The Elegance of the Mag Mile Steak House

It has been noted that good steak houses are always in old buildings. I find that to be the truth. Steak houses are places for fanyc dinners and family gatherings. You eat an extremely filling dinner at a restaurant the same way you would at home.

Most steakhouses are in old buildings because they want to showcase the building’s story; its past life. People don’t buy things because it looks cool. They buy into the story you back your product with. In the same way, you don’t go to a place because it serves steak; esspecially when there are how many other steak houses nearby. You choose the one that has a story that intrigues you and compells you.

Michigan Avenue uses many of the same tricks. There are countless stores, restaurants, boutiques, coffee shops, you name it… but, what brings you into the one you ultimately choose is the story behind the place, maybe even the story in the place or a person standing outside it.

On Michigan and Delaware there is a cathedral. There are cathedrals everythwere. Catholosism is a popular religion, thus their churches are in abundance, but this particular cathedral has a courtyard and mass everyday. They post a sign out front that it doesn’t matter who you are, you’re welcome.

The cathedral adds a certain je ne c’est quoi to the Mag Mile and enhances its old building steak house vibe of warm and inviting.

The Mag Mile is also where all the street performers are. They know that many of the people passing by will be shopping. They hope to catch their attention. This woman seeme dto have no problem doing just that.

The sidewalk she’s on also helps. It serves as a mini stage for her performance. The sidewalks on Michigan Avenue are wide enought to accomodate enough foot traffic as well as enticed pedestrians awaiting a show.

Michigan Avenue was made for travel. Whether by car, by foot, by song, people were meant to be in motion on this street. It’s one of the reasons that it’s my favorite. You can do just about anything on the street.

The Mag Mile is like an old steak house building: amishmash of different types of meats and side dishes all thrown onto a menu with a readable font in an establishment with a back story. Everyone is thrown together and expected to go about their day — laying down their tiny thread of where they’ve been.

So… here’s my thread for the day: