Wisch List

From the Saturday, Sept. 3, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Dishing deep about Pequod’s, Chicago’s “best” pizzeria

The WISCH LIST

Sept. 7, 2012

Early this year on an episode of FOX’s well-intentioned, but slightly off-key cop series “The Chicago Code,” the show’s junior detective attempted to pick up a nurse by “proving” he was a true Chicagoan with the odd declaration that there’s a citywide consensus about the best pizza place on Chicago’s North Side.

There isn’t.

Rather, just like absorbing tax hikes, dodging potholes and waiting ’til next year, the debate over the premier pizza parlor in the Windy City is one of Chicagoans’ eternal struggles.

The best taste in the town depends on, well, your taste. But that, of course, doesn’t stop outlets from saying they know the truth.

On TV, that young detective claimed Chicago Pizza And Oven Grinder Co. is the North Side’s best. Two years ago, GQ Magazine went so far as to declare that Great Lake Pizza serves the tastiest slices in all of America. And, now, last month, Food Network Magazine threw its napkin into the fray, tapping Pequod’s Pizza as having the premier pie in the entire Land of Lincoln for its feature, “50 States, 50 Pizzas.”

Considering that “The Chicago Code” was canceled (in part because it never seemed to quite know Chicago) and that I already visited Great Lake Pizza last December for a (delicious) taste test and column, it was Food Network Magazine’s claim about Pequod’s that piqued my interest – and my appetite – this past week.

So, intrepid reporter that I am, I took it upon myself to visit the restaurant so I could get my fill of its fare – and fill you in on the quality of the latest slice to stake a claim to Chicago’s pizza throne.

“There are endless deep-dish pizzas in Chicago, but this sports bar serves one with a twist,” Food Network Magazine wrote about Pequod’s, located at 2207 N. Clybourn Ave. in Lincoln Park. “The pies are baked in well-seasoned, cast-iron pans lined with a sprinkling of mozzarella, so when the pizzas come out of the oven, they have a crust of crispy, salty, caramelized cheese.”

Now, normally, I’d add a few other ingredients into my pie, such as sausage, onion and green peppers, but Food Network Magazine said not to bother.

“(The crust) is so captivating that toppings are an unnecessary distraction,” the article claimed, “A simple cheese pie is the way to go.”

And so I went with that advice when I strolled in to the dimly lit restaurant filled with cozy booths and tables between a pair of long, exposed-brick walls. Established in 1970 and named after the fictitious 19th-century Nantucket whaleship upon which Captain Ahab chased the white whale in Herman Melville’s 1851 classic Moby-Dick, Pequod’s atmosphere is as warm as its food.

There was no word on whether Ahab was a pizza fan, but I imagine he would have enjoyed a slice of Pequod’s cheese, which actually seemed almost meaty thanks to thickness of the chunky, juicy tomato sauce slathered on top.
“It’s simple pizza,” the food critic website seriouseats.com wrote about Pequod’s fare back in July. “About as plain as a deep dish gets, but its crust is one of the best in the city. There is nothing gourmet about the pizza at Pequod’s, and there is no single ingredient we can point to as being close to the best in Chicago. But the way everything comes together is simply magical.”

Now, magical enough to be the best pizza in Illinois?

Well, who knows. But, really, when it comes down to it, does it truly matter? Pequod’s indeed is worth going out of your way for.

And I wouldn’t say that about every Chicago pie.

Today’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Shopping for something to do in Chicago?

The WISCH LIST

Aug. 27, 2011

Some people believe that the best cure for a hangover is a Bloody Mary. So, perhaps, it isn’t all that off-the-wall what Chicago is prescribing this month as a remedy for the recession.

Retail therapy.

This weekend, the Windy City (M.D.) launches “The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival,” which is being billed as “the first shopping festival of its kind in the nation.” The event actually kicked off at 5:30 a.m. on Friday morning in Pioneer Court with Carson Kressley of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” fame headlining and giving away a $5,000 shopping spree to one lucky bargain-hunter.

If you missed that early bird start, the festival runs through Sept. 8, meaning that your credit card still has plenty of time to get a workout along one of the world’s most famous shopping avenues.

