Standing outside the landmark Buick Building in Chicago’s historic Motor Row District, Curtis Tarver II and Quintin Cole have beer and business on their minds. They plan to open a brewpub, Vice District Brewing, this summer, bringing the growth of Chicago's explosive craft beer movement to the South Loop, a short walk from the city's central business district.
I met Tarver and Cole last fall at another local brewery, Haymarket, where we chatted about their plans. I jumped at the opportunity to discuss them in more detail last week, and to visit their space, where construction will soon begin.
Tarver is an attorney by profession, and worked in Mayor Daley’s office. Cole has spent 17 years as a physical therapist. Friends and Hyde Park neighbors, the owners have been homebrewing for years, and their wives are both supportive of their decision to take their hobby to the next level (and to free up some space in their basements).
We usually go to Chicago once a year to see my husband's family. We
rarely get into the city since they live in the suburbs, but this time
around we got the chance to spend a few days downtown, much to my
delight. However, we didn't have a lot of tourist time because we had
volunteered to help friends of ours pour their wine at the Windy City
Wine Festival, which was a 2-day, all day into the night affair. We
had one free lunch, so to speak. After watching Rick Bayless on Top
Chef Masters I wanted to go to one of his restaurants, but once he won
I knew getting in would be fairly impossible, especially on our tight schedule. However, it's because of
him that we went to Terzo Piano. I follow him on Twitter and one of his
fans asked where he likes to eat in Chicago and this modern cafe
located in the Art Institute was one of his favorites. I figured if the
Top Chef Master likes it, it had to be good. It's location made it perfect since we had already planned on visiting
the Art Institute – a must see when in the city – to check out an
exhibit about the History of Wine. I know, I have a one-track mind.
Located along the south end of Lincoln Park along Clark Avenue, Chicago’s Green City Market bustled with activity on Saturday morning. Young parents pulling wagons loaded with children eating an apple from one hand and a warm apple cider doughnut from the other, urban-dwelling dogs steered with leashes held by their health-conscious owners and shoppers of all ages seeking fresh, locally produced food grown by farmers who practice sustainable methods contributed to the buzz of activity.
I love the fact that my husband is from a different part of the country
than I am. Before I met and married him, my experience of America was
limited to either coast. Now, every year, I get to visit Chicago, my
second favorite city, to visit my in-laws. It's behind Boston (where I
went to college) and in front of Los Angeles (where I currently live).
Since I've been a Left-Coaster for almost two decades I
wouldn't/couldn't live in either Chi-town or Beantown because the City
of Angels has turned my blood into water and I need to see the sun
every day or I burst into tears. I sure do love to visit though. Since
he lived/worked in the Windy City before his move out West, he lets me
pick and choose where we're going to go even though– as we discovered on our lengthy walk up Michigan Avenue – that the city of his youth is long, long gone. 
It hardly seemed like Fall on the day my favorite exploring partner and I strolled the streets of the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago just two weeks ago. From our hotel on West Surf Street, a leisurely five-minute stroll down Diversey took us to