Maxwell St. market on marathon Sunday?

I'll be visiting from Boston this weekend and would love to go to the Maxwell St. market, but I heard the Chicago marathon will be on Sunday. Will the market (and the mexican street food) still be open?

Thanks.

The marathon route doesn't get all that close to the Maxwell Street Market so I bet it'll still be open.

While the market is not in the race route, you could theoretically run into problems getting there with road closures, depending on where you are originating (worst case scenario would be taking an indirect route or an El line). While I have not seen anything definitive one way or the other, I'm with fj123 -- I doubt the market would be closed.

Actually, if I'm reading this right, the Market currently does cross Taylor Street along the Marathon route, so that's a very good question. I'm betting at a minimum, parking and driving are going to be even more challenging than usual: I'd find a way to hoof it or take the Red Line to Roosevelt, and the #12 bus up Roosevelt to Des Plaines. I sent an email to the Marathon folks and the Dept. of Consumer Services, but I'm not holding my breath for a reply. You might try calling tomorrow during office hours:(312) 744-4006 (though their office is listed on the City's website page for the Market, I don't know if they're the appropriate people to talk to, but it's worth a shot) I'm with everyone else, I doubt the Market will be closed, but if you're making a special trip, I'd do some research. I'll post if I get an answer.

Ccrush's excellent map, shows how the Market crosses the route posted.

If you go, have a taco de montolayo for me!

Mhays wrote:Actually, if I'm reading this right, the Market currently does cross Taylor Street along the Marathon route, so that's a very good question.

I don't think I see it -- the market crosses Taylor at Desplaines, which is east of Halsted (and the Dan Ryan). The race is on the other side of the highway -- as the route heads south on Halsted, it turns on Taylor but away from Desplaines (and the market). So the race comes very close to the market, but does not bisect it in any way.

Good, I'm reading it wrong (the streets on the pdf aren't marked well, I wasn't navigating correctly) I'm guessing no problem, other than getting there.

Thanks for all the input. It probably sounds silly, but we don't have much Mexican food in Boston and are really looking forward to the market. (and to Chicago in general. Such a great food city!)

Actually, Maxwell Street Market is a regular part of my marathon viewing routine. I start off at around Dearborn and Jackson (I think it's Jackson that they turn down to go west, but you'll know from the crowds) to watch the beginning (they arrive there at about 8:10-8:15), then walk on down to Roosevelt (at a fast clip) over to Maxwell Street, head down near to the end of Canal for the best of the homemade tortillas, etc., then back up to Roosevelt and west over to Halsted and Taylor (?--I believe it's the 17-mile mark) where the leaders will arrive at about 9:20, and then again at a fast clip back down Roosevelt to Michigan for the finish, a little after 10:00. If you want to spend a more leisurely time at Maxwell Street, you can skip the 17-mile mark, still see the start and finish, and get plenty of exercise besides.

I wish you'd been with us last weekend- it's terrific to go with such educated guides as Hammond, Bruce Kraig, Cathy 2, (and on my last visit, Mike G.) who really know how to eat their way around the place. I definitely recommend printing up the map, above, to take in lieu of a guide. If you like, post an event on the board with a time and meeting place - I won't be able to make it this week, but like as not you'll get a group of LTHers to join you (like as not, a group will already be there ) My rule of thumb: if it doesn't have fingerprints on it, it's not worth your time (e.g. huaraches, gorditas, tortillas are all better when freshly made by hand - look for the words "hecho a mano" There are some exceptions where the fillings are interesting enough to eat off a commercial tortilla, but don't miss the opportunity to appreciate hand-squished masa)

If you want to sample more of the bounty this City has to offer in regional Mexican, you can read up on it here and here. None of the places listed offer the same kind of street-food atmosphere and bounty you'll find at the Market, but there are many places to enjoy. I do feel blessed to live and eat in such a terrific City (though it's been years since I had really good steamer clams.)

A reminder, you can see a lot of the stands, albeit in their old locations, and find out what they're famous for in the Maxwell Street Mexican Gorilla Gourmet video made by David Hammond, myself, and many LTHers. Watch it here (in two parts):

http://www.vimeo.com/840503
http://www.vimeo.com/855823