Guidebook for Chicago

Lauren
Guidebook for Chicago

Food Scene

This place is my new favorite spot in Chicago. Everything about it is utterly delightful and incredibly tasty. In four words: Thai Iced Tea Milkshakes.
78 abantu bendawo batusa
Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain
1000 N California Ave
78 abantu bendawo batusa
This place is my new favorite spot in Chicago. Everything about it is utterly delightful and incredibly tasty. In four words: Thai Iced Tea Milkshakes.
They are a Puerto Rican staple in the neighborhood Amazing guava pastries, coconut oatmeal, and sandwiches. Their bread is addictive. Columbian coffee. All very reasonably priced.
17 abantu bendawo batusa
Café Colao
2638 W Division St
17 abantu bendawo batusa
They are a Puerto Rican staple in the neighborhood Amazing guava pastries, coconut oatmeal, and sandwiches. Their bread is addictive. Columbian coffee. All very reasonably priced.
Best burgers in Chicago. Period. Great appetizers. Live music videos playing metal and rock music. Next door they have a smokehouse with the BEST smoked wings in the city. The wings taste like they could be ribs. Not to be missed.
74 abantu bendawo batusa
Lockdown Bar & Grill
1024 N Western Ave
74 abantu bendawo batusa
Best burgers in Chicago. Period. Great appetizers. Live music videos playing metal and rock music. Next door they have a smokehouse with the BEST smoked wings in the city. The wings taste like they could be ribs. Not to be missed.
Amazing tacos!
113 abantu bendawo batusa
Antique Taco Wicker Park
1360 N Milwaukee Ave
113 abantu bendawo batusa
Amazing tacos!
MORE great tacos! They are also a bar. They have a taco tuesday special!
59 abantu bendawo batusa
Bullhead Cantina
1143 N California Ave
59 abantu bendawo batusa
MORE great tacos! They are also a bar. They have a taco tuesday special!
This shop is only 2 blocks away from us and they have GREAT breakfasts.
50 abantu bendawo batusa
Hash Chicago
1357 N Western Ave
50 abantu bendawo batusa
This shop is only 2 blocks away from us and they have GREAT breakfasts.
Tied with Honey Butter for best chicken sandwich in Chicago. All free-range chicken from local farmers. Supporting gay rights and blasting hip-hop music, this place is the anti-Chick-Fil-A. Open late.
51 abantu bendawo batusa
Leghorn Chicken
51 abantu bendawo batusa
Tied with Honey Butter for best chicken sandwich in Chicago. All free-range chicken from local farmers. Supporting gay rights and blasting hip-hop music, this place is the anti-Chick-Fil-A. Open late.

Drinks & Nightlife

This is a bar with free music and/or comedy every night. The majority of people who go there for the events are artists and musicians. They have 4 musical open mikes every week, including a great blues jam on Tuesday nights and 3-4 comedy open mics. Art on the walls. Definitely dive-y, but with a lot of heart.
33 abantu bendawo batusa
Gallery Cabaret
2020 N Oakley Ave
33 abantu bendawo batusa
This is a bar with free music and/or comedy every night. The majority of people who go there for the events are artists and musicians. They have 4 musical open mikes every week, including a great blues jam on Tuesday nights and 3-4 comedy open mics. Art on the walls. Definitely dive-y, but with a lot of heart.
They always have good, music and a big variety of indie acts and they support local artists as well (my band has played there). Pool table. Some seating at the bar and some tables and stairs to sit on for shows. Great vibes. Classic venue.
208 abantu bendawo batusa
The Empty Bottle
1035 N Western Ave
208 abantu bendawo batusa
They always have good, music and a big variety of indie acts and they support local artists as well (my band has played there). Pool table. Some seating at the bar and some tables and stairs to sit on for shows. Great vibes. Classic venue.

Arts & Culture

It's just super great.
532 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E Chicago Ave
532 abantu bendawo batusa
It's just super great.

Essentials

Great spot for produce & meats, they are starting to carry vegan-friendly stuff like toffuti sour cream and veganaise. Best home made tortilla chips from any grocery store in the city. Often there is a taco/elotes stand outside.
111 abantu bendawo batusa
Cermak Produce
2701 W North Ave
111 abantu bendawo batusa
Great spot for produce & meats, they are starting to carry vegan-friendly stuff like toffuti sour cream and veganaise. Best home made tortilla chips from any grocery store in the city. Often there is a taco/elotes stand outside.

Parks & Nature

It's just beautiful there. It's free, but you have to pay for parking.
167 abantu bendawo batusa
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd
167 abantu bendawo batusa
It's just beautiful there. It's free, but you have to pay for parking.

Shopping

This is a non-profit that sells supplies for teachers, artists, and anyone really. There is jewelry, yarn, greeting cards, games, bags, nuts and bolts, all sorts of paper goods and some really unique objects like an antique typewriters or a vintage printing press. Very cheap if you are looking for some supplies of any kind.
The WasteShed
1754 W Chicago Ave
This is a non-profit that sells supplies for teachers, artists, and anyone really. There is jewelry, yarn, greeting cards, games, bags, nuts and bolts, all sorts of paper goods and some really unique objects like an antique typewriters or a vintage printing press. Very cheap if you are looking for some supplies of any kind.

Entertainment & Activities

You can go there and play with cats.
The Catcade
624 W Belmont Ave
You can go there and play with cats.