Throughout the two-week event, appearances by fashion designers, athletes and other celebrities are scheduled at shops along Michigan Avenue, as well as a variety of in-store celebrations and promotions. The fest’s intent is to focus on five categories: fashion and beauty, lifestyle, culinary, technology and culture.

No sports. Sorry, fellas.

For more information and a full schedule of events, you can visit themagnificentmileshoppingfestival.com.

However, if shopping the Mag Mile doesn’t fit your bill – or your bills – there’s plenty else to do in Chicago as August rolls over into September. Here are a few events to keep in mind …

September 1-4: Chicago Jazz Festival

A Labor Day Weekend tradition for 33 years, the Chicago Jazz Festival is the longest running of the city’s lakefront music fests. It again will bring some of the world’s best jazz musicians into town for performances at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) and in Millennium Park and Grant Park.

Let’s hope the grass at the latter has recovered from rain-soaked Lollapalooza.

Admission is free, and highlights include the “Saxophone Summit” on Sept. 2, vocalist Cassandra Wilson on Sept. 3 and two-time Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove on Sept. 4.

For more information, visit chicagojazzfestival.us.

September 14-16: The Berghoff Oktoberfest

Originally opened in 1898, The Berghoff (17 W. Adams St.) is the oldest family-run restaurant in the Loop. And from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 14 through Sept. 16, it will hold its 26th annual Oktoberfest at Federal Plaza on the corner of Adams and Dearborn streets. Admission is free.

This year’s event will feature classic Bavarian-style German food, beer and live entertainment. But, most deliciously, it will also include an attempt to break the Midwest record for the longest bratwurst by unveiling a 45-foot sausage on Sept. 15, between 3 and 5 p.m.

Eat your heart out, Abe Froman.

Bites of the brat will be sold on Sept. 15 as a fundraiser for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.

For more information, visit theberghoff.com.

September 23-25: Chicago Gourmet 2011

For those who consider the Taste of Chicago to be too pedestrian for their palates, there is Chicago Gourmet 2011.

Held in Millennium Park and considered the city’s more upscale food extravaganza, the event features culinary samples and demonstrations from some of Chicago’s best chefs, including Rick Bayless, Graham Elliot Bowles and Stephanie Izard. There also are sommelier-led wine seminars for vino fanatics.

Like shopping on Michigan Avenue, however, the event isn’t cheap. Admission is $150 per day, while two-day passes are $250. Food seminars are included with each ticket.

Other ticket prices include, $175 for the Grand Cru event and $75 for the Hamburger Hop. Ticket holders must be 21, although children 5 and under can attend for free with a paying adult.

For more information, visit explorechicago.org.

Today’s column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Cubs’ Zambrano predicament was a real ‘Jim Dandy’

The WISCH LIST

Aug. 20, 2011

They’ve long been known as the Lovable Losers.

But the Chicago Cubs don’t love losing quite as much as you might think.

For example, since just 1980, 28 Major League Baseball teams have lost at least 100 games in a season. The Kansas City Royals alone have done it four times. The Tampa Bay Rays have done it three. But, somewhat remarkably, the Chicago Cubs haven’t turned that ignominious trick in 45 years.

Yes, not since 1966, when the team went 59-103, have the Cubs dropped at least 100 out of 162. A couple of weeks ago, when they were losing 10 of 15 following the All-Star Break, it looked like they just might make it. But, now, the Cubs are on pace to lose only about 90 or so, putting the century mark just about out of reach.

(Hold your applause.)

That said, considering their rampant organizational chaos and relentless on-field ineptness, I still think this might be the worst Cubs team of all-time – even if they don’t lose 100.

After all, as a longtime Chicago baseball scribe pointed out to me late last month, “That ’66 team had (Don) Kessinger, (Glenn) Beckert, (Billy) Williams, (Ron) Santo, (Ernie) Banks, (Randy) Hundley, (Fergie) Jenkins, (Ken) Holtzman – and even (HOF pitcher) Robin Roberts. And (manager) Leo Durocher.

“This Cubs team has … Blake DeWitt.”

And, for that, we can thank general manager Jim Hendry.

