Coming soon?

Was wandering about the South Shore Cultural Center yesterday to amuse my son on a trip from here to there (he was mildly interested, but definitely not amused, which is the most I can expect from him at 17) and I came across the room where the Parrot's Cage Restaurant is opening in September. Given the lovely building, and success of North Pond (which I admit to never having tried, but it does sound good), this sounds interesting. Anyone hear anything about it?

There is the briefest mention here: http://www.hydepark.org/parks/southshore/sscc1.html. Personally, I am interested in the class given by the University of Hip Hop, but I doubt if I have fulfilled the prerequisites.

Anyone else wish to gossip about places that are coming soon, or this place?

I understand that it will be the only restaurant in the Chicago area to serve authentic Amazonian Parrot Stew.

stevez wrote:I understand that it will be the only restaurant in the Chicago area to serve authentic Amazonian Parrot Stew.

Steve:

Is that Amazonian or Patagonian? I thought those Hyde-Park parrots were refugees from Argentina who didn't mind at all the cold weather and apparently can put up with the gale-force winds off the lake in winter (given where many of their nests are).

I heard they like pizza and ñoquis too; no word yet concerning feijoada...



A

Typo fixed.

At some level those parakeets might be refugees from Argentina, but more immediately I think that they're refugees from Woolworths.

A couple of weeks ago I noticed that the colony is spreading; I saw a nest on Woodlawn Ave. by St. Thomas the Apostle.

Giovanna

Actually, I had always heard it was a renegade flock of cockatiels, not parakeets, in Hyde Park, but at a distance, and to the uninformed, they can be easily confused.

May I withdraw this thread?

They are monk parakeets -- but a large variety for parakeets. They're native to Argentina, but not likely to have flown here: they were a commonly imported pet and theories are that they were released by frustrated owners.

They survive Chicago winters because they build colony nests (which are a hazard to telephone poles) where their mutual body heat can help keep them alive.

And how many coconuts can they carry? Say, suspended from a bit of string.

Octarine wrote:And how many coconuts can they carry? Say, suspended from a bit of string.

No, no, you silly. Now you're confusing parakeets with swallows (need I mention african or european?)

dickson d: do you want to actually have an answer to your question (all monk parrikeet jokes and folktales notwithstanding), about the parrot cafe? I don't know the specifics, but I often do events at SSCC (as we acronym it). There has been controversy in the community about the cooking school moving into the SSCC, but I believe the folks with the cooking school are going to be running the cafe. I was just there last night doing an event and I wondered if people would actually make it a destination--the old Jackson Harbor Grille which is just up the way has changed hands recently and I think suffered from the constant brutal challenge of getting customers in the door when they don't even know where to park, let alone that the restaurant exists. (I once asked a friend to meet me there and she ended up at La Rabida and got all flummoxed and testy).

I'd be happy to ask the director what's up with the cafe and timing and such, just let me know.


But it is a gorgeous spot, in my humble estimation the most beautiful beach in the city--and one of the most under-utilized. Two summers ago my sister and her 2 year-old were visiting and we headed to SSCC on a 90+ degree on a Saturday. I thought for sure it would be "vegetable soup" and way too may kids on the beach. There were only two other families besides us and the best views of the city money can buy. And they actually have picnic tables, a pretty rare thing in our parks, so it makes for an excellent destination for a family picnic or an al fresco dining option. Note on the weekends that huge family gatherings will congregate to barbeque and chill and just enjoy the space--but that still leaves lots of room for just swimming. And perhaps in the future, enjoying the food at the Parrot Cafe.

bjt