"Reputable Provider" of Childcare Moving in at 1455 S. Michigan?

It looks like some of the long vacant space at 1455 S. Michigan Avenue is getting a new a tenant (and no it's not a salon/spa!):

But what is it - a zoomed in look:

If you still can't read, it says a "Reputable Provider - Daycare & Gifted Program 6 months to 5 years".  We tried to call the number but no one picked up and it didn't go to voicemail (we thought we might get the name of the place).

Does anyone know anything about this place?

Developer Gets Green Light for 42 Condos on South Wells

Yesterday there was an article on Curbed Chicago highlighting that a developer has received the green light to move forward with condos at 837 S. Wells.  While they said it was CMK, we're pretty sure it isn't (see old post from Jan 2015) and judging by the comment section on the Curbed post most also don't think CMK is developing this lot.  They own/are developing the lots across the street on Wells.

Regardless, it does look like the developer of this property (on the east side of Wells) did get their permits recently (via Chicago Cityscape):

New 4 story residential building of type iii-b construction. ground floor commercial space with 42 residential units and 42 parking spaces at the ground floor. building is fully sprinkled. 837 s. wells st

While some might complain about losing a parking lot (most likely people who have cars and use this lot) it is probably a good development as it will bring additional density to a rapidly changing street in the Sloop.

We haven't seen renderings, but will keep our eyes open.

(Hat tip:  PO!)

Breakfast at Kurah - Now That Sounds Delicious

Upon a recent visit to Kurah to pick up one of our Sloopin Favorites (Kurah Wrap), we noticed that they are now serving breakfast:

While we haven't been there to try it out yet, we're guessing that they do breakfast pretty well!

Has anyone tried it out?

Trio's Opens at 705 S. Dearborn (Former Daniela's Salon)

There is a lot of business news happening in the Sloop and we're going to spend the better part of this week highlighting some of them.

First up a reader writes:

Missed the name but a new hairstylist/spa opened on Dearborn next to the wine shop. 

A different reader sent us the following picture:

As a reminder, this space used to be Daniela's Salon space that closed back in 2011.  We recently posted that a reader noticed that there was activity so good to see this moving in.

Sloopin Busines Counter is Updated!

(Hat tip: SB & RT)

#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Storm Brewing

(Hat tip:  TC!)

The Sloopin Open House:Sweet Interior in Sweet Building

Browsing the South Loop open houses this week and there were a lot of fun choices to look at (particularly a $1.25 million 4 bedroom at 1476 S. Prairie or a $425 thousand 2 bedroom penthouse at 1525 S. Michigan), but we decided on one of our favorite buildings in the Sloop - 888 S. Michigan.

The building itself just exudes class and it has an amazing roof deck that presumably all residents have access to it:

Inside you get a unit that also looks sleek but classy with some distinctive design elements:

For those still with us, this unit is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit listed at $514,500.  The unit also comes with a parking spot and apparently valet. 

If this unit seems interesting, head on over to 888 S. Michigan today (8/8) from noon to 2pm.

High Profile Architect Helmut Jahn Reportedly Designing Tower for 1000 S. Michigan

Mansueto Library at University of Chicago

A promising article on a high-profile architect designing a tower for one of the most high-profile vacant pieces of land on South Michigan (via Crain's):

Chicago architect Helmut Jahn, whose local works include the United Airlines terminal at O'Hare and the Ogilvie Metra station downtown, could soon put his stamp on the South Loop.  

Jahn is designing a tower for a site at 1000 S. Michigan Ave., according to people in the architecture community familiar with his plans. It's not clear what the building would be used for, but apartments or condominiums seem most likely given its location in the South Loop, a housing hotbed.  

Jahn, whose design work dots the world landscape from Philadelphia, to Berlin, Munich and Bangkok, is known for sleek contemporary structures, such as the rounded tops of the State Street Village dorms at IIT and a vast umbrella-like canopy over a plaza in Berlin that is part of the Sony Center he designed.

We're a big fan of his work on the new Mansueto Library at University of Chicago (see picture above), but frankly there is a pretty large portfolio of projects that should provide some excitement.

A lot of questions remain, but if this happens it would be another big project that would help evolve what the South Loop's future will look like.

Should be interesting.

(Hat tip:  GM!)

Adult Only Camping Event Coming to Northerly Island August 21st

It seems like everywhere we look there is a new event coming to Sloop.  Today - adult camping at Northerly Island (via Chicago Tribune):

Chicago's first adults-only camp-in is coming to Northerly Island this month. But if you're interested, it'll cost you.  

The entrance fee is priced by tent, which is included. A two-person tent will cost $250, a four-person tent $500 and a six-person tent $750.  

The tent does not include sleeping bags or pillows, but the fee covers a camp happy hour, a pig roast, a twilight hike, sunrise yoga and other activities, according to the Chicago Parks Foundation. The event's purpose is to connect adults to nature.

This seems like a strange concept to us and something that could be mistaken for a spinoff of the popular Bachelor/Bachelorette series on TV.

Anyway, for more information you can check the Chicago Park Foundation website.

Chicago Cultural Mile Brings "The Halloween Gathering" to the Neighborhood

More festivals coming straight at ya (via chicagoculturalmile.org):

On October 24, 2015 the Chicago Cultural Mile Association plans to launch one of Chicago’s most exciting, new initiatives—The Halloween Gathering. This powerful event will gather Chicago’s vast and diverse creative communities for an all-day festival culminating with a magical nighttime parade. Drawing together world-renowned institutions including the Field Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Columbia College Chicago and the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, as well as unique local organizations like Louder Than a Bomb, Silent Theatre Company, and guilds of artists in assorted fields, this dramatic display will activate Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” along one of the most prestigious cultural avenues in the world.

