Area Guidebook
Nature
Lovely outdoor activities
TWO BLOCKS AWAY! Great for adults snd children… This is a lovely outdoor space filled with native plants and a small lake. You will forget you are in the city! It is approximately 1.5 miles to leave our house, walk the loop around the pond, and return. It is open from dawn till dusk and filled with beautiful flora and some fauna. We highly recommend an early morning stroll here. It is less crowded in the morning. Deer frequent the Nature Preserve so you may see them on your walk. There is a children’s playground area made entirely from natural materials.
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
West Ridge Nature Preserve
5801 N Western AveTWO BLOCKS AWAY! Great for adults snd children… This is a lovely outdoor space filled with native plants and a small lake. You will forget you are in the city! It is approximately 1.5 miles to leave our house, walk the loop around the pond, and return. It is open from dawn till dusk and filled with beautiful flora and some fauna. We highly recommend an early morning stroll here. It is less crowded in the morning. Deer frequent the Nature Preserve so you may see them on your walk. There is a children’s playground area made entirely from natural materials.
Neighborhoods
Lincoln Square
Andersonville
Breakfast/Brunch
Pauline’s is an old school diner with booths and tables. It is a neighborhood staple. They have huge omelettes and pancakes. I recommend mend the corned beef hash. Dine inside or outside on the patio where you might see a regular: the parrot man. You will know if you see him.
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pauline's
1754 W Balmoral AvePauline’s is an old school diner with booths and tables. It is a neighborhood staple. They have huge omelettes and pancakes. I recommend mend the corned beef hash. Dine inside or outside on the patio where you might see a regular: the parrot man. You will know if you see him.
You may have to wait outside to be seated unless you get there when they open. It is worth the wait. Awesome omelettes, skillet dishes, and waffles...and huevos rancheros!!
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club
3348 W Bryn Mawr AveYou may have to wait outside to be seated unless you get there when they open. It is worth the wait. Awesome omelettes, skillet dishes, and waffles...and huevos rancheros!!
Indoor and outdoor seating. Really good breakfast and lunch platters. What we simply cannot live without are their scone. We recommend the blackberry or chocolate chip, but you just can’t go wrong with any of the choices. This is also a great place to have dessert and a cup of coffee and people watch. I LOVE their carrot cake!
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
A Taste of Heaven
5401 N Clark StIndoor and outdoor seating. Really good breakfast and lunch platters. What we simply cannot live without are their scone. We recommend the blackberry or chocolate chip, but you just can’t go wrong with any of the choices. This is also a great place to have dessert and a cup of coffee and people watch. I LOVE their carrot cake!
This baker is AWESOME! Don't miss it. They have wonderful quiche. Everything is delicious, but if you go, you HAVE to try their specialty: the Lingonberry Almond Cake.
32 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lost Larson
5318 N Clark StThis baker is AWESOME! Don't miss it. They have wonderful quiche. Everything is delicious, but if you go, you HAVE to try their specialty: the Lingonberry Almond Cake.
You are in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy New Orleans cuisine! Big Jones is also open for dinner. Their breakfasts are soooooo good though! (Eggs with red beans and rice, gumbo, grits, cornbread…)
78 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Big Jones
5347 N Clark StYou are in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy New Orleans cuisine! Big Jones is also open for dinner. Their breakfasts are soooooo good though! (Eggs with red beans and rice, gumbo, grits, cornbread…)
Breweries and Bars
Fresh, delicious beer — great IPAs. If you like to walk, you can walk here from our house. The tap room windows roll up (garage style) so you get fresh air. Super friendly bartenders.
DOG FRIENDLY.
(Half Acre Brewery — another wonderful place — is right next door too. Half Acre allows dogs on the patio.)
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Spiteful Brewing Tap Room
2024 West Balmoral AvenueFresh, delicious beer — great IPAs. If you like to walk, you can walk here from our house. The tap room windows roll up (garage style) so you get fresh air. Super friendly bartenders.
DOG FRIENDLY.
(Half Acre Brewery — another wonderful place — is right next door too. Half Acre allows dogs on the patio.)
Experiences
We are offering suggestions of unique or “must do” experiences while in Chicago.
This cocktail lounge is an amazing place for music and has hosts local, regional, national, and international acts with a strong leaning towards Jazz. Check their website for schedules. The Green Mill is a time machine experience: you feel as if you've stepped back into the 1920's. Once owned by Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Cash only. No food.
471 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Green Mill
4802 North BroadwayThis cocktail lounge is an amazing place for music and has hosts local, regional, national, and international acts with a strong leaning towards Jazz. Check their website for schedules. The Green Mill is a time machine experience: you feel as if you've stepped back into the 1920's. Once owned by Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Cash only. No food.
Enjoy cocktails and table magic before the show. There are usually three magicians, including the headliner. You can order small appetizers too. (We love the bacon-wrapped dates and the frites.) If you want dinner before the show, check out our Andersonville restaurant recommendations, like Bar Roma.
They have child-friendly shows. Check their website for more details.
39 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chicago Magic Lounge
5050 N Clark StEnjoy cocktails and table magic before the show. There are usually three magicians, including the headliner. You can order small appetizers too. (We love the bacon-wrapped dates and the frites.) If you want dinner before the show, check out our Andersonville restaurant recommendations, like Bar Roma.
They have child-friendly shows. Check their website for more details.
Necessities
Tony's provides a wide variety of fresh foods and a full selection of beer, wine and liquor. This is our "go to" grocery store. It is walking distance (approximately .7 miles from our home).
128 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tony's Fresh Market
3607 W Fullerton AveTony's provides a wide variety of fresh foods and a full selection of beer, wine and liquor. This is our "go to" grocery store. It is walking distance (approximately .7 miles from our home).
Target
4466 N Broadway.8 miles from our house
Walgreens
3646 North Broadway.6 miles from our house
Starbucks
1588 N Milwaukee Ave.6 miles from our house
Coffee Scene
Bohemian coffee shop in Andersonville. Browse their artwork, jewelry, and books while having lunch, breakfast or just a great coffee. Sit at a table, or sit in the window on a cushion at a low table.
53 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kopi Cafe
5317 N Clark StBohemian coffee shop in Andersonville. Browse their artwork, jewelry, and books while having lunch, breakfast or just a great coffee. Sit at a table, or sit in the window on a cushion at a low table.
This coffee house is open with well-spaced, small tables. They focus on coffee, so tea options are limited. The croissants are very tasty.
162 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
5158 N Clark StThis coffee house is open with well-spaced, small tables. They focus on coffee, so tea options are limited. The croissants are very tasty.
Wonderful coffee house with outdoor seating. They have many options… the Mexican hot chocolate is great (if you like cinnamon).
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Colectivo Andersonville
5425 N Clark StWonderful coffee house with outdoor seating. They have many options… the Mexican hot chocolate is great (if you like cinnamon).