Dan Protess
 

Dan has been a Producer and Writer at WTTW, Channel 11 for 11 years, where he has primarily focused on historical programming. He lives in Uptown with his wife and 3-year-old daughter. Check out our Bike the Boulevards SCVNGR trek, based on WTTW Channel 11's public television special, Biking the Boulevards with Geoffrey Baer!

How long have you lived in Uptown? What do you like best about living in your neighborhood?
I have lived in Uptown for 8 years now. I previously rented in Bucktown, and before that, in Roscoe Village. But when it was time to buy my own place, Uptown was, well…cheaper. It’s an affordable part of town—especially considering its proximity to the lake.

What would you consider to be not-to-be-missed restaurants in your neighborhood?
Uptown is an ethnic melting pot, so there are tons of fantastic ethnic restaurants around the neighborhood—particularly Asian spots—so it’s tough to narrow it down. Tac Quick is the best Thai restaurant in Chicago. Period. Everyone says this about their favorite Thai spot, but in this case, it’s actually true. I love Ethiopian food—especially in the winter—and Demera is excellent. Tank Noodle for Vietnamese. Blue Ocean, the neighborhood’s newest sushi place, has fantastic sushi. And when my vegetarian wife goes out of town, I go to Sun Wah Chinese BBQ, for pork with a side of pork.

Where is the best place to grab a cup of coffee in your neighborhood?
Ch’ava. I take my coffee seriously, and so do they. And they make a darn good sandwich to boot. They have something called a “BWT”: Bacon, Watercress, and Tomato. Who can argue with that?

What are some popular spots to bring children in the neighborhood?
The new playground at Chase Park is great. But the lakefront at Montrose is the best: there’s Montrose beach, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, and in the winter, sledding on Cricket Hill.

If you have a favorite neighborhood beside the one in which you live, what is it and why?
Lincoln Square is the perfect neighborhood. Urban planners should study Lincoln Square, if they aren’t already. It has a great mix of independent retailers, along with the Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Sulzer Library. But the key to Lincoln Square’s success is its public spaces, and how the public uses them: the festivals and concerts in Welles Park, the evening farmer’s market on Lincoln Avenue, and the summer concerts in Giddings Plaza. It is everything a vibrant community should be.

What is your favorite pizza place?
Antica in Andersonville. In the past few years, so many Neapolitan pizza places have cropped up, but this one is a cut above. The crust is appropriately soft, without being soggy, and it’s a bit sweet, but not too sweet. And the toppings are fresh and seasonal. I especially like going there in the spring, during asparagus season.

What is your favorite season, and seasonal Chicago activity and/or event?
I run along the lakefront all year around, regardless of the weather. But there’s nothing like running on the Lakefont Trail in the early spring, when everyone else is starting to emerge from their hibernation. I have also learned to appreciate Chicago winters. A couple of years ago I invested in a pair of cross country skis, and I love to ski on the Lincoln Park golf course, early on a weekday morning, before sunrise.

What’s the best place to view the city skyline?
As a TV Producer, the view from the Adler Planetarium is my old standby. The views from Promontory Point and North Avenue Beach are also camera-friendly. But in my free time, I prefer the view from the north end of North Pond. I love the contrast between the skyline in the distance and the water and nature in the foreground.

Where do you like to bring visiting friends or out-of-town guests?
It depends on who my “audience” is, but I prefer to take people away from downtown. On the South Side I’ll bring them to Wooded Island and Osaka Gardens in Jackson Park, Rem Koolhaas’ Campus Center at IIT, and Chicago’s newest tourist attraction—President Obama’s house. On the West Side, the Garfield Park Conservatory is a good place to take tourists in the winter. And on the North Side I like to take people on walking tours of neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Square, and Andersonville.

What is your favorite hidden Chicago treasure, a spot or activity that few else know about?

Nice try.