The schedule is as follows:

2pm-6pm: Art and Halloween Festival The parks and institutions along the Chicago Cultural Mile will be alive with family-friendly activities including mask-making workshops, free performances, pop-up installations, interactive experiences and more! The festival will also host a children’s costume parade on The Ribbon in beautiful Maggie Daley Park.

6pm-8pm: Parade As dusk arrives, our creative communities will assemble for a powerful procession capturing their creative spirits. Imagine a parade filled with large spectacle, legions of lanterns, costumes, performances, music, dance, dramatic lighting, moving platforms and more! The parade, traveling north on Columbus from Balboa to Monroe, will be led by 13 of Chicago’s most influential creative leaders to be honored as “Creative Spirit Fellows.” Their dramatic entrance will set the tone for the spectacle to follow.

We love Halloween so this sounds interesting.  However, it also sort of sounds like the Great Chicago Fire Fest which was on the river in 2014 and by most accounts was a big dud and that will be relocating to Northerly Island in 2015.

But we will give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they can pull it off.  If they've already got all those iconic institutions participating it already seems like it has more momentum then the fire fest.

For more info watch the video below or click here to go to their website.


And for other Sloopin coverage on the Chicago Cultural Mile organization, check out this post we did back late last year.

(Hat tip: SD!)

Festival Update: Bash on Wabash On Hiatus;New Motor Row Craft Beer and Wine Fest

We received an email yesterday and found out two new things.

First off, it sounds like Bash on Wabash is on hiatus this year (via bashonwabash.org):

We are taking a break this summer to focus on promoting other South Loop events. We hope you will support us in celebrating “100 years of Willie Dixon” and other events to be announced!

While this event has had mixed reviews, it has been consistent.  They have been going for 11 years - pretty impressive.  As a reminder, the event was run by Greater South Loop Association.

Don't fret, because a new event just down the street is launching this year:

It's historic. It's a Chicago and U.S. landmark. And now the Motor Row District on Chicago's near south side will be home to the inaugural (and very 21st century) "Motor Row Craft Beer & Wine Fest" on the Saturday and Sunday of this year's Labor Day weekend. 

Built between 1905 and 1936 and featuring unique architecture that housed car showrooms and repair shops, the Motor Row District catered to Americans' then-newfound love of the automobile. The fabled district was comprised of several blocks of South Michigan, Indiana and Wabash Avenues just west of McCormick Place. Today it's a gentrifying neighborhood that's also home to at least three of Chicago's hottest new craft breweries. 

At Motor Row Craft Beer & Wine Fest, in addition to its historic South Wabash location, visitors will be able to buy tasting passes to sample both microbrews and wines as well as purchase blended cocktails. In other words: there will be something for every taste! And, being a Chicago street fest, there will also be plenty of food, live music, arts & crafts and more. 

Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 5-6
Time: 1pm to 10pm
Daily Location: On Wabash Ave between 16th and 18th Street, Chicago
Beneficiary: Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance

As you can imagine, the event has a variety of local suppliers including two of our resident breweries, Motor Row Brewery and Baderbau Brewery.  While the event doesn't really feel unique (say like Lit Fest), we can imagine that it will do well - after all drinking in the streets of Chicago seems to be a popular summer activity.

(Hat tip:  EH!)

#ShotsAroundTheSloop:Lightning Over Lolla

(Hat tip:  JB!)

PBR and Fireworks at New Grant Park Skate Park?

Maybe this isn't the most appropriate time for this post given this past weekends annual shenanigans at Lollapalooza, but what the heck...a reader writes:

Skater at New Grant Park Skate Park (via DNAinfo)

Have you heard many complaints about the Grant Park Skate Park? I'm a fan of the skate park concept (I even went to the Mountain Dew event there a few weeks ago.) But, in the last 12 hours, my mind has changed. A clearly underage kid rode into the park at around 7:30 last night with a case of PBR onboard. I thought that was pretty bold. 

This morning, while walking our dogs at 4:30am (yes, I know that is crazy early), 6 kids set off fireworks in the skate park and then hightailed it out of there on their skateboards. Not cool. That had to wake up folks in the high-rises at Roosevelt and Michigan/Indiana. Anyhow...I was wondering if these are isolated incidents or if bad behavior in the skate park is becoming a problem.

Anyone have similar thoughts or observations?  It seems like the skate park has been relatively well received, but stories like the two above seem unfortunate (and maybe even inevitable).

(Hat tip:  CD!)

#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Frontpage

(Hat tip:  JW!)

The Sloopin Open House:Amazing Views for $300K

Ok, so the listing is $309K, but negotiate and you can probably get this unit 899 S. Plymouth Ct down to $300K.

For those of you who may question Dearborn Park 1, we would urge you not to judge a book by its cover.  Yes, the building was built in 1980 and might not have an abundance of sexy glass curves or balconies like many new buildings, but in terms of location and views the price point is pretty damn attractive.

It's also pretty spacious for a 2bed/1.1bath at 1,250 square feet:

If this seems interesting to you, head on over this Sunday (8/2) to their open house from 1-3pm.