Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WICKER PARK & BUCKTOWN
For an alternative scene, head over to Wicker Park and Bucktown,
where slackers and some adventurous yuppies populate bars dotting
the streets near the confluence of North, Damen, and Milwaukee
avenues. Don't dress up if you want to blend in: A casually bohemian
getup and low-key attitude are all you need.
The Bucktown Pub
The owners' collection of groovy 1960s
and '70s rock-'n'-roll posters and cartoon art is phenomenal. How-
ever, most Bucktown patrons are more interested in nursing their
pints of imported and domestic microbrews than in gawking at the
walls. Other Wicker Park/Bucktown bars try to come off as low-key;
this is the real thing, where attitude is firmly discouraged at the door.
The psychedelic- and glam-rock-filled jukebox keeps toes tapping,
and competition on the skittle-bowling machine can get quite fierce.
Credit cards not accepted.
1658 W. Cortland St. (at Hermitage Ave.).
&
773/
394
-
9898.
Subway/El: Blue Line to Damen.
The Map Room
Hundreds of travel books and guides line
the shelves of this globe-trotter's tavern. Peruse that tome on Fuji or
Antarctica while sipping a pint of one of the 20-odd draft beers. The
Map Room's equally impressive selection of bottled brews makes this
place popular with beer geeks as well as the tattered-passport crew.
Tuesday is theme night, featuring the food, music, and spirits of a
certain country, accompanied by a slide show and tales from a recent
visitor.
1949 N. Hoyne Ave. (at Armitage Ave.).
&
Value
Finds
773/252
-
7636.
Subway/El:
Blue Line to Damen.
Marie's Riptide Lounge
Nothing here looks as though it has
been updated since the 1960s (owner Marie is long past retirement
age), but personal touches and the retro cool of the place have made
it a hip stop on the late-night circuit. A jukebox stocked with campy
oldies, a curious low-tech duck-hunting “video” game, and the occa-
sional blast of black light make Marie's a hoot. The owner takes great
pains to decorate the interior of the little bar for each holiday season
(the wintertime “snow-covered” bar is not to be missed.)
1745 W.
Armitage Ave. (at Hermitage Ave.).
&
773/278
-
7317.
Subway/El: Blue Line to
Damen.
CAFES
Julius Meinl
Austria's premier coffee roaster chose Chicago—
and, even more mysteriously, a location near Wrigley Field—for its
first U.S. outpost. The result is a mix of Austrian style (upholstered
