The Secret Garden

GSLA shows us that it's right under our nose

06/24/2011 9:44 AM

By Bonnie McGrath

4 Comments - Add Your Comment


On the lower part of the green roof deck (photo by Bonnie McGrath)



The upper roof garden--the view from the observation platform (photo by Bonnie McGrath)

Greater South Loop Association hosted a "neighbors night out" last night.

The food was great: hot mango chicken wings from the new Flavor 180; quesadillas from the more established Weather Mark Tavern; secret ingredient chicken salad from State Street's Donna's Cafe; and muffins from Daystar Center's Overflow Coffee Bar. All restaurants just a short walk from the Columbia College Media Production Center at 16th and State.

The company was great. Lots of neighborhood residents came from their homes in every direction. The weather held. It was cool, but not cold. Cloudy but no rain.

But the crowning glory? The venue. The two-level green roof/roof deck terrace atop the stellar MPC. The roof deck is in two parts. The part you can sit on, eat on, relax and chat on and view the lights burning in the surrounding buildings on.

Then there's a small wooden stairway in the corner that you can walk up three stairs on and view a full green roof--filled with rocks and succulents and green drainage. The whole setting is diminutive but grand; peaceful but lively; hidden but out there.

GSLA board member Bob Wilson provided bistro tables from his party tent company. And GSLA supporters ate their food and sipped their wine and beer at them. (Wilson said the rooftop would make a fantastic venue and a big moneymaker for the college, if they should so desire to rent it out for parties and events of all kinds.) Columbia College provided comfortable and apparently very greenly constructed lounge chairs for the partygoers to sit on, too. Steve Reginald pointed out that they were expensive chairs due to the green-conscious construction.

GSLA introduced neighborhood residents to a truly secret garden in the neighborhood. But it's not so secret anymore....



4 Comments - Add Your Comment



By Daniel Presco from Printers Row
Posted: 07/02/2011 2:48 PM

I am the real Daniel Presco, who doesn't really exist, but the claim that "I didn't post the comment below", is not my post.


By Daniel Presco from Printers Row
Posted: 07/02/2011 11:41 AM

I'm the real Daniel Presco and I didn't post the comment below.


By Daniel Presco from Printers Row
Posted: 07/02/2011 8:34 AM

what does the GSLA do with all it's money?


By Stephen Reginald from South Loop
Posted: 06/28/2011 9:37 PM

Nice post, Bonnie. The rooftop at Columbia's Media Production Center is a real gem in the South Loop. It was a nice crowd too.