is a black kinda cross stitch, basket weave looking material with black leather straps that tie the bag shut. Either way, its really no big deal. The main thing is the brushes. And I love them! I use them all the time and they are with me just as often as my cell phone is, lol. The exact set I received is the one in the picture. It came with an eyeshadow brush, eyeliner and a smudger. I really need to pick up a crease brush as well, lol.
All the things you would need if you are ever in a cosmetic emergency!Tags: gifts, office supplies, gadgets, beauty, beauty products, personal care, travel, nail polish, lip glossAdded 9 Years Ago from Kitson
Set of make-up brushes, so you can put on make-up. They're great. (Doesn't include a powder brush, tragically.) It comes in a stellar silver traveling case.Tags: travel, makeup, brush, blush, Target, Pretty, eyeshadows, sets, sonia kashukAdded 9 Years Ago from Target
Pop this in your bag or get a few and leave one in the car, desk drawer...wherever. $1 from the sale of each brush will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.Tags: beauty, travel, hair care, hair brush, hair, brush, hair styling, Sephora, breast cancerAdded 10 Years Ago from Sephora
Cutest travel toothbrush holder around. And I love the suction cup on the back - can hang it on the mirror to greet you in the morning.
I love how these brushes feel when I am using them. They hold onto pigment so well and can easily blend to the look I am trying to achieve.Tags: beauty, makeup, travel, cosmetics, brush, makeup kits, makeup brush, brush kit, body and soulAdded 10 Years Ago from Amazon.com
The whole collection - love emAdded 11 Years Ago from Stephaniejohnson


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Between now and Election Day, President Obama will have to create 8 million jobs just to tie for last place with the previous worst recovery since the Great Depression. Meanwhile, Americans are rightly demanding dramatic overhauls to get this country back on its feet. What does the president do? He doubles down on his philosophy of continuing the beatings until morale improves.
My fellow presidential candidates, to varying degrees, have been tinkering around the edges. With all due respect, you don't prune weeds - you pull them out at the roots.
Leave it to a politician to start with the current tax code and then move a step or two in the right direction. Leave it to a real businessman to start with what is right and get there immediately.
Economic crisis requires real tax reform: Half-measures and far-off fixes won't mend our broken jobs engine. by Herman Cain. Monday, September 26, 2011
Current Status: Blessed (1)
Seeded on Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:44 PM
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How Can I Find Good Treatment?
It is not hard to find treatments and services for addiction treatment. The phone book is full of therapists and counselors who offer "addiction-focused therapy." There are also over 13,000 licensed addiction treatment programs in the country. But it is hard to find addiction treatment that is appropriate for your problems, that is professional and effective, and that is available in the location and at the price that you can afford.
One of the reasons good treatment is so difficult to find is that there have not been published standards for "effective addiction treatment." Thus, virtually any therapist, program or service can claim expertise and effectiveness. Second, addiction treatment is poorly covered by most private health insurance plans. Most plans offer very limited benefits. Most addiction treatments are quite time limited - 21-30 days for residential care and 30-90 days of outpatient care. However, most cases of serious addiction require extended periods of care.
Things to Know About Addiction Treatment and Questions for a Treatment Provider
1. There is no cure for serious addictions - though addiction can be effectively managed. Question providers about their approach to care. Be wary of those who say they have had extraordinary successes or been able to return individuals to controlled use patterns.
2. There are effective medications for the treatment of nicotine, opiate, and alcohol addiction.
- Question providers about the availability of medications. Do they approve of medications? Do they offer them?
- Be wary of medications offered for the treatment of cocaine, marijuana, tranquilizer or methamphetamine dependence (the FDA has not approved any medications for these problems) - ask to see the evidence for the effectiveness of these medications.
3. There are effective individual therapies for the treatment of virtually all addictions. Question providers about which therapies their counselors and therapists have been trained in. Ask whether individual therapy is available and how many sessions. Be wary of programs that only use group therapy.
4. Family therapy is an effective component of care. Couples therapy and family therapy improve post-treatment function of the patient and the family.
- Ask if family are involved in the treatment process - and in what ways.
- Ask how the family will be prepared when the affected member returns home
5. Effective treatment involves monitoring of substance use throughout treatment. Ask if the program tests urine for substances of abuse.
6. Not all treatments work for all patients. Better treatment providers offer more than one approach, medication, therapy and service; and they monitor patient performance regularly to modify the treatment plan.
- Ask how a provider can tell if a treatment is working and what they do if it is not?
- Ask how many types of therapy, counseling, medications and other services are available for changing a treatment plan?
7. There are no short forms of treatment (medications, therapies or services) that are effective for individuals with serious addiction. Most forms of serious addiction require extended care beyond any formal period of treatment.
- Ask about continuing care options available to patients. Ask how long the continuing care continues and what form it is (home visits, telephone).
- Ask about formal efforts to link patients with AA or other mutual help groups.
- Ask about linking the patient with their primary care physician to assure continuity of care.
Who Pays for Addiction Treatment?
Payment for addiction treatment can be a complicated matter. Learn some keys to navigating the complex maze of funding used to pay for private and public insurance coverage.
Can't Get Treatment Through Your Health Insurance Plan?
Prepare to advocate for your interests if your health insurance plan balks at covering treatment.


text: Small-cap stocks trailed the major indices Thursday, as the Russell 2000 Index was down 4.7% to 765.36, and the S&P SmallCap 600 Index lost less than 1% to 396.71. Retailers reporting earnings played a large role in today's losses. Case in point was Charlotte, N.C.-based Cato ( CTR). Fiscal third-quarter income was cut in half year over year to $2.9 million, or 9 cents a share, but beat analyst estimates by a penny a share. Same-store sales, or sales from stores open a year or more, were down 5% from 2006, and the gross margin rate decreased to 31% from 32% last year. Shares of the women's wear retailer plummeted 25% to $14.70. Also smarting was Stein Mart ( SMRT), shares of which dropped 11% to $5.39 as the Jacksonville, Fla.-based fashion retailer announced a third-quarter loss of $2.7 million, or 6 cents a share, compared to a gain of $237,000, or a penny a share, in 2006. Analysts were projecting a loss of 7 cents a share. Comparable-store sales dropped 6.3% from last year. Stein Mart also guided for a sequential same-store sales decrease of 10% for the fourth quarter. Both Cato and Stein Mart noted that their most recent quarters were 13 weeks long, one week shorter than the corresponding quarter last year. Slipping along with the other retailers, Hudson, Ohio's Jo-Ann Stores ( JAS) fell 14% to $17.71. Jo-Ann reported fiscal 2008 third-quarter profit of $8 million, or 32 cents a share, vs. $100,000, or zero cents a share, a year ago to beat analyst estimates by 4 cents. Same-store sales increased 2.4%, compared with a decrease of 5.4% in the year-ago quarter. Guidance for fiscal 2008 was conservative, however, pointing to uncertainty in consumer spending and projecting EPS between 55 cents and 65 cents, down from 60 cents to 70 cents.


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The leaves are changing, but the wind is taking them before we can enjoy them very long.
And the cold is coming. My Mother's Day flower baskets are still hanging on the porch and are full of flowers but that may all change after tonight's freeze warning.
I was late getting a garden in this spring but blessed with enough vegetables that we will eat well this winter. Beans, corn, and potatoes have been stored away until we need them. I grew celery for the first time this year. It was amazing! It was nothing like the pale stuff that comes from the store. It was dark green and had so much flavor. I'll definitely grow it again next year.
The standing corn is almost dry enough to cut for bird and squirrel food.
I was able to get out by the campfire while my family was at work and school to do a bit of hand piecing. The temperatures are too cold for that now! I'm glad I set time aside from chores to enjoy something special just for me.
My new dog Missy.
She's five months old now and never leaves my side. Now if I could just get her to lay next to me instead of wanting to be in my lap when I try to hand quilt.
I stumbled upon a sweet little white Singer featherweight sewing machine from the 60's and couldn't resist. A couple weeks later I found this repurposed Singer treadle base. I had been sewing on an old piece of furniture and I kept bumping my knees. The new table is a perfect fit.
Enjoy your weekend!


text: Show Hide image Politics 6 September 2010 Novartis led collaboration discovers treatment for drug resistant malaria New drug effective against both common strains of the malaria parasite. Sign up for our weekly email * Scientists at the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) have collaborated with researchers from the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF), theSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and The Scripps Research Institute to discover a novel antimalarial candidate, spiroindolone NITD609, for the treatment of drug resistant malaria. Novartis led collaborative study was supported by the Wellcome Trust, the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore and the US government. Spiroindolone NITD609 was shown to be effective against both strains of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium (P) falciparum and P vivax, in the study. The antimalarial candidate, with new mechanism of action, was shown to rapidly clear a plasmodium infection in a malaria mouse model and showed compatible pharmacological properties upon administration of a single oral dose. Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research president Mark Fishman said that the parasite has demonstrated a frustrating ability to outwit new medicines, from quinine to today's unsettling increased tolerance to artemisinin derivatives. "We are delighted that our scientists could provide this new malaria therapy, based on a chemical structure and directed to a new target," Fishman said. Subscribe from just £1 per issue More


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Compiled and edited by Charles J. Kappler. Washington : Government Printing Office, 1929.
|Chap. 134
|Nisqually Indian Reservation, Wash. Payment authorized to dispossessed allottees for lands taken for military purposes, etc.
|Chap. 134
|41 Stat., 28; ante, 220.
|Chap. 134
|Expenditure of authorized amount for benefit of Indians.
Page 410
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $85,000, in full settlement of the claims against the United States of twenty-five heads of families of the Nisqually Reservation in Washington, said sum being compensation for the difference between the appraised value and the compromise price paid for approximately three thousand three hundred acres of allotted Indian land taken for military purposes, and for surrender of treaty rights and removal expenses, as set out in Senate Document Numbered 243, Sixty-sixth Congress, second session, containing the report dated February 28, 1920, of the Acting Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to the Act of Congress approved June 30, 1919 (Forty-first Statutes at Large, pages 3-28).
That said sum of $85,000 hereby authorized to be appropriated shall be expended, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, for the benefit of the said dispossessed families or individual Indians, under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe.
Approved, April 28, 1924.


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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
Warwick Allerton Hotel Chicago
701 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
0.1 mi from
Nothing except its location 1- Staff aren't friendly. 2- The furniture and the bed sheets are so dirty.
Such great staff! So helpful and they anticipated every need. A great experience!
Nothing. Room was really small. Room was run down. Dirty. Overpriced. Staff was not helpful when they gave us the wrong room (one even yelled at us).
Raoul and the other breakfast servers were excellent The carpet in my room1504 seemed old and dirty
Clean with nice shower. Small, no fridge, microwave, coffee maker, anything. Expect to pay for everything extra.
Bed was comfortable, room was very clean and nicely furnished. Missing some basic things like luggage rack. Hotel lobby desperately needs basic amenities like a chilled water dispenser (coffee is nice but it's hot outside!!!)
The hotel was clean and the staff very nice and helpful. I didn't like the lack of parking specifics when booking the hotel. We were confused when we got there because there is a parking garage next to the hotel that the hotel uses but it was unclear if you go into the hotel to do this or just park in the garage.
Location on Michigan Ave is perfect, price is good Really late check in (5pm), slow elevators, noisy hallways, outdated rooms, no free wifi
The hotel is conveniently located in the city The cost of the room was very high. I was willing to pay the price but, my expectations were set high for such a small non-view room.
It was very loud; lots of LED lights that you had to creatively cover; and staff gives conflicting information about the no housekeeping $10 credit.
Lovely hotel for great price on Michigan Ave. It's close to everything cool in Chicago. Staff was friendly, and was helpful. When I forgot my toothbrush they were able to find one for us. The rooms were clean and well put together.
Convenient location We were downgraded rooms and charged the same amount.
Friendly staff. Excellent breakfast. Enjoyed happy hour each night.
Very good location Hotel wasn't nearly as nice as other embassy suites I have stayed at.
Great made to order buffet. Parking was difficult to find and cost $37.00 per day. The evening reception drinks were great but the food was not. Room was great. Staff were very helpful. Overall, very pleased with the stay.
Great location and comfortable rooms; breakfast was an awesome surprise in variety and quality Room service was slow, rooms not super clean and could definitely do without the lobby dance music during the day when kids were napping
Staff was very helpful and we were able to get a later checkout upon our departure, which was nice and allowed to kids to swim for a bit before we left. Check in and out was easy, and parking was easily accessible. The price on the all inclusive Disney kids on Demand TV package I order did not reflect what was charged to my bill. It was only a difference of $2.99 and ultimately not a big deal, but still, I feel as though you should be paying what you are quoted. Also, being that it was a holiday weekend, it would have been nice if breakfast was open until 10 as it is on the weekends, but I get the weekend vs. weekend schedule. The lines were a bit long by the end of breakfast and early breakfast is always hard to do with my kids. But again, not a huge deal in the whole scheme of things. We will definitely be back.
Nice hotel, casual and comfortable. Great breakfast. Very convenient to Navy Pier. Would definitely reccomend to friends and would stay here again.
Not convient. Poor service
Friendly staff and clean facility No complaints
Located close to shopping and conference centers Amenities are average
Stayed here Dec 12-14, 2014, this was our 2nd time staying here due to close proximity to Navy Pier's Winter Wonderland. Last year the Manager's reception offered better appetizers, seemed to be a bit cheaper this year. Staff is wonderful and room was really clean. We had an issue with the thermostat, it was almost 80 degrees the whole stay. The kids love it here, it's really family oriented. They seemed to like swimming in the pool better than Winter Wonderland, they made several little friends during our short stay. Will probably be back next year, we love it here.
Very clean. Microwave and fridge nice to have. Close to shopping and navy pier Self park was really valet parking down the street.
Can't say a thing. I travel quite a bit every year and stay in dozens of hotels. I must say this was the worst experience at a hotel I have ever had. I would never suggest this place to anyone.
Great location just off the Magnificent Mile easy to get to just with everything you might need to downtown. When was nice but needed a few small maintenance items repaired other than that it was a great place to stay.
Really wonderful employees that made us feel welcomed and comfortable. They were very accommodating and polite.
Great location and value...staff was fantastic, reacted to every need we had with a positive attitude and were very timely. nothing...we don't spend a lot of time in a hotel when we travel...met our needs perfectly
Very nice updates to room and bathroom. Comfortable bedding, drumBAR on the 18th floor, and great location. Room was extremely hot and the temp could not be adjusted. The room was also very small but worked for our 1 night stay.
Hotel was clean and staff was exceptionally friendly. Doorman was extremely helpful. Donut shop downstairs was delicious and convenient. The location was decent if you're willing to walk about a mile to anything you'd like to see. Room was a little small and elevator was extremely small preventing us from getting our stroller in if anyone else was in the elevator.
