#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Pano from 14th

(Hat tip:  SS!)

Neighborhood Stalwart Zapatista Closes on Wabash

Our email has been inundated with notes as it looks like a neighborhood stalwart has closed up shop:

We don't have much detail, but apparently this was a pretty abrupt decision as we received pics of employees lined up outside not knowing that they closed:

Employees literally standing outside, obviously not made aware! No additional information available online or on social media. Seems so abrupt! Was just there enjoying a mojito on the patio last Friday. I know they were temporarily shuddered for health code violations last year, but business seemed to pick right back up.

Does anyone have any scoop?  They always seemed to be relatively busy, so this is slightly surprising (despite their run in with the Health Department last year).

While we've definitely had better Mexican food in the city and the neighborhood, we always enjoyed Zapatista.  Sad to see them go.

Hope something/someone seizes this opportunity and something good moves in.

(Hat tip: KT, MS, CD, MP, CB, DS, LP, JM, JY, HB, SF!) 

Good Humor Ice Cream Truck Finds a Good Spot in the Sloop

A reader writes:

Not sure if this is interesting enough to be post worthy, but this Good Humor ice cream truck has been ruling Jones park next to South Loop Elementary Scool for several weeks. I've seen them here in Summers past, but their presence was much more sporadic. They're here several times a week this year. And the response has been quite strong. There's usually a line of folks waiting. In addition to old Good Humor items, this truck has some more atypical fare, like frozen mango with chili popsicles (sweet and zesty at the same time). Lotsa feel good nostalgia for an oldie timey brand and a more neighborhoody Summer existence. Are there more of these in the South Loop this Summer?

We had someone mention this to us once, but they didn't have much background.  We're not aware of any other ice cream trucks in the neighborhood.  Does anyone else know of any?

Seems like a smart business decision to camp an ice cream truck close to a school.

(Hat tip:  AM!)

Full Episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Harvey at Manny's Now Out

So this happened in the Sloop. Wish we would have seen it live:
The full episode is now available and definitely worth a watch.  Not only because part of the show is in the Sloop, but because the show is hilarious and these two clearly are having a good time.

Definitely a lot of shots around the Sloop if you're perceptive.

As you may be aware, this was filmed back in April.  Here is a link to the post we did on the show back then.

Confirmed: New BBQ Restaurant - Belly Up - Coming to 1132 S. Wabash

Well looky here - the building at 1132 S. Wabash is having a big week here at Sloopin. Tuesday it was news about a sweet Hebru Brantley mural and today it is confirmation that the building is getting a new BBQ restaurant (via Eater Chicago):

Bellwether owners Nick and George Tsoukalas picked barbecue as the focus for their third restaurant because of a lack of options in the South Loop. Belly Up is the name of the venture, slated to open by the end of the summer at 1132 S. Wabash Ave. Nick Tsoukalas says the restaurant will feature a mixture of Kansas City- and Texas-style barbecue.

As you may recall, back in March we had a tip from a friend of the blog and it appears that it was dead on.

So what do they have in the works:

Besides Porkchop, barbecue picks are slim in the neighborhood. Belly Up will feature ambient country music and would be the brothers' third restaurant — they also own Vinyl in River North. Tsoukalas didn't want to divulge much about the new restaurant's design inside the building shell, as they're still making decisions. They'll work with the existing exposed brick walls, high ceilings and a garage door — which would be left open on warm days. Tsoukalas is guessing they'll have a bar with 15 stools and seating for about 150, plus 25 to 30 more on the sidewalk.

The one thing that was intriguing to us when we heard about this back in March was the prospect of live music.  The Eater Chicago post didn't really address this topic, so we're going to hold out hope.

Regardless, this seems to be a very promising development for the neighborhood and our restaurant/bar scene.  Couple this announcement with the addition of Burger Bar at 1160 S. Michigan and the impending opening of Aurelio's on Roosevelt between Michigan and Wabash it really feels like we have a lot of options at our disposal.

Looking forward to this one!  

(Hat tip: GC & NL!)

Huge Hebru Brantley "Chi-Boy" Mural Unveiled in Wabash Arts Corridor

Watch out Wabash, "Chi-Boy" is flying through!  Local artist Hebru Brantley officially unveiled his new gigantic mural on the south side of the building at 1132 S. Wabash:

A pretty spectacularly amazing piece and just another reason we love the Wabash Arts Corridor.  According to the Tribune:

Called "Chi Boy," the four-story mural will be at 1132 S. Wabash Ave. It is the first in a series of outdoor murals from other street artists including Never 2501, Word to Mother, HERA and Ben Eine (who has collaborated with famed artist Banksy), courtesy of the the Chicago Loop Alliance and the Wabash Arts Corridor, a group of educational organizations, art galleries, performances spaces, hotels and restaurants in the South Loop area.

