City Health Official: No Signs Lollapalooza was a "Super Spreader" Events

Ok, this is my last Lolla post.  Seems like the city is saying there aren't any signs that the massive festival was a "super spreader" event (via Tribune):

Chicago’s top health official announced Thursday that roughly 200 Lollapalooza attendees have tested positive for COVID-19 so far in the aftermath of the four-day music festival, but she said there’s no indication the controversial event was a “superspreader.”

“There’s no evidence at this point of a superspreader event, and there’s no evidence of substantial impact to Chicago’s COVID epidemiology,” said Chicago’s public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady.

So far, there have been no coronavirus deaths or hospitalizations linked to Lollapalooza, which drew a crowd of about 385,000 to Grant Park, she said.

The outbreak of 203 cases included 127 attendees who had been vaccinated and 76 attendees who had not been immunized; 58 of the positive cases were Chicago residents, 138 lived elsewhere in Illinois and seven had traveled from out of state, Arwady said.

So that's good news - although a cynic could point to the (likely) numerous young people who simply brushed off testing or "mild" symptoms.  

But...we're not going to be cynical anymore.  It seems like the Mayor Lightfoot and the city has avoided the massive black eye many anticipated.  So we will give them their due and say we're glad Lolla happened and that some sense of normalcy occurred this summer.

We will keep our eyes open for additional stories on this topic, but hopefully we're done with it!   

One Negative Covid Test for Lollapalooza!

Sample size of one here - I went to Lollapalooza, haven't had symptoms and had a negative covid test on Thursday!  So that's a relief, but realistically I was probably one of the more responsible attendees hanging in the back and wearing a mask if things got super crowded.

We will be curious as this story unfolds (or doesn't) over the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, most of the discourse has subsided regarding Lolla.  We saw Bill Maher reference it on his show (he was supportive of life going on) and the latest local news is health officials urging people to get tested if you attended (via Tribune):

Alison Goodwin was eager to attend Lollapalooza, excited for both the live music lineup and the strict pandemic protocols that she had assumed would keep the event safe for her and her wife, who traveled here from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Yet she became increasingly worried during the four-day festival, describing a sea of attendees “literally pressed against each other, maskless.”

She felt the screening process for vaccination cards and COVID-19 tests at the entrance was far too quick to be thorough. While signs requested masks be worn in restrooms, she said “this was hardly ever abided by and came with zero enforcement.”

Even though she’s fully vaccinated, Goodwin said she and her wife are scheduled to get tested for COVID-19 on Friday, a few days after their first potential exposure at the event.

“We would not have attended if we knew it were going to be like that,” Goodwin said.

In the aftermath of the event — which drew hundreds of thousands of participants to Grant Park — various health departments across the state are urging participants to get tested for the virus.

“If you were at LOLLAPALOOZA please go get tested for COVID on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday,” the Tazewell County Public Health Department in central Illinois said on its Facebook page on Wednesday. “This will help us shut down any local outbreaks before they get started.”

We can echo Goodwin's thoughts - the protocols at Lolla were a joke.  Hopefully the outdoor nature of the event really does squelch the spread.  

 

Fun with Lolla Time Lapse

 Not going to lie - all I see is Covid invading Grant Park, replicating and then invading the city....

(Hat tip:  @cabansteven)

Jefas Cantina Looks to be the Mexican Restaurant Moving into Former SRO Space on Dearborn

Looks like some more information is trickling out about the Mexican restaurant replacing the former Standing Room Only restaurant at 610 S. Dearborn (via Eater):

South Loop: Restaurant owner Giulio Spizzirri (Señoritas Cantina) has applied for a liquor license under the name Jefas Cantina Inc at 610 S. Dearborn Street. The space previously housed Standing Room Only, a casual burger and sandwich spot, which Spizzirri also owned until it closed during the pandemic.

We weren't aware that it's the same owner and that he's just reconcepting, but maybe the silver lining is that he knows the neighborhood?  We're unfamiliar with his spot Señoritas Cantina in Pilsen, but it looks pretty similar to some of the other Mexican spots in the neighborhood  such as Flaco's, Taco Maya, Spanglish.  Guess we will see.

