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Lakeview Neighborhood Information

Theater

Lakeview is a great Chicago neighborhood for live theater, whether you're looking for comedy, drama or anything in between. You can also catch that flick you wanted to see at one of the movie theaters, which offer everything from big-screen blockbusters to old-time classics.

For almost a century, the Athenaeum Theatre on Southport Avenue has served the community in some capacity or another and continues to be an active center of the arts today. The theater was built by St. Alphonsus Church in 1911 and over the years has housed a bowling alley, office space, temporary church, and is now a place to not-for-profit theater companies to stage their productions, including the annual five-week Dance Chicago event. For you history buffs out there, consider catching a production at the Time Line Theater. The mission of Time Line is to put on plays that have been inspired by history yet have a direct connection with today's issues. The Stage Left Theatre has a similar mission in that it supports performances addressing and challenging political and social issues.

The city of Chicago is famous for its comedy and improv houses (probably best known for The Second City Theatre in Old Town), but Lakeview's own iO Chicago is an integral part of the stand-up comedy business. If you go to the Improv Olympics (iO), be ready to laugh your socks off at some of the best on-the-spot comedians this city has to offer. With an alumni list that includes the likes of Tina Fey and Mike Meyers you never know what future star you'll witness yukking it up on stage at the iO. The Lakeshore Theatre is another great place to see the ultimate in new comedy. The Lakeshore's mission statement sums up what you can expect from a visit to this dark-lit, intimate auditorium -- "Every other comedy room in the country plays 'top 40' -- we play jazz."

For cinematic theater, the old Music Box is one of Chicago's few art houses where foreign-made and independently-produced films get their due respects. The Music Box also hosts midnight screenings of cult classics, which makes for a wild evening of audience participation and reliving the other 100 times you've watched the picture. For a more contemporary movie-going experience, the Landmark Century Centre Cinema is a modern stadium seating facility that shows the latest in new Hollywood releases as well as independent and limited release films. It's located in the Century Mall on Clark Street and has attached garage parking with discount prices for tickets validated at the box office.

Park and Beach

Lakeview East is a favorite part of the neighborhood because it offers beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline and miles of parks and paved pathways. A good stretch of Lincoln Park, an expansive 1,200-acre North Side recreation spot, makes its way into Lakeview East providing access to the city's longest lakefront trail system and tons of green space. Lincoln Park is ideal for jogging, biking, walking or just sitting in the grass and enjoying a sunny day on the lakefront.

Neighborhood canines and their owners appreciate the Belmont Harbor Dog Beach. This small fenced-off section of sand on the waterfront was instituted by area dog owners in response to the lack of pet-friendly beaches in the city. Pooches can ditch the leashes and run free with other four-legged pals, enjoying Lake Michigan's sand and surf as owners mingle with other Chicago dog-lovers. North of Belmont Harbor is a slew of athletic fields, including baseball diamonds and tennis courts, plus a lakeside golf course and driving range at the Sydney Marovitz Course.

Shopping

You would be hard-pressed to find a neighborhood in Chicago that has more eclectic, off-the-wall shopping options than Lakeview. Whether it's a pair of tiger print pumps you're after or a gem studded nose ring, Lakeview caters to all manner of shopaholics.

The Alley is a Chicago institution serving the Lakeview neighborhood's pierced and tattooed clientele. With accessories ranging from boots to belts to buttons, The Alley has been outfitting Chicago's alternative crowd for decades. Discriminating resale shoppers know that Ragstock stocks the finest quality in used clothing. They've done the rummaging for you so you can skip the garage sales and seedier thrift stores and go straight for an excellent selection of second-hand goods that still have a long life ahead of them. Strange Cargo is the place to shop for the most unique t-shirt designs. This Lakeview fixture is floor-to-ceiling t-shirts, in addition to other apparel and accessories, so take your time searching the racks for that perfect shirt to express your inner you -- and if you can't find it, have them make it for you (Strange Cargo is known as the place to go in Chicago for creating your own t-shirt designs).

