A Review of the Playground/Park at 21st and Prairie

A South Loop resident and fellow blogger sent us a link to her in-depth review of the new playground at 21st and Prairie.  Here is a snippet from her write-up (via AlphaKidsShine):

If you have not visited yet, the playground is rich with sensory stimuli for a child. Visual and tactile experiences abound however the space also incorporates extensive vestibular opportunities which will challenge a child's balance and awareness. The floor is a smooth rubber material, likely recycled, however the Chicago Park District website does not list the material of the playground flooring. Regardless, it is a good protective cushion for "falls" and is great for ADA wheelchair accessibility.

There are 3 sides of the playground: 

• A smaller area for ages 6 month to 2-3 years old with more open space, miniature hills, and a small climbing/slide structure easy for parents to navigate 

• A more dynamic side for ages 4 and up with rope climbs, tight ropes, monkey bars, an extremely tall slide, a rubber ladder, and climbing/sliding poles 

• Water area with spouts and towers partitioned off by low rock barriers, which also happen to be fun for kids to climb

A good read and from the sounds of it a good (albeit expensive) addition to the neighborhood!

(Hat tip:  AKS!)

Is Third Time a Charm for Developer Seeking to Buy River City?

A reader just sent a note about a hot topic from last year:

Dear Sloopin, 

I just wanted to update you on your story of the deconversion of River City from 2016. In the last 2 years, Marc Realty has made 2 offers to buy all the condo units in River City in a bulk sale. They failed to gain the necessary percentage (75%) of owners’ votes both times. 

They have now made a third offer to buy the building. Apparently they plan to force us to vote over, and over, and over again until they find the minimum price that will get the requisite number of votes. The whole process has been unfair to owners who don’t wish to sell their homes, and has failed to protect their right to enjoyment of their property. As result of Marc’s repeated attempts, The normal business of the building has been disrupted for two years, and the lives of 450 owners has been put on hold because of the uncertainty of ownership. 

This process is an abuse of a law that was never intended to facilitate hostile takeovers of property by greedy developers who see a chance to cash in on hot neighborhoods. In Florida, this kind of abuse led to a change in their law to require 90% of owners to agree to a bulk sale. Illinois should follow Florida’s lead. 

Regards,
RC resident owner

There were a lot of comments about a post we did back in January of 2016.  If this readers email is true it sounds devious.

Let us know what you think.

(Hat tip: PO!)

Chicago Born Roller Derby Celebrates 82nd Birthday at Coliseum Park

Seems like we missed a fun and slightly quirky event at Coliseum Park (14th and Wabash) yesterday (via Sun Times):

Roller derby turned 82 on Sunday, and Thomas Schultz got the first slice of cake.

The 8-year-old Joliet native then handed — well, skated — it over to Chicago roller derby legend Mary Lou Palermo.

Both skaters share a love of the Chicago-born sport, known for its bawdy nicknames and rough-and-tumble thrills. Thomas started competing in 2017. Palermo did in 1944.

We don't know much about the sport, but this youtube video seems pretty sweet!

#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Soldier Pink

(Hat tip: JS!)

University Center Sold for $201 Million to Blue Vista Capital Management

In case you missed this last week (via Crains):

Three downtown colleges have switched from landlord to tenant after completing the biggest student housing deal ever in Chicago.

A nonprofit formed by the three schools—Columbia College, DePaul University and Roosevelt University—just completed the $201 million sale of University Center, a 1,729-bed building in the South Loop where their students live, according to Cook County property records. The nonprofit sold the 18-story building at 525 S. State St. to a joint venture led by Blue Vista Capital Management, a Chicago-based real estate investment firm that specializes in student housing.

The deal will free up money for the schools to spend on other purposes, though they now will pay rent to Blue Vista. Under the deal, the colleges signed agreements to lease a "vast majority" of the beds in the property for 10 years, said Blue Vista co-founder and CEO Peter Stelian, declining to elaborate. Another local school, Robert Morris University Illinois, has signed a shorter-term master lease for a batch of beds in the building, too.

That's a lot of money - but we guess it's a pretty big building in a pretty prime location.

Phenomenal Fitness Relocating from 1450 S. Michigan to 2001 S. State (Blue Star Apartment Retail Space at Cullerton and State)

A reader writes:

I noticed that there appears to be a gym getting ready to open on the corner of State and Cullerton and was wondering if you have any news on what type of gym this might be and their open date?

We actually just drove by the new apartments and did see a bunch of treadmills in the retail space at at the corner.

