Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Rahm Helps Acadia with Government Bureaucracy

Time Out Chicago recently posted a list of eateries that Rahm Emannual has been spotted dining at, complete with commentary from restaurant owners. It looks like the mayor enjoys everything from fried chicken smothered in gravy to fish specials and salad. And apparently, he's lent a helping hand to Acadia, Sloop's new and much talked about restaurant:
Acadia
Emanuel showed up at the doorstep of Ryan McCaskey’s new South Loop spot before it opened. “He wanted to weed out some of the red tape in City Hall for people to build small businesses,” the chef-owner recalls. “My restaurant is on city park space, so he asked what the biggest issue was and we said dealing with the city—not only with getting permits but also finding out what’s going on with the developing park that’s next to us. We wanted two things: a little buffer between the restaurant and where the people would be, because the park is supposed to be part dog park. The other thing is we wanted a patio of about 14 seats out there. Four days later, I had a meeting with all the head people at the park district. The design is approved, and as far as I know he pushed that through for me."
Have you spotted Rahmbo chowing down or anywhere in the Sloop? Where and when?

We've heard about him at Manny's (but every politician goes there). Anywhere else?

(Image from: Time Out Chicago!)

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've seen Rahm at Nightwood (I know it's Pilsen, but still pretty close). He's a tiny human.

Anonymous said...

Ditto--I've seen him at Nightwood, too.

Fit Guy said...

I see him at Scout once in a while

Vontaze Burflict said...

I saw him at Chicago Firehouse a few times

Suk-mi Dulk said...

all chicago politicians love the Firehouse, great food too!

Supple Jim Jams said...

is rahm a cubs or sox fan? he looks like a Cub fan--- ya know, kind of wimpy/dorky

Rhianna's butt said...

Who goes out to eat in PILSEN!?!?

Thats as demented as the people that think 24th and Mich has a future! Geez make sure you bring mace and a lead pipe

Good grief.

Shaniqua Boombastic said...

Pilsen has some great spots, I always loved Simone's. Great beef tips and hot cocoa! I just always try to leave before the sun goes down.

Anonymous said...

I live here in the Sloop but I find myself at Pilsen bars/restaraunt quite a bit. Simones, Nightwood, Skylark are a few of my faves.

There are a ton of reasonably good and inexpensive Mexican restaurants (I know I'm stating the obvious here) and you can't beat La Casa del Pueblo market for produce/meat to make mexican food.

It would pay some of you Pilsen haters to expand your horizons. You are missing out on a gem of a neighborhood.

And for the folks that will no likely respond by asking "why don't you move there?" I live in the South Loop, and like a lot of people here, kind of stuck in a place that won't sell anywhere near what I paid for it 5 years ago.

I miss Bush said...

Pilsen!?!?!?!!?

Ok ok i get it, they have a few resturants now BUT SO WHAT. this is a borderline gang hood! Remember the "kill whitey" taggings that were written under the viaducts? Only an ingnorant stubborn hipster woudl try and force their way into that area

Anonymous said...

Rahm is a Cubs fan, but he drinks South Loop Brewing Company beer, so he's cool in my book.

Booger Jones said...

SBC hasnt opened yet i thought? What is the address of the brewery?

Anonymous said...

re: Pilsen

Seriously? You people need to get out more.

Anonymous said...

I don't believe comments that are critical of Pilsen or other neighborhoods should be allowed. I really like the diversity of Pilsen

Anonymous said...

Dear Miss Bush...

I am not trying to force myself into Pilsen. My comment was just to point out there are good things happening in that neighborhood and that by avoiding it you might be missing out.

The reality is, we live in a huge city and have to take reasonable precautions wherever we are.

And as for being an ignorant stubborn hipster...I am 53 years OLD and far from being a hipster who looks for the trendiest spots. I've just never allowed myself to be guided by fear.

People on this blog need to stop with the veiled racism and hate.

Anonymous said...

I was the original poster about seeing Rahm at Nightwood in Pilsen. I find it comical that people respond that Pilsen is gang territory and a total dump and those are probably some of the same people that are defending the Sloop when Northsiders call our neighborhood gang territory and a dump.

