|
Water Tower place is a snazzy somewhat upscale shopping mall that has become an anchor for Chicago's mag mile.
It is a fun place to visit. It has beautiful glass elevators that zip up and down...
Water Tower place is a snazzy somewhat upscale shopping mall that has become an anchor for Chicago's mag mile.
It is a fun place to visit. It has beautiful glass elevators that zip up and down that are so open they are breathtaking.
The fun thing to do is zip to the top of the mall and then work your way down. There are fun boutique stores and many that are familiar.
One the mezzanine level there is a great cafeteria style restaurant with a huge variety of foods at reasonable prices.
http://www.shopwatertower.com/
Hide
|
|
Oh my god, keep me out of this store!
If you are an artist you know what I mean. Goodies galore to inspire you. Materials, books, pens and paper and brushes and on and on.
Its big, it goes...
Oh my god, keep me out of this store!
If you are an artist you know what I mean. Goodies galore to inspire you. Materials, books, pens and paper and brushes and on and on.
Its big, it goes on and on, they always have irresistible stuff on sale.
The staff are all artist types themselves so you get more help and advice than you ever need.
It is a fun place to get ideas if you are feeling the need for some inspiration.
The challenge is just to buy what you need and are really going to use. Of course that is the greater challenge for all us consuming Americans.
http://pearlpaint.com/
Hide
|
|
The old town art fair is an event that takes place every year at the beginning of June. It has been going on for more than 50 years.
This is a juried show that attracts top notch artists. You...
The old town art fair is an event that takes place every year at the beginning of June. It has been going on for more than 50 years.
This is a juried show that attracts top notch artists. You will see gallery quality art here; not just the schlock you find at some fairs.
The problem with this fair is that it is the victim of its own success. This fair is so popular that even with an admission cost it just gets way too crowded. The number of people just make enjoying the fair a real challenge.
Especially when you get beer spilled on you by a drunken yuppie. If you're lucky that won't happen and you'll get to see some great art and do a lot of people watching.
http://www.oldtowntriangle.com/
Hide
|
|
The Green Mill was a speakeasy during prohibition and has also been featured in movies; the one I half remember it gets blown up. So it is fairly called legendary.
Now it is a venue for jazz most...
The Green Mill was a speakeasy during prohibition and has also been featured in movies; the one I half remember it gets blown up. So it is fairly called legendary.
Now it is a venue for jazz most nights and also hosts the long running poetry slam. This place has a classic lounge look to it, and serves the usual mix of drinks.
The problem for me has been that the ventilation is pretty poor so it gets filled up with second hand smoke pretty quickly. This drives me out; I have a limited tolerance for other people's smoke.
If you can handle the smoke, it is a great authentic environment to hear some good Chicago jazz or some rowdy poets.
http://www.greenmilljazz.com/
Hide
|
|
Fred Burkhart has had his studio in this spot for years. I used to see him in the local Starbucks, often in the company of a young woman who I later found out was his daughter.
I struck up an...
Fred Burkhart has had his studio in this spot for years. I used to see him in the local Starbucks, often in the company of a young woman who I later found out was his daughter.
I struck up an acquaintance with him and found an instant rapport. Fred is a true artist with a real open heart.
His studio shows his painting and photography, which are exceptional. He has been through hard times and lived on the street, and has great compassion which shows in his portraits of people and his graphics of popular folk heroes. He is one himself.
He ran a coffee house here too but after a serious injury he had to close it down. Check to see what is going on there now.
Update! The studio on Halsted is history. Fred moved to Bucktown and will reopen a gallery/coffee hse. soon. Watch his website for announcements.
http://www.burkhartstudios.com/index.html
Hide
|
|
I used to live a few blocks from this place and worked nights driving a cab. It was nice to have a place to come to at 3 am where you could find some life and grab a bite.
Coming in at that hour,...
I used to live a few blocks from this place and worked nights driving a cab. It was nice to have a place to come to at 3 am where you could find some life and grab a bite.
Coming in at that hour, your fellow clients would be cops and detectives and people from the local bars who were often drunk and rowdy.
But the food was good, the help was always friendly, and the ambiance was a family run joint. The owner was often there in his big western hat. Or maybe it was just a regular. I never asked:)
Hide
|
|
Campeche has several locations scattered around the city and I have eaten at most of them. They make good Mexican food.
The location in Rogers Park was a regular haunt for me when I lived in the...
Campeche has several locations scattered around the city and I have eaten at most of them. They make good Mexican food.
The location in Rogers Park was a regular haunt for me when I lived in the 'hood. I usually order tacos de pollo (chicken) or fajitias camarones. (shrimp). My late wife usually ordered more variety.
They always produced tasty food. The place has good service and a pleasant atmosphere. Murals with Mexican scenes are colorful, and a big aquarium with Spanish speaking fish:)
Sometimes parking on the street was a bit of a challenge, but that is par for the course in the big city, eh?
Hide
|
|
I had to store the contents of my one bedroom apartment so I rented a 10 x 10 room here for $97 a month.
I kept everything in storage longer than I expected too, so I had to make fairly frequent...
I had to store the contents of my one bedroom apartment so I rented a 10 x 10 room here for $97 a month.
I kept everything in storage longer than I expected too, so I had to make fairly frequent trips back here to access my stuff.
The place was set up in a fairly practical fashion, and I found it easy to use. The biggest hassle was just coming in, where you had to punch in a code to open an iron gate to let your car in the inner lot. Then you had to do the same when leaving.
But the rest was set up well. They always had hand trucks available for moving stuff in and out. There were two elevators so you could get in and out ok.
Altogether, I had a satisfactory experience with this facility.
Hide
|
|
When I am going to go out for a little local R and R, my destination is almost always a bookstore and/or a restaurant or coffee house or both.
When I lived in Old Town years ago, this was...
When I am going to go out for a little local R and R, my destination is almost always a bookstore and/or a restaurant or coffee house or both.
When I lived in Old Town years ago, this was frequently my destination. 30+ years later, it is still a worthy destination.
Of course Barbara's has expanded now so you have more location choices. These worthy places deserve your visit and support.
They always have a lot of small press books and magazines, exotic stuff that is fun and interesting and what defined the existence of an independent book store.
Somewhere in my memory is a visit by Allen Ginsberg to this store where he gave a reading and left some marks on the wall.
http://www.barbarasbookstore.com/
Hide
|
|
Ann Sather's is one of those places that you just keep coming back to. The food is great and the atmosphere is charming and uplifting. The service is consistently good too.
The theme is Swedish...
Ann Sather's is one of those places that you just keep coming back to. The food is great and the atmosphere is charming and uplifting. The service is consistently good too.
The theme is Swedish American. If you come for breakfast, they have great omelets and their dangerous specialty, cinnamon rolls. The coffee is good and for some reason as I am writing this I remember a lovely side dish of prunes.
Lunch and dinners are good too. You can try the Swedish meatballs or whatever else strikes your fancy and probably be pleased with the result.
Both this place and the one on Belmont has wonderful, colorful murals with Swedish folk themes.
http://www.annsather.com/
Hide
|