Today, the Mayor's office announced that a newly completed portion of the Chicago Riverwalk will open this weekend. Two blocks are scheduled to open tomorrow, including "The Marina" (from State street to Dearborn Street) and "The Cove" (Dearborn Street to Clark Street). "The Marina" will eventually house a restaurant run by City Winery and an area for boats to dock, while "The Cove" will host kayak rentals and Flanders Belgium Beer and Fries. Another section dubbed "The River Theater" (Clark Street to LaSalle Street) is scheduled to open in June and will provide weekend access to the Wendella Water Taxi service.
The Riverwalk won't go unused while businesses begin to move into the newly completed sections. In the coming weeks, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will announce a live music series that will take place on the Riverwalk. Additionally, Friends of the Chicago River have announced a nine-week lunchtime lecture series about the state of the city's most important waterway and its future, beginning on June 1 at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum.