It's so hot, you just. . . [gotta try it ]: Youth is served by special Ritz-Carlton concierge

When you're a visitor in town, there's nothing like having a well-informed local to clue you into the city's cool sights. Kids andteenagers staying at the swank Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel throughLabor Day find an instant expert in Danielle Bidus, a kid/teenconcierge who shares tips on finding the Windy City's kid-friendliest shops, eateries and attractions.

The Ritz first filled the kid/teen concierge position last summer(other Four Seasons-owned properties in Atlanta, New York,Philadelphia, London and Toronto also have them). So from 10 a.m. to6:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Bidus takes her post alongsidethe hotel's regular concierge on the 12th floor, answering questionsfrom guests who walk up to her desk and those who text her cell phonefrom outside.

During check-in, if parents aren't "too overwhelmed with theirkids, I go up to them and introduce myself," says Bidus, a 20-year-old junior studying photography at Loyola University. Youngsters geta copy of her weekly Kid & Teen Concierge newsletter and Bidus'personalized business card with her e-mail and cell phone number (sothey can call while out sightseeing). From her post, she can hookthem up with everything from restaurant reservations to beach bagsfor visits to nearby Oak Street.

The typical questions?

"Usually, they ask what kinds of restaurants are kid-friendly,"she says.

Ask Bidus for neat dining spots, and she won't toss out the usualsuspects like the Cheesecake Factory and Gino's East. She mentionsRL, the upscale restaurant located in Ralph Lauren's North MichiganAvenue flagship space. "They don't have a kid menu," she says, "butthey'll do macaroni and cheese."

Bidus also is big on Kamehachi, a Japanese restaurant and sushibar at 240 E. Ontario. "The atmosphere's awesome," says Bidus, whothinks this Streeterville location is cool for teens. "They canexperiment with sushi but it's not too expensive."

Shopping's also an iffy topic for some guests. Perhaps "theirdaughter is 14 and wants to know what places are cool for her age.With teens, some come up to me but usually [it's] their parents.Sometimes they're like, 'I'm too cool.'" She often steers them tonearby H&M, Guess?, Express and the Gap.

Concierges at fine hotels are used to answering questions not justfrom their own guests but from travelers staying at other properties -- and from locals who value their judgment. Bidus says it happens"quite a bit. There are people who come in for dinner or have stayedat other Four Seasons and come over to see what I'm about," she says,realizing her job is still a novelty within the hotel industry. It'spart of "Four Seasons 411," a company-wide program that targetstraveling families with kids.

Although she's officially out of her teens, Bidus uses her 9-year-old nephew as a filter for what's cool with kids. And she does herown research during her off-days, "just going [out] with friends, orI'll go to a restaurant because I know it might be kid-friendly and Imight want to recommend it. I really like when I can help people andthey're happy."

Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 160 E. Pearson. Call (312) 266-1000.