Contract Magazine – Foresight 2019 - 102

PHOTOGRAPHY: ROSS BARNEY ARCHITECTS/ KATE JOYCE STUDIOS (LEFT); JAMES STEINKAMP, COURTESY OF CAC (TOP RIGHT); MERZ APOTHECARY (BOTTOM RIGHT)

NEOCON 2019

A day with Kristen Conry,
managing director, Gensler Chicago

Finally, Harold's Chicken is the no-frills,
not-to-be-missed Chicago institution with arguably
the best fried chicken. I went to Harold's directly
after running the Chicago marathon, and it may have
been the best meal I've ever had.
SHOP
When it comes to shopping (or window shopping)
the boutiques on Oak Street in the Gold Coast offer
some of the best sartorial eye candy-Loro Piana,
Carolina Herrera and Vince, among plenty of others.
You can quickly do a lot of damage here. If you're
seeking treasures from Chicago's architectural past,
Salvage One is a perfect hunting ground. The
EAT
Jonathan Adler shop offers an escape in whimsical
When it comes to food, you can't go wrong with
irreverence that leaves me smiling. A stop in the Merz
North Pond, a repurposed Arts and Crafts gem in
Apothecary is a nostalgic European detour and delight
Lincoln Park formerly serving as a warming shelter
to the senses. I could spend hours perusing the aisles
for ice skaters and now serving amazing seasonal
dishes featuring the best from local farms, including and dreaming up creations in Blick Art Materials. Plus,
architects are rather particular about their writing
butter from the Hope Creamery in Minnesota. I would
implements, and Blick keeps us well-stocked.
go for the bread and butter alone.
DO
At Maude's Liquor Bar, tried-and-true with
When it comes to culture and history, the museums
moody, vintage French charm, the seafood tower is
decadent. Smyth and The Loyalist are sister restaurants- of Chicago are world class and well known. Not always
Smyth an experiential tasting indulgence in what feels on the beaten path, the Building Tall exhibit at the
Chicago Architecture Center is lofty and inspiring.
like the loft condo you always wish you had, and
The Loyalist, its casual but no less delicious companion. If I could visit just one exhibit at the Art Institute,
it would always be Joseph Cornell's boxes. His quirky,
It's hard not to order everything on the menu
obsessive creations contain longing, hope, wonder,
at S.K.Y. in Pilsen, but do not be tempted to overlook
whimsy, and mystery. With a few extra minutes, I could
the gem salad if you're trying to muster restraint.

not resist a few long strides alongside Giacometti's
Walking Man II and Three Men Walking II.
Sunny, warm days in Chicago are to be savored,
and a stroll on the Riverwalk is a perfect way to spend
one; even better if you make it to Urban Kayaks and
take a paddle on the river. My hands-down favorite
way to experience any city is running. I run (almost)
everywhere I go and often find it's what I look forward
to and remember most. Chicago is a great city for
runners, and the lakefront and the 606 are two
standout routes.

102

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Contract Magazine – Foresight 2019

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