Mil-Walk-ee Update
For April 17, 2004

It's only a few weeks until the next 'athon, a mass of chowhounds trekking by foot on the angle, across Chicago on Milwaukee Ave. Milwaukee is not the most international street in Chicago, it's no Devon (Da'bomb) by a long shot, but it's dense and diverse, ranging from hip to square, old Polonia to off the plane Polonia. Wicker Park, Logan Square, Avondale, Jefferson Park, and Gladstone Park, if Chicago is still a city of neighborhoods, we'll find out.

There's plenty of people signed up already, too many really. We have about 30 yes to the event. The sidewalks of Milwaukee will be hard pressed to fit us all together. And those tiny shops, we'd over-run them with mass. Still, people will walk at different paces, and people will have different interests of where to stop. Thus, we have 3 choices. First, we all start together, then let nature drive the event, with the knowledge that we end up vastly strung out. Essentially, the initial 30 will break into smaller groups based on apparent interests. Likely, but not positively, the smaller groups will be able to merge with each other as the day proceeds. Second, we can do the Union Pacific method. We split in two (or 3, 4, etc) and start at each end of Milwaukee (or within parts of Milwaukee) and move to meet somewhere. Third, we use a staggered start, with groups starting in intervals--maybe the smaller groups could be organized by specific interests, a deli group, a bakery group, a bar group. Of course, most of the 'hounds I know will not want to be limited to one aspect of Milwaukee. They wanna see it all. Related, we need to decided on stopping. How much walking, how much parking. Should we schedule meet-ups at a few places along the way for meals/drinks (makes sense). I need suggestions and further comments on how to do this.

I've done a bit of scouting. See below. I welcome and encourage more suggestions. If what you want to say is too big for the comments (i.e., over 1000 words) "e-mail me and I will get it in the blog:

Superdawg - Super (but slow) possible starting point. It does not open until 11 AM. Waited a looooong time for carhop service the other day, but was rewarded with a beefalicious Whoopercheesie that became an ordeal to eat as the relish dissolved the bread. 6363 N. Milwaukee Avenue

Produce Center - Groceries for various groups in Chicago. Nice selection of jellies and jams for morning toast. I had a soupy, sour cherry preserves from Turkey for today's (the last toast for the week). 5820 N. Milwaukee

Il Sogno Cafe - It said open, but was closed mid-day Saturday. If open, this tile floor cafe may be able to fortify us with a bit of espresso. Looks Euro at least. 5820 N. Milwaukee

Cafe Stoa - They say, "destined to become a great sanctuary for today's lifestyle." I say, odd but worth trying, extremely RST like place that specializes in this Greek Nescafe, frappe type of thing. Typically, opens at 1 PM, but they said they'd open early for us. 5760 N. Milwaukee

Gladstone Park Bakery - Great neon sign. See here. Other than that, the ware looked mostly tired. 5744 N Milwaukee Ave

Prohibition Club - Polish gangster hangout? See link above for a photo of their sign. 5600 N. Milwaukee

Great neon, in disrepair - 4950 N. Milwaukee

Krakus Homemade Sausage - Small but complete selection. Great facade. UPDATE: Herring in cream sauce was this/close to being too salty. 4722 N. Milwaukee

Ideal Pastry - Another great sign, but more special stuff inside. More well rounded than the name suggests with a large selection of cooked good like pierogi, blintzes, cutlets, etc. 4765 N. Milwaukee

Nice Terra Cotta Building - 4800 N. Milwaukee

Chris's Billiards - One of the last "real" pool rooms left, not just in Chicago, but anywhere. Best described on the Internet, "Chris' is nice, good tables (gold crowns). The bangers play in the back. The good players there are "clicky" and some are not s friendly, and some are seedy. Be careful." 4637 N. Milwaukee

Modern Tuxedo - Another great neon sign. Scroll down here to see. 4360 N. Milwaukee

La Pena - Ecuadorian. Mike G sez, "carbon-y, accompanied by a very odd thing calling itself a potato pancake in peanut sauce-- the reality was more like mashed sweet potatoes with a thin Thai peanut sauce on it, minus the coconut milk." 4212 N. Milwaukee

Tobacco Room - Smoke break? 4020 N. Milwaukee

Peacock Lounge - Wide variety of Polish liquor. Beer served mit juice. 3394 N. Milwaukee

Various stuff around Logan Square - See here and here.