/ / / / / /

Neighborhoods You Need To Know And Go: Chicago's Lincoln Square

October 29, 2009 at 12:04 PM | by | Comments (0)

When tourists come to Chicago, oftentimes they don't venture beyond downtown. Because this common, but easily remediable mistake, they miss out on of Chicago's best assets: its diverse neighborhoods. Lincoln Square is one such 'hood.

Once the city's German enclave, the North Side nabe now is known for the hip shops and cool cafes, restaurants and bars that line Lincoln Avenue. Plus, it's the best place to hear folk music in the city and belly up to the bar for a foamy brew. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you love Lincoln Square as much as us, and if you have any favorite spots we should know about. But for now, let's get to the meat of it with our top picks for what to do now in Lincoln Square:

Cafe Selmarie

Where to Eat and Drink

· Daily Grill
People dismiss this place as just another pub, but ignore the drinks here. Instead, go for the comfort food, like the gooey, made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese or the quesadillas that get a kick from Chihuahua cheese and cilantro pesto.

· The Grafton
On the other hand, if you do need a good drink, head to The Grafton, one of the few places in the city to pour a Guinness properly. Another reason to visit is the live music Sundays to Wednesdays; Sundays are the popular Irish music nights.

· Cafe Selmarie
The bakery's cases of cakes, pies, cookies and other treats steal your attention, but look past the sugary goodness and you'll see a restaurant in the back. The best time to visit is brunch. Although the menu changes frequently, griddlecakes with any kind of berries will hit the spot as will the amazing croissant French toast with a hint of orange. The meal will satisfy any sweet cravings you have and then some. Sit outside when whether permits for people-watching and a view of the fountain.

Hanger 18

Where to Shop

· Hanger 18
This eclectic shop has a little something for everyone. You can get an AC/DC for your infant and some silver jewelry made by the shop owner for yourself. There's also purses, accessories and home goods in case you need to shop for anyone else.

· DLR
Cash-strapped fashionistas will want to hit up this new trendy shop. The most wallet-friendly picks are the graphic tees, funky hats and so-cool-you'll-want-to-wear-them-year-round scarves. Bonus: The shop sends your goodies home in a recyclable tote bag.

· Enjoy
This shop calls itself "an urban general store," and that pretty much sums it up. You can get everything from an emergency clown nose, to novelty mugs, silver jewelry and bacon floss.

· Merz Apothecary
Forget Sephora—this is the city's best beauty shop. This store has every lotion and potion you can imagine, many of which come from other countries.

Where to Hear Music

· Old Town School of Folk Music
This intimate 52-year-old music venue has hosted performers such as Pete Seeger, Mahalia Jackson, Jimmy Driftwood and Big Bill Broonzy. Come to the Old Town School to tap your foot to live folk, blues, country and world music.

Related Stories:
· The Hotspot 'Hood: Where To Dine And Shop In Chicago's Wicker Park [Jaunted]
· Chicago Field Trip Stories [Jaunted]

[Photos: Jennifer Kester]

Comments (0)

Post a Comment

Join the conversation!

Not a member? .