Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/123336
ON THE TOWN MAKING MOVES When: A breezy spring Tuesday. Where: A window table at The Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market, 312-7339555; thepublican restaurant.com. Time: Cocktail hour. FAR LEFT: Gabe Klein winds down with a plate of charcuterie at The Publican (ABOVE). He's a big fan of French lambics, like this Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René (LEFT). pedal pusher G abe Klein is a real man in motion. Since Mayor Emanuel appointed him Chicago Department of Transportation commissioner two years ago, Klein has walked, biked, driven, and ridden all over the city to see how transit could be improved for Chicago residents. Already, he has unveiled the "greenest street in America" (a two-mile stretch of Blue Island Avenue and Cermak Road in Pilsen), reopened Wacker Drive, established Children's Safety Zones for young pedestrians, and completed the framework plan for the Bloomingdale trail and park opening next summer. Now, Klein is busily preparing for the launch of the city's new Bike Share program. Over a glass of lambic at one of his favorite haunts, The Publican (which he discovered while developing the new Morgan CTA station), Klein chatted with us about his passion for making Chicago an even easier place to get around. 78 Why The Publican? I love that it's on a corner and has great light, so it's very inviting. You can come in, stand, and get a charcuterie plate and a beer, or you can sit down and get dinner—if you can get a table by that time. They have unusual French lambics like this [Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René], which is fun. It's not sweet like a lot of lambics, but I think you're going to like it. You can get old reliables like Allagash White or Avery India Pale Ale, too. Do you gravitate toward certain items on the food menu? I like casual food with beer. I like the charcuterie here, the oysters…. That's really what I usually come here for, versus a full-on dinner. And the mussels—which have lambic in them! How often do you make it in? continued on page 80 PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN KIRKMAN UNDER CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER GABE KLEIN, THE CITY'S NEW BIKE SHARE PROGRAM IS READY TO ROLL. BY MEG MATHIS MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 078-080_MA_Flavor_OntheTown_MayJune13.indd 78 4/16/13 10:33 AM