You might recall that just three years ago, the Cubs almost won 100 games (for the first time since 1935) when they went 97-64 and reached the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Give Hendry all the credit in the world for building that ballclub (even if it again fell short of the World Series). But give him all the blame for what’s happened since, as well.

Last weekend, after Carlos Zambrano returned to his patented bad boy behavior by getting ejected in Atlanta, clearing out his locker and even claiming he was retiring from baseball, Hendry placed the perennial hothead on the 30-day disqualified list. That means Big Z, who now says he doesn’t want to retire, will go without pay and won’t be allowed to be with the team through Sept. 11.

“This was the most stringent penalty that our club could inflict without a release,” Hendry said. “There’s not much worse than running out on your teammates in the middle of a ballgame, unpacking your locker, announcing your retirement. I think that is a tremendous problem with the other 24 guys, and something we as an organization could not tolerate.”

But the organization simply could not tolerate Hendry any longer, either, and Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts proved that on Friday when he dismissed his GM. Because, this whole Zambrano debacle isn’t truly about Carlos. Not in the grand scheme of things. It really was about Jim.

After all, Hendry is the guy who signed Zambrano to a $91.5 million deal in 2007. And he’s the guy who signed Milton Bradley to a $30 million deal in 2009. And the guy who signed Kosuke Fukudome to a $48 million deal in 2008. And the guy who signed Alfonso Soriano to a $136 million deal in 2006.

He’s also the guy who gave Zambrano, Soriano and Aramis Ramirez full no-trade clauses. Need I go on?

What all of that adds up to is that there was no excuse for Hendry to return in 2012. Just like there’s no excuse for Zambrano to be back, either. Quite simply, this winter, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts needs to give his franchise the kind of housecleaning that Zambrano already gave his locker.

He’s off to a good start by making sure that Jim Hendry has now “retired” as GM of the Cubs.

 

From the Saturday, Aug. 13, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Ozzie makes himself safe at home – on the North Side

The WISCH LIST

Aug. 13, 2011

During his career in Chicago, Ozzie Guillen has been called a lot of things.

Some of them are even fit for a family newspaper.

As the mercurial manager of the White Sox, he’s been called a loud mouth. And he’s been called a champion. Ozzie has been called a lunatic. And he’s been called a baseball genius.

But, I’m pretty sure that he’s never been called a hipster.

Until now.

That’s because, last week, news broke that Guillen sold his three-bedroom townhouse on Chicago’s Near West Side for $610,000, and shelled out $1.95 million for a 6,163-square-foot, newly constructed, contemporary-style house in Bucktown, one of two (gasp) North Side neighborhoods – along with adjacent Wicker Park – known as bastions for Chicago’s counterculture crowd.

Think snarky twentysomethings wearing skinny jeans, fedoras and thick-rimmed glasses, of which most probably prefer the Cubs.

That is, if they know much of anything about baseball at all.

(You can practically hear the 47-year-old Guillen’s blood pressure whistling like a teapot from here.)

In Chicago, word of Ozzie spending big bucks to matriculate to Bucktown was surprising enough that it sparked RedEye, the city’s commuter-targeted morning newspaper, to ask local residents what advice they would give their hot-headed new neighbor.

“Take it easy,” 28-year-old Gabriel Eigen suggested. “Don’t get upset about stuff. Chill.” Meanwhile, Temi Torres, 26, added, “Don’t talk as much. Keep it short and sweet. There’s a lot of Cubs fans over here. I would tell him just come and go, try to stay low key.”

Yeah, and Ozzie might give up Twitter, too.

“He should probably buy a bicycle,” 28-year-old Matt Paprocki chimed in. “I feel like that would be my first tip if he’s moving to this area. He’d fit right in. I’d say a vintage Schwinn.”

If he gets one, Ozzie could take late-night bike trips to buzz doorbells and prank the many Cubs players who have their own posh pads spread out in neighborhoods throughout the North Side.

For example, pitcher Ryan Dempster, who always appreciates a good joke, has two homes near Wrigley Field – one of them listed for $1.9 million – that Ozzie could choose from. Right nearby is Jeff Samardzjia, who paid $710,000 in 2008 for a condo along the trendy Southport corridor, just west of Wrigley.

