GREEN ROOF ALERT for a small, tucked away fire station in Streeterville!

This is a prime example of how even the smallest of places can make a difference when they incorporate a green roof into the structure.  This fire station is just Southeast of the Museum of Contemporary Art on Chicago Avenue.  Anyone know what I’m talking about?

Massive empty lots = massive potential for Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Streeterville!

Another picture taken from Onterie Center’s rooftop deck shows two massive lots that have been cleared of their old, historic buildings.  A previous post talked about what will take place on the empty lot to the left so check the post out by clicking HERE! 

The massive lot that is smack dab in the middle of this picture used to house the Lakeside Veterans Administration Hospital which was located at 333 E. Huron Street in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.  The hospital closed in 2003 and just sat there surrounded by Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s state of the art buildings so what is Northwestern to do with this huge piece of potential?  The initial plans call for a parking garage…covering the whole city block…

Looking Northeast.

Looking Northwest.

The “new Playboy building” and its amazing roof.

This picture taken from Onterie Center’s roofdeck shows the pretty cool roof of 680 N. Lakeshore Drive in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.  This building was originally called the American Furniture Mart but is now called the “new Playboy building” because Playboy’s headquarters is located inside.  In addition to offices, this former world’s largest building has over 400 condominiums, a Treasure Island grocery store, retail stores, and restaurants.

As an added bonus, the building with the “M” right behind the “new Playboy building” is the new Prentice Women’s Hospital that just opened up.  If you look closely, you can see a bit of green roof too!  Props to Prentice.

GREEN ROOF ALERT! Streeter Place in, you guessed it, Streeterville.

If you can’t tell, I’m enjoying myself with these green roof posts.  This green roof comes from Streeter Place, a new construction apartment building in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.  Streeter Place, located at 355 E. Ohio Street, is right next door to its sister apartment building called The Streeter.  I have been inside two apartments in The Streeter and I was impressed with what I saw.  Both buildings are finished with green roofs, a lot of beautiful landscaping, and brick pavers which is great at preventing excessive water runoff.  Thank you to “Chiman” from Skyscrapercity for the first picture.

Streeter Place (Left), The Streeter (Right)

GREEN ROOF ALERT! Belgravia Group’s 600 N. Lakeshore Drive!

I’m a huge fan of green roofs from the planning process, the installation of materials, and I love most when the plantings mature.  This green roof is on top of the parking garage of 600 N. Lakeshore Drive, a very successful condominium building developed by Belgravia Group.  In case you couldn’t guess, the building is located at 600 N. Lakeshore Drive.  Go check out their sales center, open 7 days a week from 10am – 6pm, or give them a call at 312-730-4849.

A big thanks goes out to ‘Chiman,’ a Skyscrapercity user, for the first two pictures.

Thai hideaway and good food at Silver Spoon on Rush Street (4/5 Stars).

First introduced to me by a couple friends who live in the neighborhood, I have now passed my love of the Silver Spoon to other friends and visitors.  The Silver Spoon, located at 710 N. Rush Street, is a hole in the wall Thai restaurant that is tucked away in the basement level of a building but within a minute from the Mag Mile.  Most times that I have visited, there was no wait, and every time the service was attentive, and the food came out very quickly.  For my most recent visit to Silver Spoon, I went with my sister Diane and our friend Andrea and we went the whole “sharing route”…here’s what we ordered:

I ordered the Bamee BBQ Pork without broth which is steamed egg noodles topped with sliced BBQ pork, garlic, green onion, bean sprouts, and cilantro.  The reason I stray away from having broth is strictly because I am not a huge fan of soup. 

Andrea ordered the Ginger Chicken which has stir-fired chicken sautéed with ginger root, onions, mushrooms, carrots and baby corn.  Out of all three dishes, we all agreed this was the least favorite…but good nonetheless.

Diane ordered the Pad Thai…go figure.  Her Pad Thai had thin noodles, stir fried with egg, bean sprouts, onions, tofu topped with carrots, green onions and ground peanuts.  Diane opted out of the tofu for this dish.

We also split an order of spring rolls which were amazing and, for an appetizer, the quantity was pretty large.  I’ll definitely order them again the next time I’m at the Silver Spoon.

Old surrenders to new again in Streeterville. Brand new residential project in the works.

Located at 630 N. McClurg Street, the old CBS2 studios have been torn down and there is just an empty lot in the middle of Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.  Plans call for two residential buildings, most likely rental due to the poor condo market, on top of a large parking and office podium.  As much as I loved the look of the old television studio, I think this project looks great.  I hope it will bring a great street presence because right now, the neighborhood becomes pretty desolate at night.  With so much residential activity in the neighborhood, I’m surprised at how early most retail stores and restaurants close.

Old CBS2 Studio which was demolished for the new project.

Old CBS2 studio fully demolished and awaiting construction!

Looking Northeast

Looking Southwest

Looking Southwest

Looking Northwest