Guidebook for Chicago

Russ
Guidebook for Chicago

Entertainment & Activities

Between the vintage Davis Theater, the Dank Haus German cultural center, Old Town School of Folk Music, Meyer's Grocery, Sel Marie confections, Merz Apothecary, The Chopping Block cooking school, architect Louis Sullivan's last building (the Krause Music Store, an historic landmark) and many bars and restaurants, Lincoln Square is a busy place just a 12-minute walk away (and at the Lawrence/Western Brownline CTA station).
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Lincoln Square
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Between the vintage Davis Theater, the Dank Haus German cultural center, Old Town School of Folk Music, Meyer's Grocery, Sel Marie confections, Merz Apothecary, The Chopping Block cooking school, architect Louis Sullivan's last building (the Krause Music Store, an historic landmark) and many bars and restaurants, Lincoln Square is a busy place just a 12-minute walk away (and at the Lawrence/Western Brownline CTA station).

Food Scene

Andersonville is nationally recognized for locally-owned enterprises, including night spots (Replay, Marty's, Lady Gregory's, Simon's, Farragut's, et al.) and restaurants (Lobo Pizza, Big Jones, First Slice Pie Cafe, Hopleaf, Boca Loca Cantina, Ante Prima, Sweet Greens, and a several others. During the day, visit shops with furniture, home furnishings and clothes, and the Andersonville Galleria of independent vendors selling apparel, gourmet foods and artisanal wares. Very often, there's live music somewhere on the strip.
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Andersonville
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Andersonville is nationally recognized for locally-owned enterprises, including night spots (Replay, Marty's, Lady Gregory's, Simon's, Farragut's, et al.) and restaurants (Lobo Pizza, Big Jones, First Slice Pie Cafe, Hopleaf, Boca Loca Cantina, Ante Prima, Sweet Greens, and a several others. During the day, visit shops with furniture, home furnishings and clothes, and the Andersonville Galleria of independent vendors selling apparel, gourmet foods and artisanal wares. Very often, there's live music somewhere on the strip.
This may be the most popular restaurant-bar in Andersonville, although it has a lot of competition. It's always lively, with farm-to-table local ingredients that make up an Irish-themed menu (Wilde Shepherd's Pie, Cold Water Lobster Mac & Cheese) and plenty of craft brews. Just down the street are Replay, Little Bad Wolf, Land & Lake, Vincent, Fiya, Calo's, Bar Roma, Lobo Pizza, Ranalli's Pizza, and several more.
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Lady Gregory's Irish Bar & Restaurant
5260 N Clark St
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This may be the most popular restaurant-bar in Andersonville, although it has a lot of competition. It's always lively, with farm-to-table local ingredients that make up an Irish-themed menu (Wilde Shepherd's Pie, Cold Water Lobster Mac & Cheese) and plenty of craft brews. Just down the street are Replay, Little Bad Wolf, Land & Lake, Vincent, Fiya, Calo's, Bar Roma, Lobo Pizza, Ranalli's Pizza, and several more.
Newly opened in Andersonville, my friends are raving about this simple but delicious breakfast spot. About a 15-20 minute walk away and nestled among the other fun and interesting retail of Clark Street between Foster and Bryn Mawr. Nearby are First Slice Pie and A Taste of Heaven, plus several ice cream parlors.
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Lost Larson
5318 N Clark St
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Newly opened in Andersonville, my friends are raving about this simple but delicious breakfast spot. About a 15-20 minute walk away and nestled among the other fun and interesting retail of Clark Street between Foster and Bryn Mawr. Nearby are First Slice Pie and A Taste of Heaven, plus several ice cream parlors.
Open 365 days a year (but closed after 3 p.m.), this restaurant is eclectic and kooky (summertime, a daily customer in the outdoor cafe is Nick, the "bird man" with his two cockatoos) and just basic delicious eggy meals. Pauline and her husband Ron were neighbors who passed away in recent years: with no children, they left the restaurant to their employees who have kept the place as popular as ever.
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Pauline's
1754 W Balmoral Ave
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Open 365 days a year (but closed after 3 p.m.), this restaurant is eclectic and kooky (summertime, a daily customer in the outdoor cafe is Nick, the "bird man" with his two cockatoos) and just basic delicious eggy meals. Pauline and her husband Ron were neighbors who passed away in recent years: with no children, they left the restaurant to their employees who have kept the place as popular as ever.