This is a Kayak review- not a hotel review. I booked my travel a week in advance and with 2 days notice I received a call that I no longer had a reservation and there was nothing that could be done. It left me scrambling to find a room and I had to pay 40% more than expected because I never really had a reservation. Will never use Kayak again.
The robes.
The location is excellent for whatever activity of interest in downtown Chicago. Attentive and courtesy staff
Elevator was an issue. Very small for the size hotel.
Great location with a nice hotel design. The drum bar and the bakery were nice perks. Its an older building and that is very obvious. The AC is questionable, the elevators are small and take quite a while, and if you want normal pillows you need to request them.
Comfortable beds A little pricey and some attn to detail needed for rooms falling apart. (Cracks in ceilings etc)
-Perfect Location: We walked EVERYWHERE and the Whitehall was always a great starting point and place to come back to for a moment of rest. -Friendly Staff -Good value: We spent very little time in the room, so it served it's purpose. -Steps away from the John Hancock Building and Michigan Ave. -Carpet was a little grungy. -Bed wasn't super comfy, but I still slept well. Overall, a good value for the money. Would stay here again because it was such a great location and the staff was very friendly.
Location - decor - cleanliness Terrible Wi-Fi
The only thing going for the hotel is location and price. The rooms were small and dark. The bathroom had the most perplexing layout and the hot water took a full 5 minutes to get hot for a shower. It wasn't as clean as I like a hotel to be (hair from previous guests on the shower wall. Gross).
Super comfy bed, awesome location. Hotel is steps from the magnificent mile and a short walk to the lake. Small lobby and elevators, room was in need of some small wear and tear repairs.
Friendly and courteous staff The vent was blowing air at my face every time the hvac kicked in while I was trying to sleep.
Location was amazing!! Super close to shopping and pretty much everything! Cute antique ish feel to it. Nice and clean, staff super nice and helpful!
Perfectly situated for seeing the sights, enjoying the music scene, shopping, and exploring the beaches. The gym only had one treadmill. The 2nd was broken. But we had so much fun doing other things that we never hit the gym.
The location was pretty much the only good part of this hotel. Bed was comfortable, but it should be for the price. Parking is expensive, be sure to use valet if you plan to use your car. Check spot hero for cheaper places to park if you self park. Hotel is old. It is maintained fairly well but it does show its age in dated bathroom fixtures. First hotel I have ever been in with no alarm clock, didn't provide any soap for the shower either. It is decent but I would look elsewhere. Isn't worth the price and doesn't deserve its rating.
Likes the character and location. Beds were comfortable and space was good. Tv was huge and state of the art. Bathroom was small and outdated.
The room was clean, though very dark, and the bed was comfortable. As others have pointed out, it is within walking distance of most downtown shopping areas and about half an hour from the Magnificent Mile. The front desk staff were clipped and curt, which was unexpected, and made for a chilly welcome to the Windy City. As mentioned, the room was darker than expected, and the two outlets for charging equipment were located along the far wall, underneath the desk, which had a drawer that would not close. This drawer's corners caused several near-accidents, unsurprisingly. The bathroom was clean and pleasantly designed, but very small. We were dissatisfied with the room service and front desk experience. When we ordered breakfast, we expected more than a few eggs on an English muffin, and we received two small scones, rather than our order of a scone and a croissant. When this was mentioned at checkout, I was told that a manager would give me a call, which never happened.
The location was right on the money, with some of the sights of downtown just a few minutes away. The price was also very good. Our room did not have a fridge for us to put leftovers into or a microwave to heat them in. Also, the window coverings needed a good update and looked old and grungy.
The location. The bathroom was very small for a luxury hotel. The shower facets were hard to figure our. My wife did not like over head shower head. The room computer did not work and services could not fix it.
It was very comfortable and near museums and points of I interest. One of our breakfast's wasn't good. Shower needs anti slip help. Elevator slow
Great location that's about it... Book double room but got a single king room for 2 couples. Was told they over booked and didn't have rooms left. Also when to grab a Coke from the mini bar it had Santa on it..... I stayed in September...... After checking the date on it I found out it expired 2 months ago. I also received a bar tab from another room. They did correct that after pulling the receipt that clearly showed it was for another room. Then after all that they asked would you like to charge your parking to your card now? I said yes that not a problem. They said my MasterCard got declined..... I then responded with "I don't own a MasterCard. They had no clue when my visa number when.... Just amateur hour at his place. The bedding is also 80 grit sand paper and you may die on the slippery tile in the shower. Also the bell hop had no idea where he put out check bags when leaving....
The hotel was in a great location.
We were able to book at this hotel during a very busy time. We were told we would get a text when our room was ready. We never got it. We tried calling the front desk over several hours and the calls were going to a fax machine. We used the number listed on the website an on the itinerary. We even had friends try to call. We ended up leaving a WORLD SERIES game early, because we were worried they would give our room away.
Reserved two queen beds. They had me in a king. The guy was rude and never even apologized. Unbelievable service for a hotel like this.
