LIL' BUDDY'S BLOG - MY FAVORITE CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS - LAKEVIEW!
THE CHICAGO REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!
You know, if you look real close, you'll see my eyes are actually GREEN! Scary, boys and girls!
Did you see the Cub Game versus the Houston Astros on Wednesday night, September 12th! They did win, but my Daddy and I had to each pound down a whole bottle of Heart Attack pills, as our Closer Ryan Dempster had a close call at the bottom of the ninth. Well, we did win, 3-2, and with only 17 games remaining in the 2007 Cubs Season, It's still possible we'll be playing baseball here on the North Side in October. (Hopefully, it will be a Major League Game we'll be playing, not just a little game of Doggie-Catch!)
I'm pictured here with my nearly-authentic Cub hat from 1953, the same year Cub Legend Ernie Banks played at the Friendly Confines for the first time.
Being the Official Dean's Team Four-Paw Ambassador of Everything Chicago and Chicago Real Estate, not a day goes by when I am not asked about my favorite neighborhoods in the city. One of my favorite neighborhoods to visit is the Northside Chicago Neighborhood of Lakeview. Bounded by Diversey Parkway on the South, Montrose on the North, Ravenswood Avenue on the West, and Lake Michigan on the east, this bustling and diverse community is only about 4 miles from Downtown Chicago and the Loop. Nearly 95,000 Chicagoans call Lakeview home, making it one of the most populous neighborhoods in the city.
Before I tell you about a few of the dozens upon dozens of restaurants, clubs, and music venues that call the Lakeview Neighborhood home, I'd like to tell you about two of my favorite parks in the community. The first, or course, is Wrigley Field, home of Chicago Cubs baseball every season since 1916. Actually built for the old Chicago Whales of the long-defunct Federal League, the park retains much of it's charm and style from way, way back in the day. The famous ivy on the outfield wall dates back to 1937, when local legend and long-time Cub Fan Bill Veeck (as in "wreck"), Junior planted it at the direction of his father, then Cubs Executive Bill Veeck, Senior.
You know, the Cubs have played here for over 90 years, but, believe it or not, much to most Cub Fan's disappointment, they haven't brought a World Series Victory to Chicago since 1908 - six years before this old gem of a ballpark was even built! In fact, the last World Series the Chicago Cubs participated in was 1945, the same year World War II ended. That's 62 years, or 434 Dog Years, ago! (Geez, most of the people, and NONE of the dogs, reading this blog WERE EVEN AROUND way back then!) It's still a great place to take in a ball game, and enjoy a cold Old Style Beer or two, or three, as I have with my Daddy for the last couple of summers!
Close behind Wrigley Field is Wiggly Field, or, as officially known, Grace Noethling Park at 2645 N. Sheffield Avenue, about 1 1/4 miles due south of where the Cubs play. It not much of a park for humans to look at, being near the Red Line L tracks, and mainly concreted, with just a few trees, and small patches of grass. To us dogs, however - IT IS HEAVEN. One of the first off-leash dog parks in Chicago, the rules of behavior here for humans are simple - no female dogs in heat (TOO BAD!), no more than two dogs per human, all dogs must have current shots, and all humans must pick up after their dogs, because we dogs don't usually pick up after ourselves, you know! Last Fall, my Dad and I visited here for the first time. I must admit, I was a bit scared, and spent about a half hour hiding under a bench with the other smaller dogs. Got my courage up as time went on, however, and ventured out. Now, every time I go to Wiggly - I OWN THE PLACE!
Now, about those cool restaurants and clubs - there are literally DOZENS of good ones, so I'll just pick out my favorites here.
Want a great breakfast, tasty lunch, or economical, delicious dinner? Head to Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont. Their Cinnamon Rolls and Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries are legendary! The coffee is hot, the service always friendly. Now owned by current 44th Ward Chicago Alderman Tom Tunney, who will often greet you at the front door, plan on a 30-45 minute wait for brunch on the weekends.
One of the best places for a Mexican Lunch or Dinner, along with a great Margarita, at a very reasonable price, is the El Jardin Café, 3401 N. Clark Street. Great Fajitas, Burritos, Homemade Salsa, and Guacamole. (Dogs, don't eat too much now - you know what too much Mexican food does for your sensitive tummies!)