Getting Around

There are many ways to get around Chicago – by public transportation the Brownline stops at Western or Damen connect you with all other trains in the city (see TransitChicago.com; your phone's map app should also be able to guide you). In your own car, you can get places quickly (but expect to pay for parking almost everywhere). Uber and Lyft, regular taxis, public buses and trains (look up Chicago CTA for schedules and routes) and Divvy bikes are among your many alternatives. My own address has a Walk Score of 80, 61 transit score and 91 bike score.
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Western Brown Line Station
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There are many ways to get around Chicago – by public transportation the Brownline stops at Western or Damen connect you with all other trains in the city (see TransitChicago.com; your phone's map app should also be able to guide you). In your own car, you can get places quickly (but expect to pay for parking almost everywhere). Uber and Lyft, regular taxis, public buses and trains (look up Chicago CTA for schedules and routes) and Divvy bikes are among your many alternatives. My own address has a Walk Score of 80, 61 transit score and 91 bike score.

Arts & Culture

The museum campus provides a cluster all within a gorgeous lakefront setting. Included are the Field Museum of Natural History, Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field and McCormick Place, adjacent to Northerly Island.
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Museum Campus
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The museum campus provides a cluster all within a gorgeous lakefront setting. Included are the Field Museum of Natural History, Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field and McCormick Place, adjacent to Northerly Island.
One of the oldest and largest collections of art in the world, Trip Advisor ranks it as the #1 attraction in Chicago. See www.artic.edu for complete information.
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The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave
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One of the oldest and largest collections of art in the world, Trip Advisor ranks it as the #1 attraction in Chicago. See www.artic.edu for complete information.
Many visitors to Chicago want to see where the genius of FLW began, which was in the near-in suburb of Oak Park. It's accessible by public transportation, but driving (or riding via car-share) is faster. In addition to the FLW Home & Studio (see FLWright.org), there are many homes by the architect within walking distance.
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Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
951 Chicago Ave
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Many visitors to Chicago want to see where the genius of FLW began, which was in the near-in suburb of Oak Park. It's accessible by public transportation, but driving (or riding via car-share) is faster. In addition to the FLW Home & Studio (see FLWright.org), there are many homes by the architect within walking distance.
We have two excellent and active heritage centers in nearby Andersonville (5211 N. Clark, hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Lincoln Square (German Dank Haus, 4740 N. Western, Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.), respectively. Both have exhibits, events and classes open to the public. For more information: www.SwedishAmericanMuseum.com and www.DankHaus.com
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Swedish American Museum
5211 N Clark St
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We have two excellent and active heritage centers in nearby Andersonville (5211 N. Clark, hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and Lincoln Square (German Dank Haus, 4740 N. Western, Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.), respectively. Both have exhibits, events and classes open to the public. For more information: www.SwedishAmericanMuseum.com and www.DankHaus.com

