Chicago outdoor winter dining challenge

[Jetheels]

[link:https://challenges.openideo.com/challenge/city-of-chicago-winter-dining-challenge/ideas?order=applauds%20#contribution-list|

[frazzled]

1. You know, this is kind of a fool's errand

I’ve been following this, because I live here.

But you know what? I don’t think there will be enough people who will want to dine outside in an open-air structure in their parkas and masks (it’s a law here that diners must wear their masks any time staff is within distance, which means like eight times during your meal) with the Chicago winter winds and sub-freezing temperatures. Even with heat lamps.

I’ve had drinks in an outside ice bar in Minnesota in the dead of winter. It’s possible to down a whiskey. But a whole meal? with your fingers freezing? I don’t think so. But then, there are a lot of crazy people. I just wonder if there are enough of them to try it more than once to keep these restaurants open, especially after the expense of creating these winter palaces.

Nice theoretical exercise, though.

[Jetheels]

2. I found this website on the Gothamist

a NYC website, where I’m from, since the city’s outdoor dining program is set to end October 31. There’s talk of how outdoor dining can it be extended, and how that might look. In recent years we’ve had some mild winters. Or what seem like no winter at all. Your right though, Chicago is much colder. At worst it’s an interesting design challenge, you never know. Maybe for less cold climates. I’ve not eaten out here but I walk past a lot of what are now outdoor restaurants. Rarely are the seated diners wearing a mask. On the other hand, people walking around the city are pretty masked up, I would say 80 percent. Im a little concerned though as I’m noticing a vented mask trend.

[cayugafalls]

4. Vented masks are selling for large discounts now. I noticed them appearing here as well.

Some of them have pretty cool designs, but they are not effective at all, since they only protect the wearer.

It's a shame they can't outright ban them.

[Jetheels]

5. Entirely, should be banned

I see them selling at the health food store in NYC, you’d think they’d know better here.

[Withywindle]

3. Offer a free shot of Jeppson's Malort with every order

That'll put enough hair on your chest to keep you warm!

[ProfessorGAC]

6. A Lot Of Those Solutions...

...seem to ignore wind, given the city is on a huge body of water.
Winds off the lake, or Northwest howlers are a daily occurrence in Chicagoland.
I wonder if a doored cubicle with a closeable serving window would work. Angling the top foot of the walls could create a block against downward winds. But, there'd be ZERO sense of community, so might be better to just do carry-out.

[greenjar_01]

7. ROFL

We just bought a propane exterior heater for our backyard.

It'll be good for outdoor sitting maybe through later November...