Guidebook for Chicago
Drinks & Nightlife
Always free bar/music/comedy venue. Hang out up front, stage at the rear. Popular with the 20-something crowd, but not exclusive. The owner Cole is a super nice chap and works most nights. And evenings. And afternoons.
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Cole's Bar
2338 N Milwaukee AveAlways free bar/music/comedy venue. Hang out up front, stage at the rear. Popular with the 20-something crowd, but not exclusive. The owner Cole is a super nice chap and works most nights. And evenings. And afternoons.
Emporium Logan Square
2363 N Milwaukee AveGames and beer!
Locally distilled liquor cocktails. Their gin is particularly deadly.
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Chicago Distilling Company
2359 N Milwaukee AveLocally distilled liquor cocktails. Their gin is particularly deadly.
This place has been here forever. Generally solid, food can be a little disappointing although we've enjoyed many a plate of their loaded nachos. Good enough if there's a long wait at Boiler Room.
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Logan 11 Bar & Kitchen
2230 N California AveThis place has been here forever. Generally solid, food can be a little disappointing although we've enjoyed many a plate of their loaded nachos. Good enough if there's a long wait at Boiler Room.
The Owl
2521 N Milwaukee AveGood deals on craft beer. What more do you need to know?
Beer and video games. Features the 'Killer Queen' 10-player arcade game.
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Logan Arcade
2410 W Fullerton AveBeer and video games. Features the 'Killer Queen' 10-player arcade game.
Live blues music nearly every night of the week. Highly recommended but check the schedule to know the cover/cost for the show upfront.
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Rosa's Lounge
3420 W Armitage AveLive blues music nearly every night of the week. Highly recommended but check the schedule to know the cover/cost for the show upfront.
Food Scene
Friendly casual Mexican restaurant. No pretensions here! Usually busy, but we've never not got a seat. People come into the neighbourhood specifically for dinner here.
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Taqueria Moran
2226 N California AveFriendly casual Mexican restaurant. No pretensions here! Usually busy, but we've never not got a seat. People come into the neighbourhood specifically for dinner here.
Pizza and beer. The good stuff, as well.
By-the-slice or by-the-pie, this is thin crust exclusively, no Chicago-style deep dish here. Take out available, call ahead. Or wait at the bar while watching the indie movie projected on to the wall behind.
Cash only, ATM at the back. If you make a withdrawal they give you a shot of Jamesons.
Checking out the bathrooms is a must (seriously!) Can get busy Fri/Sat evenings. Fine for children earlier in the day.
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The Boiler Room
2210 North California AvenuePizza and beer. The good stuff, as well.
By-the-slice or by-the-pie, this is thin crust exclusively, no Chicago-style deep dish here. Take out available, call ahead. Or wait at the bar while watching the indie movie projected on to the wall behind.
Cash only, ATM at the back. If you make a withdrawal they give you a shot of Jamesons.
Checking out the bathrooms is a must (seriously!) Can get busy Fri/Sat evenings. Fine for children earlier in the day.
All vegetarian American food. Good for brunch or dinner.
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The Chicago Diner, Logan Square
2333 North Milwaukee AvenueAll vegetarian American food. Good for brunch or dinner.
Great local brewery, great food. You can find their beer all over the midwest now.
Nearly impossible to get a seat without a wait at dinner time, but ok at lunch.
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Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee AveGreat local brewery, great food. You can find their beer all over the midwest now.
Nearly impossible to get a seat without a wait at dinner time, but ok at lunch.
Mmmm... pie!
There's a garden at the back, gets very busy at the weekend.
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Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
2051 N California AveMmmm... pie!
There's a garden at the back, gets very busy at the weekend.
Starbucks
210 W North AveWe do not judge you on your choice of coffee vendor
Furious Spoon Logan Square
2410 N Milwaukee AveRamen noodles and beer. Yum! Hip and open late.
Local Italian Ice. Very popular in the summer, but the line moves fast. The rule in our house is that if you get Mikos, you are not allowed ice-cream from the truck which stops by our end of the street most nights in the summer.