Decent room for the money, nice bathroom, good location if you are in town to do some major shopping No restaurant open in the evening, outdated lobby, no room service, could hear neighbors through the walls
Location... and that's all. EXTREMELY OVERPRICED for a dated hotel w/ small rooms. $67/day parking for guests is opportunistic
Great price Friendly staff Clean room Nice shower/bathroom Comfortable bed 12pm check out Location! Poor view Room was a little small
Cool historical building. Great location Parking is $67 at the hotel
What a great place to stay. We came into town for a Blackhawks game. This hotel is perfectly located. The price, room, staff, bar and food where all absolutely amazing. We will b back!!!
Location was fantastic. Could not control the temperature in the room. Way too warm regardless of colder temps outside.
I would have preferred a discount on the Parking for staying in the hotel.
The French ambiance. A bit expensive.
beautiful hotel bed was too soft
Great spot. Conveniently located. Pleased overall with the property.
we were traveling with our toddler. the hotel crib came with complimentary johnson & johnson toiletries and a stuffed bear. the room was clean, comfortable and spacious enough to be tolerable with a toddler in the same room. the bathroom was spacious, in excellent condition and well-appointed. we were on a high floor and had a great view of the city. it would've been great to have iPhone charging docks/stations. we forgot to bring one charger.
Great location a few steps from the best shopping and restaurants in Chicago. Very friendly and professional staff.
Great location, beautiful room and good staff. Except for my wife losing her nose ring and no thin sheets were available; our stay was outstanding.
Great location, great value for the price. Staff need to stop acting so high fallutin. Yes it is the Sofitel, but you still work for me.
The rooms were nice, but our room had not been properly cleaned. There was an empty wine bottle in the trash, a stain on the carpet, and dirt on the bedspread. The location is great for exploring the city. A block from Michigan Ave, the beach, and Rush street. The customer service was not good. We waited 30-45 minutes for our bags to be brought up to our room and finally had to go down to get them. There were two bellmen standing in the lobby doing nothing and our luggage was just sitting there. As mentioned the room was not properly cleaned which is never a good feeling when you are staying in a hotel. I requested a late check-out and was immediately told "No due to someone else staying in our room and they needed to clean it". He then asked what room we were staying in. He again said it wasn't possible as someone was staying in that room and they would need to clean it. When we checked out I forgot a brand new shirt I bought while staying there. I rarely hang things in the closet and had done so since it was a new shirt. I realized this the next day and called and again was given horrible customer service. They told me it was not in the room and that nobody stayed in that room the night before so they couldn't help me. Obviously, the maid who cleaned that room took it, but they accepted no responsibility for that. Not to mention they couldn't give us a late check-out due to another guest needing the room. It's a shame the customer service was so bad because it is a nice hotel in a great area of the city.
Large rooms and bathrooms. Plenty of fast elevators. Great location for the north end of the Magnificent Mile. More attention to detail could be provided to the cleanliness of the shower area. Several areas of black mildew in the grout of the shower wall.
Rooms too small
I've stayed at several nice hotels in Chicago and this is by far my favorite. Very comfortable, tastefully decorated, incredible A-V/home automation controls. This was the perfect home-base for a multi-day business trip. The atrium also had a splendid Sunday brunch with string quartet. Couldn't be better
Beautiful room. Inpecable service
I would guess that most people who gave this place a positive review have never stayed at trump. For the same price trump offers a vastly better experience and much more comfort. The gym and spa at trump make this place look like a spa from rural Cambodia. Rooms were an ever so slightly better version of the Conrad. No pillow menu. No glacier water. No espresso machine in room. No microwave or stovetop with dishwasher( all present at trump). And no cake with gold leaf on it for my birthday!!!
Really enjoyed how friendly everyone was towards us especially since we were a young couple there and the staff told us good morning and everything each day and always had a smile on their face I can't really say I didn't like anything about the hotel or service. The only thing was it was a little expensive for us. Other than that everything was excellent
Great location across from Saks and neiman marcus. Hotel gorgeous, bright, elegant in public areas, very comfortable and luxurious room and bathroom
I liked the location of the hotel, and also enjoyed the updated decor of the hotel.The bedding was excellent! Very important to me.... it was clean and luxurious. The bath rooms also were in excellent condition. It did meet my standards. (Extremely picky) I did not like that we had to go to the 12th floor to get to reception.
Fabulous service, fabulous food, fabulous room. I can't recommed this hotel highly enough!!
It was an elegant, comfortable weekend at one of the best hotels anywhere. Nothing
Beautiful hotel, very enjoyable. Neither Booking com nor the hotel warned us that a change in the reservation, leaving a night earlier, would result in an increase in the quoted daily rate. We were only told that cancellation was required 24 hours in advance without penalty.
I took my 5 year old to see Chicago. I love the quiet of the hotel. The staff was great. You get what you pay for.
Hotel has great location, very nice accomodations. There was broken glass in the bar and I cut my finger pretty badly on our first night at the hotel. Although hotel staff was very nice and they did call security, I thought they could have done more in way of compensation. In hindsight, I probably needed stitches and other than call to my room by the manager (who had already left by the time we got back to the room), they really didn't even follow-up.
Very good welcome and staff performance An elevator alarm went off in the middle of the night and it took over one hour to fix it - not conducive to comfortable sleep.