Before he was dealt to Cleveland, Kosuke Fukudome was residing in a $1.44 million condo downtown in Streeterville. But that’s chump change when compared to the $2.65 million one that Alfonso Soriano bought in the same neighborhood back in 2006.

Since 2005, Aramis Ramirez has lived in a Gold Coast condo that he purchased for $937,500. Meanwhile, Carlos Zambrano owns homes in both River Forest and West Lakeview, having spent $1.2 million for the former in ’06 and $2.66 million for the latter in ’08.

All of those homes, however, pale in comparison to the $3.32 million Lincoln Park mansion that Kerry Wood splurged for three years ago. However, not even Wood’s estate is as big an expenditure as the $1.7 million, 17-room, 7,400-square-foot house – with six-and-a-half baths and an elevator – that Cubs reliever Sean Marshall bought in north suburban Lincolnwood earlier this year.

Marshall, mind you, has made only $1.7 million so far in his entire career.

(Don’t fret for him too much, though. He’s guaranteed $3.1 million next season.)

Now, Guillen’s realtor claims that Ozzie relocated to the North Side because he simply “wanted a bigger house.” But perhaps the embattled manager, who’s been rumored for other jobs in 2012, has a different reason for moving onto enemy turf.

Maybe he’s hoping to manage the Cubs.

And, you know, bike to work.

From the Saturday, Aug. 6, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Just winging it at Shedd Aquarium

The WISCH LIST

Aug. 6, 2011

On any given day, Chicago is for the birds.

Walk along a downtown street and you’ll discover (and dodge) packs of pecking pigeons. Take in a game at Wrigley Field, and you’ll likely mingle with (or, perhaps, be outnumbered by) a flock of seagulls. Or head to any public park, and you can hear tweets all day long (no Twitter account necessary).

But of all the feathered friends – and occasional fiends (yes, pigeons, I mean you) – that you can find in Chicago, it’s considerably more difficult to come face-to-beak with, say, a penguin.

Or, at least, it used to be.

These days, however, thanks to the Shedd Aquarium’s unique “Penguin Encounter” experience, spending some time in the Windy City with the best dressed of all the birds is now easy.

And two weekends ago, that’s just what I did – along with my girlfriend, who’s something of a penguin enthusiast.

Turns out, she’s hardly the only one, as four other couples also waddled in to Shedd that day from as far away as Wisconsin and Ohio just for the unique opportunity to spend 30 minutes buddying up to one of the aquarium’s affable penguins.

The “Penguin Encounter” – which adds to Shedd’s “Extraordinary Experiences” lineup that also includes Behind-the-Scenes Tours, a chance to be a “Trainer for a Day” and the “Beluga Encounter” – is limited to 10 people at a time. And as we patiently waited to begin, not one of us really knew what to expect.

Neither did my Facebook friends, one of whom issued a warning about the “Penguin Encounter” beforehand, offering the message: “Beware of his umbrella. It’s a weapon.”

After strapping on my utility belt (not really), a pair of Shedd employees led our group into the bowels of the aquarium, where we did slip on rubber boots, just in case of an accident (penguins might wear tuxes, but they don’t wear diapers).

We then took seats in a designated alcove, as a Shedd staff member asked, “Does anyone know what kind of penguin you’ll be meeting today?”

“A black-and-white one,” replied one smart aleck (not me).

It was, of course. But to be more specific, we met a two-year-old female Magellanic Penguin, who was wheeled up inside a plastic-encased cart – the “Popemobile,” the trainer called it – and introduced to us as “401.”

Because Shedd has more than 30 penguins, the aquarium identifies the animals by numbers rather than names. But 401 didn’t seem to mind. Her species hails from coastal South America, stands about two feet tall and weighs between six and 14 pounds.

And doesn’t exactly eat like a bird.

We learned that Magellanic Penguins can devour between 60 to 80 fish a day when molting. And 401 gobbled about a dozen during just her 30 minutes with us.

As she happily waddled about the alcove, Shedd’s trainer answered questions and then held 401 as everyone got the opportunity to stroke the feathers on her back (surprisingly soft) and her wing (surprisingly rough). When our half-hour was up, 401 stood proudly on a box and mugged for photos, leaving each of us with a memento from an encounter that was, well, quite extraordinary.

