Greener Pastures: Chicago, Illinois
February/March 2003
By John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist
by John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist
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With one of the most progressive renewable energy rebate programs in the country, Chicago is becoming a city of solar panels and skyscrapers. Scarred brownfields and littered lots are undergoing verdant transformations, providing healing space for humans and habitat for wildlife. Community gardens overflow with fresh fruit and vegetables for nearby residents, and an ever-growing web of bike paths connects neighborhoods, business districts and parks.
As a result, owning a vehicle in Chicago is unnecessary. Getting around the city is best accomplished with the reliable and accessible public transportation system, which includes numerous bus routes and elevated train connections (known as the "El"). More than 1.5 million Chicagoans use public transportation offered by the Chicago Transit Authority each day, and a growing network of bike trails and commuter routes link the surrounding communities.
The Chicago River and its tributaries meander through the city and its ethnically diverse districts. This patchwork of more than 200 neighborhoods and confluence of cultures offers diverse dining, thriving art and theater scenes, and street festivals. One of our favorite neighborhoods is Lincoln Square on the northwest side, originally settled by German immigrants.
Over the years, like many of Chicago's communities, Lincoln Square has merged its Old World heritage with contemporary culture. A hip Italian cafe, Bistro Campagna, featuring a menu of organic and locally grown ingredients, lies just down the street from the Brauhaus, which, even after a quarter of a century, still serves up its Wiener schnitzel with live accordion music. The Merz Apothecary, a European pharmacy that has always focused on herbal medicine, is experiencing a renaissance with those seeking complementary health care. The artistic flair of Lincoln Square remains strong with the addition of the Old Town School of Folk Music, where you can hear great performers in a cabaretlike setting or dabble in ukulele and clawhammer banjo lessons. A yoga studio and massage spa also occupy space along the landscaped streets.
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