Spend a day in a weird Neighborhood

History

Goose Island is a bizarre neighborhood with a bizarre history. William Ogden, Chicagos first mayor, wanted the river to take a more direct route downtown, so he built a canal, which unintentionally created a island. Around the same time Chicago becomes the most important railroad center in the country. Which causes Goose Island to boom as industrial hub. Factories dominate the island. Flaming debris and smog littered the sky, giving Goose Island the nickname “Little Hell”. Along with the gas factories, wholesalers like Marshall Fields, and Montgomery Ward set up furniture factories. Along with all this, also comes some residential housing. Some Irish immigrants setted in seven by nine foot shanties. For much of the 20th century, Goose Island remained an industrial hub. But when manufacturing declined in Chicago, the area transitioned from industrial to commercial, and later, commercial to residential.

Where that leaves us

Goose Island is a bizarre area. The island itself has the CTA Material Distribution Center, Big Bay Lumber, the Mars Wrigley world headquarters, a restaurant depot and many more. The actual island only has one place to eat, but its a must. The Goose Island Shrimp House has been open for almost 50 years and its hard to beat. Right above the island is the Apple Store, a recently gentrified shopping mall, and what feels like 4,000 furniture stores. Also one of my favorite bars, Weeds Tavern, which used to be a cool poetry and art hang out space in the 80s. On the north east side you can go to Off Color, a local favorite. I make fun of my friend who loves the pistachio beer from there, but he swears by it. Off color is also near the Wild Mile, a fun riverwalk, which is actually floating? The Wild Mile will eventually go around all of Goose Island, but as of writing this its just a cute little walk. The west side has the eponymous Goose Island Brewery, along with the Salt Shed, a Morton Salt factory before being repurposed to a music venue which can hold up to 3,600 people.

Don’t want to read this? Here is just a list for those of y’all who don’t want to read

Goose Island Shrimp House - Delicious ass shrimp

Weeds Tavern - Cool Bar with cool history

Off Color - Cool brewery with great beer

The Wild Mile - A cool little riverwalk thats actualyl floating

Goose Island Pub/Salt Shed - Another Cool brewery

Azul - A little more high key then the other places