Leona's, 3215 N. Sheffield. Great Italian and American Food, Casual Atmosphere, and Attentive Service - hallmarks at Leona's Lakeview since the place opened, in 1950. In the same family all these 57 years, try the Romano Crusted Chicken, the Homemade Lasagna, and both Thin and Thick Crust Pizza. A few outdoor tables in the summertime too - some overlook Sheffield Avenue, some have a great view of the Red Line L. Great variety of beer and wine, too!
One of the first Thai Restaurants on the Northside was P.S. Bangkok, 3345 N. Clark Street. Like it hot? Try their famous Panang Curry. Their Charcoal Chicken - skinless and de-boned, delicious as well. Great Pad Thai as well, and don't forget Sticky Rice with Mango, for dessert, when in season.
The Goose Island Brewery, Wrigleyville. Located just a foul ball south of the Friendly Confines, at 3535 N. Clark Street, this brew pub offers as many as a dozen variety of custom brews. Great sandwiches, appetizers, and 9 oversized TV's for Cub games and other sporting events. (Hey, you dogs of age, try their India Pale Ale with a Brat! Whew-oof!!!)
Looking for a bar that has it all? Check out Sluggers, 3540 N. Clark Street. In addition to the large bar with full menu and summertime patio on the main level, Sluggers offers batting cages, a golf simulator, a ski simulator, and a raucous Dueling Pianos review each weekend! ESPN has named it one of the three best sports bars in the country!
Located directly across from the Friendly Confines, at 1059 W. Addison Street (Wrigley itself is at 1060 W. Addison Street), The Cubby Bear has been serving Old Style Beer and offering great Live Music since 1953 - when the Cubs shared Wrigley with The Chicago Bears! Loads of TV's for sporting events, too. Expect very big crowds, especially on game days, and on weekends.
Metro/Chicago, also known as Cabaret Metro, at 3730 N. Clark Street, is one of the best places in the city to see up-and-coming rock and alternative music acts. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2007, you'll find no food here - just great music, in a larger, yet still quite intimate setting. Reserve concert tickets early, especially for name acts.
Last but not least, here's our favorite neighborhood haunt - also the official gathering spot for the Wrigley Field Bleacher Fans after each Cub Game. The Full Schilling, just south of Metro/Chicago, at 3724 N. Clark Street, offers a fully-stocked bar, late hours, a DJ on the weekends, plenty of TV's for sports - even free hot dogs with a Cub ticket stub on game days!
Want to get downtown? Hop onto the Brown Line L, with stops at Paulina or Belmont Stations, or, beginning in Spring, 2008, the reconstructed Southport or Addison Stations. Or, the Red Line L, at the Sheridan, Addison, or Belmont Stations. It's only about 20 minutes on the L to downtown - very close, with a ton of transportation options. Fare is less than $2, with ChicagoCard and ChicagoCard Plus Farecards from the CTA.
Each Summer, the Lakeview Neighborhood hosts a number or Street Festivals and Community Events. Chicago's Annual Gay Pride Parade kicks off each summer near Broadway, Clark Street, and Diversey Parkway. The Lakeview Music & Art Festival happens annually each July. North Halsted Market Days, on Halsted Street between Belmont and Addison, celebrates the diversity of the Lakeview Neighborhod in Chicago. The Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival each June hosts a number of local and regional bands - all FREE!
Considering a move to the Lakeview Neighborhood of Chicago? Hop on the EL to Western Avenue, walk one block south, and scooch in to Dean's Team World Headquarters, at 4601 N. Western Avenue - Keller Williams Fox Realty. Sniff around for us anytime!
Here are some recent home and condo trends in Lakeview -
LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY, CHICAGO, IL (SOURCE: MLSNI AREA MARKET SURVEY DATA)
PROPERTY TYPE # CURR AVAIL AVG PRICE SOLD LAST 12 MOS AVG SALE PRICE AVG MKT TIME
CONDOS 1,206 $406,782 2,493 $359,110 102 DAYS
SF HOMES 147 $1,558,691 142 $1,166,208 148 DAYS
2-4 UNIT BLDGS 96 $861,164 112 $802,618 100 DAYS
Have any thoughts, comments, and experiences in Lakeview? Hey, let us know with your barks, growls, or yelps!
YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS,
BUDDY HOLLY MOSS