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Miko's Italian Ice (Logan Square)
2236 N Sacramento AveLocal Italian Ice. Very popular in the summer, but the line moves fast. The rule in our house is that if you get Mikos, you are not allowed ice-cream from the truck which stops by our end of the street most nights in the summer.
Cuban food, 30 sec walk away.
Authentic (we guess), but we prefer Taqueria Moran for the same price. You might have better luck with their Cuban sandwiches. Large Portions!
Tropicuba
3000 W Lyndale StCuban food, 30 sec walk away.
Authentic (we guess), but we prefer Taqueria Moran for the same price. You might have better luck with their Cuban sandwiches. Large Portions!
Local coffee roaster. They take their craft very seriously. Nordic vibe (?) to the cafe, easy to hang out all day.
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Intelligentsia Coffee - Logan Square
2642 N Milwaukee AveLocal coffee roaster. They take their craft very seriously. Nordic vibe (?) to the cafe, easy to hang out all day.
This place seems very popular for breakfast. We don't get it, but then we're happy with our bowl of morning Wheaties.
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Cozy Corner Restaurant and Pancake House
2294 N Milwaukee AveThis place seems very popular for breakfast. We don't get it, but then we're happy with our bowl of morning Wheaties.
Do you like ice-cream? Do you like diner style seating? Do you like going to places the Beatles once visited?
Margie's gotcha back, yo! We normally get a cone to go, order at the front. Takes most of the walk home to finish it.
Free scoop if you show an 'A' on your report card.
179 lokale anbefaler
Margie's Candies
1960 N Western AveDo you like ice-cream? Do you like diner style seating? Do you like going to places the Beatles once visited?
Margie's gotcha back, yo! We normally get a cone to go, order at the front. Takes most of the walk home to finish it.
Free scoop if you show an 'A' on your report card.
Decent wholesome food but no draft beer, which I always think is a shame. Plenty of bottle choice to make up for it.
Decent small venue attached, music/standup, etc
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Township
Decent wholesome food but no draft beer, which I always think is a shame. Plenty of bottle choice to make up for it.
Decent small venue attached, music/standup, etc
Upscale Lebanese food. Nice garden, large venue. Dancing downstairs? We've never been there that late.
I'll be honest, we would probably go here more often if Boiler Room wasn't right next door
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Masada
2206 N California AveUpscale Lebanese food. Nice garden, large venue. Dancing downstairs? We've never been there that late.
I'll be honest, we would probably go here more often if Boiler Room wasn't right next door
Fried food, with a large outdoor patio. Gets impossibly busy in the summer, go with a back-up plan. Ice-skating out back in the winter.
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Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage AveFried food, with a large outdoor patio. Gets impossibly busy in the summer, go with a back-up plan. Ice-skating out back in the winter.
Fantastic Tater Tots dinners and great selection of craft beer. Need I say more?
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The Rocking Horse
2535 N Milwaukee AveFantastic Tater Tots dinners and great selection of craft beer. Need I say more?
Parks & Nature
Note that the location is wrong on the Google map, just turn left down Sacramento when you leave the house and you'll see it. Nice for an afternoon chill on the grass.
0.5 mile running loop. Can get muddy after heavy rain. Drinking water fountain ~May to ~Oct
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Palmer Square
Note that the location is wrong on the Google map, just turn left down Sacramento when you leave the house and you'll see it. Nice for an afternoon chill on the grass.
0.5 mile running loop. Can get muddy after heavy rain. Drinking water fountain ~May to ~Oct
Large park with multiple lakes. Nature walks, geese, ducks, fishermen, baseball fields, play grounds, splash park. Hosts a carnival most big holidays.
To the south of the park is the Puerto-Rican neighbourhood. Locals often hang out, impromptu jam sessions follow. Food trucks along Kedzie.
