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Ashland (Green)

Don't be put off by its pretty exterior.

Monday Aug 22, 2005.     By Adam White

Lifestyle Feed

Here's how you know you're at the right stop: 1. The train station looks like a cross between Cinderella's castle and a prop from a Savoy opera. 2. People en route to the United Center gaze out windows looking slightly bewildered. 3. The mismatched scent of a dozen ethnic restaurants converges on the platform's edge. If that sounds a little confusing, relax! You're at the Ashland L stop, where sports legends and culinary maestros collide, and where one can grab a hefty bite and work off the calories in a few-block radius.

Pay no mind to the dilapidated building with the "transients welcome" sign; this is a neighborhood on the brink of posh. Playing the Yin to Randolph Street's Yang, Madison Street houses dozens of casual family-style places to enjoy a bite after the Bulls game. The quarter suffers from a distinct "strip-mall effect," with shops and businesses mercilessly crammed into one another, but there remains plenty of room for growth (and foliage), so expect more glitz from this once avoided district.

Safety rating: As long as you're not a Pacers fan you should be fine. Stick to the main roads, though.

Panhandler rating: Low on Madison and Randolph; slightly higher on Lake and Ashland.

Cheap eats
Ina's
Ina adds a little something special to everything she creates. Instead of plain ol' pancakes, Ina whips up a stack of whole wheat oatmeal delights, just begging for a silver-dollar-size pour of syrup. Hash browns arrive chock full of vegetables, onions and garlic. The stars of this show, however, are Ina's "eggs your way." The dish comes with three eggs and your choice of two fillings, ranging from herbed cheese and spinach to chorizo, bacon or andouille sausage. If you have a seriously hearty appetite, add some of Ina's potatoes. That should hold you off until dinnertime.

Dinner-date destination
La Luce
Bar none, the best lasagna in the city. Oh, but there's more. La Luce harkens one back to a time when chefs knew that going out for dinner was something special and took the time to make sure that patrons felt they were being taken care of. Everything at this breezy West Loop haunt smacks of time-honored perfection: soft, downy chairs; simple, unpretentious artwork (lots of maps); al dente egg noodles; and a tomato sauce that is simply unbeatable.

Exuding romance, dimly lit booths stifle all outside conversation as couples share saucy, tomatoy confections brought out by servers who know when to keep their distance. Even if you happen to be sitting at one of the restaurant's cramped tables, acoustics are such that even the most conspicuous seat has much in the way of privacy and ignoring other chowhounds is simply a matter of gazing into your partner's eye. And, if that wasn't lovely enough, nothing at La Luce costs much more than $20, truly the sine qua non d'amore.

Arena for the a.m.
United Center
Built in 1994 to replace the crumbling Chicago Stadium, the United Center is a gigantic piece of corporate architecture: Its largeness measures 960,000 square feet and it cost about $175 million to construct. Home to the Bulls, Blackhawks, concerts and extravaganzas like the Ice Capades, it usually stays filled near capacity. And, though the Bulls' glory days appear to be not only dead but repeatedly dying, and the Blackhawks haven't won a title since the 1960s, it's still worth filling a seating on occasion.

The stadium fits 21,500 people for Bulls games and a few less for hockey. Bulls tickets range from $10 for a nosebleed to $450 for a courtside seat. In non-sports history, the 1996 Democratic National Convention took place here in all its splendor. Rock legends such as the Stones and Springsteen have played a few gigs here on their second journey through their youth. The sound quality for a big arena show is mediocre, but the sightlines are decent enough for you to enjoy your show.

For the artiste
Landmark Arts
Landmark Arts is truly a gallery for the 21st-century. Its relatively natural, comforting stature serves as a virtual welcome-mat to anyone wary of the world of modern art. Not only will the friendly folks at the Landmark help install and display works from burgeoning artists (for a fee, of course), but numerous supplemental services such as professional faux finishing, scenic backdrops, set design and digital and traditional graphic design make it as functioning a gallery as any would-be Picasso could hope to get. And this is a gallery that gives back: Landmark Arts Gallery is a host of the West Loop Art Market, a monthly festival showcasing local artists, musicians and filmmakers.

Although it doesn't cost anything to stop in and see what fellow Chicagoans are creating, don't let that stop you from purchasing some of the goods. Better hurry though, because lines of people in horn-rim glasses are just waiting to beat you to the punch.

Best of the nighttime world
Transit
If you're looking for a dance club, Transit is a great choice. Since it's located off the beaten path, parking won't be too much of a problem. That's good, because you'll need to save your money for the cover, which can range anywhere between $10-$20 depending on the night and the time. You'll have plenty of time to fish for bills, as the Friday and Saturday crowd basically necessitates some time in line.

Right off the main area is the brand new Marquee room, which, despite looking like Anne Rice nightmare, boasts one of the coolest full-length mirrors on the circuit. Wrapped in flamboyant hieroglyphics, the colossal mirror deepens the impact of the intimate, dimly lit dancing space. Enriched by dark, cherry oak banquettes, crimson drapery and slightly raised dance-pods, the Marquee Room reinvigorates the five-year-old dance club. Also off the main room is the Light Bar, a small room with a funky black and white glowing bar.

Where to chill
Chicago Chocolate Company
One-stop shopping for the chocoholic in everyone, the Chicago Chocolate Company dishes out all things candy in a cavernous atmosphere that even looks like a fudge brownie. Although it does a hefty walk-in business Chicago Chocolate specializes in mail order; so make sure to pick up one of the many catalogs spread around the store. Looking over the candy-coated confections may take a while, but the Chicago Chocolate Company is open late, so there's plenty of time to wade through coconut mounds and chocolate covered pretzels on your way to bonbon Valhalla. During the summer, many patrons indulge on the Chocolate Company's spacious patio.