Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
214
5 LINCOLN PARK
Chicago's most popular r esidential neighborhood is fashionable Lincoln P ark. Stretching
from North Avenue to Diversey Parkway, it's bordered on the east by the huge park of the
same name, which is home to two major museums and one of the nation 's oldest z oos
(established in 1868). You'll find it easy to spend a whole day and ev ening in Lincoln Park
and the surr ounding neighborhood. Thanks to the museums, z oo, and beach, plus shop-
ping and restaurants in the surrounding neighborhood, there's something for all ages.
To explore the park, start at the Chicago History Museum, at Clark Street and North
Avenue. You can pick up a walking path behind the building and pass thr ough a pedes-
trian tunnel that takes you underneath a busy street and into the heart of the park. You'll
have company on the wide gravel path—joggers, bikers, and dog walkers make good use
of this route. Veer right coming out of the tunnel and walk past the baseball fields to the
pedestrian bridge. If you cross the bridge going over Lake Shore Drive, you'll wind up on
North Avenue Beach, Chicago's busiest beach. I n the summer this is beach-v olleyball
central. Take your shoes off , dig y our toes in the sand, and check out Lake M ichigan's
water temperature. ( Warning: It will be cold, ev en in A ug!) Your kids might want to
explore the beach house, designed like a r eal boat, and y ou can pick up some ice cr eam
and cool drinks inside.
Now that y ou've seen the par k, it's time to check out the neighborhood of the same
name. The trapezoid formed b y Clark Street, Armitage Avenue, Halsted Street, and
Diversey Parkway contains many of Chicago 's most happening bars, r estaurants, retail
stores, music clubs, and off-Loop theaters. One manageable area to explore on foot is the
Armitage Avenue area, which star ts at the intersection of H alsted Street and Armitage
Avenue. Strolling west on Armitage Avenue, you'll find a string of charming boutiques,
featuring shoes and clothing for kids and adults, outdoor outfitters, home decor , and
more. S hould y ou choose to go nor th on H alsted fr om Armitage A venue, y ou'll find
more shops, including G apKids and other chain stor es. Going south fr om Halsted on
Armitage, you will find r estaurants and the nationally acclaimed theater , Steppenwolf
Theatre Company.
7
6 ANDERSONVILLE
This formerly Scandinavian neighborhood str etches sev eral blocks along N orth Clar k
Street immediately north of Foster Avenue. Today, a burgeoning community of gays and
lesbians makes Andersonville their home, and immigrant gr oups hav e mo ved in. You
might want to have lunch at Ann Sather at 5207 N. Clark St. (p. 149) and walk the meal
off by strolling up and down Clark Street for an hour or two.
Clark Street going north from Foster is a very walkable small stretch that includes the
Swedish-American Museum Center (p. 190), a Scandinavian deli, a S wedish baker y,
and two good S wedish restaurants. Since the wav e of Scandinavian immigrants ended
over 100 years ago, new immigrants have moved in. You'll find excellent Middle Eastern
restaurants, including a nor thern branch of Reza's (p . 134), and delis with barr els of
olives, figs, and other M iddle Eastern delicacies. M ake sure to stop at Women & Chil-
dren First (p . 242), a wonder ful bookstor e for kids (and women). S top for a bite at
 
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