A reader writes in with the following photo and info:"I live just down the street from the large Vis Vitae development at Clark and Leland and have been watching the progress. I know a Starbucks was rumored for the ground level corner retail space but I noticed something else today. I looked inside this corner space and saw framing going up and a table with blueprints. On the blueprints I could read something to the effect of "---ava Restaurant/Cafe." Part of the words were covered. New dining options would be great!"
New dining. It's always new dining. Why is everyone so obsessed with a new place to eat? There is a reason we're fat, it's because we constantly desire new food and new places to eat. How about clothing stores that don't cater to the booty call? Or a cute boutique art store or kitch (sp?) store? Hair did'rs, restaurants, and bars, OH MY!
ReplyDeleteA while ago, Panera was supposed to go there. Whatever it is -- can't wait!
ReplyDeleteWait - there are clothing stores that cater to Booty Calls??
ReplyDeleteWell it's not everyone Chuck, but in case you have not noticed, this is not Lincoln Park or Andersonville so people tend to get excited when a decent new dining establishment opens up. What I don't think we need is any more of the 24 hour restaurants or 4am dive bars like Carol's pub.
ReplyDeletegingrsnap,
ReplyDeleteCarol's is a Chicago legend. If I had a nickel for each person I met whose only impression of Uptown is the fun time they had a Carol's, I'd have alot of nickels.
TOC - Apparently Chuck is referring to the stores on Clark St. near this proposed restaurant. News flash - no "booty call" garments as far as I can tell. OTOH every woman in Uptown/Sheridan Park should familiarize herself with the stores that are "open to the public" before the gentrifiers close them down. There are amazing bargains to be had in accessories including costume jewelry, handbags (including the seasonal "prom purses"), shoes, and most of all HATS. Yes, there are still a lot of ladies who LUV hats and they know that Clark St. is one of the best sources!
ReplyDeleteGinger, I'm sorry you feel Uptown lacks really good dining establishments and requires more. Fontana is Fantastic. Unique so Chique (sp?) is wonderful. Magnolia Cafe gets great reviews. Iyanze has opened to wonderful acclaim. We also have Wilde Pug and Golden Pancake House. There's Thai Uptown and the other Chinese place further down Broadway. Oh, and Agame sushi. And, while in no way advocating a Lincoln Park atmosphere as you so gently accuse me of, I don't braid my hair or have a fat backside that needs more stretch fabric to cover it. A little more upscale shopping would be nice, though. Some of us are older and saggier and would like clothes to reflect our demographic.
ReplyDeleteOkay, yeah -- Carol's pub is a legend because it plays country music, has hard core drinking regulars, has not changed in over 40 years and has cheap drinks and oh yeah it is open til 4am. Sure a real fun dive bar if you didn't have to live in the same neighborhood....I wish it would become "unpopular" and go back to being just a dive bar like Max's place down the street "Where friends meet"!
ReplyDeleteWWhat are the 24 hour restaurants in Uptown? IHOP competition?
ReplyDeleteyes Chuck I hear you and I am of aware of the newer dining places in Uptown, but I guess I was more focused on the Clark Street area, a little closer to home....I agree with you on the retail, we could use a few upscale clothing stores, just not sure how they would do in this area..I'd also love to see some of the local shops clean up their storefronts...I'd like to see someone do a survey and find out what kind of retail shops the locals would like to see. For example, I would like to see an ice cream parlor/coffee shop next to Chase Park maybe on the West side of the street.
ReplyDeleteTaqueria El Ranchito is a few doors South of Carol's pub...apparently you've never done the "Carol's pub and/or "burrito run" at 2am :-)
ReplyDeleteYou all are really dramatic. Carols Bar is awesome. Fontana, Magnolia, ect are all nice. 3 Harmony and 2 AM Burritos on Clark are dirty. The stores on Clark are booty covering stores no doubt but bootys gotta be covered. A new restaurant on that corner would be nice for everyone. We can eat more get bigger booties and people can get jobs and buy more booty covering clothes. WIN WIN WIN WIN
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what the new cafe is going to be???
The stores on Clark are all great neighbors. Last week my daughter and I were walking back from Chase park at about 10am, and there had to be 10 store owners out there sweeping the sidewalks and cleaning up for a day of business.
ReplyDeleteIn short, I love having them in my neighborhood.
mmmmm, late night burritos. nothing tucks me into bed better than that!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.
ReplyDeleteJ ava Cafe (coffee joint?)
L ava Cafe (tiki bar?)
B aklava Cafe (Greek food?)
V ava Cafe (hipsters?)
GU ava Cafe (vegetarian?)
VENA C ava Cafe (med student hangout?)
KAVAK ava Cafe (for anxious folk?)
BALACL ava Cafe (for those who seek warmth?)
Oy. Everybody's got something to bitch about. Something new is opening while a legendary Chicago establishment remains open in what is arguably the worst economy on record. Frankly, it's all a win.
ReplyDelete