Make no little plans...

"Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized." A phrase credited to Daniel Burnham, the architect of Chicago's 1909 Plan of Chicago.

Well, it looks like the city has another renovation plan its considering. In the Tribune, the Chicago Central Area Action Plan is outlined. Below is the proposed West Loop Transportation Center.


A four level, $2 billion transporation center under Clinton Street. It would connect Union Station and the Ogilvie Transportation Center served by Metra trains with CTA bus and rail lines, Pace buses, a proposed Carroll Avenue transit line and long-distance Amtrak high-speed trains.

Check out the Tribune article for some of the very interesting proposed changes.

Time for Cheese? Yes!

While waiting for my fiance Wednesday and killing time, I happened on a very interesting neighborhood shop. Pastoral Cheese, Bread and Wine at 53 E. Lake Street is right around the corner from Joffrey Tower.


Pastoral is a part time (lunch hour during weekdays) sandwich shop and full time specialty cheese, bread and wine shop. From their website, “In a world of mass produced products stacked high on shelves in supermarkets, superstores and wholesale clubs, there is still a time and a place for small bath, high-quality, handcrafted products sold in an intimate environment with the most attentive and thoughtful service. Somehow artisan products like cheese, bread and wine, which hail from the land in some of the most beautiful places on Earth deserve to be showcased, cared-for and sold someplace that reflects their special roots – PASTORAL!”

Service was definitely top notch when I stopped by. I got a tour of all the products with the majority of time spent on the huge and unique assortment of cheeses. What a great place! I am going to try two of the classes that Pastoral is offering:

Wines of the Southern Hemisphere on April 25 at 6:30pm.
Wine, Beer & Spirits for Cheese Lovers on May 9 at 6:30pm.

With all the chain stores & restaurants in the Loop, its nice to have a store that is locally owned & operated with some excellent products!