There are lots of super popular stores for fashion trends in Lakeview, so it helps to have a game plan when on a shopping spree here. Be sure to check out the great clothes at Fashion Tomato and Tragically Hip, and for footwear, schedule a visit to Universal Sole, the DSW Shoe Warehouse and Dilani Shoes (for designer brands and styles).

The Lakeview neighborhood has its share of independently owned shops and boutiques, but there are also a few big box retailers as well. For example, you can deck out your kitchen, bedroom and bath with a single stop at Linens and Things. They stock just about everything you could possibly need to complete your dream home. Marshall's is another good spot to find stuff for the home as well as inexpensive clothing and footwear. Located in the heart of Lakeview's Boy's Town, Gay Mart has more than just a fitting name (Boy's Town holds the highest concentration of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual residents in Chicago). This specialty store is stocked with kitschy merchandise that caters to the GLBT crew, although anyone can find funny gifts and unusual items among its aisles.

Avid readers are covered by Lakeview's wealth of national and independent booksellers. Unabridged on Broadway is a tightly-packed bookstore bursting with reading material but for roomier browsing, head down the street to the more organized shelves of Booklegger's. There's also a branch of Borders, which stocks the latest titles in music, books and magazines. You can support the local indie scene at Reckless Records on Broadway, one of three locations in Chicago. Buy and/or sell that old vinyl and CD collection and upgrade to something new. For those interested in vintage super-hero adventures, Japanese anime, underground titles and other obscure publications, Chicago Comics has a wide selection of comics, magazines and zines to browse through.

West Lakeview is home to Antiques Row, the largest concentration of antiques stores in the Midwest. So if you're into antiques you can while away an entire afternoon strolling down Belmont Avenue and visiting the various stores there. Heading west from Ashland Avenue, you'll hit Antique Resources first. This shop sells mostly European furniture, as well as a wide selection of paintings and light fixtures. Further down Belmont, just past Damen Avenue, you'll find Father Time Antiques -- the Midwest's largest retailer of antique clocks and watches. One more block west and you can pop into Good Old Days Antiques which has a varied selection of old-fashioned furniture and appliances.

Festivals

It would be hard to outdo the Lakeview neighborhood in terms of summer festivals. For the best in live outdoor music, Lakeview hosts two annual festivals that attract music fans from all over the city. The summer kicks off with the Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival (held the first weekend of June) followed in July by the Lakeview Music Fest located at the corner of Barry and Ashland Avenues. The annual Gay Pride Parade (held the last Sunday in June) is a celebration of the city's diverse population and centers around Lakeview East's GLBT community called Boy's Town. Participants and spectators take over the streets of Boy's Town for the day-long event that marches down Halsted Street and beyond. The procession includes colorful floats, waving politicians, costumed dancers and a motley crew of contributors that show support for Chicago's great diversity.

Lakeview East also hosts Halsted Street Market Days, which encompasses six city blocks and commences every August. For over 25 years this festival has attracted thousands of visitors to its arts and craft booths, accompanied by throngs of food vendors and three stages of live entertainment.

Dining

For good and inexpensive Thai food, Lakeview has several options with Duck Walk being at the center of the action due to its location near the Red Line Belmont stop. Cozy Noodles & Rice and Thai Classic are other tasty alternatives with a price that is also right. Shiroi Hana and Matsuya are excellent recommendations for sushi that are both located on Clark Street. It's no secret these Japanese eateries crank out high-quality rolls, so don't be surprised if they are packed and you have to wait for a table.

When you're talking great deep dish pizza in Lakeview, residents swear by Art of Pizza. Get a whole pie delivered or stop in and have a slice in their small dining area. Thin crust or thick, Chicago Pizza has some of the best pizza in the city and they deliver 11am to 5am everyday.

