CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, River North, Andersonville, Portage Park

Bucktown and Wicker Park: The outdoor pool at Midtown Athletic Club is finally open! So is the accompanying 182 seat restaurant- Chromium. The restaurant is open to members of the athletic club, as well as guests from the coming hotel, The Hotel at Midtown. The 75-foot long pool opened September 10, after numerous construction delays. The pool will become an ice rink in the winter. The Athletic Club also offers a new 100-foot long indoor pool, both an indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pool, 16 tennis courts, two PGA golf simulators, and much more. Chromium offers contemporary American cuisine and is led by executive chef Amanda Barnes.

Lincoln Park: PAWS Chicago is partnering with Dylan’s Candy Bar to find homes for rescued dogs at an adoption event. The event includes dogs rescued by PAWS, as well as dogs rescued from Hurricane Harvey. All attendees will receive a free ice cream scoop and those who adopt a dog get an extra treat: a paint can to fill with candy! The event will be held this Saturday, September 23, from noon to 4 pm at Dylan’s Candy Bar (445 N Michigan Ave.) PAWS Chicago will also receive 10% of all candy sales.

Lakeview: Have you heard of the Low-Line Project? Initial concepts for the under-the-L project were revealed in a presentation by PORT Urbanism on Tuesday at a community meeting. The Low-Line project proposes a continuous half-mile walkway beneath the Brown Line connecting Southport Avenue and Paulina Street. The project hopes to connect the neighborhood’s subdistricts, as well as beautify the neighborhood. Some of the proposed features for the Paulina Plaza include new overhead lighting, playful covered seating, space for food vendors, and art panels. Andrew Moddrell (who led the presentation) says, “We were trying to think of ways to create a space where you would hang around for just a minute, but not all day, and not a space to host a lot of people or large events, but a place that could incorporate vendors and art.” Phase 1 of the plan has already seen improvements at Southport. Phase 1 construction will take place next year on the Paulina and Ashland plazas.

River North: A new set of condos could be coming to River North. Chicago-based developer Morningside Group will present plans next month for a 10-story condominium tower. They hope to build at Huron and Sedgwick. The tower would have 45 units and would replace a parking lot at 365 W. Huron St. Morningside’s presentation will be on October 2 at 6 pm in the Truss Room at the Godfrey Hotel (127 W. Huron St.).

Andersonville: A new pizza place is coming to Andersonville! Fat Chris’s Pizza and Such will hold its grand opening this Saturday, September 23 at 10:30 am. Located at 1706 W. Foster Ave, it occupies the space once held by Mexican-Korean fusion restaurant Takos Koreanos. Hours are set for Mondays through Saturdays from 10:30 am to 11 pm and Sundays from 10:30 am to 10 pm. The buffet is open every day from 11 am to 2 pm. The shop is serving up traditional hand-tossed pizza, Detroit style pizza, pizza by the slice, calzones, and more.

Portage Park: Tony and Millie’s Italian Ice Bar started slinging hot cups of coffee at its Edison Park storefront last week. Owner John Geslicki opened the permanent storefront at 6709 N. Olmsted in hopes of attracting more customers. The shop serves Uncle Eddie’s Coffee, which so far has only been sold at local farmer’s markets. Tony and Millie’s will also sell grounds and whole beans by the bag. Until the end of September, the store will donate all proceeds to benefit special education classes at Taft High School and elementary schools in the area. So far, Geslicki has donated the business profits to charities including Shriners Hospital for Children and the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO