A Love Letter (to Chicago)
- Mar 7, 2017
- 5 min read
It's no secret that I love my city. (I even list my apartment on Airbnb!) I've lived here my whole life (minus the four years I spent in college... in New Jersey), and I've lived in my Hyde Park neighborhood for four years. I can't imagine living anywhere else.
So, what makes Chicago so great? Let's dive in!
FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOODS
I won't pretend to be an expert on every neighborhood in the city, but here are the ones I love the best:
Kopi Café WHAT: Probably my favorite cafe/restaurant in the city WHERE: 5317 N Clark St WHY: This place has literally all of my favorite things. These include sitting on floor cushions, tearoom style; eclectic decor; smoothies and frozen drinks, with and without alcohol; vegetarian/vegan food; dessert; and a tchotchke shop in the back!
Hopleaf Bar WHAT: A pretty chill bar with amazing beer and wine WHERE: 5148 N Clark St WHY: The bar is actually really big, with a lot of different rooms with different vibes. I've been there with large groups and just a couple of friends, and it works well either way. In the summer, the back patio is unbeatable. The place is known for its beer, but I'm actually quite partial to its wine list.
Andersonville Farmer's Market WHAT: A smaller, seasonal farmer's market WHERE: On Berwyn between Clark and Ashland WHY: It may not be the biggest farmer's market in the city, but Andersonville's market is really cute and a lot of fun to walk through on a nice summer day. There is some produce, but check out the awesome bakeries that show up. Also super helpful: they accept Link, credit, and debit cards.
Gorillla Tango Theatre WHAT: Both a producers' theater and home of the Gorilla Tango Burlesque WHERE: 1919 N Milwaukee Ave WHY: I have performed here--not in a burlesque--as well as come to see some shows, and the one thing you can always expect is something really weird. In a good way! The burlesques are nerdy and fun (Star Wars burlesque? Game of Thrones burlesque?) and the shows are mainly writer-produced and hilarious. They also serve beer and wine, which is always a plus.
Ipsento Coffee WHAT: A coffee-centric café WHERE: 2035 N Western Ave WHY: It can get a bit crowded on weekends, but the coffee at Ipsento makes it all worth it. There is a backroom that is mainly used by workers and studiers, but I've also seen people come in and have their espresso standing at the coffee bar à la the Italians. Very cool.
Handlebar WHAT: One of the best vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the city WHERE: 2311 W North Ave WHY: I've been a vegetarian and a vegan during the time I've lived in Chicago. As the city gets a little hipper, it's getting much easier to find good vegan food, but Handlebar is hands-down one of the best. All of the foods that I crave when I'm not eating meat or dairy (mac and cheese, sloppy joes, burgers, etc) are served here--and I can trick myself into thinking they're healthy!
Lazo's Restaurant WHAT: A hole-in-the-wall taco joint WHERE: 2009 N Western Ave WHY: Whenever I'm in a show at Gorilla Tango, I always make sure to stop by Lazo's, just around the corner. It really doesn't get much better when you need a quick, cheap taco fix. If you go with vegetarian tacos (which I usually do) you can get four for $9. It's hard to compete with that.
Since Hyde Park is my own neighborhood, I find it very hard to narrow down my list. So what you see here are just some highlights!
Harper Theater WHAT: A throwback style neighborhood movie theater WHERE: 5238 S Harper Ave WHY: Honestly, I'm not big on movie theaters (they're too big, loud, and dirty), but Harper is an exception. The theaters are small, the seats are big, and the tickets are surprisingly reasonable. Stop by on a Tuesday for $5 (seriously) tickets.
Plein Air Café WHAT: My mainstay cafe and Thursday night staple WHERE: 5751 S Woodlawn Ave WHY: If you want proof that Hyde Park is becoming trendy, this is it. I'm not sure if the hip waitstaff is imported from Wicker Park, but it sure seems like it! This may or may not be your thing, but the coffee is excellent (I stick with their pour over) and the food is delicious (try the pies). Drop by in the summer and enjoy outdoor seating in the shadow of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, right next door.
The Promontory WHAT: The neighborhood's coolest music venue, bar, and restaurant WHERE: 5311 S Lake Park Ave West WHY: Seasonal cocktails, incredible food, painfully cool clientele, Saturday yoga and mimosas, the hottest live shows in Chicago--I could keep going. Come in for dinner and drinks and stay for the music: R&B, hiphop, funk, jazz, soul. And get dessert. The s'mores soufflé is an experience.
Powell's Books WHAT: A Hyde Park classic--a used bookstore with an academic bent WHERE: 1501 E 57th St WHY: A used bookstore is only as good as its donations and Powell's is good. They have books in pretty much every academic area you can imagine (Hyde Park is, after all, home to University of Chicago), as well as an excellent fiction section and some comics and graphic novels. If you're looking for that esoteric text on a specific aspect of the pure math--or just a Kafka novel, this is the place for you.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list; I also love Wicker Park, the South Loop (my closest Trader Joe's!), Old Town, etc. So I had to include just a few more favorites, in no particular order.
FOOD
Old Town Oil - Amazing speciality oils, right next to:
The Spice House - Walk in, even just for the free smells
Stout - The beer is great and so is the brunch
Burger Bar - Veggie burger on point! Also, I never say no to milkshakes
Demera Ethopian - Right across the street from the Green Mill if you want to make it a night
MISCELLANEOUS AWESOME
Myopic Books - Another fantastic used book store
Tattoo Factory - Ok, kind of weird, but if you're looking to get a late night piercing, this is the place to do it
The Green Mill - Excellent jazz in a historic location; I go every year for New Year's Eve
Whaddyaknow Pub Trivia - Bar trivia any night of the week. I like Wednesday's at Beef & Barley and Thursdays at Tavern on Little Fort.
SIGHTSEEING
The Art Institute - This one's pretty obvious, but head downstairs to see the Thorne Rooms, especially at Christmastime
The Chicago Botanic Gardens - Not technically in the city, but I've been going here since birth
I might be biased, but Chicago's one of the greatest cities in the world. Sure, my list doesn't include deep dish pizza or Wrigleyville destinations, but it hits my top favorites. I'll update you as I make new discoveries!
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