For greasy spoon American in a traditional diner setting you'll appreciate Clarke's. It's open 24 hours and caters to every crowd. Get good old-fashioned diner fare that'll have you convinced you were sucked into a 1950s time warp at Salt & Pepper on North Clark Street. For a cheap, no-frills fast-food experience try Sparta Gyros or if you're in the mood for a bowl of homemade goodness there's no better place than the The Soupbox in Lakeview East. The laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff keep customers coming back to El Mariachi for delicious margaritas and chimichangas. Another option for dinner and a drink in Lakeview is Moxie. Moxie is more martini bar than watering hole, and their kitchen serves up delicious tapas with superior cocktails.

The Chicago Diner has been a Lakeview East landmark since it opened in the early '80s. It's one of the first (and among the few existing) completely vegetarian restaurants in the city. Order the Rueben, you'll swear it's meat! For great Swedish cuisine and a brunch that patrons have been lining up for for decades, try Ann Sather's original location on Belmont in Lakeview. Even though Ann Sather sold her restaurant in 1981 to now Alderman Tom Tunney, her spirit lives on in the recipes she helped create. There's also an Ann Sather's Broadway Cafe around the corner in Lakeview East.

Intelligentsia Coffee is a great Lakeview East neighborhood café where guests can get an exquisite cup of Joe or any type of latte drink you fancy. Around Chicago, Intelligentsia brand coffee has become almost as ubiquitous as Starbucks. It's available in many cafes and restaurants throughout the city, as well as in local grocery stores and markets. When it comes to your caffeine intake, perhaps you prefer tea to coffee. Argo Tea imports tea from all over the globe for your sipping pleasure and offers a case-full of confection treats to go with that perfect mix of natural flavors and tea leaves created especially for Argo patrons.

Nightlife

The Lakeview neighborhood is a lively spot when the sun goes down. For good music and pub food in West Lakeview, the Beat Kitchen is a great place to hang out, have a pint or two and catch a local or touring band on the back room stage. If rock and roll isn't your thing that's ok, Hungry Brain is just down the block. This subdued, dimly-lit neighborhood bar hosts live jazz on Sunday nights, a regular gig that's growing in popularity and has started to attract touring acts.

If it's just good beer, free snacks and darts you're after, head to Cody's Public House. This friendly neighborhood joint has a great beer garden, too (weather permitting, of course). In Chicago the number of Irish pubs may far outnumber the Scottish ones, but luckily we do have the Duke of Perth in Lakeview. This cozy watering hole features a variety of draft beer from around the world and a darn good menu of "authentic" Scottish fare, like the Sean Connery Burger. Ten Cat Tavern is a friendly haunt with a front bar area that features two pool tables, a small back room and, during warmer months, a shady patio out back. The Long Room is called the Long Room for a reason -- the bar alone stretches 60 feet and can accommodate up to 38 drinkers at once. Patrons come to this neighborhood joint to relax and unwind with the impressive selection of imports and microbrews.

The Gingerman may be just a block north of Wrigley Field, but surprisingly enough, it is not a sports bar. It does however attract a crowd before and after Cubs home games as well as before and after a show at the Metro, which is located next door. The Gingerman is a popular meeting place because is has pool tables in the back and a loaded jukebox to keep the music flowing all night long. The Metro is a Lakeview staple that has hosted many a young band in addition to seasoned vets of the rock and roll stage. The club opened in 1982 and has helped launch countless careers over the years -- take the Smashing Pumpkins for instance, who played their first show within the Metro's hallowed walls. Smart Bar is a part of the Metro complex. This underground dance club occupies the lower level of the building and is a hotspot for local and international DJs. They spin the night away for throngs of revelers, making Smart Bar one of Chicago's hippest weekend go-tos.

For live music seven nights a week no other venue packs 'em in like the Elbo Room, known for booking up-and-coming musical talent. There's a full service bar on the main floor but downstairs is where the rock happens in the club's intimate music room. Schubas is another mid-size venue in Lakeview that features newbie local bands as well as out-of-town acts that aren't quite able to fill The Vic down the street. The Vic is a nearly century-old theater that attracts some of the best touring rock bands out there. It is also the longtime host of the popular Brew & View, where you can order beer while watching second run movies for cheap.

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