Chicago city questions about streets and locations (Lincoln, Madison: apartment, condos)

[linicx]

My friend in NZ is writing a book. I have been able to answer most of her questions, but I'm stumped on these. I'd love some help.

1. After Capone and before the suburbs, what neighborhood(s) in the city did the mob live in? I never did know this answer.

2. Navy Pier. When was the Ferris wheel added?. Is there a highrise or condo west of Navy Pier that allows a tenant to look over the Ferris wheel and see the lake? How far is Navy Pier from the Loop?

I keep thinking Navy Pier is a few blocks North of the Loop.

3. Lake Shore Drive. Do locals still call it the outer drive?

Thanks!

[chirack]

3. For the most part no. The term outer drive could refer to the outermost(southbound) lane of it sometimes.

2. Don't know the exact year but it was the 1990ies.

[OrangeAndBlue]

2. There are many highrise condos and apartment buildings west of Navy Pier from which it is possible to see Navy Pier and the Ferris Wheel in Streeterville and the Lakeshore East areas. The building you're probably thinking of that is immediately west of Navy Pier is Lake Point Tower. It is the only condo highrise building that is east of Lakeshore Drive.
Navy Pier is a bit north and east of the Loop, more east than north really. It's probably about a mile and a half or so away from State & Madison in the Loop.

3. Not really, we usually refer to it as Lake Shore Drive, LSD, or The Drive. If anything, there is a section from north of Navy Pier until Lincoln Park where there is both an inner and an outer Lake Shore Drive, so some people may say "outer drive" here when specifically referring to the outer vs the inner portion of Lake Shore Drive along that stretch.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by linicx

My friend in NZ is writing a book. I have been able to answer most of her questions, but I'm stumped on these. I'd love some help.

1. After Capone and before the suburbs, what neighborhood(s) in the city did the mob live in? I never did know this answer.

2. Navy Pier. When was the Ferris wheel added?. Is there a highrise or condo west of Navy Pier that allows a tenant to look over the Ferris wheel and see the lake? How far is Navy Pier from the Loop?

I keep thinking Navy Pier is a few blocks North of the Loop.

3. Lake Shore Drive. Do locals still call it the outer drive?

Thanks!

1) Not entirely sure.

2) July, 1995. I'm assuming you're thinking of Lake Pointe Towers, which is the closest building to the pier. Navy Pier is around 1 mile from Michigan and Wacker, and about 1.5 miles from State/Madison. As was stated, the pier is more east than north from the loop (well, unless you're in the very south part of the loop).

3) As was said before, it's normally just LSD or Lakeshore Drive or the Drive. Most people will know what you mean when you say outer drive, but that's more relevant in select areas to the north of downtown.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by linicx

3. Lake Shore Drive. Do locals still call it the outer drive?

I usually only use the term Inner Drive when speaking about Inner Lake Shore Drive. When I speak of Outer Lake Shore Drive, I say Lake Shore Drive unless both portions are relevant to the conversation.

Also, you might want to take note that many south siders are not even aware there is an Inner Lake Shore Drive since it runs only on the north side of town.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by linicx

1. After Capone and before the suburbs, what neighborhood(s) in the city did the mob live in? I never did know this answer.

Well, probably in the First Ward of Fred Roti, our most connected convicted alderman. That is, Taylor street and its environs before UIC (Then known as Circle) started expanding and knocking down homes.

Originally Posted by linicx

2. Navy Pier. When was the Ferris wheel added?. Is there a highrise or condo west of Navy Pier that allows a tenant to look over the Ferris wheel and see the lake? How far is Navy Pier from the Loop?

I keep thinking Navy Pier is a few blocks North of the Loop.

Navy Pier is certainly in walking distance from the Loop. The condos west of it began with Lake Point Tower, famed as the home of Sammy Sosa, but also Outer Drive East, on the New East Side. These two buildings were built before the 's' curve was straightened out and were built in the seventies.

Originally Posted by linicx

3. Lake Shore Drive. Do locals still call it the outer drive?

Well, no one refers to it as 'LSD'.

Originally Posted by tonythetuna

Also, you might want to take note that many south siders are not even aware there is an Inner Lake Shore Drive since it runs only on the north side of town.

Wrong! South siders are familiar with and do patronize the north. It is north siders who 'never go south of Marshall Fields!'

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by Manigault

Well, no one refers to it as 'LSD'.

I know people who refer to it as LSD, on occasion. I do, too, not usually, but sometimes.

Well there ain't no road just like it, anywhere I've found,Runnin' south on Lake Shore Drive, headin' into town.Just slippin' on by on L.S.D., Friday night trouble bound.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

I know people who refer to it as LSD, on occasion. I do, too, not usually, but sometimes.

Well there ain't no road just like it, anywhere I've found,Runnin' south on Lake Shore Drive, headin' into town.Just slippin' on by on L.S.D., Friday night trouble bound.

I do once in awhile. Most of the time it is when writing though.

[aragx6]

^Yeah I feel like I write it all the time, but it's actually more syllables to say LSD than Lake Shore. Same with the Central West End in St. Louis. I write CWE all the time, but I never it say it out loud. Though I am guilty of occasionally saying C-dub. That's just douche-y.