Going Under Michigan Avenue

I still haven't had a chance to explore all the bits of Chicago's new riverwalk yet.  But the parts that I've seen impress me.  The best part is the path beneath Michigan Avenue.

Not just a concrete path, the designers actually made room for some leafy bits -- a little oasis where one can sit and watch the river traffic without being obligated to buy a beer from a nearby vendor.

When I lived at Lakeshore East I spent a lot of time roaming the lower levels of streets underneath the city to avoid snow and wind on my way home from work.  The worst part was always crossing Lower Michigan Avenue.  I don't know how this will look in the winter, but maybe it will provide an alternative to stepping over ancient trash and stacks of homeless people piled on top of each other like gerbils for warmth.

Taste Testing Chicago's Riverwalk

This past weekend, Chicago's Riverwalk officially opened.  Those who supped there at any of the half-dozen pioneering restaurants that set up shop last year will wonder exactly what "officially open" means.

Basically, you can now walk from Wabash Street to Lake Michigan uninterrupted by the Michigan Avenue bridge.

Some better signage and a critical mass of restaurants and retail will go a long way toward making the riverwalk a destination for locals and tourists.

I went there this week and had a very nice lunch at the riverwalk outlet of downtown staple O'Brien's pub.

Though Chicago is nearly 80 years behind places like San Antonio when it comes to riverside dining, the design of Chicago's is far superior to what exists in The Alamo City.  Chicago's riverwalk is wide and inviting, with good (though inadequate) landscaping.  The San Antonio original can be very crowded to the point where you'd afraid of tripping over a luminaire and falling through a tree beard (local lingo for Spanish moss) into the river.

In Chicago, there are no such fears as there is plenty of space for both restaurants and rollerbladers.  The railing helps, too.

If you haven't been, it's worth spending at least one sunny summer afternoon having a late or light lunch on the riverwalk.  The city has a long way to go, but at least it is going -- full steam ahead.

Update: Chicago Riverwalk

Chicago is hardly the first city to open a commercial riverwalk.  San Antonio was the American pioneer back in the 1930's.  Other cities as far away as Seoul and as close as Indianapolis also have riverwalks, and cities like Houston and Singapore are trying to figure out how to make it work for them.

But since this is a Chicago-focused blog, here's a picture of the continuing work on Chicago's riverwalk.  While there are a few restaurants open this year along with a museum and a bicycle rental facility, 2009 will not be the Summer of Riverwalk in Chicago.  But next year looks hopeful.

Still, if you have an opportunity, have lunch at one of the pioneering restaurants taking a chance on this waterside experience.  They'll appreciate your business and you'll do the entire project a little good.