LIFE IN THE WEST LOOP

large Zapwater Communications has now called the West Loop “home” for close to 2 years and we are far from being the new kids on the block. It seems that every single day, a new, awesome place pops up in our back yard making our home, the place to be in Chicago. From food to yoga to shopping to relaxing, the West Loop continues to kill it.

This area has long been synonymous with hip, trendy restaurants complete with edgy décor and obscure menu offerings. Celebrity Chef, Stephanie Izard, has settled into the West Loop with popular small plate restaurant, Girl & the Goat, and new big hit diner, Little Goat. The brunch scene has exploded with popular mid-morning hang outs like Nellcote (complete with live DJ sets from DJ Meghan Taylor) and Au Cheval who recently earned the title of “best hamburger in America” from Bon Appetit. Those who don’t relish in “trendy” can still enjoy good eats in the form of delicious Mexican food at De Cero, or good ole’ bar food at Haymarket Brewery. For the drinkers in your group, there is no better place to cozy up in an eclectic, vintage setting and enjoy creative hand crafted libations than at Maude’s Liquor Bar or RM Champagne Salon.

 

C201010-T-Girl-and-the-Goat-01 aucheval-409-260

To counter act the amazing eating that happens around here, there are a plethora of places to get active. The West Loop is a yogi’s haven with studios like The Lab, Barefoot Power Yoga and newly opened Core Power Yoga and other workout options such as the West Loop Athletic Club, Hubbard Street Dance and Flirty Girl Fitness. For the running enthusiast, a beautiful downtown route is just a jog away.

yoga-2

Many other conveniences are opening up what seems like daily in the area. Retail giant, Target, just opened a West Loop location and the Brad Pitt of grocery stores, Mariano’s Fresh Market, recently joined the family. Massage Envy and beauty retailer, Ulta, just popped up this past month and the Randolph Street Market is gaining popularity for those who like to spend their weekends browsing vintage and rare merchandise. The highly exclusive and lavish Soho House is rumored to be opening its Chicago location in the ‘hood further validating the direction the neighborhood is going. Not to mention having the home of the Bulls and the Blackhawks at the United Center blocks away, the West Loop is quickly becoming a mecca of coolness.

The way I see it, any area where I can go to work, catch a yoga class, get a fresh squeezed juice, pick up some stuff at Target, get a massage, have a meal prepared by a Top-Chef winner and catch a hockey game with the Stanley Cup Champions, all within a few blocks is the place for me. Feel free to stop by Zapwater any time and we would be happy to show you around our neighborhood!

Mimi Clark