Shots Around the Sloop: Full Moon

(Hat tip: MS!)

Recently on the Sloopin Message Board...March!

Lot's of stuff going on in the Sloop and thanks to everyone for the activity on our message board.  Here are some active links from the past month:

• Trattoria Caterina closed? by Anon
• Why is A' Cappella Still Open? by Curious Chalf
• TV/Internet options by Sam
• Tejas Yoga will open at new location - 1300 S. Wabash - Friday, April 5 by rememberthebreath
• Networking Party (helping the homeless) by Louise Edwards
• New Asian restaurant in Ole Hardwood space by blarger
• Trains by LM
• Sexual Assault in Dearborn Parkby TonyG
• CTA blocking the alleys of Wabash/state-anyone given notice? by Trapped
• Access to Wells St from Roosevelt Rd/Collection by Jeff
• Surveying @ Harrison & Wells Street by Anonymous
• 1601 S. State by Kal-El
• Sushi Place by sloopy pete
• Phish at Northerly Island 7/19-21by Trey Anastasio
• Cheap Trick Still on Motor Row Radar by sloopmax
• wooden skyscraper - south loopby anon
• CHEAP TRICK PLANS DEAD--HAHAHAHA by sloop1
• Anyone live in 1530 s State? by Ovenall
• Rook cafe and hopscotch? by TS
• Nordstrom coming to the Maxwellby SLY
• Retail Under 1620 S Michigan? by JustysCutie
• Karamela closed? by JCB
• 1323 S Michigan??? by Airplanejoe
• Car Break-ins by Sloop Vigilante
• South Loop Climbing Gym by joanna
• Methadone Clinic at 2100 S. Indiana by Cratn
• Dumpsters and Trash Compactors in Early A.M. by mattm
• Old courthouse to be condos/retail? by blarger
• Screeching sound at night by ashore
• late night study/work spots? by Goose
• Summer activities for kids by Alice

Is Karamela Cafe Closed?

Upon walking down Michigan recently we noticed two things in regard to Karamela Cafe (1250 S. Michigan):

Old picture of refrigerator/display -- it's now gone!

1. It was 8pm on a Tuesday night and the cafe was closed
2. The desert refrigerator/display at the front of the store was gone and so were the cash register and other things.

While we may not be the brightest bulbs in the world, something seemed strange.  Could Karamela Cafe be closed?  It's been a rocky road leading up to the opening, but honestly we liked the place.

We've been a couple of times since our first visit and it seemed like others were there hanging out and enjoying themselves.  What gives?  Anyone know?

(Hat tip: NM!)

Ping Tom Fieldhouse "Appears" at 1700 S. Wentworth

A couple people sent us information on a new structure that "appeared" recently by Ping Tom Park:

Good morning there. I'm a daily visitor and wanted to let y'all know that the walls of the Ping Tom Fieldhouse "appeared" yesterday. I assume everything is prefabricated but it's amazing how quickly things can change. 

If you're curious about the project here is an old post we did.  For some more recent info here is a link to a Public Building Commission of Chicago website.  And here is the formal outlines and proposal for the structure.

(Hat tip: BMC, MGD!)

Asian Outpost Plans New Concept for Ole Hardwood Space

In case you don't read our message board, Blarger posted an interesting link to a Chicago Magazine post yesterday:

Asian Outpost (1315 S. Wabash Ave., no phone yet), a rustic Asian mid-priced spot with between 90 and 100 seats, is scheduled to open midsummer on the elevated first floor of the space that housed the short-lived barbecue joint Ole Hardwood (which closed after a fire in December 2010) and Exposure Tapas Supper Club before that. 

Lois Lee says rustic Asian—not two words you see together often—means dishes such as a soy-braised black chicken. “Part of it is like the recipes our parents had, and part is what David and I do at parties,” she says. Creative maki created by the chef behind the namesake cool sushi, Pheeraphat Phisuthiarpha, will also be available.

If the name Lois Lee (and/or her husband David) rings a bell it's because they're the owners of the Hot Woks Cool Sushi restaurants (see image above from their restaurant up on Michigan Avenue by Millennium Park).  Clearly they've had some success, so it's nice to see them venture down to the Sloop for this new concept.

Best of luck and hopefully they have a better go of it than the previous two restaurants (here and here).

(Hat tip: Blarger!)

Roosevelt University Jazz Ensembles to Perform Free Concerts at Jazz Showcase on April 1st and 2nd

If you're looking for something to do next week, this sounds like some good free fun:

Roosevelt University’s unique Large Jazz, Latin Jazz and New Deal Vocal Ensembles will give two free Spring Showcase performances at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 1 and Tuesday, April 2 at one of Chicago’s premier jazz clubs, the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago.

For more information checkout this link.

Some Conceptual Sloop Real Estate Porn

Both of these developments probably aren't happening (especially the Wooden Skyscraper concept), but it's still fun to look at and dream about.  Curbed recently posted about them and we got excited!

