Take paws

By the time we settled the dog onto South Water Kitchen’s sidewalk and ordered a round of tomatillo-flavored Bloody Marys, raindrops gently dotted the sidewalk.

I was with my pals Jake and Katie and their inseparable black Newfoundland mix, Arlo—who, hating the rain, sulkily climbed under the table. Clouds be damned, it was our Sunday afternoon attempt to inexpensively entertain the pup during the steamy, aptly named dog days of summer.

Moments later, even the rain couldn’t squelch Arlo’s flurried tail wagging as a server approached, dog bowls in hand. Last year, the city approved the Sidewalk Café Permit, an ordinance allowing restos to purchase a license permitting pups into outdoor seating areas. South Water Kitchen (225 N Wabash Ave, 312-236-9300; dog brunch Sunday 8am–3pm), which adjoins the pet-friendly Hotel Monaco, drew up a Sunday dog menu for the occasion, donating 10 percent of proceeds to no-kill shelter PAWS Chicago. “We see people walking dogs around downtown, so we thought we should give them a place to go,” said assistant manager Dave Friday.

Friday walked us through the special menu, bringing items out in separate, colorful dog bowls—muzz-rrr-ella sticks, buddy biscuit, pig ear, Frosty Paws and an assortment of vitamin-filled waters. Not spoiling the human appetite, all the food looked deliciously edible; the muzz-rrr-ella in particular, with its charming string-cheese-like shape, inspired me to order a satisfying goat cheese omelette. Arlo gnawed at a mini cup of Frosty Paws, attacking with vigor for several minutes before Jake pried the paper remains from his jaws.

Man and beast sated, we headed south to the McCormick Place Hyatt’s enormous patio for the Dog Days Sunday Barbecue (2233 S King Dr, accessible by Cermak Rd; M/X Lounge patio 312-567-1234; Sunday 3pm–6pm through September). Too full to consume savory meat, we were excited for the free mini training session, sponsored by the Prairie District Neighborhood Alliance, which includes an agility course, hands-on demonstrations and prizes. Alas, the storm clouds overhead canceled our group training session.

Thankfully, our next activity, Paws-ilates, took place indoors (Anti-Cruelty Society, 159 W Grand St entrance, 312-644-8338; Wednesdays in September, dogs under 25 lbs 6pm, dogs over 25 lbs 6:30pm). Pilates with your pet, an idea that manages to seem kooky despite a three-year-long trend of unrestrained pet pampering (recession be damned!): traveling pet spas, gourmet pet delis and mani-petties. When we arrived at the Anti-Cruelty Society classroom, we spent 15 minutes letting the dogs meet each other and discussing the class objective: Pilates core movement for man and gentle massage for man’s best friend. For both, a chance to spend time together.

We started with a breathing warm-up while the dogs—leashed but excitable—became accustomed to our frenzy of arm stretches. Heart rates up, we hit the floor for seated work, integrating dogs with body roll-ups by building abs in a sit-up–like motion using Fido as resistance. At the end, owners practiced yoga breathing while massaging their dogs into a state of Zen.

Arlo, dog-tired, finished out the evening lying down at our last destination: Brasserie Jo (59 W Hubbard St, 312-595-0808). The River North restaurant—slightly bending the rules in homage to mother France—has always allowed chien near the premises, serving them the finest steak tartar. But now that Fido is allowed inside the sidewalk gates (where raw meat shan’t be dragged across the floor), he must opt instead for a take-home dog biscuit.

Arlo got comfy on the patio as the manager told us he’s quick to give the boot to poorly behaved and overly large dogs: When last year’s café ordinance passed, a now regretful kickoff event—a free pet psychic session—led to a catastrophic rush of dogs and parapsychological-loving owners.

A hint that our canine companion was too large? With a warm smile, the duo sitting a table over assured us otherwise: “We usually bring our two dogs here.” And with that, we enjoyed our Beaujolais and pâté as the dog-day heat dissipated into a calm, cool night.

See more Around Town