As a reminder, SRO was a long standing burger joint in the neighborhood that closed during the pandemic last fall.  The spot is in a great location and seems well positioned to continue Dearborn's momentum.  Hopefully they make the most of it!

(Hat tip:  RH!)

Lollapalooza 2021: The Science Experiment

After a year off due to the pandemic, Lollapalooza 2021 has officially ended!  

From a pure event standpoint, it seemed like this years incarnation went off without a major hitch.  The weather was pretty much perfect.  Grant Park likely won't have any major structural damage like years past and in a week we likely can enjoy all of its glory.  

But like most things in the world today, the big story at Lolla was the Delta variant and its continued surge throughout the world, country and our area.

When the city announced that Lollapalooza was moving forward with the fest in the spring I was surprised.  It seemed like the perfect petri dish perfect for cultivating Covid.

Let me just preface this next part with the fact that I've gone to every single Lolla in Grant Park since I moved to Chicago in 2006.  So you can tell me I'm getting old, but you can't tell me that I'm not a huge Lolla booster.  Hell, I bought a ticket (and went) on Saturday and had friends who did the same.

I'm not going to lie - it was fun to gear up for the day and approach the event.  I was legitimately excited - its been awhile.  

Unfortunately the whole thing was idiotic.  I can paint this a lot of ways and draw out some positives, but at the end of the day - Lollapalooza shouldn't have happened this year.  

You know that policy that you had to prove you were vaccinated or had a negative Covid test?  Yeah, that was pretty much a joke as far as we could tell.  Maybe simply stating that deterred some or caused people to get vaccinated (really?)....worse yet, it gave some of us who were vaccinated but may have had underlying conditions or children who couldn't get vaccinated a false sense of security.  So for that - screw you Mayor Lightfoot and Lollapalooza.

Beyond the "Covid entry policy" - it didn't seem like any other precautions were made other than a sign removing Lollapalooza's liability (thanks Lolla!):

I was hopeful that they at least could have upped the game for the porta potty situation.  More hand soap?  More space?  Something?  It all looked exactly the same as the past and if you've ever seen it in the past, you can attest it's not the shining example of germ prevention.

Regardless of the potty situation and as a resident old guy at Lolla, there was no chance I was cramming my way up into the throngs of people, but this doesn't scream social distancing: 

The crowds jammed packed like the was to be expected.  Music is a powerful drug....

So it's over.  Now we get to see what the ramifications are.  There 100% is going to be stories of Covid spread via Lolla attendees - it's simply impossible not to happen - the question is just how much and how bad.

On one hand maybe the risk of outdoor transmission is truly low.  If that's the case...than maybe Lolla won't be the super spreader event many (including me) fear.  

On the other hand, we don't know much about Delta and it seems like we're going to have some data coming out of Lolla for the epidemiologists to hypothesize about.  

Hopefully this science experiment doesn't go wrong... 

Rainforest Learning Center Moving to the Corner of 14th and Wabash

It looks like Rainforest Learning Center is relocating one street west to the ground floor retail space at the Coeval Apartments (51 E. 14th Street):

We actually have some experience with Rainforest and have very positive things to say about their childcare and education.  

As a reminder they are currently at 1325 S. State and have been there for awhile.  That said, it seemed like a move would be required as the Willow Creek Community Church bought the entire building where they resided back in 2018 and at the time had long term plans to utilize the space.

It appears that plan is moving forward for the Church, but it's good to see Rainforest find a new home. 

Checkout Some Strings at Women's Park Tomorrow (7/22)

We love the tranquil vibes of Women's Park and so it's not surprise that an event like this appeals to us:

Grant Park Music Festival Strings Quartet Project Inclusion 

July 22nd -  6:30pm - 7:30pm (Thursday)

Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2626898370936106 

Grant Park Music Festival brings free string quartet performances to cultural centers, parks, and community venues throughout Chicago, featuring the rising stars in our Project Inclusion Fellowship program. Bring a blanket and join us in your neighborhood park for a free, family-friendly and socially distanced outdoor concert with a little something for everyone to enjoy - from classical to tango, jazz/blues, and modern music! Project Inclusion is a unique artist development program for exceptionally talented early career singers and string players of color aimed at increasing diversity and guiding young professionals toward successful careers in music. www.gpmf.com

Sweet Bean Opens at Roosevelt and Wabash

A mentioned a couple weeks back a new bakery has opened at 1162 S. Wabash (via Facebook Hello South Loop! Group and Savanna Moore Gardner):

I saw someone post about a new spot and I had to check it out! 

Stopped by  Sweet Bean ( Roosevelt & Wabash) today and it’s super cute with coffee, gelato & a bakery! As of right now, the bakery is Chinese themed and they are waiting for another Sous chef and then they’ll be 

Chinese, Japanese and European themed! Items on healthy seemsed a little healthier too 😍they also have a seating area.

Could Bears Affiliation with One Central Development be a Tell That They're Staying at Soldier Field?

Streetsblog Chicago has an in-depth overview of a public meeting that the One Central development team recently held.  We still question how real this project is, but one relatively small piece that we found interesting was this comment about the Bears:  

Since Soldier Field does not host retail establishments, One Central is partnering with the Bears to allow them to run several restaurants and memorabilia and gift shop for attendees and tourists. If Landmark Development is this far along in a partnership with the Bears, that calls into question the Bears’ supposed interest in relocating from Soldier Field to Arlington Heights.

It wouldn't be crazy for the Bears to keep their options open and stay engaged on both fronts.  That said, we recently pondered how the city could find ways for the Bears to generate more revenue since Soldier Field is the smallest NFL stadium.  At some point, we wonder if the city could use One Central as a carrot to keep the Bears downtown.

The plot continues to thicken.

New Event Space Called G314 Moving Into Former Vice District Brewing Space on Michigan

Looks like a new business is moving into the former Vice District Brewing space at 1454 S. Michigan:

G314Chi is a prestigious event studio located in Chicago's South Loop Neighborhood. Our studio approaches designing the perfect event with a critical eye that challenges the typical vision of a event space.

From the simplest gatherings, to the more sophisticated soiree, we are passionate about delivering a positively unforgettable experience. Our team thrives on creating client relationships that foster a connection where we are not only providing an amazing space for your event, but actually becoming a part of its success.

It's unclear who exactly this is catered to, but it appears it won't be an amenity that is constantly open to the neighborhood.  That said, as the city hopes the convention business bounces back from the pandemic these types of spaces seem well positioned to cater to these groups. 

As a reminder, Vice District Brewing closed back in 2019.  We were very excited when they opened as it brought a completely new dynamic to the neighborhood.  Unfortunately they ran into some challenges on various fronts.  It seemed like it was more of an internal issue that cause Vice's business to fail (they were also opening up other locations on the South Side) vs. the neighborhood not supporting them.  It was probably a combination of it all.

Anyway you cut it, G314 seems to be taking advantage of the space and simply updating the look (via HelloSouthLoop:

It's not clear when they're officially opening, but seems like it will come quickly.

FWIW - looks like this company also has a location in Atlanta so it appears that this is not their first rodeo.  

Regardless - welcome to the Sloop!

Time to Go to the Museums - Covid-19 Restrictions Lifted!

Yeah museums (via Sun-Times):

If it seems like forever since you visited any of Chicago’s many museums and cultural arts attractions, there’s no time like the present to check out all that the area has to offer. And with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions lifted, you can do so — in person.

So here’s a look at some of the exhibits waiting to be discovered (or rediscovered) by you, your friends, your family. The museums listed have reopened unless otherwise indicated. Most require advance tickets, so check websites for more information.

Here are some of the museums in the Sloop:

Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. Reopens July 3. Ongoing exhibits: “Astronomy in Culture,” “Chicago’s Night Sky,” “Mission Moon,” “Our Solar System” and more. Admission: $19-$50, $8-$39 children 3-11; adlerplanetarium.org.

Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan. To Aug. 15: “The Obama Portraits” featuring the official portraits painted by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. To Sept. 6: “Bisa Butler: Portraits,” an exhibit of the artist’s quilts informed by photographs. To Oct. 18: Joseph E. Yoakum: What I Saw” speaks to the self-taught artist’s vision of drawings of mountainous terrain, arid deserts and majestic waterways. Admission: $14-$35; artic.edu.

Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. To Sept. 6: “Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Jane Goodall” follows the primatologist’s journey to becoming a passionate scientist studying chimpanzees in Africa. To July 18: “Apsáalooke Women and Warriors” celebrates the history, values and beliefs of the Apsáalooke people of the Northern Plains. Admission: $18-$32; fieldmuseum.org.

Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan at Columbia College Chicago. To Aug. 29: “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40,” a multi-museum venture, here features the work of An-My Lê and Shahzia Sikander,” two Asian-American artists who explore their relationship to America. Admission is free; mocp.org.

Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr. Immerse yourself in the aquatic animal world with sea otters, turtles, beluga whales, sharks, sea lions, jellyfish, reptiles and more. Exhibits include the Caribbean Reef, Abbott Oceanarium and Polar Play Zone. Admission: $4.95-$39.95; sheddaquarium.org.

There are a lot of other call outs in the Sun-Times article that seem interesting.  We're thinking about checking out "The Art of Bansky" exhibit on the west side.

Changes to Stalled 1000M High-Rise Gets Approved By City Council ; Aims for Fall Restart

Looks like this is going to move forward (via YIMBY):

Groundbreaking is expected to occur this fall after the Chicago City Council has approved the revised design for 1000M, a long-planned residential skyscraper at 1000 S Michigan Avenue in South Loop. Fronting S Michigan Avenue, the project site is an infill site between E 9th Street and E 11 Street. Currently a stalled construction site, the development already has caissons in the ground. Time Equities and JK Equities are the developers behind the project.

This update design is one of multiple iterations since the building was originally approved as a Planned Development in 2016. Designed by the late Helmut Jahn and his office JAHN, the 73-story tower is now expected to rise 805 feet, reduced from the previous height of 831 feet. The entirely residential building will now hold 738 rental apartments instead of 506 condominiums and offer 325 parking spaces. Additionally 356 bike parking spaces will also be provided. There will be no retail space, with a leasing center for the building taking up the open space on the ground floor.

If it does in fact move forward, it's unfortunate that there won't be any retail opportunity.  Curious why that isn't happening as we would imagine Michigan Avenue retail space is pretty valuable these days and could add to the general street vibe.  

Bureau Pizza Co. Moving Into Former Pauly's Pizza Spot on South State

We posted in June about another pizza place moving into the old Pauly's Pizza at 719 S. State and it looks like a name has emerged on the window:

So Bureau Pizza Company looks to be the name, but beyond that we're unsure much about this spot.  Their website has pretty limited info as of now with a splash page:

The immediate thought is whether this new Bureau Pizza Co. has any association with Bureau Bar + Restaurant further south on State (2115 S. State).  Kenny Johnson, the owner of Bureau Bar + Restaurant, also had a small bar called The Bureau Bar at 75 E. 16th awhile back so maybe this is just another expansion of his operation? 

If anyone has intel let us know.

Anyway, we'll be watching this one.  It is well documented that the neighborhood - and specifically the printers row area - has a lot of options when it comes to cheesy pie.

Arlington Heights Approves Zoning Draft That Would Allow For Bears to Build Stadium

So the Bears....hmmmm (via NBC5):

As the Bears navigate a long road to possibly moving out of Soldier Field and the city of Chicago, one hurdle— albeit a small one— was cleared. On Monday night, the Arlington Heights village board voted to approve an overlay zoning draft that would allow a football stadium to be built on Arlington Park.

Last week, Bears president Ted Phillips announced that the team had made a bid to purchase the property. However there has been some debate whether the Bears are serious about moving, or are using the bid as a negotiating tactic with Chicago, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Of course Arlington Heights is going to approve this - still seems like unlikely, but....maybe?

Beyond the idea that this is a negotiation ploy, we're curious if the controversial One Central development proposal has any impact on the Bears plans.  We're not sure if they're affiliated with the project, but similar to how the Rickets (Cubs owners) have found ways to monetize Wrigleyville since the historic Wrigley Field only had so much room to "expand" and "modernize", could the Bears try to capitalize on that development?  This is just my conspiracy theory.

This story has a long ways to go, so will be curious to see how it plays out.