Just try getting a pigeon to do that.

Offered year-round on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Shedd’s “Penguing Encounters” are currently offered daily through Sept. 5. Children must be at least 4 years old, and kids up to 11 must be accompanied by a paying guardian. One chaperone is required for each 4- to 6-year-old.

To book an encounter, call 312-692-3355. Prices are $59.95 for adults, $50.95 for children. More information is available at sheddaquarium.org/extraordinary.

 

Today’s column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

The Lollapalooza tips you need to know

The WISCH LIST

July 30, 2011

It’s most commonly known as Chicago’s “front yard.” But come next weekend, Grant Park will be more like the city’s playground.

Or, maybe its garage.

You know, depending on what kinds of bands you’re into.

Next Friday through Sunday (Aug. 5-7), the Windy City will again play host to the sprawling music extravaganza that is Lollapalooza. Since 2005, the annual festival – which was originally conceived in 1991 by Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell – has made its home in Chicago, where it’s under contract to be staged through 2018.

This year, the headliners for the sold-out 20^th anniversary Lollapalooza include the likes of Muse, Eminem and the Foo Fighters. And this year, its expected 270,000 attendees will include the likes of me, as I’ll be taking in the festival for the first time.

To get myself – and you – up to speed on prepping for the ’Palooza, I sought out my friend Frank Grubich of Downers Grove. He’s been to each of the past four festivals in Grant Park and knows Lollapalooza like I know Wrigley Field.

In other words, really well.

Where to park

“I don’t even know if I should tell you this,” Frank said with a laugh when I inquired how gets to Lollapalooza from the southwest suburbs. “But I always drive in and then park at the Soldier Field underground lot (1410 South Museum Campus Drive).

“It’s only like $15 and a short walk over to Grant Park. And there’s hardly anyone there.”

With easy access via Lake Shore Drive to interstates I-90/94, I-55 and I-57, the lot is a quick escape for anyone from south of the city. So, sorry Frank, but your secret’s out now.

What to wear (and not to)

When asked the No. 1 thing that people should know about Lollapalooza, Frank instantly replied with the edict: “Wear walking shoes.”

He then added: “Everyone who goes for the first time is surprised at just how big Lollapalooza is (Grant Park does cover 319 acres). So, always give yourself ample time to get from one stage to another and wear walking shoes.

“The first year, my wife wore sandals and after half a day, she had blisters.”

To avoid blisters of a different kind (i.e., sun), Frank also recommended wearing sunscreen and a hat – a distinctive one, if you’re planning to meet up with people.

“It can really help for them to pick you out in a crowd,” he said.

Additionally, Frank suggested bringing some kind of mat to sit on, explaining that, “There isn’t a lot of grass on the park’s south end. And it can get muddy down there.”

Food and drinks

Lollapalooza is, of course, known for its menu of bands. But the fest is quickly becoming known for its culinary menu, as well.

For the third year, famed Chicago chef Graham Elliot is serving as the culinary director/mayor of Lolla’s “Chow Town,” which this year will feature 30 vendors serving “high-class, low-key fare.” For a full lineup of vendors, visit lollapalooza.com.

“The food is awesome, and they don’t gouge you on the prices,” Frank said. “They also have dishes there that they don’t even have at the ‘Taste of Chicago.’”

Water is also readily available throughout the park, including for free at many locations. Frank recommended bringing your own bottle that you can then refill.

Start up the bands

To navigate the festival, Lollapalooza offers a fantastic free iPhone and Android app, featuring a map, band schedules and much more. I suggest a download.

Frank, meanwhile, suggested a trio of lesser-known artists to check out: Delta Spirit (Friday), Lykke Li (Saturday) and The Joy Formidable (Sunday).

Oh and remember, wear walking shoes.

Today’s column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

In Chicago, Marilyn statue scratches an itch

The WISCH LIST

July 23, 2011

In real life, Marilyn Monroe stood just 5-foot-5½.

But, these days, the Hollywood blonde is statuesque.

