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Lights out for a Roscoe Village cafe's outdoor dining — even as others shine on

First publishedAug 12, 10:30 UTC
Last updatedAug 12, 11:40 UTC · 12m ago
11 outletChicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times6Lights out for a Roscoe Village cafe's outdoor dining — even as others shine onOpen ↗
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<p>Mitch Einhorn, co-owner of Lush Wine &amp; Spirits, was floored this spring when a city inspector showed up at his Roscoe Village cafe and told him to take down the strings of decorative white lights around his outdoor seating area.</p><p>The lights weren't any different from those adorning close to a dozen other outdoor dining areas nearby.</p><p>But the inspector from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said decorative lights aren't allowed in the public way, which is where sidewalk cafes sit.</p><p>Who knew? </p><p>Certainly not Einhorn.</p><p>The Chicago Sun-Times reviewed about 12 blocks across three North Side neighborhoods and found more than 40 restaurants, bars and other businesses had string lights decorating their sidewalk dining areas.</p><p>They light up outdoor dining areas on Lincoln Avenue in North Center and Lincoln Square; on Randolph and<b> </b>West Fulton Market streets, west of Halsted Street; and on Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village, within a few blocks of Einhorn's business.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0b0000" name="image-0b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed12030/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9e1e8f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="String lights decorate trees and outdoor dining areas along West Fulton Street." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2e3224a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>String lights decorate trees and outdoor dining areas along West Fulton Street.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Timothy Hiatt/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The lights are typically strung high above the sidewalk.

Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓

<p>Mitch Einhorn, co-owner of Lush Wine &amp; Spirits, was floored this spring when a city inspector showed up at his Roscoe Village cafe and told him to take down the strings of decorative white lights around his outdoor seating area.</p><p>The lights weren't any different from those adorning close to a dozen other outdoor dining areas nearby.</p><p>But the inspector from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said decorative lights aren't allowed in the public way, which is where sidewalk cafes sit.</p><p>Who knew? </p><p>Certainly not Einhorn.</p><p>The Chicago Sun-Times reviewed about 12 blocks across three North Side neighborhoods and found more than 40 restaurants, bars and other businesses had string lights decorating their sidewalk dining areas.</p><p>They light up outdoor dining areas on Lincoln Avenue in North Center and Lincoln Square; on Randolph and<b> </b>West Fulton Market streets, west of Halsted Street; and on Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village, within a few blocks of Einhorn's business.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0b0000" name="image-0b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed12030/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9e1e8f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="String lights decorate trees and outdoor dining areas along West Fulton Street." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2e3224a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>String lights decorate trees and outdoor dining areas along West Fulton Street.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Timothy Hiatt/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The lights are typically strung high above the sidewalk. Some are draped around nearby parkway trees or city light poles. Others adorn wooden pergolas that define sidewalk dining areas.</p><p>Many are plugged into outdoor outlets or hooked up to extension cords that run up the side of buildings to keep them off the ground.

Read the full report at Chicago Sun-Times ↗

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<p>Mitch Einhorn, co-owner of Lush Wine &amp; Spirits, was floored this spring when a city inspector showed up at his Roscoe Village cafe and told him to take down the strings of decorative white lights around his outdoor seating area.</p><p>The lights weren't any different from those adorning close to a dozen other outdoor dining areas nearby.</p><p>But the inspector from the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection said decorative lights aren't allowed in the public way, which is where sidewalk cafes sit.</p><p>Who knew? </p><p>Certainly not Einhorn.</p><p>The Chicago Sun-Times reviewed about 12 blocks across three North Side neighborhoods and found more than 40 restaurants, bars and other businesses had string lights decorating their sidewalk dining areas.</p><p>They light up outdoor dining areas on Lincoln Avenue in North Center and Lincoln Square; on Randolph and<b> </b>West Fulton Market streets, west of Halsted Street; and on Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village, within a few blocks of Einhorn's business.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-0b0000" name="image-0b0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed12030/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9e1e8f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="String lights decorate trees and outdoor dining areas along West Fulton Street." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2e3224a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/90809a8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4128x2317+0+409/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F42%2F71%2F6197fd9f432caf80e9c58e1eed4e%2Fwatchlights-260812-13.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>String lights decorate trees and outdoor dining areas along West Fulton Street.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Timothy Hiatt/For the Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>The lights are typically strung high above the sidewalk.
How widely is it covered?
1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
When was it last updated?
12m ago.
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    Scouting report

    Lights out for a Roscoe Village cafe's outdoor dining — even as others shine on

    Sources1
    TypeCoverage
    Chicago Sun-Times
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organizationBusiness AffairsorganizationButorganizationDepartmentorganizationLight'sorganizationLush WineorganizationMitch EinhornorganizationRoscoe VillageorganizationSpirits
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