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 love driving Lake Shore Drive. It's simply beautiful, and can be incredibly peaceful. In the…read moreevening you get to see the lights of the city, and during the day can watch the lake cycle through one of its many personalities. And you'll have the opportunity to see the Drive in all its glory, and be annoyed by its gridlock. Near Oak Street Beach you'll see dozens of boats floating in the area partying. It can be incredibly frustrating going north when there's a Cubs game in the summer. If you find yourself cruising Lake Shore on the day of the Chicago Air & Water Show, you have to be a masochist. And even on they south end, when you're driving down Lake Shore nest the South Shore Cultural Center (especially in the summer) it can be trying. But it's emblematic of Chicago, and in the summer it almost doesn't matter if it takes you an hour to drive from Hollywood to Roosevelt because you have something to look at in any direction. I'd take LSD over the Kennedy any day. Lucky to live a mile and a half away so that it's my main thoroughfare through the city.

Happy New Year everyone, this is my first review for 2021!!…read more I love Lake Shore Drive (LSD), how it connects Hyde Park and Rogers Park, in just 30 to 45 minutes. You can see the complete beauty of our city by the lake, by using LSD. I have childhood memories of playing baseball by Weiss Hospital and having to run across LSD to retrieve baseballs. Looking back, if my parents had found out...ouch... It's scary to look back at that but that was part of the fun of childhood. Back to LSD, it's my preferred way to get to and from the loop, the sunrise views coming into the downtown area are incredible. The views in the evening and sunsets can melt the day's worries away. Watching the runners, walkers, dogs, boaters, fishermen, volleyball players, sunbathers and bikers along LSD shows the vitality of the city. If you use LSD daily, you may lose your passion for the drive. Since I don't use it too often these days, I like to take it all in - seeing the waves, the ice in the lake, the parks and architecture. It's just a wonderful experience - I make it a point to follow the speed limit so that I can smell the roses. I just hope that they don't charge a toll for using LSD, which is on the table because of the city's finances. As for speeding, watch out for the speed cameras going up - 6 mph above the speed limit will result in a $35 ticket.

The zoo lights are beautiful some of them are synchronized to music. This is a very nice experience…read morethat I think every Chicago visitor should see. There is plenty of places to pick up a drink or two and some light food. While you are there you can also stop by the lion house or the reptile house and visit with some animal and warm up if it's a very cold day.

I had an amazing time at Zoolights at the Lincoln Park Zoo! This is a fun Chicagoland holiday…read moretradition and there is so much to experience ! From the ferris wheel to the sparkling holiday light tunnel, there is something for everyone! Perfect holiday outing!!

This statue is kind of tucked away between the Cook County Administration Building and the Chicago…read moreTemple Building in the Brunswick Plaza. There is metered street parking and commercial parking garages within a reasonable walking distance. Most viewers of this statue will be passerbys. This is not a destination piece by far. It is the work of Joan Miró, who created the piece in 1981. It stands 39 feet tall. It is made of a hodge podge of materials including: steel, wire mesh, concrete, bronze, and ceramic tile. The sculpture was originally called the Sun, the Moon and One Star. The abstract piece looks like a figure with a fork on its head standing on a pedestal. I will be honest. I find this sculpture a bit odd. I did like the colorful interior crystals that look like they are coming through a crack. If you look across the street, you will see the Picasso statue. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a destination piece, nor a long stop as I previously mentioned. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area (and there are many of them), or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. Fun fact: The sculpture's model can be seen at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Miró's Chicago was initially commissioned but not completed due to the cost. Ten years later, Jane…read moreByrne, the first female mayor of Chicago, was able to raise the funds to complete the sculpture. Initially titled "The Sun, The Moon and One Star, " she is now nicknamed "Miss Chicago" due to her curved dimensions that evoke the famous Minoan snake goddess from the ancient isle of Crete. The public's initial response to the concrete, steel, bronze and ceramic tile masterpiece was less than favorable. Today, she is a beloved Chicago landmark statue. To learn more, scan the QR reader at your visit.

I love the city of Chicago. I love this mural. I think it's a beautiful public art display and we…read morelove finding greetings from our welcome to certain cities everywhere we visit.

If you are into wall art, Logan Square has some quality opportunities for pics and selfies…read more We got off the Blue Line at California, ate at a local place and made our way towards the Robin Williams mural. Along the way though you will run into the Greetings from Chicago and a sports mural by Jappy Agoncillo (formerly the Quincy Jones mural). The Robin Williams/Aladdin genie mural is huge and in a parking lot. It's a nice mural of one of my favorite actor's roles. I don't know if these murals are lighted, but there is plenty of space during the daylight hours. Since we were headed back downtown we caught the CTA back from Western, which was just as far as the stop at California. It's a worth detour if you have the time.

The new park is a great addition to the neighborhood !…read more The benches have just been installed. We are enjoying striking up conversations and spending time with our neighbors. I can't wait to spend some more time here on a warm day, soaking up the sun and cooling off in the sprinklers : )

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 don't usually add business listings to Yelp, but this one holds a special place in my heart. And…read moredid you know parks, beaches, memorials, cemetaries...they're all on Yelp and can be reviewed! Now that I have my required Yelp Employee spiel out of the way ;), let me tell you about this stellar memorial Glenview has erected to honor the military men who were served at the Glenview Naval Air Station. For many years, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard were stationed at the Naval Air Base. This particular memorial honors those who served in World War II and the Korean War, so specifically those who served or supported the Glenview Naval Air Base from 1937 to 1955. It's beautiful and has somehow stayed in quite good condition since installation in 2003. For me personally, I feel connected to this area. I really hope they keep up the condition and care so I can keep visiting every time I'm in town. Both of my Grandpas who served & were stationed here have special bricks. As do all who chose to be a part of this monument. There is also a super cool pilot statue bringing the whole place together. It's great that they have benches everywhere so you can sit and ponder life, catch up over a coffee (there's a Starbucks there)