People need to relax and get out more. Pilsen has a lot to offer, but you need to be careful, just as you would in the Sloop, Lincoln Park, or any other neighborhood.

And no, I'm not a hipster, a renter, or a newbie to the Sloop. My wife and I have lived here and owned since 2003.

Anonymous said...

I am a police officer who enjoys pilsen ( especially the food )

However, the neighborhood is far from what the south loop is --- its much much worse. Pilsen is definently headed in the right directions and CAN be enjoyed but you need to be verrrry careful. The main issues in Pilsen right now are theft and burglery. Violent crimes are down but that really should not be taken lightly either.

All in all, youre both right-- its a bad neighborhood but has a lot of upside and is heading in the right direction.

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who thought the original comment about Pilsen was sarcastic?

Of course Pilsen is great. There's a reason I do all my grocery shopping there.

Anonymous said...

I agree.. No one is saying to go live in Pilsen.. just as I would not want to live in Wicker Park, West Loop or Bridgeport, but go there quite a bit for restaurants, etc. I think most people who live in the South Loop know the daily advantages of living here and realize we are still demanding more "destination" places to go & one more school, but other than that, it is by far the top 1 or 2 neighborhoods to LIVE IN.

Anonymous said...

I thought this article was about Acadia not Pilsen...can we please get back on topic people....?

What's next...we gonna start talking about how important local chef's are over at Burger Point and debate about Scout high-fivers?

No, no, no...let's talk about Rahm and how he removes barriers to enable local restaurant owners like Acadia.

I am so glad he got elected and not Al Gore.

Anonymous said...

....and the seventeen schools hes about to shut down. But no--its great he went the extra mile for Acadia

Anonymous said...

Saw him having lunch at the Little Branch Cafe some time last year (October / November)

scottyboysloop said...

Another thread hijacked by a bunch of bigoted morons... Again when will Sloopin stop allowing anonymous post? Im really beginning to think the owners of this blog are more interested in stirring the pot, than having civil and intelligent discourse...

BRENDAN said...

Scotty

if someone posts under their real name, do you gain something from that? Im curious as to your logic....really, please explain this because it perplexes me.

Also-- its just an internet blog on development news in the south loop. its not the end all be all---if you do not like what you see why not just stop visting sloopin? Are you addicted? Do you get paid to come here?

scottyboysloop said...

Brenden, you are one of the obvious exceptions to what I'm talking about. So I'm not surprised by your lack of understanding... So no, it doesn't get rid of all vapid comments...

I imagine that half of these comments wouldn't be here if some of these anonymous posters had to take the time to register. As far as my "addiction" you are absolutely right, I don't have to come here and no, I don't get paid to do so. I do however find the info useful, but it's discouraging that so many can't resist flame baiting.

Tim said...

It's not that people need to provide their real name, it's that without even a consistent nickname, you can't have a conversation with people. It's impossible to tell whether you're talking to one person or an angry mob.

MarkChicago said...

If I'm not mistaken, calling people "bigots" isn't exactly the high road there, scotty. Ignoring obvious realities & crime correlations in Pilsen (and other hoods South & West) that are in contrast to your own self righteous opinions is the ultimate form of moronity.

Steven said...

Scotty

"racist bigots" ?

people have gotten way too used to throwing certain words around these days. i feel its due to a society that merits no consequence for stupidity.... i.e. the Hope/Change generation

Tim said...

Steven, are you trying to prove your own point regarding "way too used to throwing certain words around?"

Anonymous said...

Why is completion of this park so important? It's a dog park in the middle of an low density area. There are other South Loop Parks not complete or started that are much more critical and people accessible, yet for some unknown reason, this get's priority?

Kind of like the Park over on 24th & Federal. Build a brand new park with ball field and playground, and then at the same time tear down Ickes, who would have been the parks nearest neigbors. Makes not sense, as not that part goes to waste.

MarkChicago said...

Anon, the article states that Rahm got the design approved, not the priority treatment of the project.

Anonymous said...

"There are other South Loop Parks not complete or started that are much more critical and people accessible, yet for some unknown reason, this get's priority?"

Why don't you name a few of these... Sure is low density down there with that insignificant 500 unit high rise and 250 unit mid rise on the same block.