Logan Square is a continuously gentrifying area of Chicago. It's one of the "hip" neighborhoods in…read moretown. Lots of restaurants, some concert venues and the like. It's got several notable parks, such as Palmer Square Park, Unity Park, and Kosciuszko Park. What makes Logan Square special is that it's part of the boulevard system, and it has these beautiful wide boulevards which have large, park-like medians. I've seen people having gatherings, picnics, barbecues and the like here in the medians along Kedzie. I don't actually spend much time in Logan Square or its environs, but probably should. There's Emporium or Fireside Bowl if you're looking for fun (and I think Pink Squirrel is in the area, if you want to try duckpin bowling); more than one brewery, I think, though Revolution Brewing is the big one I think. Lots of great public art, from the Greetings from Chicago and Robin Williams murals to the most amazing mosaic commemorating L. Frank Baum and the land of Oz that you've ever seen (Oz Park can suck it). Worth a stroll, and get some Puerto Rican food.

Logan Square is an area on the northwest side of Chicago that is dear to my heart. Southeast of…read moreLogan Square is the gateway to downtown Chicago. Northwest of Logan Square is the gateway to the most Polish neighborhood in the United States - almost like a little Warsaw. East of Logan Square leads you into the old German part of Chicago, which once covered over a dozen square miles, had 6 German newspapers, and over 100 German stores, restaurants, bars, bakeries, dancehalls, & cultural centers. And west of Logan Square opens onto a seemingly endless stretch of ethnic neighborhoods and faceless buildings that were flung up in grids during the first half of the 20th century. Once, Logan Square was an affluent neighborhood, a rich area of the city one might say, like a late 19th century suburb on the outskirts of Chicago's center. Even today, one can find the occasional stretch of old stone mansions with carriage houses left standing, tucked in between the many 1930's three story brick apartment buildings where other even older mansions once stood, some stretching back to the Gilded Age. Logan Square offers a bittersweet memory of the glory days of Old Chicago, when Speakeasys dotted the city, Sicilian Gangsters drove the streets, and European Immigrants from Sweden, Saxony, and other cities far and wide were pouring into town daily, enriching our lives with their many cultures and their absolutely delicious cuisines. Now Logan Square is just another place among the many spots in Chicago where it's specific history has been lost. Logan Square has become a Subway Station and a Bus Depot. Today Logan Square is just a big Pillar in the middle of the street.

I've lived in Ravenswood since 2009. It's my home in this city. I've thought about moving to a new…read moreplace more than once, but it's hard to think about moving to a completely different neighborhood. To correct another reviewer, Ravenswood is NOT in the suburbs. It was *once* a suburb--established over 150 years ago as part of Lake View Townshop, which in turn was annexed by the city. It began as the Ravenswood Land Company, a real estate group formed with the goal of offering commuters homes near the city. Several of the folks involved in the Company have streets named after them that run through this neighborhood. Before the CTA trains were assigned color-coded routes, the Brown Line was known as the Ravenswood Branch. Ravenswood is a mix of industrial and residential. There was once a musical instrument facility in the Deagan building--where J.C. Deagan lead a business making glockenspiels and other percussive instruments. That business was purchased by other companies in the late 70s, but a mallet and instrument repair company remains in the building. Abbot Laboratories, the medical company, was established here in Ravenswood by Dr. Abbot himself, who ran his own practice and pharmacy. Boye Needle Company, which made needles and other sewing notions, was once in the space that most recently was occupied by Architectural Artifacts. There was once at least one, if not two, Masonic Temples in the area to provide a social outlet for early Ravenswood residents. It's my understanding that after the Great Chicago Fire, Ravenswood experienced a bit of a boom. Poorer residents chose Ravenswood because they needed to build new homes, and wood frame ones that were outlawed in Chicago were the more affordable. The fire caused a building boom in the northern area of the city as well (North Avenue was once the city's northern border). As brickyards started cropping up around the area to supply the construction of the rebuilt city, immigrants (mostly German) came to the area to work and live. In these early days, the intersection of Damen & Lawrence Avenues was a rural, wooded lovers lane; isn't that adorable? All Saints' Episcopal Church at the corner of Wilson and Hermitage is the oldest church in the neighborhood and the oldest wood frame church in Chicago, because the church was built before the annexation. Carl Sandburg lived down the block and once attended this church. The church does a food pantry and meal distribution on Tuesdays in conjunction with Ravenswood Community Services, and they also host the annual Ravenswood Run and Spirits of Ravenswood. Down the street is a Methodist church, which helped victims of Japanese internment when they were relocated to Chicago. That church continues to have a close relationship with the Japanese American Service Committee to this day. There are several arts organizations that have a presence in the neighborhood. Several theatre companies have administrative offices here, and there are several studios for various visual artists. Starshaped Press, a local letterpress, operates out of the Bulldog Lock Company building. The Ravenswood Art Walk showcases this and other artists each year. Access Contemporary Music holds a classical music festival each year called the Thirsty Ears Festival, which I have yet to attend but hope to soon! And for folks who love their beer and spirits, there are several distilleries, breweries to be found in and very near Ravenswood. It's simply a great place to be and my heart aches a bit anytime I think about when we may leave it.

So the Browns would never abandon their city for a richer city. But the Ravenswood…read more Really lovely neighbourhood in the near Northwest suburbs of Chicago with a lot of cool people around here and some great places to eat and pretty much an awesome destination if you like to explore the suburbs of Chicago for all of their great ethnic and exciting culinary and recreational glory - it's just a shame about the damn traffic, but then the same can be said about pretty much the entire freaking region.