The murals will be created by artists affiliated with Vertical Gallery, based in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. Italian street artist Never 2501's mural will be installed the week of July 6 at 59 E. Van Buren St.

Everywhere we look it seems like we see Mr. Brantley's vividly colorful characters.  Our first experience with him was in the Sloop when he created a pop-up store at 9th and Wabash in August 2013.

More recently we've seen his work on display at the Chicago Cultural Center and more recently in the new El CTA station at Cermak.

We have received quite a few emails and pictures of this and some catching the artist in the act:

 

(Hat tip: JF!)

Haberdash Closes at Roosevelt Collection

Another one bites the dust - Haberdash, the high-end mens clothing shop, has closed at Roosevelt Collection.  A reader writes:

Looks like Haberdash in the Roosevelt Collection finally closed for good. Merchandise has been removed from their windows and this sign is posted on the door.

While it's unfortunate to see a store close, frankly this isn't surprising.  About a year ago, they closed for a couple months to "relaunch" the store.  At the time, many suspected that Haberdash wouldn't reopen, but they did.  The new store didn't really feel that different, but was supposed to also serve as a studio for their online stores.  It was valiant effort and interesting strategy to salvage their store at Roosevelt Collection, but apparently it didn't work.

In our opinion, this store was always a head scratcher to us.  We really liked the store and their merchandise, but at the end of the day it was expensive.  Maybe the clientele at their store on State street will pony up for this stuff, but in the Sloop it seemed like a tough sell.  Yes, there is money in the Sloop, but the neighborhood seems slightly more value oriented.

Anyway, business counter is updated.

(Hat tip:  RB, SH, JY!)

#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Now You See It - Now You Don't

(Hat tip:  JH!)

The Sloopin Open HouseLive Like a Movie Stars (sort of) in this Sloop Loft Building

The Sloopin Open House is a weekly feature on the site where we highlight some of the more interesting open houses we see every week. We're not claiming they're the best deals or that we would necessarily recommend jumping all over the opportunity, but I doesn't hurt to look, right? 

1307 S. Wabash was the first building we ever stepped foot into in the South Loop, so for sentimental reasons its near and dear to our heart.  It's also arguably located at one of the more desirable locations given it's proximity to the restaurants on the 1300 block of Wabash.

The building also boasts an interesting history.  It's called the "film exchange lofts" as it was at one point a film exchange building for Warner Brothers.  While you might not live like a movie star, you can at least get a taste of the movie business.

Ok, so enough about things that don't have to do with this open house.   On Sunday (6/7), unit #303 is having an open house from noon to 2pm.

The unit, like most in the building, are true loft style.  This is what we picture when we think of a converted South Loop loft.  This unit is a 2bed/1.1 bath and has a nice balcony with a view:

The unit itself is nice, but rather standard.  However, at $305K it seems reasonably priced for a good location and view.

If it speaks to you, head on over this Sunday!

Crescent Heights Continues to Invest in the Sloop; Buys Burnham Pointe (730 S. Clark)

Northwest view of Burnham Pointe (via Crains) 

It's a hot real estate market again and some of the investors who bought after the bubble bursting are seeing some impressive returns (via Crains):

The downtown apartment boom is paying off handsomely for a Texas investor that's selling a South Loop tower for $126 million, 43 percent more than it paid in 2010.

Monogram Residential Trust is selling Burnham Pointe, a 298-unit high-rise at 730 S. Clark St., to Crescent Heights, a Miami-based investor and developer that has been busy in downtown Chicago, according to people familiar with the transaction.

Crescent Heights is an active real estate player in Chicago and especially in the South Loop (via Crains):

More recently, Crescent Heights been in buying mode, acquiring five downtown buildings with 1,355 units since 2010, according to Chicago-based consulting firm Appraisal Research Counselors. In the South Loop, it already owns Astoria Tower, a 205-unit high-rise at 8 E. Ninth St., the Lex, a 296-unit building at 2138 S. Indiana Ave., and the Park Michigan, a 344-unit tower at 1212 S. Michigan Ave.

As you may recall they also own one of the Sloop's most high-profile pieces of vacant land - the southeast corner of Michigan and Roosevelt.  While nothing has been announced for this land, a rumored project called "The Chicago" continues to show up randomly across the web.

They also own the one-acre vacant lot at 13th and Indiana (northeast corner).

Anyway, nice to see a respected company continuing to invest in the neighborhood.

If you're wondering about this hot market, the article does end by saying that their are concerns for investors (however we assume they mean real estate companies) - via Crains:

The neighborhood's biggest risk for investors is a surplus of land for new developments. Several apartment projects are under construction or in the works that will compete for renters with Burnham Pointe. 

