Shop ‘Til You Drop
They don’t call this stretch of Michigan Avenue the Magnificent Mile for nothing! The multi-storied Water Tower Place is practically your neighbor, located just three blocks west. A block north of Water Tower Place is a second high-rise mall, the 900 North Michigan Shops. Both are anchored by major department stores. Serious shoppers won’t want to miss Oak Street, lined with luxury boutiques and upscale stores. There are many well-known retail stores, both domestic and international, within a few short blocks of our building.
Entertainment
The Museum of Contemporary Art is just blocks away, with its cutting-edge art and vibrant social scene. Walk to the Broadway Playhouse for first-rate renditions of Broadway classics, one-man shows and much more. Cab over to Navy Pier for the timeless drama of The Shakespeare Theatre. Lookingglass Theater, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, offers up original, and often highly physical performances. Pop over to the Drake for a jazz pianist on Friday nights, to the Ritz for a glass of champagne or the 95th floor at the Hancock Tower for the view. If you are in the mood for a movie, two multi-screen cineplexes are nearby – AMC Rivereast 21 on Illinois St. and AMC Loews on Michigan Ave.
Family Fun
The Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier offers enough variety to keep kids entertained week after week. Nearby Lake Shore Park offers after-school activities (and a summer-time day camp) and an always busy play lot. The Water Works public library at the Water Tower (the landmark, not the mall!) is a pocket-size treasure with plenty of kids’ books on hand and instant access to the Chicago Public Library’s entire collection. Little girls will thrill to be so close to the American Girl store – and their brothers can explore the wonders of the Lego store next door. Rent bicycles or a Surrey cycle for four and pedal up the lakefront, or pack a picnic and some swim gear and head over to one of the nearby beaches or lovely Olive Park, an oasis of green at the edge of Navy Pier.
Exercise, Anyone?
The nearby Lake Shore Park features tennis courts plus a quarter mile soft-surface running track, softball diamonds and a playground. Indoors, get a pick-up game going in the full size gymnasium or get in shape at the fitness center. Summer time movies and concerts are fun for the whole family. And on Sundays, the park benches fill up with neighbors reading the paper or catching up on the latest neighborhood news while others stroll by with their dogs. Equinox is the place for a more vigorous work-out or try CorePower Yoga to add a little serenity to your exercise program.
Summer in the City
Sidewalk cafes, music, movies, beaches and a weekly farmer’s market (with some of the best fresh flowers in the city) are just steps away. Tiny Seneca Park’s leafy walkways and the fountains of Milton Olive Park take you worlds away from the hustle of the city. You’ll think you’re in Europe if you stop at bustling Mariano Park to people watch and check out the Maseratis or vintage Cobras that pull up every Sunday. On Tuesdays, the Museum of Contemporary Art presents a free jazz concert on its uber-urban patio. Grab a glass of wine and relax on the lawn amidst sculptures and nearby high-rises. And of course, there’s the lake. Swim, bike, sun, boat, run, rollerblade, row—you’re within steps of 26 miles of nonstop entertainment.
Feeding Body and Spirit
Choose from a variety of grocery stores in the neighborhood. Potash Market, Treasure Island, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are also conveniently located. There are several churches and synagogues nearby as well. Holy Name Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. Fourth Presbyterian Church and St. James Cathedral (Episcopal) are in the neighborhood while First United Methodist Church, River North Baptist Church and First Saint Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church are a bit further away. The Central Synagogue of Chicago is located on Michigan Avenue and Chicago Sinai Congregation and Lubavitch Chabad are also within walking distance.
Medical Care Within Walking Distance
Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Lurie Children’s Hospital are world-renown for their excellence. The medical complex is located within walking distance and includes the Prentice Women’s Hospital, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center, Warren Wright Adolescent Center and many other specialties.