Yo’s truly spent Tuesday afternoon wandering through Greek Town. It was a gorgeous spring day, people were dining al fresco (or whatever they call it in Greece), and the delicious smell of broiled lamb hung in the air. I loped along Halsted Street, jonesing for some ouzo, and wondering why people don’t rave about the Greek Town neighborhood they way they do about other restaurant rows like the seriously hip Randolph Street. Yes, Greek Town gets busy in summer, but it seems to be more of a touristy crowd than a real local hangout,(I’m happy to be corrected if I’m wrong), and that’s a pity because Greek Town is a refreshing change from the relentlessly cool scene on Randolph.
Further down Halsted Street I met up with a woman called Pam, who lives with her husband Jim and their two young kids in a West Loop mid-rise. Pam tells me that she avoids walking down Halsted Street at night because of a couple of bad experiences her family has had.
I almost don’t want to tell you about first story, it’s so sad. About 18 months ago, the couple’s German Shepherd puppy was stolen from outside Walgreens. Jim left it tethered to a post while he quickly dashed in to get something and when he returned it had vanished, leash and all. Yes, it wasn’t the wisest place to leave a puppy, but it’s a heartbreaking story, nonetheless. Their other bad experience? Pam was in the elevator at Dominick’s with a cart loaded with groceries when two men got in alongside her. One of the men pushed Pam’s shopping cart over to distract her, while the other man pulled her purse off her shoulder and removed her wallet, before running off.
At night, Greek Town has a bit of a problem with loiterers, and, as everyone knows, the United Center is still a sketchy area. Anyone care to share their thoughts on blight and crime in Greek Town or the surrounding West Loop?