Very good location.
The bed is gorgeusly confortable Many problems with shower, room cleaning, front desk attendece, etc.
when I make check out from the hotel they told me i have to pay more than what booking website show me,after desscution they agree to refund 110 $ to me.
Location! And they left a small treat for my child every afternoon.
Location/spa and swimming pool None
Great restaurant recommendation and service!
Comfortable, elegant, convenient excellent accomodations. Food very good but somewhat overpriced. The hotel tower is very tall and our initial room on the 40th floor was very noisy in the wind and rain storm. The swaying was not noticable but the sound of creaking wall and ductwork was uncomfatably loud. The staff did move us to a lower floor to a large apartment suit which was very quiet.
They had absolutely no trace of our reservation on arrival, but after some spirited discussion more than made good the upheaval.
This guest did not leave comments about this hotel.
Location Rooms and beds were spectacular Staff friendly NoMi terrace was fantastic
Location and spacious room. Nice bathroom. Staff missed requested turn down room times.
Gorgeous room, perfect location. No.
Great location. Staff were very professional an vey nice. Whats up with the window that opens into the bathroom/toilet. I have seen this lately in many of the upper class hotels. I don't like it.
This guest did not leave comments about this hotel.
This guest did not leave comments about this hotel.
This guest did not leave comments about this hotel.
The location was great! Most everything other than location was a disappointment. The staff was snotty and dismissive, asked 4 times for a roll away, requested towels and a blanket that never arrived, restaurant waiter was rude, security person extremely rude. Very disappointed
This guest did not leave comments about this hotel.
Honestly the Bellmen and Front Desk were so SUPER Nice ... I would stay again just for them
Good location The shower had NEVER be cleaned thoroughly.
I was charged by both Kayak as well as the hotel. I'm now going on my second week of "working" with a totally incompetent staff on getting reimbursed. I have received phone verification over a week ago that I was going to be reimbursed. 5 Phone calls later I received an email confirmation, yet I have yet to receive any reimbursement. When asked to speak to a manager I was told the manager was aware of the situration and my reimbursement would be received in the form of a credit on my credit card - that was 5 days ago and still no credit.
very modern, great location!
I liked all the design of the cuilding structure and room. I did not like that check in was at 3:00pm but ghey did not let me check in until almost an hour later because my room wasnt ready and there was suppose to be a small fridge there but it was locked up ,So couldnt keep my food fresh.
Great room, great food at the restaurant. Almost double charged me for valet, but corrected it as soon as I showed them.
The rooms were so nice! Very clean, chic, modern. The bed and pillows were amazingly comfortable. The lobby was incredible. The location was awesome, with views overlooking Lake Michigan and Navy Pier. Our remote batteries were dead and it took about 5 minutes for someone to visit our room with a new remote. The service was excellent! The sliding door on the bathroom; the bathroom wasn't very private. The gym was not as large as it looked in photos I saw online, and it was incredibly busy.
clean rooms. great HD TV high price for sauna ($35). drinks expensive.
Service was fantastic, and the newly remodeled facilities were eye-catching and beautiful, as well as functional. The location was fantastic too. I felt nickeled-and-dimed for things that should have been cheaper, or free. For instance, parking: $65 per day to park is outrageously expensive, even for Chicago, and should have been much cheaper, or free, for what we payed to stay in the hotel. I get that it's not a Holiday Inn...but that surprised me. Also...buy more than single-ply TP, and fix the cable television. Didn't work the whole time we were there.
Staff was friendly and responsive. Room was clean. Purple lip picture hanging in the room was horrible!
The staff was unfriendly. There was always a line to get into an elevator from the lobby. The rooms were small and dirty with stains on furniture. You can hear everything through the paper-thin walls. Poor night sleep because our neighbors were up causing noise all night. Do not recommend.
Rooms looked great and was very comfortable. The view was great. For a room that costs 250.00 and up being nickel and dimed for things is kind of silly. Pay for wifi??? Really. Parking was also pretty outragous. The restaurant was pretty over priced for the quality as well. I understand payibg fir your suroundings but was a bit much..... We've stayed there quite a few times now. May be time to try another place.
We were very happy with the location of the hotel and check in staff, as well as style of the room, loved the pool and outdoor deck overlooking navy pier Restaurant staff was rude and inattentive, not many amenities at the hotel that are standard almost everywhere else, room was small and did not have good views (requested in advance lake view on high floor)
Beautiful. Comfortable, luxurious. Staff assistance was hit or miss. Very frustrating. Some staff was very helpful. Others were not to the point of carelessness or rudeness. At this hotel I had expected service to be exquisite. It was not. For the price there's other hotels with better service who value their customers more highly.
Excellent ...one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed at. Professional staff. When coming to Chicago it will be the only Hotel I will stay at.
Location is great, staff professional and helpful. Room was cramped, room service breakfast was HUGELY expensive not to mention over cooked and arrived cold. And who chose the hall carpet? No one in my party could understand the choice. Unattractive and at first glance looks as though it is worn and needs replacement. Not a great impression.
