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| Chicago Steaks - The Best |
As an urbanist and someone who loves great street scenes
and activity my vote for the best in America is the triangle formed by Rush and
State Street and East Bellevue Place in Chicago. This historic Chicago district
has been famous for almost a hundred years. Everything revolves Mariano Park.
During the week it’s a great place to lounge, read, and watch people. At night
it is the center of some of the greatest foot traffic in Chicago and now you
know why it’s been recently tagged the Viagra triangle. It’s what you get when
you mix older rich men and younger women – don’t blame me I didn’t name it. But
thinking back, its true - as the clip to the back of my head from my wife
proved.
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| Mariano Park |
Rush Street is named after Benjamin Rush a signer of the
Declaration of Independence. Mariano Park was named after Louis Mariano in 1970.
From the Chicago Park District information page:
In 1970, the park district renamed (the park) yet again,
this time in honor of another local resident, Louis Mariano (1906-1970).
Mariano was a reporter and editor for the Chicago Daily News, and also served
as associate editor of the World Book Science Year Book. He organized the
annual science fair at nearby Ogden School, the library of which also bears his
name. For years Mariano spent his evenings at a restaurant across from the
park, holding court and seeking out stories for his North Loop News column. In
addition to trees and benches, Mariano Park contains a small fountain and a
Prairie-style pavilion designed by Birch Burdette Long in 1900.
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| Mr. Kellys - Circa 1960s |
Rush Street is famous for its night clubs and restaurants
as well as jazz and music. As a kid I think I had my first illegal drink in a
club called Mr. Kelly’s (1957-1975). Sara Vaughan and Her Trio used the spot
for one of her album’s cover art. It’s now Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse and is
the place to meet in Chicago. They pour a decent drink for the price $$$ and
the food is just damn good. Everyone wants to eat on the street, most of the
seven or eight restaurants that front Rush offer tables on the sidewalk – lots of
tables. Well dress people and expensive cars are thick and everywhere, every
night we were there a convertible Bentley parked next to the park with its
flashers on. One of the local beat cops (who by the way are just too cool) told
me that it’s a loaner for the guy; his other car, a Bugatti Veyron 16.4, is on
loan for a photo shoot. So Chicago Northside.
Carmines is a part of the Rosebud Italian group of
restaurants and Tavern on Rush has the classiest sports bar on the street. An
Irish pub – Dublin Bar and Grill, the chain restaurant Morton’s Steakhouse,
Hugo’s Frog Bar and Fish House, Whiskey Bar and Grill, Luxor Bar, and my
favorite breakfast joint, The Original Pancake House, almost round out the fare. But within blocks there more, lots more.
What makes a great street? Often it is not the paving or
the street furniture, but it’s the shops, stores, and restaurants. It’s the
attraction of the venues and the people (Viagra not withstanding). For my part
I get tired of an overdesigned streetscape full of fancy and expensive benches
and trash bins. Streetlights that go for thousands of dollars and high tech
traffic signals don’t necessarily add to the mix. They just make it more
expensive. It is the people and the neighborhoods and the bars and the food.
And yes a Bugatti Veyron parked at the curb does brighten the scene.
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| At $1M+ it ought to look good! |
Stay Tuned . . . .
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