Parks & Nature

Chicago's 22-mile lakefront is its number one amenity. During the summer it's a wonderful place to cool off and look out on Lake Michigan. Off-season it's a terrific expanse that allows recreation, contemplation and a great vantage point for looking at the line of high rise buildings set back from the shore.
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Foster Beach
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Chicago's 22-mile lakefront is its number one amenity. During the summer it's a wonderful place to cool off and look out on Lake Michigan. Off-season it's a terrific expanse that allows recreation, contemplation and a great vantage point for looking at the line of high rise buildings set back from the shore.
Nestled between ball parks, soccer fields, a children's playground and open picnic areas are curated prairie gardens, showcasing the natural flora and fauna of the Midwest. On a hot day a walk on the wood chip paths shows you how evapotranspiration (plants expelling moisture, and with it heat) creates cool places in natural ways. A running track is also open during certain hours.
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Winnemac Park
5100 N Leavitt St
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Nestled between ball parks, soccer fields, a children's playground and open picnic areas are curated prairie gardens, showcasing the natural flora and fauna of the Midwest. On a hot day a walk on the wood chip paths shows you how evapotranspiration (plants expelling moisture, and with it heat) creates cool places in natural ways. A running track is also open during certain hours.
If you're like me, you find cemeteries interesting and beautiful. Ranked by TripAdvisor as an “excellent” place to visit by half of the website’s reviewers, Chicago’s largest cemetery dates back to 1859 and is the final resting place for Civil War generals, Chicago mayors, Oscar Mayer, Montgomery Ward, Richard Sears, and legendary sportscaster Jack Brickhouse. In the mausoleum, the John G. Shedd family (the Shedd Aquarium benefactors) crypt is adorned with a sea motif, bathed in sunlight filtered through a blue Louis Comfort Tiffany window. Design details on many tombstones are extraordinary. Hours: everyday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (bikes discouraged).
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Rosehill Cemetery station
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If you're like me, you find cemeteries interesting and beautiful. Ranked by TripAdvisor as an “excellent” place to visit by half of the website’s reviewers, Chicago’s largest cemetery dates back to 1859 and is the final resting place for Civil War generals, Chicago mayors, Oscar Mayer, Montgomery Ward, Richard Sears, and legendary sportscaster Jack Brickhouse. In the mausoleum, the John G. Shedd family (the Shedd Aquarium benefactors) crypt is adorned with a sea motif, bathed in sunlight filtered through a blue Louis Comfort Tiffany window. Design details on many tombstones are extraordinary. Hours: everyday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (bikes discouraged).

Two breweries within a 5 minute walk: Half Acre and Spiteful

Bowmanville is sometimes called "Brewmanville" for good reason: you can walk to two breweries in five minutes (and more are set to open up later in 2023 or 2024). Witbiers, Koelsches, feisty Porters, and regular old lagers and pilsners await.
Note this is a sportsbar brew pub, with seating and a menu and a kickass beer list. But it's also the kind of place that is largely gay but totally welcoming to whomever just wants to drop in for a drink or a meal. Opened in 2015, it's a busy place almost every night of the week, with several other bars, restaurants and a dessert cafe (A Taste of Heaven) in the immediate vicinity.
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Replay
5358 N Clark St
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Note this is a sportsbar brew pub, with seating and a menu and a kickass beer list. But it's also the kind of place that is largely gay but totally welcoming to whomever just wants to drop in for a drink or a meal. Opened in 2015, it's a busy place almost every night of the week, with several other bars, restaurants and a dessert cafe (A Taste of Heaven) in the immediate vicinity.
Half Acre and its neighbor, Spiteful Brewing, are within a five minute walk of my house. More than just a growing craft brew house, Half Acre has a pretty decent menu and lively restaurant. Both places opened in 2017 and are thriving.
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The Green Mill
4802 North Broadway
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Half Acre and its neighbor, Spiteful Brewing, are within a five minute walk of my house. More than just a growing craft brew house, Half Acre has a pretty decent menu and lively restaurant. Both places opened in 2017 and are thriving.

Essentials

Mariano's on Lawrence is close enough, but Tony's is about a eight minute walk away.
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Tony's Fresh Market
3607 W Fullerton Ave
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Mariano's on Lawrence is close enough, but Tony's is about a eight minute walk away.
This is a great locally-owned produce store in Andersonville that is about a 15-20 minute walk, but well worth it if you like reasonably-priced produce from a store that specializes in it. Also has a meat section with roasted rotisserie chicken and lots of Hispanic items.
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Edgewater Produce
5515 N Clark St
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This is a great locally-owned produce store in Andersonville that is about a 15-20 minute walk, but well worth it if you like reasonably-priced produce from a store that specializes in it. Also has a meat section with roasted rotisserie chicken and lots of Hispanic items.