3.5 mile running loop from the house. Water fountains ~May to Oct. This is my favourite local run :)
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Humboldt Park
1400 N Humboldt DrLarge park with multiple lakes. Nature walks, geese, ducks, fishermen, baseball fields, play grounds, splash park. Hosts a carnival most big holidays.
To the south of the park is the Puerto-Rican neighbourhood. Locals often hang out, impromptu jam sessions follow. Food trucks along Kedzie.
3.5 mile running loop from the house. Water fountains ~May to Oct. This is my favourite local run :)
Reclaimed elevated railway line, turned into 2.75 mile park/trail from Ashland to Kimball. They've done a great job!
Entrances and exits all along the trail, we normally enter at Sacramento. Takes you through various neighbourhoods, it's interesting to see the changes from east (higher-end residential) to west (more industrial/residential). Hangout points, artworks, native plants all along.
The trail is marked for distance every 1/4 mile or so, makes it easy to judge how far you've gone. Water fountains ~May to Oct.
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Bloomingdale Trail
Bloomingdale TrailReclaimed elevated railway line, turned into 2.75 mile park/trail from Ashland to Kimball. They've done a great job!
Entrances and exits all along the trail, we normally enter at Sacramento. Takes you through various neighbourhoods, it's interesting to see the changes from east (higher-end residential) to west (more industrial/residential). Hangout points, artworks, native plants all along.
The trail is marked for distance every 1/4 mile or so, makes it easy to judge how far you've gone. Water fountains ~May to Oct.
Shopping
Wolfbait & B-girls
3131 W Logan BlvdLocal and hyper-local nick-nacks. Great for finding gifts
Name says it all! Good for second hand treasure digging.
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Bucket O' Blood Books and Records
3182 N Elston AveName says it all! Good for second hand treasure digging.
Flower and Gift Shop with great smells, prints, gifts - worth a look even if it's a little pricey.
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Fleur
2651 N Milwaukee AveFlower and Gift Shop with great smells, prints, gifts - worth a look even if it's a little pricey.
Essentials
Local supermaket with a south-of-the-borner lean. Has some amazing deals on fresh fruit and meat.
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Tony's Fresh Market
3607 W Fullerton AveLocal supermaket with a south-of-the-borner lean. Has some amazing deals on fresh fruit and meat.
Hyper-local produce. Expensive for most things, but great vibes.
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The Dill Pickle Food Co-op
2746 N Milwaukee AveHyper-local produce. Expensive for most things, but great vibes.
Panaderia La Central
3911 W North AveLocal bakery. They are there from 4am, 7 days a week.
Strack & Van Til
Our go-to grocery store.
Liquor Store. Great selection. On the pricey side, but can't complain about the convenience.
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Vas Foremost Liquors
2300 N Milwaukee AveLiquor Store. Great selection. On the pricey side, but can't complain about the convenience.
Liquor store - good selection, cheaper than Vas Foremost over the road.
They sell a few general items too, but honestly I've only ever paid attention to their beer fridge.
Logan Square Pantry
2305 N Milwaukee AveLiquor store - good selection, cheaper than Vas Foremost over the road.
They sell a few general items too, but honestly I've only ever paid attention to their beer fridge.
24-hour everything store. Good quality lots of choice, if a bit pricey. Post office inside, too.
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Foodsmart
3415 W Diversey Ave24-hour everything store. Good quality lots of choice, if a bit pricey. Post office inside, too.
United States Postal Service
2339 N California AveBig post office
Getting Around
12 min to downtown (Clark & Lake), 35 min to O'Hare airport. Note: no elevators.
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California & Milwaukee station
12 min to downtown (Clark & Lake), 35 min to O'Hare airport. Note: no elevators.
Rent by the day for 7 bucks (?) But you must remember to find a dock every 30 mins, else they fine you.
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Divvy
Rent by the day for 7 bucks (?) But you must remember to find a dock every 30 mins, else they fine you.
Arts & Culture
Discount Mega Mall
2500 N Milwaukee AveGreat street art on a building they will soon pull down