A week ago Friday, Forever Marilyn – a 26-foot-tall, 34,000-pound sculpture of Monroe captured in her iconic dress-flapping pose from the 1955 flick “The Seven-Year Itch” – was officially unveiled in Pioneer Court along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

And ever since, the sculpture, designed by New Jersey-based kitsch artist Seward Johnson, has been blowing gusts of debate throughout Chicago, proving that nearly five decades after her death, Monroe can still make headlines.

And turn heads.

Forever Marilyn has its critics – ChicagoNow.com blogger Abraham Ritchie called it “Downright creepy and sexist,” – but she has her supporters, too. For example, a retired journalist friend of mine commented this week on his Facebook page: “With due respect to friends who find it offensive – I understand the reasons – it’s fun. And I’m guessing Marilyn would think so, too.

“([Ex-husbands] Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio, not so much.)”

As for myself, I lean toward that latter statement. And this week, Forever Marilyn stirred my thoughts about the many other statues in the Windy City.

And I thought I’d blow a few interesting facts your way …

Statues’ central park

Carving out a swath of green on Chicago’s North Side, Lincoln Park is one of the most popular parks among city residents.

And statues.

Since 1884, 20 statues have been erected throughout the 1,208-acre public space, with most going up between 1880 and 1900 and between 1910 and 1930. The majority immortalize wealthy individuals or politicians – including, the park’s namesake, Abraham Lincoln – while some depict historical events.

Among the statues in Lincoln Park, there’s also one honoring former President Ulysses S. Grant. But, ironically, in Grant Park, there’s no Grant statue there. But there is another Lincoln one.

You figure that one out.

Welcome to Andersenville

While Grant might be under-represented statue-wise in Chicago, Scandinavia makes a strong showing.

Particularly for guys named Andersen.

Curiously, among the 20 statues in Lincoln Park, there’s one of Danish fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who guards a western entrance to the Lincoln Park Zoo. And, there’s another of Capt. Magnus Andersen, who sailed a Viking ship across the Atlantic in an open boat for Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, proving that Norse explorer Leif Ericson could have successfully crossed the Atlantic before Christopher Columbus.

La Salle County immortalized

There are 102 counties in Illinois, but out of all of them, La Salle County’s connections seem particularly prominent among the statues in Lincoln Park.

Of the 20, one depicts three-term Illinois governor and Civil War vet Richard J. Oglesby, who has a county town named after him. Two more, called The Alarm and The Signal of Peace, were given in memory of the Ottawa Indians, who have the county seat named after them.

And a fourth? Well, it depicts explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle, who has the entire county named after him.

The statues that roared

Perhaps the most beloved of all the statues in Chicago are the pair of bronze lions that guard the western entrance to the Art Institute along Michigan Avenue.

Most people know that every year during Christmastime, the lions have evergreen wreaths placed around their necks. And most know that whenever a Chicago sports team plays in a championship game, the lions are decked out in that team’s uniform.

But few probably know that the lions have names. When he created them, sculptor Edward L. Kemeys, christened the south lion as “stands in an attitude of defiance,” while the north lion is “on the prowl.”

Forever Marilyn had best watch out.

Today’s column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Exploring the Second City’s Second Shore

The WISCH LIST

July 16, 2011

You’ve heard of North Avenue Beach, Montrose Beach and 63^rd Street Beach. You know all about Navy Pier, have spied the harbors along Lake Michigan and savored the city’s skyline while zipping up Lake Shore Drive.

But when it comes to shorelines in Chicago, there’s a good chance that you’ve missed out completely on what’s perhaps the most pleasant of them all.

Say hello to Chicago’s Riverwalk, the best-kept secret in the Windy City – even though it’s kept right in the middle of everything.

“The Riverwalk is part of Mayor Daley’s vision to boost Chicago’s second shoreline, the Chicago River,” Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Bobby L. Ware said a couple of years ago when explaining one of the ex-mayor’s pet beautification projects.

“The river has played an integral part in the city’s past and the Riverwalk will play a vital role in the city’s future,” Ware continued. “It will be a place of recreation and reflection, a place where office workers and families can relax, and a great place to get a bite to eat.”

Well, thanks to my recent summertime explorations, I can vouch that the city’s Riverwalk no longer just will be those things.

It already is.