We were supposed to go to to Adler Planetarium Skyline Walk that night to watch the skyline but…read moretraffic was jam-packed, bumper to bumper for 1 hr and we were not even half way on the campus to the skyline. We decided to make a right turn and hoped there was another way out of the chaos and back to hotel. This spot was unintentionally found. It's so worth it now!

The Chicago skyline is one of best skylines of any major city in the US. With it's combination of…read moreskyscrapers and characteristic buildings it provides a great backdrop for views of the city. It is a truly beautiful city.

There are plenty of folks who live in Chicago who don't use (or know about) Lower Wacker. It can…read morelook very much like a maze, since it's dark and so any of the buildings look the same when you get to that level. But originally Lower Wacker was conceived so that pleasure drivers could use Upper Wacker, whilst service vehicles, trucks, and the like could use the Lower Wacker portion. Some of the entrances are also pretty discreet. I've passed the entrance (that's not directly off a freeway) more than once because.I mistook where it was. Nowadays, many people use Lower Wacker as an alternative to bypass a good deal of traffic on the surface street, which is why I like to use it now and again. It can be an incredibly handy, time-saving shortcut depending upon where you're going.

Come here to check out the mole people, actually don't. It may have people living down here, but…read morejust stay up on the ground. Lower Wacker Drive is an adventure whether or not you're driving through it. Basically it's like a secret passage, but thousands know it's here. There's been lots of iconic moments. Even if you haven't been here, you've seen it. In several movies it had some important roles. This has been in The Blues Brothers and The Dark Knight, each in chase scenes. It's not just good for the movies. This also serves a practical purpose. It helps alleviate traffic above ground. This road is also unique because it curves from north-south to east-west as it follows the river. For those too scared to drive it, they can get a peek from some of the stairs leading from Upper Wacker Drive. It feels pretty dank in here. There's a lot of homeless camps, because it's warm in winter.

This tower was NOT supposed to be built with taxpayer money. After it sat uncompleted for several…read moreyears, the taxpayers of Naperville bailed it out. Then, just 15 years later, this tower is crumbling. And no one is responsible? Really? Naperville has decided to spend 2 to 3 million dollars to repair it. (I bet it ends up costing more.) And no one is responsible for this thing falling apart after just 15 years? When it was supposed to last 100 years? By the way, it's ugly.

I was enjoying a summer day in downtown Naperville when I heard the carillon concert in full swing…read more What a treat! People gathered on the lawn to enjoy the soothing sounds of the bells in the air. The concerts are free, which is a plus! Because the performer is high up in the carillon, they broadcast a live feed of him/her performing, as well. A fun discovery!

Well, after dissing the Pilsen "Chicago Arts District", and suggesting that those looking for an…read moreedgy, stimulating and diverse arts district with street action come up to Glenwood/Morse, I discovered that this IS a designated Arts district with its own summer arts festival. So, the cross which is formed by two blocks of this intersection is The Glenwood Ave. Arts District. Some of the destinations include art galleries, an outdoor sculpture park, The Heartland Cafe (gallery, store and cafe), Morseland (live music), a number of little pubs like Duke's Hideaway and No Exit Cafe, with the ghosts of beatniks still haunting them, The Ubique Theater and Lifeline Theater, and what appears to be a renovation of the old Morse Theater just east of the "el." And with just enough of that watch-your-back neighborhood street traffic to make it an authentic "edgy" arts district. Bring bongo drums and wear your dark glasses. This may be a destination in the making.Another little Chicago neighborhood enclave with a unique retro vibe.

I stopped by here one evening before grabbing food at a nearby restaurant. I only became aware of…read moreit as I was looking at Google maps and seeing what places were around the area of an event I attended. In today's climate, its importance to have this remembrance of tragedies and the importance of black lives! You cannot get very close to it but close enough to take a picture. I actually had difficulty finding it. It is near a whole alley of murals, which was great. If you're in the area, check it out!

This mural by Michelle Huang has found a home I uptown behind the Chicago Market Coop (you'll see…read moreit from the street, but can enter their parking lot to see it more fully). The history of this piece is interesting: Businesses in Uptown were preemptively boarding up their storefronts in the midst of BLM protests in 2020. Huang took that opportunity to create this work in solidarity. At such time as the boards came down, the neighborhood organization Uptown United salvaged this work and installed it in its permanent home. I live on the cusp of Lincoln Square, Uptown, and Edgewater, so I consider this part of my greater neighborhood. I have a great love of public art, particularly murals. Huang's work is beautiful. I love Chicago's neighborhoods and their strong sense of identity and pride, and am so thankful that Uptown United took the care to preserve this work made to honor these individuals who were taken so violently, and for us to remember. #578 - October 17, 2021

Gold Coast Social is the BEST night club in the Chicago area, nonnegotiable!! 10/10 experience…read more10/10 service 10/10 memories! Not only do they offer alcohol & bottle service, they also offer hookah & food until late night!

Gold Coast Social is the kind of club you told yourself you're only stopping into for one drink,…read morebut next thing you know, you're there until close. The staff is amazing--welcoming, attentive, and full of energy that keeps the night alive. With great music, lively vibes, and unforgettable fun, it's the perfect late-night Gold Coast spot.