Thursday, January 22, 2009
Posted By:
Raf Miastkowski
Photo:
Raf Miastkowski
Manny's Coffee Shop
One of Chicago's
quintessential sandwich shops, Manny's has been churning out Jewish comfort
food since 1942. Whether you come for breakfast to rub elbows with local
politicos or for lunch to get stuffed, you can't go wrong with Manny's. The
mounds of thinly cut corned beef or pastrami on your sandwich are so plentiful
that you won't be able to find the bread. The potato pancakes are delightfully
crispy, the macaroni and cheese is deliciously gooey, and the chicken noodle
soup is just right. Free water has to be poured into charming paper cones and
dessert comes shrink-wrapped on its own plate. Everything at Manny's is
delicious and reminiscent of older, simpler times. Hey, there's a reason why Obama
has frequented this place for years!
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Posted By:
Jamie Smith
Photo:
Courtesy of Jason Shueh
Binny's Beverage Depot
It's not often that you walk into a liquor store and exclaim, "Wow, what a view!" Most are windowless dungeons with lighting seemingly designed to drive you to drink. But not at Binny's Beverage Depot in the South Loop: their second floor features an entire wall of windows looking out onto downtown and the Sears Tower. The skyline isn’t the only impressive view, as the rest of the store is filled with booze as far as the eye can see. Binny's is a chain known for its helpful staff and excellent beer and wine selection. You'd probably have a great experience at any of their Chicago locations, but what sets the South Loop store apart is the opportunity for a little scenic appreciation with your alcohol consumption.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Posted By:
Paul Barile
Photo:
Paul Barile
So the neighborhood might be a little shady at night right now. That will change soon enough as the west and south loop complete their transition and are restored to their former beauty. In the meantime, White Palace Grill—which is no longer white terra cotta tile but red brick—continues to serve up an unparalleled BLT followed by ice cream creations that recall the best scenes from the old black and whites on late night theater.
The modest red vinyl dining room mixes booths with tables in an Al’s diner-like setting. The nostalgic effect is so complete you almost expect to see the waitresses come out on roller skates. One wall has an enormous mural of famous Chicagoans past and present. Harry Caray plays cards with Oprah and Mayor Daley while Al Capone and other Chicago figures—real and imagined look on. There is one character in a blue tuxedo leaning against a wall that no one seems to be able to figure out. The breakfast—served all day long—makes this a great place to start your day or end your evening.
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Thursday, April 13, 2006
Posted By:
William Moy
Photo:
William Moy
Most locals and travelers are familiar with the iconic Marina City project, featuring its twin concrete “corncob” high-rises designed by noted architect Bertrand Goldberg. However, he also designed River City, stationed in the South Loop along the Chicago River. Completed in 1987, this rhythmic structure was originally designed to be a megacomplex with five potential phases and anchored by a trio of cylindrical towers joined at midlevel with a communal skybridge. As completed, it is only a fraction of Goldberg’s grand vision of idealistic urban living. While Marina City looks like two stacks of Salerno cookies, River City is like a large serpentine gummi worm. Two parallel processions of curving condominium units sandwich the “River Road,” a full-height skylit interior atrium walkway that meanders through the length of the building and was designed as a communal space for the residents. A health club, mini-mart, offices, and marina facilities are shoehorned into the base of the compound. The dynamic design of River City still leaps out at you amongst its staid architectural neighbors in this still-gentrifying neighborhood.
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