The Neighborhood

Whether you’re shopping for groceries, fashion, or home essentials, the West Loop and surrounding neighborhood offer a bevy of options ranging from luxury to thrifty and everything in between. With two Dominick’s stores and one of the largest Whole Foods in the city, many West Loop locals enjoy walking to buy groceries.

A popular European-inspired marketplace, Chicago French Market, is also right down the street from HSL and offers fresh ingredients brought in daily by local vendors. Find plenty of grab-and-go options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus Binny’s Beverage Depot, Perman Wine Selections, and Just Grapes are nearby – an easy walk if you want to pick up a bottle of fine wine for dinner.

Fashion boutiques, nail salons, home accessory stores, and major department stores like Macy’s and Neiman Marcus are only blocks away. There is no shortage of places to spend your money when you live in the near West Loop at HSL.

Chicago’s most popular eateries are only minutes from home when you live at HSL: West Randolph Street is only blocks away and has become a favorite destination for foodies. It is “the street” where you know the newest, most hip, and most interesting restaurants will choose to give it a go, and where you can be the first to check out what’s new and different on Chicago’s dining scene.

Greek Town, a Chicago landmark, is right next door to the building. You can take a short walk and enjoy flaming cheese and grilled lamb while enjoying a rooftop view of Chicago’s skyline or dine in the outdoor garden at Athena. And, if you want another variety of Mediterranean food, Taylor Street, with its famous Italian restaurants, is only a short cab ride away.

But, if you are just looking for a quick lunch or snack, you will find many inexpensive and popular restaurants nearby, too. Take a walk up and down Canal Street to find Subway, Jimmy Johns, Potbelly, Panda Express, McDonald’s, Chipotle, and Starbucks, or take a longer walk and enjoy a corned beef sandwich bigger than your head at Chicago’s famous Manny’s Deli.

The West Loop is a HUB for mass transit and expressway transportation. Whether you have a car or not, just about every area of the city and its surrounding suburbs is easily accessible to and from HSL. With both major train stations, Union Station and Ogilvy Transportation Center, just a few short blocks away, commuting in and out of the city couldn’t be easier. Hundreds of trains head to and from the city from both of these stations every day, and reasonably priced tickets can be purchased by one-ride, ten-ride, or monthly use. Union Station also hosts a stop for the Megabus – a low-cost, express bus service offering city-to-city travel to nearly 50 cities in the US and Canada.

For shorter travel throughout the city, several major “El” stops are in close proximity. With the Clinton blue line to the south, the Quincy brown line to the east, and the State/Lake red line to the north, the El provides a consistent option for travel to and from just about anywhere. Of course, as with most of Chicago, CTA bus stops can be found on just about every street corner as well.

Lastly, getting to and from HSL by car is very convenient thanks to the hub of three major expressways: the Kennedy, the Eisenhower, and the Dan Ryan, with on and off-ramps located just around the corner from the building’s parking garage.

Residents of the West Loop strive to maintain a sense of community, as evidenced by the wide variety of organizations and community-related opportunities available in the area. From “Movie in the Park” nights in Mary Bartelme Park to food festivals like the Taste of Randolph and the Taste of Greece to weekly Farmer’s Markets, there is never a lack of fun ways to get involved in the community. Another option available year-round is the wide range of activities at the United Center. Not only is the United Center home to the Bulls and Blackhawks, but it also hosts a variety of concerts and performances throughout the year.

If you are looking for a religious community to join, you can certainly find it here. Within blocks of HSL, you will find places of worship for people of all religions. Some of these include Cityview Presbyterian Church, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, First United Methodist Church, the Downtown Islamic Center, and the Chicago Loop Synagogue.

For volunteer and/or community service opportunities, there are two excellent non-profit organizations in the area: Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) and Girls in the Game. LBFE is a national network of non-profit, volunteer-based organizations committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly. Girls in the Game is an organization that empowers girls to make healthier choices and develop the confidence and leadership skills needed to succeed on and off the field. Both organizations are well-established and worthwhile and need volunteers.

For more information on organizations and events in the West Loop, visit the West Loop Community Organization website at www.westloop.org.

HSL is a stone’s throw away from exciting events, shows, museums, and places to have a good time with friends… and with easy transportation options, you have access to all of it. Two Chicago favorites, Grant Park and Millennium Park, are both just a mile away and feature dozens of concerts, festivals, and activities throughout the year. Day or night, there is always something to do, and with Michigan Avenue nearby, there is unlimited shopping, restaurants, and nightlife at your disposal. A short walk will also take you to Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. Willis Tower boasts one of the best views of the city from the SkyDeck on the 103rd floor: the perfect place to take out-of-town guests for world-class sightseeing. The SkyDeck’s newest addition, the Ledge, invites brave souls to walk out on a clear, glass floor, four feet past the building’s edge, to enjoy the view – straight down.

For a night in the town, head to Chicago’s theatre district, the Lyric Opera, or Chicago’s Symphony Center – all are only a short walk from HSL. It is exciting to know that touring companies in pre-broadway productions and world-famous musicians and performers are right here in the neighborhood. And, Chicago’s Second City comedy club, plus many great night spots in River North and throughout the Loop, are accessible by cab, bus, or subway – making the HSL the perfect place to live if you enjoy world-class entertainment.

If bars are your thing, there are a handful of local favorites, such as Dugans on Halsted and Jaks on Jackson. Both offer a laid-back setting with daily drink specials, extensive beer selections, and savory food. Dugans and Jaks are perfect for a casual dinner or a night out. For more of a nightclub feel, try Club Babalu. Club Babalu, an upscale Latin-flavored club, has three dance floors, tasty drinks, and a variety of music. Other notable bars include Beer Bistro, Crossroads Bar and Grill, Red Kiva, Westend Bar, and Haymarket Pub and Brewery.