We received a separate email from the owners of Phenomenal Fitness and it appears they're moving to this space:

We were at 1450 S. Michigan and we moved to 2001 S. State.

Additionally, it sounds like they're going to be running a trial month promotion in honor of this move.  Reach out to them for more details.

As a reminder, we posted about this apartment conversion back in 2014.

(Hat tip:  VS!)

Poke Burrito Coming Soon to 453 S. Dearborn (Just North of Congress)

It looks like Printers Row (well...just north of Congress...but sure we'll call it that) is getting another Poke restaurant:

A reader also provides this perspective:

If I were opening a new business I'd look what was around and try and open something the neighborhood needed...not exactly what just opened 2 blocks down on the same street! Entrepreneurs take note...Printers Row needs a bakery...not another Poke place, hair salon or burger place.

(Hat tip: TR & MK!)

Gordo's Provides Unique Dessert Option for the Sloop

We've been pretty intrigued about Gordo's (and Hax for that matter) opening on Dearborn in Printer's Row.  On paper both spots provide new options for a neighborhood craving new options.

While the style of service at Hax is the new news for that restaurant (more to come on that in subsequent weeks), the food at Gordo's is the story.

As a reminder, the process at Gordo's is "Pick. Dip. Sprinkle."  If that doesn't make sense, you pick an ice cream bar.  Dip it in some chocolate (dark chocolate, milk chocolate or white chocolate).  And sprinkle with a topping (various options exist.

We've been twice now and both experience have been good - but different.  We'll chalk this up to growing pains, but the first time we went they were out of various flavors of ice cream bars.  In their defense it was late in the evening so presumably things were picked over.

The second time was more normal.  We opted to follow "classic bars" that we're outline on the board instead of creating our own.

Our first option was the Dark Knight: CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM, DARK CHOCOLATE, HEATH BAR CRUNCH AND WHITE CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE

For our second, we went out on a limb and diverged from the typical ice cream bar format and got the Gordo's Super Sandwich: VANILLA ICE CREAM CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE SANDWICH DIPPED IN MILK CHOCOLATE WITH HEATH BAR CRUNCH

The pictures don't really do justice to these things.  They were very delicious and super decadent (but that might have just been due to our choices).  However, they were beyond messy and frankly had to be eaten with a spoon (especially the cookie).

We're looking forward to trying some of the other options.  One word of advice, sharing might be a good option if you're only looking for a snack.  We had trouble finishing both...

Regardless, good luck to Gordo's.  They're definitely bringing a unique option to the hood.

Himalayan Express Opens at 606 S. Wabash; Mai Tai Also Apparently Opening at 614 S. Wabash

It looks like Himalayan Express is officially open at 606 S. Wabash.  As a reminder we got wind of this back in May.  According to a press release:

Napal natives and co-owners of the Himalayan Restaurant Group, Vivek Kunwar and Kiran Byanjankar, have proven their ability to recreate the authentic flavors and dishes of their homeland. Now the partners will open a third location as a new Indian dining concept and Chicago catering hub in Chicago this week. The restaurant at 606 S. Wabash will offer a unique express menu as well as the full sit- down service currently offered at its locations in Gurnee and Niles, which opened in 2003. 

“There’s a new trend to express dining,” says Kunwar. “Business people who want an authentic Indian meal do not necessarily have the time to sit down for lunch.” The express menu will be the first of this style for the cuisines of the Asian sub-continent of India. 

Express diners will have a choice of five entrees plus rice, sauce and side dishes for $7.69. The main courses include fresh vegetables, paneer, vegetable kofta, chicken and salmon. There will be a choice of four rice varieties, five sauces and five sides. Also available will be a la carte dishes such as Biryani (spiced rice), Momo Steamed and Momo Jhon (soup). Vegetable, chicken and lamb versions of these dishes will be served. “Selections will change periodically based on the preferences of our customers,” adds Kunwar.

Beyond this, it also looks like a new Asian restaurant called Mai Tai is also opening in this building:

This appears to be replacing the old sushi restaurant Tamarind.

(Hat tip: CK & OI!)

#ShotsAroundTheSloop: Trax

(Hat tip: JS!)

Knot Mural Comes to West Face of New Apartment Building at Balbo and Wabash

DNAinfo has the scoop on some new street art on the west face of the new apartment building at Balbo and Wabash:

The latest mural in the South Loop is "Beacon," a 16-story piece with a knot that ties together themes of the city's diversity and post-Fire rebirth.

The 165-foot-tall mural at 30 E. Balbo Ave. is the work of Jeff Zimmermann, who's other big murals include works at Oak Street Beach and the 606.