Checked in at 7:00 PM and assigned room had not been cleaned and still had previous guests things in the room. After trips up and down with luggage, another room assigned.
location need sound proof windows,,,,could hear sirens all night
This Intercontinental is in a great location on the Magnificent Mile. The rooms are spacious and the bed and bathrooms are nicely updated. The pool was very nice as well. I would recommend the valet if you are staying a over 24 hours they have a flare rate and you can leave and come back. Parking around the area is just as expensive but you can't leave and comeback. They also gave me late checkout of 2 PM.
Pretty hotel with nice location Thin walls. Noisy halls. Some staff friendly but others not. Got a good deal but wouldn't pay full price for tiny room. Bathroom needs updating/ more thorough cleaning (shower curtain ripped and some mold on end of shower curtain rod)
Great location Dirty bathtub, lights out in bathroom of room 541
Is the best, perfect ubication
Lack of comfortable lounge area in the bar area. Years back there was a very ample lounge area for either for couples or larger groups. Too bad they eliminated it. I am also glad the re-opened the pool early.
This hotel has a long history and floor plans are quirky but the rooms are remodeled and modern. Our room in the historic tower had a 31st floor view that happened to have windows facing 3 different directions for a 270 degree view from Michigan Avenue to Lake Michigan (I think it was the only one on the floor with that expansive view). Minibar charges when we didnt use anything is always really annoying. I would have hoped a nice hotel like the Intercontinental wouldn't have this issue.
Location, staff, great pool and work put facilities. We were able to walk where ever we needed to go. Architecture is beautiful. Great place to stay. Comfortable rooms, nice view. We loved our stay and will go back. Need a better coffee maker. Small microwave in room. Fridge for your own soft drinks. Mini bar was very expensive
From the moment you pull up in front of the InterContinental you know you've made a wise choice. A friendly, suited doorman opened the cab door and welcomed us into the beautiful lobby decorated with a 4-story Christmas tree. We checked in and an exceptionally friendly clerk, Mariana, made sure we were given a quiet corner room, per our request. Our room was clean, spacious, and newly renovated - but not overdone. The wi-fi was fast, the bathroom toiletries lovely, and the room was quiet. Stop and see the pool -- it is the original, and its gorgeous. How often do you see chandeliers over a swimming pool that once boasted Esther Williams as a swimmer? Best of all, the location. Between Ontario Street and the Chicago Tribune, right before the river -- perfect! When we stepped off the elevator the rug was worn and shabby. This was our only complaint about the decor.
The location was top notch in a historic building- it was pointed out during our architectural boat tour! Our room's windows were inches from a brick wall which made me feel very unsafe. No notice that it was an interior rom when we booked. In addition, we could hear the wedding reception going on below. Sure this hotel has plenty of rooms, but do you really want to chance it that you will be placed in one without a window?
Location and decent sized, clean rooms. We booked day of stay and got a good rate. I would actually rate it a 3.5, but I didn't have that option. Extremely uncomfortable, stiff sheets.
Location Old, small rooms, poor plumbing. It's an embarrassment for Marriot. Don't stay here
The best part is that the Merriot is in the "heart of the city". Offsite parking.
I arrived 2am and there was no reservation and the company never told me there was a problem with my card. Spend until 4am getting another reservation for next day and then arrived and there was no reservation again. They ruined my entire business trip. had to spend half day looking for another hotel. The first night Marriott accommodated me in a room that was not what I expected. At least had a place to sleep. They were kind and very helpful, but the room I got was not what I expected. But It wasn't hotel's fault was getaroom.com fault.
It is such a big hotel I found it chaotic especially with several different events going on. Crowds of people, lots of noise. Just too big a apace for me!
Location , location and location Extremely crowded and very noisy ( possibly because NHL draft weekend) - it was almost like a busy fish market with so many people crammed in the lobby.. we had hard time navigating through the crowd to reach elevators on both days. Parking is another pain we had to deal with - primarily because of location . Amenities in the room are nothing to boast - but very comfortable bed ( typical Marriott) ...
Great newly updated rooms and incredible gym that puts many Health Clubs to shame. Room Svc leaves a bit to be desired but luckily they're located in great proximity to many great restaurants.
Everything!!!! Cost of parking.
This hotel is exactly what you'd expect from a stay in Downtown Chicago. Imposing structure, bustling atmosphere, and lofty prices. The central location couldn't be beat and the view provides you a look at the city no matter which direction you face. Room was clean and modern. After some initial difficulties, a new room was provided and sorted out with a credit to be used with breakfast (delicious breakfast, but expect to be charged the Chicago price for it). The price for staying directly on the Magnificent Mile shouldn't be surprising. The lobby was constantly occupied and persistently loud, which also is indicative of a stay in Chicago. The initial room assignment seemed to belong to another individual as there appeared to be clothing in the closet and a suitcase laid out when the door upon a very brief inspection from the cracked door. After informing the front desk, a new room was quickly assigned...but only one of the two keys ended up working. After our final trip to the front desk, we were in better shape and the breakfast the next day was delicious. The room was by no means spacious, but exactly in what you'd expect from Chicago standards. Don't forget you'll be paying for parking, which is at least simplified by the ability to charge to your room.
