Workers were seen at Wilde Pug today, at Broadway and Lawrence, prepping the storefront for windows while folks enjoyed the beautiful weather by dining outside at Fiesta Mexicana next door. Also, for those monitoring the progress of the Uptown Broadway Building south of here, workers were seen installing the metal framing to the lower section of the first level windows today. A reader emailed the realtor for the building and they said they expect the building to be completed in 90 days.
They need to finish up and open the Wilde Pug soon. I was eating at Fiesta the other night, and a steady stream of "Crew" patrons were using the front of the Pug as their smoking lounge---with little regard for me and other Fiesta diners.
ReplyDeleteIn the course of my hour-long dinner, one Crew patron took four smoke breaks, and we finally had to ask him to move farther down to the front of "Shake, Rattle, and Read."
It then dawned on me that the Uptown Theater--at least its marquee--will soon serve a useful purpose: as a gathering spot for exiled smokers from places like Green Mill, Fiesta, the Pug, and FatCat. Even better, the Uptown marquee will provide expansive shelter when it's raining.
It's weird dining al fresco in this part of Uptown---it wouldnt have been conceivable several years ago. Last year around this time, I was dining al fresco at Fiesta, and was treated to a remnant from the old days: an incoherent drunk projectile vomiting at the curbside.
BillyJoe, LOL! I gotta admit...I sorta have some kind of soft spot for you. First, you come to this blog trolling vile racial hatred. Then, you make some sensitive remarks regarding recent CHA decisions. Then you come back again attempting to discredit people's concerns about crime by essentially saying that folks are fear mongering and that no one really cares about crime---they just hate poor people. Now, you come back talking about dining AL FRESCO in the Uptown Entertainment District??
ReplyDeleteDo you have multiple personalities? Do you share your blogger account with some secret activist group that just can't figure out what their issue is? What is your deal, man? Do you have a quota for how many condo owners you can ruin by making them chronic procrastinators? Or is my soft spot misplaced because you're only going to do me wrong in the end? How does the saying go? Once a troll always a troll?
EWWW!
ReplyDeleteWe can agree on this one Billy Joe... I can't WAIT for Wilde Pug to open! This is the part of Uptown I love... I love all the new and old eclectic places to dine and have a good time. Fat Cat has AWESOME (albeit pricey) burgers, and their beer selection is divine!
PS - I'm curious...did you call the cops for the guys violating the Chicago smoking ordinance or was it a gray area because Wilde Pug's entrance is not really open yet?
ReplyDeleteSaskia: I wouldnt call the cops for smokers violating the ordinance in most cases.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct that smoking in front of the Pug is a gray area because it has not yet officially opened.
But because the al fresco scene at Lawrence and Broadway is pretty laid back, I dont think the "bois" from Crew realize their cig smoke can bother the outdoor diners. They certainly won't be able to puff there when Pug opens, but, like I said, the Uptown Theater marquee will experience new life as an outdoor smoking venue.
Saskia,, chill out.. Concentrate on those things in Uptown that we need to call police on... seriously...
ReplyDeleteTHE ONLY REASON WHY ANY OF US ARE DINING "AL FRESCO" IN "UPTOWN" IS IN THANKS TO ALD. SMITH.
ReplyDeletePUUUUHHHHLEASE PEOPLE...GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE....
I'm chill, uptownsuperhero. I just wanted to hear billyjoe's approach when he is out and about in Uptown.
ReplyDeleteJimo: Could you avoid writing in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS? Reading such typeface makes me feel like you're SCREAMING at us. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteUptown Superhero: Re your upbraiding of Saskia . . . so what's your brand of smoke?
billyjoe seems to be on a wonderful tangent today! Yippee! I don't smoke. But I think there are better ways to utilize the police in Uptown at this point in time. Perhaps if you had something positive to add to this blog, your odd little rants would be more interesting... have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteJimo may be intending to scream. I AM DINING AL FRESCO IN UPTOWN! Whoo hoo!
ReplyDeleteCan anyone pinpoint the first restaurant to have an outdoor dining option? I think it may have been Tweet...which was also the first tablecloth restaurant I ever went to in Uptown.
"PUUUUHHHHLEASE PEOPLE...GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE...."
ReplyDeleteI certainly wouldnt classify that remark as an "odd little rant."
Why I would never intend to SCREAM, RANT, or just get plain WORKED UP about something in Uptown!
ReplyDeleteJust tryin' to make a point folks. I thought it was odd that we have all these positive posts about dining in Uptown, and nothing was mentioned that all these restaurants are in Ald. Smith's Ward.
Located in the "entertainment corridor" that our one and only Ald. Shiller "shares" with her. I just get a kick out of it when she claims to "share" these areas with Smith and Tunney. Talk about riding the coat tails.
Regardless, I'll try to refrain from typing in ALL CAPS.
Have a great Friday the 13th!