Zimmermann, who lives in Humboldt Park, said he finished "Beacon" last week after about a month of work. The ground floors of the mural show jagged shards of color reminiscent of flames, while the big, multi-colored knot on its upper floors represents Chicago's diverse population. When bound together, the people are stronger, Zimmermann said.

"You bring them together with tension and force, they can work together as one whole," Zimmermann said.

The mural at Balbo and Wabash avenues is a new addition to the artsy streetscape of Printers Row, which is known for big murals on vintage loft buildings, especially on Wabash. Zimmermann's is a rare mural on a new apartment building that opened just last year. The painting will be visible to riders on Downtown "L" tracks.

Lollapalooza (Extended) Weekend Kicks-off Today

Love it or hate it, one of the summer's biggest events is upon us - Lollapalooza 2017.  If you're wondering, this is the second year that the annual music fest has extended its format from 3-days to 4-days starting today (Thursday, August 3rd).

While everyone clearly has different tastes in music and it still feels like Saturday's headlining gig for  Chicago Native Chance the Rapper has the most build-up.  Chance's career is still building (and has been documented a little bit on this here blog), but this is likely a major moment for him (although he did win a Grammy this year...).  As a reminder, he has spend some time in Sloop as he went to Jone College Prep!


There is a lot of (digital) ink spilled talking about the festivities, so we're not going to try to provide any new information.  Instead, here are some links that you may find interested if you're going or if you're not:

Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot outlines the most highly anticipated shows for each day at the festival.  We've always trusted his recommendations so if you're looking for some help, we highly encourage you to read the post.

Consequence of Sound ranks every Lolla lineup from worst to best.  FYI - they claim 2008 was the best when Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkely, The Black Keys and many many more graced us with their music talents (that was a hell of a year).

Chicago Tribune has a page dedicated to all you need to know about Lollapalooza - which is pretty helpful in our opinion.

And finally, if you're not going and looking to do something else - Timeout Chicago offers 15 alternatives.  If you're a reader of Sloopin, you probably know all of these...but regardless it's a good reminder.

Have a great Lolla weekend and hopefully it doesn't rain and destroy Grant Park...don't hold your breath on this one.

Former Bear Leads Group of Investors on Purchase of Large, Historic Motor Row Property

Looks like Motor Row is getting some new owners who are betting on a revitalized area (via Crains):

Former Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije has a new target to tackle: a vintage Motor Row building on the Near South Side.

Betting on the emergence of a new entertainment district near McCormick Place, Idonije and a group of investors that includes another former Bears pass rusher, Julius Peppers, have agreed to buy the vacant Hudson Motor building one block west of the convention center for an undisclosed price.

Idonije's group has likely agreed to pay more than the $5.8 million the 1920s-era building sold for in January, when an affiliate of real estate investment firm Echelon Capital bought it as its previous owner was facing foreclosure.

Idonije, who spent most of his 11-year NFL career with the Bears, was tight-lipped on his plans for the 115,000-square-foot former auto showroom at 2222 S. Michigan Ave. but said he envisions "a number of uses for the property" designed for what he expects will become one of the city's trendiest areas.

It's been slow moving down in the Motor Row area, but it does seem like they're getting close to a tipping point.  Anyone have any guesses on if/when the area will turn the corner and truly become the "entertainment district" the city and many other envision?

We've posted about the new Wintrust Arena and some of their recent good news.  Additionally, we just read that DePaul will be hosting Michigan State (a high-profile Men's Basketball team) on Thanksgiving as part of a holiday tournament.  If they continue to draw these types of teams/tournaments it bodes well for the area (via Tribune):

The DePaul men’s basketball team has been invited to participate in the PK80 Invitational tournament, which honors Nike co-founder Phil Knight for his 80th birthday.  

The Blue Demons replace Georgetown in the event and will face Michigan State on Thanksgiving (Nov. 23) in the “Victory” bracket of the tournament. Two eight-team brackets will crown two champions at the Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Ore.

76-Story One Grant Park Gets Final Permit to Build Vertical

And it looks like One Grant Park is about to get tall (via Curbed):

A skyline-changing South Loop skyscraper has scored a third and final building permit and is clear to rise to its height of 76 occupied stories. Known as One Grant Park, the under-construction tower is perched at the southern edge of its namesake park and is the first of two eye-catching buildings in development from Miami Beach-based Crescent Heights and New York’s Rafael Viñoly Architects. A taller, similarly designed sister tower is planned to the immediate west of the fast-climbing OGP.

Very curious to see how quickly this climbs.  This is a game changer for the Sloop and it sounds like it's planning to open in 2019.