Rooftop Ruminations

Alpine cheddar sausage plate with wooden knife and fork, Gene's Sausage Shop, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

Sometimes beauty comes in the form of a charred, well-crafted sausage encased in a roll with spicy honey mustard, a side of sauerkraut, and a cold cup of brown ale. I guess we can't exactly call this meal beauty encountered by happenstance as much as beauty encountered by design, for I intended to come to Gene's Sausage Shop, in Chicago's Lincoln Square district, and order this meal. But if it helps, the first time I went to Gene's and enjoyed their summer rooftop grill was the product of happenstance, at least in terms of my enjoyment of it, as it was a place chosen by a friend for lunch. Back then, it was my first time visiting Lincoln Square since my return to the city. I knew that Lincoln Square had developed a lot over the years, but the area was always on the periphery of my attention. That day, I got there early for lunch with my friend, and I was amazed by the sheer number of galleries and speciality stores, and restaurants and cafes, that had cropped up in this district, many of them featuring a European theme.

One of those places is Gene's. In addition to selling a wide selection of meats and cheeses, Gene's also sells a variety of European grocery products, as well as their own prepared foods, with many of these being European culinary items, such as different types of pierogi (from meat, potato and cheese, or sauerkraut filled pierogi to plum and blueberry filled pierogi). The second floor offers a variety of wines, teas, and beers. But in the summer, the rooftop is opened up as an outdoor grill, and here you can choose from a menu of sausages, served with a bun and sauerkraut, and side items, like potato pancakes. Nothing says summer more than an outdoor grill and charred sausages, and nothing is more fun than eating your meal while enjoying a rooftop view of the surrounding city, seeing the patchwork of architecture and trees all around. Today was a typical hot and muggy Chicago summer day, but it was refreshing to find an occasional wind descend to soothe my face and cool my hair, wet at the ends with perspiration. And who am I fooling, the cool cup of beer also helped!

View from Rooftop Grill, Gene's Sausage Shop, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

From Gene's rooftop you can enjoy the surrounding architecture. Some of it, like this large building to the left, is new, but built with a measure of traditional accents, in order for it to blend in better with its surroundings. The building to the right, however, is an example of turn of the twentieth century architecture, giving Lincoln Square an Old Time flair to go naturally with its retail emphasis on European, specifically German, products and restaurants.

View from Rooftop Grill, Gene's Sausage Shop, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

Large garden pot with sumac and geraniums, Gene's Sausage Shop, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

Gene's also does an excellent job of planting botanical color throughout the rooftop deck, beautifying the area and adding to the summer ambiance.

Gene's Sausage Shop's "mascot" cow, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

The place itself!, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

An example of architecture, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

The variety in architectural styles helps to achieve layered complexity to Lincoln Square, but it is older buildings like this that really add charm.

One of the many specialty stores found in Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

Lincoln Square has many unique offerings, including including two bookstores, one featuring used books, different toy and game stores, interesting gift shops, and this apothecary. Merz is a fun place, offering a wide selection of teas, mostly herbal and each blend promising specific health benefits, herbs, soaps, and cosmetics. Today, I saw they were selling Peace Soap. So, if you feel the urge to wash away some hate from your life, Peace Soap might just do the trick! Maybe the mere scent of it on your body will help to prevent war. And maybe, after a good cleansing, you will find yourself sitting at the Square and strumming a guitar to the tune of some much beloved folk songs. Speaking of which, just down the road, on Lincoln Avenue, is the Old Town School of Folk Music. How convenient (and cool) is that!

Relaxing plaza, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

With the soothing sound of running water, this plaza is the perfect place to sit under the shade of a tree and enjoy the day. One of the great things about Chicago is how well suited it is for pedestrian life. Many of the cafes in the area also have outdoor patio seating available during the summer, so that people can be outside in the midst of all the activity while enjoying their brunch or coffee.

Welcome to Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL

More than just a city, Chicago is a collection of neighborhoods, with each one offering its own unique charm. I think this lack of uniformity is something that makes Chicago so enjoyable, and not every city has this. Along with world-class architecture and museums, and Millennium Park, it is these neighborhoods, each one unique, that I will miss the most about my hometown. I have lived in several different neighborhoods during my life in Chicago, and each one has been a unique experience. In some cases, like with Lincoln Park, where I grew up, the experience has changed drastically along with the changing makeup of the neighborhood. At any rate, if ever you are in Chicago, head over to Lincoln Square for the day.

Check it out: Gene's Sausage Shop