Full size mattresses sold as queen size
Great location, great staff No fridge or microwave
Please get Keurig coffee pots in each room


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How does social networking work for you?
Posted by Deidre Rienzo on
Welcome to Week 46 of my adventure of following the Start Up Grow Your Business Marketing Plan + Calendar and Week 9 as a member of the Marketing Plan Group. In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a website copywriter, my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and what I'm learning from my group experience.
If you need to get your booty movin' on your marketing, the Marketing Plan Group will get you there. Since I launched my new business, Connect with Copy, I've had something on my marketing to-do list, and I've been moving it – from week to week to week.
This item was: Update social networking profiles
Fortunately for me, Lesson 4 in the Marketing Plan Group is all about creating effective social networking profiles – and that's all it took to get me going. Not only is the guidance super-useful, it's also really great to get feedback from the group and know you're on the right track, instead of waffling around on your own. (If you don't want to waffle anymore, there will be a group starting the week of Dec 7 for those who have some down time over the holidays to focus on their business for 2010.)
Here are my updated profiles. I took the approach of here's the problem, and here's how I can help. (Feedback and new connections are very welcome!)
On today's group phone call, we discussed how our fellow group members use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Biznik for business. This conversation was really useful because by hearing the experiences of others, it helped us to get a better idea of how social networking can fit into our businesses. We discussed things like how often we Tweet, how we manage our time, and what kind of results we've gotten.
Do you have a social networking strategy? Do you spend a specific amount of time per day? What kind of results have you seen?


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Jean-Pierre "Le Cafe Chic" & Wine Bar
1-970-247-7700 :: 601 Main Avenue :: Durango, Colorado 81301 :: USA
Our downtown Durango "Le Cafe Chic" and Wine Bar opened May 29th, 2004 at the corner of Main Avenue and College Dr. in the heart of the historic district. It is located just a 1/2 block from the historic D&SNGRR train depot. This corner has been the center of Durango for over 120 years and the restaurant is located in a late 19th century building with a colorful history all its own.
This structure has housed everything from a livery stable and grocery store to a frontier tavern andwhat was rumored to be a house of ill-repute. The building has been restored to it's original structure, including exposed brick walls, ceilings and original wood flooring as well as windows and doors.
The restaurant is open 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm, serving everything from fresh baked pastries and breads to fresh squeezed orange juice and a variety of specialty coffees. A BREAKFAST, LUNCH and DINNER menu changes frequently, featuring fresh quiches, crepes and sandwiches. The Wine bar and cellar is connected to the restaurant through a large archway in the front and back of the restaurant to allow more seating.
Next time you're in Durango, Colorado make it a point to stop in, say hello and sample some fresh baked goodies. Just get to the center of town and take a deep breath. Your nose will lead you the rest of the way!!!


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Vermont's Chamberlin is putting out its sophomore EP, Look What I've Become, next week on Audiotree, and ahead of that release, the band is premiering its latest video with CMJ. This is the first video from the group's new "Above The Valleys" series and was shot during a party in a log cabin in Chamberlin's home state. In this portion, the band debates the spelling of EP track "Thief" ("'I' before 'e'") before launching into a performance of it. The sound is rooted in spacious Americana, but its grungy, percussive undercurrent sucks the light out of it and pushes it toward sludgy rock.
This particular cabin in Vermont is where Chamberlin writes and rehearses all of its music, and according to Megan McDonough, part of the filming and directing crew, getting access to that space made the shoot much more reflective of who the band is. "So much of the time we try and figure out what was going on in the heads of people who have inspired us and don't get anywhere," she says. "So to actually have the chance to see a tangible space attached to a band's creativity goes a long way toward understanding all the thought and emotion that went into that album." Check out the video below and the band's new EP when it comes out September 4.


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The Saints lodged an official complaint against Villa following public comments from their manager David O'Leary.
He revealed his belief that Beattie wanted to move to Villa after a £6m bid was rejected.
Villa deny the charge but could face a warning, fine or points deduction if they are found guilty.
A financial penalty is thought to be the most likely outcome and Liverpool were fined in a similar case involving Christian Ziege's move from Middlesbrough.
A Premier League spokesman said: "An independent commission has been appointed but no date has yet been set for a hearing."
The dispute began after Villa failed to sign Beattie during the close season.
They beat Southampton 2-0 on the opening day of the season and after the game O'Leary was quoted on Villa's official website as saying: "All I can say is
that I think there's a player there who definitely wants to join us.
"He has an opportunity to join a few people but I think he sees the way we play is good for strikers and that he will get a few goals."
Saints chairman Rupert Lowe told his club's website: "It is a Premier League matter and it is in their hands now so we will have to wait to see what they decide.
"We felt that Aston Villa made an illegal approach for James Beattie while he was still under contract to us and without our permission.
Premier League rules state that a club cannot approach a player directly with a view to a move without his club's permission unless he is in the final six months of a contract and that was not the case with Beattie.
The striker has been out of action since picking up an injury in last month's goalless draw with Manchester City.