Guidebook for Chicago
Essentials
Independently owned, very eclectic mix of foods, great produce.... and it's solar powered!
46 locals recommend
HarvesTime Foods
2632 W Lawrence AveIndependently owned, very eclectic mix of foods, great produce.... and it's solar powered!
Provenance
2312 W Leland AveGood selection of craft wine, beer, cheese, bread, and other deliciousness.
Walgreens
4801 N Lincoln AveFood Scene
Great coffee shop with nice patio seating. They actually have a french pastry chef who makes their croissants and other delicious pastries on site every day. Crazy but true.
39 locals recommend
Beans & Bagels
2601 W Leland AveGreat coffee shop with nice patio seating. They actually have a french pastry chef who makes their croissants and other delicious pastries on site every day. Crazy but true.
Very cheap and delicious Vietnames sandwiches- and tapioca smoothies. My favorite is the chicken ban mi, but the lemon grass tofu is awesome too (best with the hot peppers)
18 locals recommend
Nhu Lan Bakery
2612 W Lawrence AveVery cheap and delicious Vietnames sandwiches- and tapioca smoothies. My favorite is the chicken ban mi, but the lemon grass tofu is awesome too (best with the hot peppers)
Widely considered the best in Chicago this past year (2011-2012). Usually need reservations far in advance, but might be able to squeeze in for an early seating.
21 locals recommend
goosefoot
2656 W Lawrence AveWidely considered the best in Chicago this past year (2011-2012). Usually need reservations far in advance, but might be able to squeeze in for an early seating.
Rockwells has a great outdoor patio on a quiet side street. They have some great craft beers and an average food menu.
28 locals recommend
Rockwell's Neighborhood Grill
4632 N Rockwell StRockwells has a great outdoor patio on a quiet side street. They have some great craft beers and an average food menu.
Pizza art has thin crust wood-fired oven pizza. It's cozy inside but they also have outdoor seating. Very affordable and it's BYOB.
17 locals recommend
Pizza Art Cafe
4658 N Rockwell StPizza art has thin crust wood-fired oven pizza. It's cozy inside but they also have outdoor seating. Very affordable and it's BYOB.
Gene's is more than a sausage shop- it's a meat emporium and european market. My favorite part of Gene's is the rooftop deck, where they serve grilled sausages- of course- and cold beer.
91 locals recommend
Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
4750 N Lincoln AveGene's is more than a sausage shop- it's a meat emporium and european market. My favorite part of Gene's is the rooftop deck, where they serve grilled sausages- of course- and cold beer.
We've got at least 5 thai restaurants to choose from within a few blocks, but our favorite is Spoon. BYOB
8 locals recommend
Spoon Thai
4608 N Western AveWe've got at least 5 thai restaurants to choose from within a few blocks, but our favorite is Spoon. BYOB
Good food, super casual, very vegetarian friendly. Funky decor. And all with a social mission.
19 locals recommend
First Slice
4664 N Manor AveGood food, super casual, very vegetarian friendly. Funky decor. And all with a social mission.
Great independent coffee shop with good eats. There's also an outdoor patio tucked away in back.
29 locals recommend
The Grind Cafe
4613 N Lincoln AveGreat independent coffee shop with good eats. There's also an outdoor patio tucked away in back.
Great thin crust pizza and a spacious outdoor patio. Stop here after Lillstreet Studios and then take a nice walk home down sunnyside.
83 locals recommend
Spacca Napoli Pizzeria
1769 W Sunnyside AveGreat thin crust pizza and a spacious outdoor patio. Stop here after Lillstreet Studios and then take a nice walk home down sunnyside.
Bakery, breakfast, coffee. They mill all their own grains and flour in house.
42 locals recommend
Baker Miller
4655 N Lincoln AveBakery, breakfast, coffee. They mill all their own grains and flour in house.
Not fancy, but close, quick, tasty, and pretty cheap. I think they make a pretty great pho.
Pho Lan Phuong
2705 W Lawrence AveNot fancy, but close, quick, tasty, and pretty cheap. I think they make a pretty great pho.
Upscale new american food and craft cocktails. We don't do many white tablecloth places, but it we've always really enjoyed this place.
67 locals recommend
Gather
4539 N Lincoln AveUpscale new american food and craft cocktails. We don't do many white tablecloth places, but it we've always really enjoyed this place.
a bit outside the neighborhood but I highly recommend the korean fried chicken sandwhich. They've also got a fun patio and decent cocktails.
99 locals recommend
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
3361 N Elston Avea bit outside the neighborhood but I highly recommend the korean fried chicken sandwhich. They've also got a fun patio and decent cocktails.
Everything Else
We love going to this pool to cool off- although the pool house is a little gross. Check the schedule (http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/assets/1/23/River_Summer12.pdf)
30 locals recommend
River Park
5100 N Francisco AveWe love going to this pool to cool off- although the pool house is a little gross. Check the schedule (http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/assets/1/23/River_Summer12.pdf)
This place is on the pricey/swanky side, but they've got a nice outdoor patio and the food and cocktails are really good.
35 locals recommend
Tiny Lounge
4352 N Leavitt StThis place is on the pricey/swanky side, but they've got a nice outdoor patio and the food and cocktails are really good.
Nice outdoor gathering spot. Live music on thursday evenings in the summer. Otherwise, it's a good spot for people watching.
Kempf Plaza
Nice outdoor gathering spot. Live music on thursday evenings in the summer. Otherwise, it's a good spot for people watching.
This is a nice neighborhood to explore. Manor park, First Slice, and enchanted alleys are some good reasons to go to the Kedzie el stop. You can also walk there.
6 locals recommend
Ravenswood Manor
This is a nice neighborhood to explore. Manor park, First Slice, and enchanted alleys are some good reasons to go to the Kedzie el stop. You can also walk there.