First up is the more feasible of the pair, an interesting skyscraper that would serve neighboring higher education institutions (please note this is at Wabash and Van Buren - just north of the Sloop):

Image from Curbed Chicago

Would be pretty cool and iconic.

Something even cooler and probably even more iconic would be this crazy design for a Wooden  Skyscraper concept just north of River City:

Image from Curbed Chicago

Ok, now it's time to go back to earth.  Enjoy your Monday.  

Shots Around the Sloop: Yellow Sky

(Hat tip: CS!)

Pink Olive Wine and Liquor Store Looking to Open on Cermak

Crain's had a couple good articles talking about some hot topics coming out of the PDNA meeting on Thursday night.

They had some more information about a proposed on/off ramp from Lake Shore Drive at 15th or 16th street.  It's definitely a controversial move, but from a city planning standpoint we could see the benefit.  It's not easy to get to this area via car.  However, we're sure residents like that this is the case (makes it sleepier and quieter).  Anyway, read the article here.

via Google Maps

The interesting thing we took from this article was that a new wine and liquor store called the Pink Olive was looking to open at 80 E. Cermak.  This could be a good development for the area.  We presume it would be in the same retail building as Papa John's (on the north side of the street):

Meanwhile, in another sign of activity in the area, former state Sen. Annazette Collins said last night that she plans to open a 1,000-square-foot liquor and wine store at 80 E. Cermak Road, at South Michigan Ave.

The shop would be called Pink Olive, according to Ms. Collins, who said she’s negotiating a three-year lease with the building’s owner.

Good news and hope the succeed!

Finally, there was also an article talking about the PDNA's opposition to the idea of DePaul building a stadium in the neighborhood.  Not a ton of new news here, but if you're into this story it's worth a read.

POLL: Optimism & Uncertainty Around Sloop Property Values

Greater South Loop Association Community Meeting Tomorrow (3/23)

From the Greater South Loop Association:

Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts Coming to Roosevelt Road

A reader writes:

I found out Joann's is coming to the sloop at Joffco Sq (where BBB and BB is) according to http://yournewjoann.com/, which is linked from Joann's offical facebook. It doesn't have a date yet, but I am excited!

More positive news for the Roosevelt Retail Corridor...it's been a good week for shoppers in the Sloop.

(Hat tip: ML!)

Kai Sushi Looks to Replace Donna's Cafe at 1255 South State

Well lookie here...a new sushi spot named Kai Sushi looks to be "coming soon" to the old space at 1255 South State.

As you probably remember, Donna's Cafe closed back in Mid-January.  Didn't take long for a new place to snatch up the space.

So what is Kai Sushi?  Well it appears to be similar to the Kai Sushi up in West Town at 1406 W. Grant.  If you look at the logo on their website and the logo on the sign in the picture above, it's the same (good deduction on our part!).

Anyway, Kai Sushi has a 4.5 star rating on yelp and it sounds like that star is BYOB.  While we don't know if the South Loop restaurant will be BYOB, we can dream.  We love sushi and we love drinking our own liquor, so it sounds like a win win to us.

Has anyone been to Kai in West Town?  How is it?

PDNA Community Meeting Event Rich with Motor Row Topics

If college basketball isn't your thing or if you think Motor Row is more important you should check out this event:

For years now, South Loop residents have heard about the possibilities for the Motor Row Landmark District, the Central Station Gateway and many have wondered what would become of the significant number of vacant parcels surrounding McCormick Place. The PDNA's Motor Row Task Force and Development Committee are inviting the community to attend an extremely important meeting where area residents, local businesses, organizations and stakeholders, will have the chance to be a part of shaping the development of the South Loop and Motor Row, an area which is intended to become one of Chicago's destination entertainment districts.

Meeting Date: Thursday, March 21, 2013
Meeting Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm (doors open at 6:00pm)
Meeting Location: Landmark Marmon Building, 2230 S. Michigan Ave (please note, NO parking provided) RSVP Appreciated: RSVP Now by Clicking Here 

Agenda 

• Introduction of Special Guests 

• PDNA Organization update 

• Women’s Park community center phase II update 

• PDNA education update 

• 1333 S. Wabash planned development amendment proposal–discussion 

• Twain Park and Gateway Avenue land transfer ordinance–discussion 

• PDNA Motor Row Task Force Mission and Purpose 

• Prairie Blocks and speculated DePaul Arena survey update 

• Green Line at Cermak–discussion 

• Motor Row 6M TIF Streetscape–discussion 

• Motor Row developments: 

• Pink Olive: New liquor store proposal–discussion 

• Broad Shoulders Brewery 

• Landmark America Development 

• McPier 1200 room hotel at Cermak and Michigan 

• Motor Row Landmark buildings possibly at risk–discussion