Burnham Pointe was 96.3 percent occupied in the first quarter, according to an Appraisal Research report. Rents ranged from $1,730 a month for a one-bedroom unit to $6,182 for the most expensive two-bedroom.

(Hat tip:  BT!)

Controversial Spike Lee Movie "Chiraq" Filming in the Sloop

A reader writes:

Looks like The Shrine on the 2100 block of S Wabash is another location being used for the Spike Lee movie Chiraq.

The controversial "Chiraq" title has gotten a ton of publicity around town.  Frankly we understand the furor, but also think a more tempered perspective is warranted.

We recently read an article in the New York Times that provided some interesting thoughts on the title:

“A lot of people have opinions about the so-called title of the film who again, know nothing about the film,” Mr. Lee said. “Way, way back when I made ‘Do the Right Thing,’ there were people who said this film would cause riots all across America, that black people were going to run amok. They wrote a whole bunch of things.

“But those people ended up being on the wrong side of history,” he continued, “And the same is going to happen in Chicago. They are going look stupid and end up on the wrong side of history. We’re here for peace.”

To the people who have expressed displeasure over the movie, he said: “Wait until the movie comes out. You don’t like it, you don’t like it, but see it first.”

Also at Mr. Lee’s side was John Cusack, who grew up in a Chicago suburb and will appear in the film. “I love my city of Chicago,” he said, taking the microphone. “And I would never do anything to hurt it.”

While that's easy for them to say right now to quell public outcry, it also seems fair.  We shall see.

Also of interest in the NYT article was this paragraph that discusses an interesting premise:

Mr. Lee, who declined to be interviewed, has not publicly confirmed the title of the movie, but city officials who have met with him said he had told them that he intended to call it “Chiraq.” The film, Mr. Lee has said, is focused on gun violence on the South Side; some reports, unconfirmed by Mr. Lee, offer the intriguing possibility that the film is a comedic reimagining of “Lysistrata,” the ancient Greek tale by Aristophanes in which women withhold sex to force the men to end the Peloponnesian War.

That's definitely not what we were expecting the movie "Chiraq" to be about, but if it is sounds pretty provocative.

(Hat tip:  DN!)

Professional Eye Center Opens at 1130 S. Wabash

It looks a new place to get your eyes checked has opened up on South Wabash.  Professional Eye Center, which apparently has two other locations in Chicago, has opened up at 1130 S. Wabash.

This location used to house to businesses that had a hard go of it - Computer Gurus (closed in 2013) and Elements of Style Boutique (closed in 201).

While we aren't intimately familiar with the business model and longevity of eye care, we assume it's more stable than the two other businesses that previously occupied this space.

Anyway, welcome to the Sloop and business counter is updated.

Construction Underway at Buffalo Wild Wings at Taylor and Clinton; Shooting for Fall 2015 Opening

Build-out construction underway at Buffalo Wild Wings (Clinton and Taylor)

A reader writes:

I came across this article that says BWW is slated to open Fall 2015. I noticed recently it looks like construction is actually happening in the space now.

The article confirms this notion (via rejournal.com):

Englewood is also building a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood at the corner of Taylor and Clinton streets in the recently built Maxwell Building. This restaurant will open in the fall of 2015. 

We also recently drove by the location and did notice some activity inside as well.

(Hat tip: HB!)

It's Lit Fest Week In and Around Printers Row

One of our favorite and one of the city's more unique festivals kicks-off on Friday in our backyard.  We're of course talking about the 2015 version of the Printers Row Lit Fest.

It seems like this fest continue to evolve and get bigger every year.  If you're new to the neighborhood or just aren't familiar with the fest, here is a quick synopsis from the events website:

The Printers Row Lit Fest was founded in 1985 by the Near South Planning Board to attract visitors to the Printers Row neighborhood (once the city's bookmaking hub). By 2002, it had grown to five city blocks (on Dearborn, from Congress to Polk), attracting more than 200 booksellers from across the country displaying new, used and antiquarian books and featuring more than 200 authors participating in panels, discussions and a variety of other programs.  

As part of its ongoing commitment to the written word and its support of literacy and literary endeavor, the Chicago Tribune purchased the Printers Row Book Fair in 2002 from the Near South Planning Board. Recently renamed to be the Printer's Row Lit Fest, it is considered the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest-drawing more than 150,000 book lovers to the two-day showcase.

With this evolution their remains a lot of great free events and things to do, but it has also come with the addition of some high-profile speakers and ticketed events.  Two that stand out this year are a Saturday panel event including David Axelrod (former Tribune writer and key advisor for the Obama presidential campaigns) and a conversation with Bob Sagat on Saturday evening.

Even if you're not willing to pony up the funds for these events, we highly suggest a visit to the festival.  You will be amazed what you will stumble upon in some of the tents.

If you still are unsure and need a little motivation here is video from last year: