For those unfamiliar with this FREE paper, it's sort of like the VILLAGE VOICE, but free and not nearly as well written.
I've NEVER heard of "STREET WISE", but it sounds right up YOUR alley; dear.
When I lived in Chicago, Michigan Ave. was much more my territory, with forays off onto the adjoining side streets, for lunch at the WAC, Casino, and the like. Of course, Oak Street too. :-)
The Reader is one of those free papers which largely covers the music scene, or at least used to.
When I worked downtown I preferred Italian Village or the now defunct Berghoff. But even the downtown restaraunt scene is dying.
There's just as good of fare to be found in the suburbs and I don't have to support the Cook County tax and spend machine when I go out.
I maybe venture into Cook County twice a year and then only under duress.
I haven't seen a copy of The Reader in years, nor do I have any great desire to. When I do pick up a newspaper it's the Herald. I don't care if Cook County splits off and floats across the lake all the way to Saugatuk.
The Beach at Oak St. isn't even worth going to any more and Rush St. is now pretty awful as well. The city has been thoroughly Daley-fied which is not in my view a good thing.
Pity. It used to be fun to hit the city once in a while.
I don't even have to go down for a Malnotis or Ginos pizza as they've both branched out to the burbs.
L