Tucked just below the way most people wander downtown Chicago – from the streets – the first sections of city’s river-level walkway opened in 2009, stretching from Michigan Avenue to State Street. Today, the Riverwalk, which was built out 17 to 20 feet into the river to literally create a new shoreline, winds under the Michigan and Wabash bridges and provides an uninterrupted route along the river from State Street to the lakefront.

Future plans call for extending the Riverwalk even deeper into downtown, but its current state is already fantastic. If you’ve taken an architecture boat tour in Chicago, you’ve likely already accessed part of the Riverwalk when you boarded a boat along it just below Michigan Avenue. But next time you’re downtown, I encourage you to skip the boat tour and conduct a river adventure on foot instead.

The Riverwalk provides the perfect place to enjoy Chicago’s architecture with an array of public plazas, outdoor cafes and bike rentals. It also features one of the city’s quirkiest, but least known museums in the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum (bridgehousemuseum.org), which is located in the southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge.

Beginning at river level and spiraling five stories up, the museum takes visitors past the massive gears of Chicago’s most famous movable bridge while also telling the story of the Chicago River and offering a 360-degree view of the city and river at its top.

The museum is open Thursday-Monday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., between May 15 and October 31. General admission is $4.

All along the Riverwalk, you’ll find spots to grab a bite or drink, but the most unique is Cyrano’s Café & Wine Bar, located on the river’s south bank between the Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive bridges. An offshoot of its sister restaurant in River North, the café offers a menu of French dishes such as quiche Lorraine and homemade pate (although my American palate ordered the burger). There’s an ice cream shop and crepe stand, as well.

But what really sets Cyrano’s apart is the setting, as chef-owner Didier Durand designed the café area to resemble artist Claude Monet’s home in Giverny, France.

And, in fact, while sitting at a table at Cyrano’s surrounded by flowers and beneath a canopy of trees as a live guitarist strums in the background, one can almost mistake the Chicago River for the Seine and Michigan Avenue for the Champs-Élysées.

Vivé la Riverwalk.

It’s worth a visit.

This week’s column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Temperature of Cubs-Sox rivalry: Tepid

The WISCH LIST

July 9, 2011

With the Midsummer Classic on tap for Tuesday, let’s take a our own All-Star break and dish a bit on the White Sox and Cubs …

A peace of Chicago

It’s been called the BP Crosstown Cup, the Crosstown Classic, the Crosstown Series, the Crosstown Cup and – hang on a second, let me catch my breath – the Crosstown Showdown.

At least it has been … if you trust Wikipedia.

But either way, I think we can agree that the rivalry between the Cubs and White Sox has always been called one thing.

Cross.

Every summer, grumpy baseball fans like to gripe about interleague play. They whine about how no one wants to watch series like Florida vs. Seattle, while ignoring the fact that no one really much wants to see Florida vs. Pittsburgh or Seattle vs. Kansas City, either.

And those happen every season.

Despite its inherent snoozers, I like interleague play. And I love Cubs-White Sox. My only beef with the annual city series is that in recent years the volatility in the stands has almost reached Barrett-Pierzynski levels.

The animosity between a sizable number of Sox and Cubs fans has made attending the games an increasingly uncomfortable experience – until this year.

Last weekend, I had tickets for two White Sox-Cubs tilts at Wrigley Field, and was struck by how docile the fans were, even out in the bleachers. I’d like to think that it’s because Chicagoans have reached a new level of maturity, but I saw the same kind of serenity during the two Yankees-Cubs games I attended last month.

And it’s more likely that the reason for the relative peace is because both teams’ fans just aren’t as engaged in their disappointing ballclubs this season.

Call it a truce of indifference.

Meet your Iowa Cubs … coaches

The Cubs have been a major league club for 135 years, but more often than not this season they’ve looked like they’re playing minor league ball.

Perhaps, though, that shouldn’t be a surprise considering that they’re being led by a bunch of rookies.

And by that, I mean the coaching staff.

Ponder this: For 2011, the Cubs have a manager (Mike Quade), a first base coach (Bob Dernier) and a third base coach (Ivan DeJesus) who are all in those roles at the big league level for the first time. They also have a pitching coach who’s handled a major league pitching staff just once – way back in 1995 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fact is, this College of Coaches doesn’t even have an associate’s degree.