Sacred Art
4619 N Lincoln AveThis is a great little shop with cool local art of all kinds.
This is our local bike shop. They don't really sell city bikes and cargo bikes as some of my favorite shops do, but their service is good.
On The Route Bicycles - Lincoln Square
2338 W Lawrence AveThis is our local bike shop. They don't really sell city bikes and cargo bikes as some of my favorite shops do, but their service is good.
Cambodian Association-Illinois
2831 W Lawrence AveI haven't been in here, but I've heard it's pretty interesting.
Merz is a neighborhood institution. Like an old fashioned drug store and with super helpful staff.
52 locals recommend
Merz Apothecary
4716 N Lincoln AveMerz is a neighborhood institution. Like an old fashioned drug store and with super helpful staff.
The north shore channel trail starts at Lawrence and Virginia and runs north a couple miles. Very nice for running, walking, and riding.
North Shore Channel Trail
North Shore Channel TrailThe north shore channel trail starts at Lawrence and Virginia and runs north a couple miles. Very nice for running, walking, and riding.
Andersonville is another very lively neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants worth exploring.
154 locals recommend
Andersonville
Andersonville is another very lively neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants worth exploring.
Great place to see a huge array of musicians. Check out first fridays if you want to do square dancing or group jam/sing along. Also on site, is the Different Strummer music shop.
103 locals recommend
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveGreat place to see a huge array of musicians. Check out first fridays if you want to do square dancing or group jam/sing along. Also on site, is the Different Strummer music shop.
This bike share station is close to the Rockwell stop, but there is also a station just across Lawrence avenue on Washtenaw
32 locals recommend
Divvy
This bike share station is close to the Rockwell stop, but there is also a station just across Lawrence avenue on Washtenaw
There's a beach, a restaurant with decent food and drinks on the beach, and great views of the city when you walk over to the south side of the point.
297 locals recommend
Montrose Beach
There's a beach, a restaurant with decent food and drinks on the beach, and great views of the city when you walk over to the south side of the point.
Fun place to sit and people watch. There's usually a concert (and crowd) on thursday evenings in the summer.
Giddings Plaza
4733 N Lincoln AveFun place to sit and people watch. There's usually a concert (and crowd) on thursday evenings in the summer.
Parks & Nature
The garden and restored oak savanna at the south end of the school's campus is my favorite oasis in the city. Find and pick fresh raspberries and maybe see a few goldfinches and monarch butterflies.
Waters School
4540 N Campbell AveThe garden and restored oak savanna at the south end of the school's campus is my favorite oasis in the city. Find and pick fresh raspberries and maybe see a few goldfinches and monarch butterflies.
Arts & Culture
Old Town School is a gem; they bring amazing eclectic concerts. There's almost always something going on there. First Fridays are a hoot- square dancing, sing alongs, jam sessions, etc.
103 locals recommend
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln AveOld Town School is a gem; they bring amazing eclectic concerts. There's almost always something going on there. First Fridays are a hoot- square dancing, sing alongs, jam sessions, etc.
Used to be an old school theatre, but will be closed for major renovations until Summer or Fall of 2016.
104 locals recommend
Davis Theater, Chicago
4614 N Lincoln AveUsed to be an old school theatre, but will be closed for major renovations until Summer or Fall of 2016.
artist studios, a gallery, pottery classes, and first slice restaurant- all in one. Right by the Montrose stop and up the street from Architectural Artifacts.
12 locals recommend
Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N Ravenswood Aveartist studios, a gallery, pottery classes, and first slice restaurant- all in one. Right by the Montrose stop and up the street from Architectural Artifacts.
Fantastic local art. All prints made on site by various local artists. Limited hours, mainly weekends, so check ahead.
Chicago Printmakers Collaborative
4912 N Western AveFantastic local art. All prints made on site by various local artists. Limited hours, mainly weekends, so check ahead.
Shopping
The Book Cellar
4736 N Lincoln AveGreat independent book store. Get the NY Times here.
Timeless Toys Ltd
4749 N Lincoln AveGreat independent toy store. Need I say more?
Industrial and architectural antiques. Very cool place to wander around for awhile. Very pricey stuff, but fun to look at.
9 locals recommend
Architectural Artifacts, Inc.
1065 N Ravenswood AveIndustrial and architectural antiques. Very cool place to wander around for awhile. Very pricey stuff, but fun to look at.
Located inside the Old Town School of Folk Music, they have all kinds of musical instruments and anything else an aspiring folk musician would want.
Old Town School Music Store
4544 N Lincoln AveLocated inside the Old Town School of Folk Music, they have all kinds of musical instruments and anything else an aspiring folk musician would want.
Entertainment & Activities
Our local playlot. Swings, sand, slide, garden, and the passing train. For some reason, kids like it.
Jacob Playlot Park
Our local playlot. Swings, sand, slide, garden, and the passing train. For some reason, kids like it.
There's a sprinkler in the playground, free concerts at the gazebo on Tuesday nights in the summer, and an indoor pool, and lots of place to play and picnic outside.
63 locals recommend
Welles Park
2333 W Sunnyside AveThere's a sprinkler in the playground, free concerts at the gazebo on Tuesday nights in the summer, and an indoor pool, and lots of place to play and picnic outside.
Gross Park
2708 W Lawrence AveThis is our closest basketball court. There's also a playground and occasional movies.
This is a fun spot for eating/drinking while kids run around on the beach. Also, live music.
37 locals recommend
The Dock
200 W Montrose Harbor DrThis is a fun spot for eating/drinking while kids run around on the beach. Also, live music.
Clark (Richard) Playlot Park
3400 N Rockwell StRent a canoe or kayak and paddle up the river.