Chicago Design Hotspots
This spring, the 24th annual James Beard Foundation Awards honored Jensen Architects and Lawton Stanley Architects for their outstanding work in restaurant design, the latter for Grace in Chicago in the 75 seats and under category. Inspired by the restaurant’s chef, the architects chose to highlight materials in an unfinished and minimalist style. Brown ash, raw leather and wool, oil-rubbed bronze, and patinated steel all come into play, but the unmistakable centerpiece is the glass box kitchen, which gives guests a direct view of cooking activity. Restaurateur Caroline Styne, also a juror for the foundation, observed, “The juxtaposition of materials and textures throughout the space creates a beautiful tension that gives this quiet space an undercurrent of excitement.”
And last year, The Aviary co-founder Nick Kokonas was our personal host at this hot new drinks “restaurant” where every cocktail is served up as if it’s the main entrée at a four-star venue. And that’s exactly the point, says Kokonas, who dropped out of college as a philosophy major on his first day, but still talks about food and drink in a very esoteric way. “We are single-handedly changing the experience of restaurants,” says Kokonas. The Aviary is no ordinary craft cocktail bar.
Keep reading for more of the city’s hotspots, from architectural icons to top eats.
Architecture
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860–880 North Lake Shore Drive Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, with Pace Associates and Holsman, Holsman, Klekamp & Taylor, 1952 |
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The Rookery 209 S. LaSalle St. Burnham & Root, 1885–1888; lobbies and light court: Frank Lloyd Wright, 1907 |
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John Hancock Center 875 N. Michigan Ave. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 1969 |
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Tribune Tower 435 N. Michigan Ave. Howells & Hood, 1925 |
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Sears Tower 233 S. Wacker Dr. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 1974 |
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Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station 806/811 N. Michigan Ave. William W. Boyington, 1866, 1869 |
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Unity Temple 875 Lake St., Oak Park Frank Lloyd Wright, 1909 |
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Wrigley Building 400 N. Michigan Ave. Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, 1920, 1924 |
Bars & Restaurants
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Grace 652 West Randolph Street, Chicago IL 60661 312-234-9494 |
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The Aviary 955 West Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607 (312)-226-0868 |
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The Landmark Club at the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Chicago Designed by Gary Lee Partners 118 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60611 312-242-5980 |
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Little Goat Diner 820 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607 312-888-3455 |
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Maude’s Liquor Bar 840 West Randolph, Chicago, IL 60622 312-243-9712 |
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Paris Club Chicago 59 West Hubbard, Chicago, IL 60654 312-595-0800 |
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The Pump Room Designed by Yabu Pushelberg Public Hotel, 1301 North State Parkway, Chicago, IL 60610 312-229-6740 |
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Sepia Designed by Gary Lee Partners 123 North Jeferrson Street, Chicago, IL 60661 312-441-1920 |
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The Tasting Room 1415 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607 312-942-1313 |
Cultural
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The Art Institute of Chicago 111 South Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603 312-443-3600 |
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Garfield Park Conservatory 300 North Central Park, Chicago, IL 60624 312-746-5100 |
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Millennium Park 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60686 312-742-1168 |
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Lincoln Park Conservatory 2391 North Stockton Drive, Chicago, IL 60614 312-742-7736 |
Sweet Treats
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Black Dog Gelato 859 North Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622 773-235-3116 |
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Hot Chocolate 1747 North Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 773-489-1747 |
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Molly’s Cupcakes 2536 North Clark Street, Chicago IL 60614 773-883-7220 |
