Guidebook for Chicago

Joy
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.
70 recommandé par les habitants
Cole's Bar
2338 N Milwaukee Ave
70 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Games and beer!
139 recommandé par les habitants
Emporium Logan Square
2363 N Milwaukee Ave
139 recommandé par les habitants
Games and beer!
Locally distilled liquor cocktails. Their gin is particularly deadly.
13 recommandé par les habitants
Chicago Distilling Company
2359 N Milwaukee Ave
13 recommandé par les habitants
Locally 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.
35 recommandé par les habitants
Logan 11 Bar & Kitchen
2230 N California Ave
35 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Good deals on craft beer. What more do you need to know?
106 recommandé par les habitants
The Owl
2521 N Milwaukee Ave
106 recommandé par les habitants
Good deals on craft beer. What more do you need to know?
Beer and video games. Features the 'Killer Queen' 10-player arcade game.
65 recommandé par les habitants
Logan Arcade
2410 W Fullerton Ave
65 recommandé par les habitants
Beer 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.
101 recommandé par les habitants
Rosa's Lounge
3420 W Armitage Ave
101 recommandé par les habitants
Live 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.
29 recommandé par les habitants
Taqueria Moran
2226 N California Ave
29 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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.
152 recommandé par les habitants
The Boiler Room
2210 North California Avenue
152 recommandé par les habitants
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.
All vegetarian American food. Good for brunch or dinner.
136 recommandé par les habitants
The Chicago Diner, Logan Square
2333 North Milwaukee Avenue
136 recommandé par les habitants
All 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.
724 recommandé par les habitants
Revolution Brewing - Brewpub
2323 N Milwaukee Ave
724 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Mmmm... pie! There's a garden at the back, gets very busy at the weekend.
468 recommandé par les habitants
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits
2051 N California Ave
468 recommandé par les habitants
Mmmm... pie! There's a garden at the back, gets very busy at the weekend.
We do not judge you on your choice of coffee vendor
271 recommandé par les habitants
Starbucks
210 W North Ave
271 recommandé par les habitants
We do not judge you on your choice of coffee vendor
Ramen noodles and beer. Yum! Hip and open late.
36 recommandé par les habitants
Furious Spoon Logan Square
2410 N Milwaukee Ave
36 recommandé par les habitants
Ramen 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.
40 recommandé par les habitants
Miko's Italian Ice (Logan Square)
2236 N Sacramento Ave
40 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 St
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!
Local coffee roaster. They take their craft very seriously. Nordic vibe (?) to the cafe, easy to hang out all day.
114 recommandé par les habitants
Intelligentsia Coffee - Logan Square
2642 N Milwaukee Ave
114 recommandé par les habitants
Local 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.
88 recommandé par les habitants
Cozy Corner Restaurant and Pancake House
2294 N Milwaukee Ave
88 recommandé par les habitants
This 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 recommandé par les habitants
Margie's Candies
1960 N Western Ave
179 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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
32 recommandé par les habitants
Township
32 recommandé par les habitants
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
17 recommandé par les habitants
Masada
2206 N California Ave
17 recommandé par les habitants
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
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.
658 recommandé par les habitants
Parson's Chicken & Fish
2952 W Armitage Ave
658 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Fantastic Tater Tots dinners and great selection of craft beer. Need I say more?
45 recommandé par les habitants
The Rocking Horse
2535 N Milwaukee Ave
45 recommandé par les habitants
Fantastic 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
49 recommandé par les habitants
Palmer Square
49 recommandé par les habitants
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 :)
293 recommandé par les habitants
Humboldt Park
1400 N Humboldt Dr
293 recommandé par les habitants
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 :)
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.
133 recommandé par les habitants
Bloomingdale Trail
Bloomingdale Trail
133 recommandé par les habitants
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.

Shopping

Local and hyper-local nick-nacks. Great for finding gifts
65 recommandé par les habitants
Wolfbait & B-girls
3131 W Logan Blvd
65 recommandé par les habitants
Local and hyper-local nick-nacks. Great for finding gifts
Name says it all! Good for second hand treasure digging.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Bucket O' Blood Books and Records
3182 N Elston Ave
7 recommandé par les habitants
Name 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.
42 recommandé par les habitants
Fleur
2651 N Milwaukee Ave
42 recommandé par les habitants
Flower 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.
128 recommandé par les habitants
Tony's Fresh Market
3607 W Fullerton Ave
128 recommandé par les habitants
Local 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.
89 recommandé par les habitants
The Dill Pickle Food Co-op
2746 N Milwaukee Ave
89 recommandé par les habitants
Hyper-local produce. Expensive for most things, but great vibes.
Local bakery. They are there from 4am, 7 days a week.
Panaderia La Central
3911 W North Ave
Local bakery. They are there from 4am, 7 days a week.
Our go-to grocery store.
Strack & Van Til
Our go-to grocery store.
Liquor Store. Great selection. On the pricey side, but can't complain about the convenience.
11 recommandé par les habitants
Vas Foremost Liquors
2300 N Milwaukee Ave
11 recommandé par les habitants
Liquor 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 Ave
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.
24-hour everything store. Good quality lots of choice, if a bit pricey. Post office inside, too.
113 recommandé par les habitants
Foodsmart
3415 W Diversey Ave
113 recommandé par les habitants
24-hour everything store. Good quality lots of choice, if a bit pricey. Post office inside, too.
Big post office
41 recommandé par les habitants
United States Postal Service
2339 N California Ave
41 recommandé par les habitants
Big post office

Getting Around

12 min to downtown (Clark & Lake), 35 min to O'Hare airport. Note: no elevators.
50 recommandé par les habitants
California & Milwaukee station
50 recommandé par les habitants
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.
38 recommandé par les habitants
Divvy
38 recommandé par les habitants
Rent by the day for 7 bucks (?) But you must remember to find a dock every 30 mins, else they fine you.

Arts & Culture

Great street art on a building they will soon pull down
Discount Mega Mall
2500 N Milwaukee Ave
Great street art on a building they will soon pull down