CHICAGO, July, 2013 - Get ready to shop 'til you drop. For 12 style-filled days - Thursday, August 22, through Monday, September 2 (Labor Day) - the Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival™ presented by MasterCard® (Shopping Festival) will once again take over downtown Chicago's famed shopping mecca. Water Tower Place, along with the city's top restaurants, retailers and hotels, will combine fashion, food, fitness and fun for a can't-miss experience.

The iconic Water Tower Place will celebrate the Shopping Festival in style by treating guests to VIP perks and more as they shop and dine throughout the eight-story center and by hosting a bevy of fashion-forward events, including an exclusive after-hours shopping experience with Lincoln Park Young Professionals and a fashion brunch featuring live models.

Shopping festival organizers have planned several activities for families and children of all ages, culminating in an afternoon of music and fashion at the John Hancock Center Plaza on Labor Day weekend. A "Tween Fashion
Show," sponsored by Water Tower Place, will showcase the latest fall and back-to-school styles from Water Tower Place retailers. In addition, Disney star Coco Jones will perform at a live concert, followed by a meet-and-greet
presented by Radio Disney.  

More details on Water Tower Place special events and promotions are as follows:

Shop & Dine Promotion - Aug. 22-Sept. 2: Fuel your shopping spree at one of Water Tower Place's many eateries. Simply show your Water Tower Place shopping receipts anytime during the Shopping Festival and receive 10  percent off your total purchase at Foodlife, Foodease Market or Mity Nice Bar & Grill.* In addition, shoppers who spend $250 or more during the festival can get ready to brave fall rain showers in the season's most fashionable hue by redeeming their receipts at the concierge desk for a complimentary grey Water Tower Place umbrella.  

Pet Weekend - Aug. 24-25: To celebrate the Shopping Festival's "Pet Weekend," Water Tower Place will host a free in-center event with the favorite Dr. Seuss character now on stage at the Broadway Playhouse, "THE CAT IN THE HAT."

After Hours with Lincoln Park Young Professionals - Aug. 25, 6-9 p.m.: Water Tower Place welcomes the Lincoln Park Young Professionals for an exclusive, posh after-hours soirée. Featuring music, hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, the shopping center will be open for guests attending the event. Guests will also receive a Water Tower Place coupon book, valued at $650. Cost is $20 per person, with $3 from each ticket donated to Immerman Angels, a local non-profit whose mission is to provide personalized connections that enable one-on-one support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers. Tickets can be purchased in advance at  p://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3707444.

The Nation's Bao Eating Contest - Aug. 28: To commemorate Wow Bao's 10th anniversary at Water Tower Place and the sale of its 10 millionth bao, the restaurant is holding a fast-paced eating contest, looking for the contestant      that can eat the most bao in two minutes. Semi-final rounds will be held at the restaurant's State and Lake location Aug. 12-16 and 19-23, and the 10 semifinalists will then complete in the championship round at Water Tower Place on Aug. 28 for a chance to win free Wow Bao for a year. More information about the contest can be found at www.wowbao.com. 

Fashion Brunch - Aug. 31, 10 a.m.: Food meets fashion at this stylish affair. Shoppers can indulge in a special brunch menu presented by Foodlife, including a signature Bloody Mary, mimosas, applewood-smoked bacon, eggs, praline-crusted French toast, fresh fruit, pastries and more. While dining, visitors also can feed their fashion      craving as live models showcase the season's hottest looks from Water Tower Place retailers. Cost is $25 per      person and includes a complimentary gift bag. Tickets can be purchased at brownpapertickets.com. 
        

Entertainment for the Kids - Sept. 1: Bring your fashion-and music-loving kids to the John Hancock Center Plaza for an outdoor "Tween Fashion Show" hosted by Water Tower Place. A number of Water Tower Place retailers will showcase the season's top fall and back-to-school trends for tweens. The event also includes a concert and meet-and-greet with Disney star Coco Jones, presented by Radio Disney. Concert attendees will have the opportunity to enter a prize giveaway hosted by participating Water Tower Place retailers.

"The Shopping Festival showcases some of the best that our city has to offer, and Water Tower Place is offering our local and out-of-town guests an exceptional experience that blends the best of Chicago's food, fashion and fun in one
unique experience," said Katie Lindsay, marketing manager for Water Tower Place.

In addition to Water Tower Place's events, Shopping Festival guests also can enjoy an outdoor fashion show featuring looks from Water Tower Place and other Mag Mile retailers on Thursday, August 22 and "A Magnificent Taste," an outdoor culinary event at Pioneer Court featuring some of Chicago's celebrity chefs and top restaurants on Tuesday, August 27.

Visit www.shopwatertower.com to learn more about Water Tower Place's Shopping Festival activities and visit www.themagnificentmile.com for more information about The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival™ presented by MasterCard®.

*Receipt must be presented on day of shopping and is valid for that day only.

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About Water Tower Place

Water Tower Place is recognized as one of America's Premier Shopping Places, a unique collection of tourism-oriented shopping centers located throughout the USA owned by General Growth Properties, Inc. For a complete listing of America's Premier Shopping Places and special offers for travelers, please visit www.AmericasShoppingPlaces.com.  

Water Tower Place is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust focused exclusively on owning, managing, leasing, and redeveloping high quality retail properties throughout the United States. GGP's portfolio is comprised of 123 malls in the United States comprising approximately 124 million square feet. GGP is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and publicly traded on the
NYSE under the symbol GGP.

About The Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile® is Chicago's premier destination, offering more than 3.3 million square feet of retail space, 460 stores, 275 restaurants, 23,000 hotel rooms in 60 hotels, five unique museums and entertaining attractions to more
than 20 million visitors each year.  As One of the Great Avenues of the World, The Magnificent Mile district features
extraordinary shopping, critically acclaimed dining, world-class hotel accommodations, seasonal event campaigns and exceptional urban landscaping with more than 52 unique parkway gardens that reflect the changing seasons and
complement the unique architectural beauty of Chicago.  For more information, visit www.themagnificentmile.com or follow The Magnificent Mile on Facebook, Twitter and foursquare.

About Priceless Chicago

MasterCard is helping create memories that will last a lifetime with Priceless Chicago.  MasterCard cardholders are invited to unlock Priceless experiences to discover a whole new level of culture and adventure in the city.  Special culinary experiences, access to some of the best seats at sporting events and enhanced service from some of the most fashionable shops are now within reach with Priceless Chicago.  For more information, visit www.priceless.com/chicago.