So, the next time the Cubs blow a sign, make a base-running mistake or fail to hold a runner at first, feel free to blame the players.

But question the coaching staff that GM Jim Hendry has put together, too.

A Dunn deal in Atlanta

If you think $56 million man Adam Dunn has been a free-agent bust for the White Sox, then get a load of Atlanta’s Dan Uggla.

Emphasis on the Ugg.

On Wednesday, SI.com baseball writer Jon Heyman slapped Uggla with his midseason “Least Valuable Player” award. At the time, the second baseman – who signed for more money ($61 million over five years) than Dunn last winter – was batting .178 with a .250 on-base percentage, both more than 100 points worse than his 2010 stats for Florida.

Heyman pointed out that, unlike Dunn, who switched leagues, became a DH and had an appendectomy, Uggla has no ready-made excuses for his struggles. All that said – and perhaps in response to Heyman’s slight – Uggla homered in back-to-back games on Wednesday and Thursday.

So maybe he’s not Dunn just yet.

 

From the Saturday, July 2, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) …

Chicago’s in a festive mood for July

The WISCH LIST

July 2, 2011

There’s only one thing that I don’t like about summertime.

And that’s how just as the season finally begins, it has this curious way of seeming as if it’s already flown by.

For example, the Fourth of July is upon us and just like every year, it seems to have arrived prematurely. Unlike Christmas, which can seemingly loom in the distance for an eternity even after the calendar flips to December, July 4 is a holiday that races toward you.

Perhaps it feels that way because after the Fourth, there’s not another major holiday until September (Labor Day), as August is the lone month of the year without one (ever notice that?).

Or perhaps all of this is just me.

Either way, in order to milk the most out of your summer, here are some Chicago street festivals that you should consider this month.

July 1-3: Wrigleyville Block Party

Some would say that during baseball season, Wrigleyville is a block party.

But they’d be wrong.

After all, Wrigleyville includes much more than just one block.

While the team continues to struggle, the Cubs organization has connected with at least one hit this season in the Wrigleyville Block Party.

Last month, the first of three scheduled block parties was held along Clark Street outside Wrigley Field during the Yankees series, and from the Wrigley beer vendors to the cover bands to the congenial crowds, it was a home run.

The second Block Party is taking place this weekend for the White Sox series and is ongoing from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Sunday, featuring music, food and drink. Unlike Wrigley itself, admission is free.

July 9-10: Roscoe Village Burger Fest

Chicago is known for its pizza, its Italian beef and its hot dogs.

But if the second annual Roscoe Village Burger Fest has anything to say about it, the Windy City will be famous for its burgers too.

Offering up patties made of everything from veggie and turkey to ground beef and steak, the event at the corner of Belmont and Damen avenues and featuring some of Chicago’s finest restaurants and live music is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. both days.

Participating burger vendors include Goose Island brewpubs, Select Cut Steakhouse, and 2010 “Best Burger” winner John’s Place, plus many more. A $6 suggested donation benefits the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, visit chicagoevents.com.

July 15-16: Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party

For the 27^th consecutive year, Madison Street and Des Plaines Avenue in Chicago’s West Loop is playing host to the so-called “World’s Largest Block Party,” benefitting outreach activities for Old St. Pat’s church. The event annually draws an average of 18,000 attendees and claims that more than 70 couples have married after meeting during it.

This year, the party runs from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. each night with Cobra Starship and Plain White T’s headlining on Friday and Matt Nathanson and Barenaked Ladies on Saturday.  Tickets cost $40 for a one-night pass, $70 for two.

For more information, visit worldslargestblockparty.com.

July 22-23: Wicker Park Fest

If you’re looking to prep for Lollapalooza (Aug. 5-7), wind down from Pitchfork Music Festival (July 15-16) or simply don’t have the money for either, Wicker Park Fest could be music to your ears.

From noon to 10 p.m., you can listen to more than three dozen musical acts at the corner of Milwaukee and North avenues in Chicago’s eclectic Wicker Park neighborhood and observe the curious fashion combinations of its hipster residents.

All for just five bucks.

For more information, visit wickerparkfestchicago.com.