GREEN ROOF UPDATE! 353 N. Clark in Chicago’s River North.

A big thanks to SkyscraperPage user ‘Harry C’ because without his photos, I wouldn’t have access to these green roof photos from atop 353 N. Clark’s parking entrance and retail space.  You can definitely see the variation in plants and the overall design of the green roof a lot better in the second picture…money well spent in my opinion.  I can’t wait to see what the roof will look like a year or two from now.

Still finishing the green roof...

Finished and growing!

I FINALLY went to Rick Bayless’ new restaurant Xoco in Chicago’s River North (2.5/5 Stars).

So after opening up a couple months ago, all I’ve heard is that everyone I know in Chicago wants to go to Rick Bayless’ new restaurant, Xoco, located at 449 North Clark Street.  I wanted to visit Xoco because I had heard it was more of a fast food and more inexpensive version of Rick’s other restaurants, Topolobampo and Frontera Grill.  While I agree that Xoco is both of the above, it’s still expensive as hell.  I spent over $19.00 for my meal which is not what I consider inexpensive.

I ordered the Pepito ($12.00) which is braised Tallgrass shortribs, caramelized onion, artisan Jack cheese, black beans, pickled jalapenos.  Now, I have to admit, the Pepito was an awesome sandwich.  Now, I’m sure Rick Bayless would hate to have his sandwich described as a much better Portillo’s Italian beef sandwich but that’s all I thought about when I was eating it.  Personally, I would take this as a compliment because Portillo’s Italian beefs are awesome.  I also had an order of fresh chips and Frontera guacamole ($4.00) and one homemade churro ($1.25).  Obviously I could have gone without the churro in order to save money, but I felt like the chips and guac were necessary.  You know how a burger comes with fries?  Well, this sandwich didn’t come with anything else.

My sister ordered the Gunthorp Chicken sandwich which is wood-roasted red chile chicken, caramelized onion, black beans, avocado and tomatillo salsa ($8.50).  She didn’t like it and only finished half of the sandwich.  I thought it was alright, but the red chile sauce was so thick and almost chalky in texture.

Our friends both ordered the slow-cooked pork carnitas with potato-masa dumplings, chayote, roasted serrano chile, spinach, arugula, avocado…all in soup form ($11.50).  Neither of them liked it and for one, it was too spicy and painful to even finish.  Again, I thought it was good but not $11.50 good.  Everyone but me ordered the hot chocolate and althought it was very rich for two of the three, I thought it was awesome…think melted chocolate mixed with a teaspoon of water.  That’s how rich it was. 

 The service and food came out very fast and they definitely have it down to a ‘T’ so I give them props for that.  Too bad Xoco isn’t larger because it could definitely use more tables at times.  Click HERE for their menu!

The Pepito sandwich!

GREEN ROOF ALERT at the Apparel Center and Holiday Inn!

This green roof alert comes from The Chicago Apparel Center in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  To a lot of people, including myself, this building is one of the ugliest buildings in all of Chicago but the Apparel Center redeemed itself a bit by planting a curvy green roof.  Along with housing 250 wholesale showrooms for apparel and accessories, the Apparel Center houses the headquarters of the Chicago Sun-Times as well as the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, a 525 room hotel.

GREEN ROOF ALERT! 353 N. Clark photo update!

This photo is a few weeks old, so I’m sure the roof is looking a little better than this picture, but it’s an update nonetheless.  This green roof is located at 353 N. Clark Street on top of the parking entrance and retail areas of a brand new office building in River North.  The office building, named 353 N. Clark has been developed by Friedman Properties.  Also, check out ChicagoismynewBlog!’s previous post on this same green roof by clicking HERE!

GREEN ROOF ALERT! Office building at 353 N. Clark Street in River North!

Thanks to Skyscraperpage user, ‘harryc,’ who posted these great pictures of an almost complete 45 story office building, located at 353 N. Clark Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  353 N. Clark is being developed and anchored by Mesirow Financial and from what I understand, the green roof is located on top of the building’s retail and underground parking entrance as well as the 45th floor mechanical penthouse.  Props for the cool design too!

Uncomfortably full, but so good at Texas De Brazil! (5/5 Stars)

I randomly signed up for Texas De Brazil’s eClub program and they emailed me a buy one dinner, get one free for their all you can eat dinners.  Texas De Brazil, located at 51 E. Ohio Street, is one of two prominant Brazilian steakhouses in Chicago, Brazzaz is the other. 

The concept of Texas De Brazil is that you have a harvest table which is full of vegetables, types of salads, cheeses, small dishes, sushi, and much more.  This table is basically an all you can eat buffet.  BUT, I don’t like to waste my time on this “filler” table.  Texas De Brazil gives each person at the table a two sided token.  Flip the token to the green side, the servers bombard you with different cuts of meat, ranging from shrimp to filet mignon.  Flip the token to the red side, and the servers ignore you until you switch back to green.  And if you actually have room in your stomach for dessert, a friend and I tried their bananas foster and key lime pie and they were both amazing.

Texas De Brazil is huge, I’m talking about two stories tall and seating for what seems like 1,000 people.    Prices are not cheap, that’s why I only go here when I have a buy one dinner, get one free coupon.  Plus, you literally have to prepare your body so you can accommodate this much food.  STILL, I highly recommend you pay a visit at least once because Texas De Brazil knows how to cook amazing food.

 

Construction update for EnV, a River North apartment building.

Over a month ago, I took a walk in the River North neighborhood to give an update on the construction of EnV, Chicago’s first LEED certified luxury apartment building.  Construction seems to be coming along quite nicely and I’m pretty sure there are only a couple more floors left to pour.  Standing at 29 floors when complete in the spring of 2010, EnV is located at 161 W. Kinzie Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood.  Amenities include a dog run, rooftop deck and pool, and residents will be able to control things like heat and air in their homes via iPod or iPhone.  Pretty cool!

EnV before!

EnV now!

Trump International Hotel and Tower from Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.

Here is an updated picture of Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago!  The spire’s up and the building’s topped out and finished…from this angle at least.  Trump was getting a ton of criticism about the spire with people saying it’s not prominent enough or it doesn’t make any sense for the building.  Personally, I think the spire is just about perfect and for those who are saying it needs to be more prominent, just remember, Trump International Hotel and Tower is not the John Hancock or Sears Tower.  What do you think?

Sunny day on the Kinzie Street bridge looking across the Chicago River.

A new parking garage…a new GREEN parking garage in River North.

Located at 60 W. Kinzie Street, the Greenway Self Park Garage is currently under construction in Chicago’s River North neighborhood with a completion date for mid 2009.  Now that I think of it, it’s already mid 2009 so I guess the completion date has been pushed back a bit.  Developed by Friedman Properties, the Greenway Self Park Garage has many exciting green elements including six wind turbines, which will provide electricity for all exterior lighting, even adding excess electricity to the city power grid.  Other green features include a green roof, rain cisterns, a bike room, and six plug-in stations for electric vehicles on the first few floors. 

GreenBeanChicago.com has a lot of information about the Greenway Self Park Garage…check out their site by clicking here.

Close-up of the wind turbines.