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Lakeview rocks on the west side.

Monday Jun 20, 2005.     By Centerstage Chicago Staff

Lifestyle Feed

When a diehard Lakeview/"I love the Cubbies!" friend found out she had to move out of her shared apartment and into a one bedroom she could afford solo, she realized that her on-the-lake days were sadly winding to a close. The sadness was short-lived, however, replaced by exclamation point-studded sentences about the glory of her new West Lakeview 'hood, brought on by a particularly fun night at Waterhouse. While we may lose the exclamation points, we do have to agree with her assessment of this pleasant area.

Panhandler rating: Pretty smooth sailing.

Safety rating: Basic street smarts are all that's required here.

For the artiste
Chicago Photography Center
The photo gallery at the Chicago Photography Center provides a great opportunity for the little-known student to display his or her work, and succeeds at utilizing the slender space the way only a non-profit organization can. The gallery is surrounded by windows, requiring the photos to be arranged according to photographer on sturdy structures laddered throughout the arrowhead of the building. This way any passerby can get a glimpse of the art, albeit through windows on which the usual city soot has gathered.

The encouraging thing about photography centers that showcase their own artists is the playfulness and lack of pretension present in the art. From the abstract to the moody to the goofy, the displays offer a glimpse into the artists' personality and motivation. The gallery has four showings a year with a grand event to celebrate each opening. You, too, can be a famous photographer if you fulfill the CPC's curriculum of three black and white photography classes (Photo I, Photo II, Photo III).

Good for groups
Waterhouse
The Waterhouse, an erstwhile Mexican restaurant recently redesigned with a more American flair, peaks out from underneath Paulina brown line stop in West Lakeview. A quartet of burgers, including the titan Waterhouse burger, which at a half-pound still clocks in at only $5, present themselves as an inexpensive way to fill your belly. The veritable jungle of wraps and paninis give you a number of ways to eat with your hands without putting a cow on the chopping block, ranging from $6 to $8. The garbage salad, quite possibly the trendiest thing to hit restaurants since silverware, highlights a list of six low-calorie, slightly pricier alternatives to the sandwiches listed above.

The appetizers are perhaps the most important item, because the food merely exists to give guests a reason to drink. The Waterhouse is primarily a bar, with dozens of cocktail tables, plasma TVs, a small patio and a wide open front window space contributing to an atmosphere that was made for boozing. The friendly staff and comfortable brick-and-maroon-painted interior add to the social atmosphere. The drink specials don't hurt either; the bar offers $5 martinis on Friday and half-price beer, wine and well liquor on Thursday, making it easy to make any night a wet night at the Waterhouse.

Late-night locale
La Taberna Tapatia
Situated right across the street from its more innocent sister, El Tapatio, this Mexican restaurant/nightclub has finally put out its sticky fingers and claimed a crowd of its own. Mixed drinks are the specialty, offering a plethora of refreshing cocktails perfect for summer. We love kickin' back on the lovely outdoor patio with a blended mango margarita ($6.50) or a tasty Matilda (hibiscus tea with Malibu rum). We've managed to slurp our way through dozens of Cazuelas (a spicy version of a long island iced tea made with fresh orange, pineapple and grapefruit juices and served in a earthy clay bowl) and we've closed the place down guzzling (it's just so easy) the mojitos.

The generally less-than-$6 prices make the tapas dishes user friendly and a superb way to soak up some of the liquor rolling its way through your veins. The Tamales de Rajas con Queso (corn stuffed with mild poblano peppers and chihuahua cheese, wrapped in a cornhusk and sprinkled with salsa and sour cream) is delightful shove down material, as is the Champinon Bello (sliced portabello mushrooms marinated in guajillo pepper, chargrilled and served on a bed of addictively sweet caramelized onions). Don't miss the near nightly specials like $1 empanadas, $2 sangrias and 50-cent tamales.

Dinner-date destination
Kaze Sushi
Taking its cue from Chicago's designation as a "Windy City," Kaze (Japanese for wind) offers a continually changing dining experience for sushi lovers. The experience itself is a change, however: Though the sushi is served with the customary side of soy sauce, "toppings" complement many of the nigiri, dissuading diners from dunking (ahem, drowning) them in soy sauce, thereby diminishing the flavor.

Chef Macku Chan, the noted sushi restauranteur who helped make Heat and Mirai pined-after hot spots, is behind the innovation. The Roscoe Village sushi spot's menu focuses on seasonal entrees, offering fresh fish crowned with a little somethin-somethin. Expect baby squid topped with mint, spicy sauce and Japanese black pepper; and hamachi nigiri garnished with banana peppers and Japanese black pepper. The restaurant's decor, with its white walls, cushioned gold chairs and classy table settings, is elegant without being uncomfortable, creating a casual atmosphere for sushi lovers old and new to enjoy the delicacies.