If you’re not seeing bikers, runners and sunbathers on Oak Street Beach, it’s either a total downpour, or it’s winter.
Otherwise, this easily accessible downtown spot is wildly popular, providing the city’s largest area of deep-water swimming, solid training grounds for triathletes and even 67 palm trees shipped in from Florida, courtesy of on-site restaurant Oak Street Beachstro.
For lifeguard Michelle Arellano, though, it’s a place to work hard and, when not on the job, hang with co-worker friends. Bridgeport native Arellano, 21, schooled us on her beach.
On lifeguard rapport: “There’s no cliques here at this beach between the lifeguards. We do everything together. We work out together; we eat together. Before or after work, we hang out. It’s a big family that we have here.”
What they do on rainy days: Arellano says she and her fellow guards get bottomless soup at Foodlife (835 N. Michigan Ave. 312-335-3663).
On Oak Street’s rivalry with North Avenue Beach: “It started in the 1940s. It’s a friendly rivalry that we have. But any time we have an incident … they’re always there to help out. And same here; if they need any help, we’re there. We don’t call each other names. We don’t vandalize or anything like that.”
Better-looking clientele and lifeguards at Oak or North? “Oak Street all the way!”
Scariest moment on the job: “When there’s a missing child last seen in the water. … Everything stops, you have to get everybody out of the water, and we have to do a diveline. Knowing that that kid is last seen in the water, we have all our lifeguards run down to the beach and we do a diveline together.”
Funniest memory from working at Oak Street as a lifeguard: “This patron stepped on something, and they thought it was a rock; they went to go pick it up and it snapped at them. It ended up being a snapping turtle.”
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mpais@tribune.com
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MAKE A DAY OF IT
Where to stop before and after Oak Street Beach
Before: Fill up for a full day of sun (and eye candy!) with lunch or weekend breakfast at always-popular Luxbar (18 E. Bellevue Pl. 312-642-3400). Can’t wait to hit the sand? Pick up made-to-order sandwiches such as the involtini salmone affumicato ($10.95), a salmon roll with mascarpone cheese wrapped around asparagus at Espression by Lavazza (140 E. Walton Pl. 312-640-2440).
After: Get better-than-average bar food, including sizable salads ($10-$14), at Dublin’s (1050 N. State St. 312-266-6340). If it’s before 6 p.m., satisfy that sweet tooth — or just grab some freshly squeezed lemonade ($2-$2.50), available in flavors like passion fruit and red raspberry — at Sarah’s Pastries & Candies (70 E. Oak St. 312-664-6223). Plus: Keep an eye out for the coming-soon Cedar Hotel and Cafe (1112 N. State St.) from the owners of Manor and The Fifty/50.
Lifeguard vitals
Michelle Arellano, 21
City: Bridgeport
Title: Mate
Lifeguard chops: Sixth summer at Oak Street Beach; two summers as junior guard at North Avenue Beach; one year at Whitney Young High School pool; six months at Juarez High School pool
Know before you go
Oak Street Beach 1000 N. Lake Shore Drive. 312-742-5121
Hours: Beach open 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily; swimming hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
Season ends Sept. 7.
How to get there: Red Line Clark/Division or Chicago “L” stop; Bus No. 151 to Oak/Michigan; No. 145, No. 146, No. 147 to Delaware/Michigan
Parking: Limited street parking
Extras: Oak Street Beachstro (1001 N. Lake Shore Drive, 312-915-4100; open May-September) offers a menu of salads, sandwiches and entrees, from the grilled salmon sandwich ($14.95) to live Maine lobster ($25), plus beer, wine and cocktails such as the Miami Vice (half-pina colada, half-strawberry daiquiri, $9). Beachstro also offers lunch packages ($50-$125) during the Air and Water Show (Aug. 15-16).
Event on the way: 2009 AVP Chicago Open volleyball tournament, Aug. 27-30. $5-$250.
