Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Articles Sections >> Arts + Words Bars + Clubs Dating Festivals Fitness Food Lifestyle Music Theater Travel + Tourism Who's Who > View All Cheap Thrills Green Thumb

Damen (Blue)

The spot that doesn't stop.

Tuesday Jan 11, 2005.     By Kate Schwartz

Lifestyle Feed

With late-night eateries Swank Frank and Flash Taco anchoring two of Wicker Park's infamous "six corners," this is one neighborhood that pumps out the burritos for bar- and club-weary twentysomethings come 2 a.m. And while those are spots that the Jagerbomb aficionado should keep in his mental Rolodex, there's an endless supply of great restaurants, watering holes and shops worth mentioning. Here are a few more.

Panhandler rating: You're more likely to hear the random wolf wail or saxophone solo than "gotta quarter?"

Safety rating: Use those well-honed street smarts and you'll fare well.

In-the-know spot
Olivia's Market
Finally, a place in Wicker Park to pick up eggs…or Spanish Manchego cheese. In a neighborhood replete with great spots to go out for dinner and drinks, there's been a painful lack of places that support your at-home culinary efforts, making Olivia's Market a more than welcome addition. Though modest in size, the store stocks a full range of products in proportions slim enough to keep everything fresh and crisp. Grab a basket and get your fill of packaged olives by the pound (in country cured black, nicoise, tapas cocktail and green with herbs varieties), chicken sausage, artisanal cheeses (featuring helpful, handwritten signs that point out flavors and smart pairings), Cindy's Kitchen salad dressing, Argo tea, an impressive number of designer barbecue sauces, plenty of soy products and mod drinks like Izze.

The thoughtful selection sets Cascade next to environmentally safe Seventh Generation products, making it easy to grab Ziploc baggies along with your spinach and Scharffen Berger chocolate; a small frozen foods section, rack of magazines worth reading and delicate flower arrangements round out the offerings. When you sidle over to the single checkout area, whose surface is made to look like a bright butcher block countertop, be sure to reach down and grab from the bins of 10-cent "penny candy."

Dinner-date destination
Blue Fin
Bump the start of your nighttime world into the dinner hour at Blue Fin. With a stream of techno as constant as most clubs, ambience takes on new meanings at this sushi bar-cum-lounge. Tables flocked with votive candles beckon to twosomes, while a raised platform in the rear provides seating for groups.

Designer appetizers include the Heart Attack (deep-fried jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and spicy salmon) and the Pink Lady (teardrop-shaped slivers of bigeye tuna wrapped around unagi and avocado). A modest number of teriyaki, udon noodle and cooked fish entrees cater to non-sushi eaters. Those with a hankering for the good stuff will likely bypass the standard but solid maki menu and head straight to the roster of "Blue Fin" maki. Rolls run $9-$13, and include the Black Dragon (scallops with spicy mayo wrapped in unagi, avocado and black tobiko) and Spicy Kani Tuna (spicy tuna and tempura crunches over spicy Alaskan king crab). At-the-right-price lunch specials include a $10 miso soup, spicy tuna maki and spider maki combo.

Arena for the a.m.
Half & Half
If skim milk was Starbucks, then half & half would be, well, Half & Half. After all, there's nothing watered down about this convenient coffeeshop, literally located steps from the L. Those rushing to catch the train can't help but spare a minute to get a fresh cuppa joe (a refreshing $2 for a large, at 20 ounces), which is always raring to go by 6 a.m. Picky about your morning libations? There's no shortage of the specialty drinks, thanks to flavor and white chocolate shots for your coffee and the "make mine with soy" potential of the drinks. On the icier side, you'll find fresh fruit smoothies, milk shakes, fresh lemonade and Naked Juice drinks.

The small, neon green storefront lends itself to the to-go crowd, but the handful of tables inside are certainly well suited for the causal breakfast or lunch rendezvous. The real hours of lounging set in during the summertime, where orange tiki umbrellas provide shade and people watching (the L empties out every few minutes for your viewing pleasure) that's hard to beat. Choose from a variety of wraps and sandwiches tailored to the morning and afternoon hours, like an English muffin sandwich with egg, turkey sausage and cheddar; and the Greek wrap with zucchini, red peppers, cucumber, spinach, kalamata olives, red onion, feta and hummus. Salads, soups, quesadillas and pastries are also available.

Cheap eats
Santullo's Eatery
New York transplants, rejoice. Tasty thin crust pizza does exist within the deep dish that is Chicago. Santullo's serves the foldable goodness by the slice in cheese, sausage and pepperoni varieties for just $3.25 (cheaper than that last beer you wisely didn't order). Groups can opt for the extra-large thin crust pizza; at $17.50, you'll get your fill for less. Customize with portabella mushrooms, goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and more.

If you're looking to head even farther east, it's simple to cross the Atlantic, thanks to European-style eats like the Caprese salad (tomato, mozzarella and basil topped with olive oil and pesto) and a range of meat and cheese-filled Italian sandwiches that top out at $5.25. Homemade tiramisu, sorbet and gelato provide a sweet finish. While its late hours and affordable prices make it a smart post-bar stop, Budweiser and Bud Light on draft and Sierra Nevada and Moosehead bottles make it easy to kick the evening off right. Delivery available.

Where to chill
Ginbucks
Ginbucks, located on an up-and-coming corner next to the Salud tequila lounge, has dubbed its drinks and decor "urban lodge." It does have plenty of upscale touches, like a menu that contains Cornish hen alongside burgers and a fireplace, but it comes off as a Lincoln Park lounge relocated to Milwaukee Avenue. There's a spiffed-up sports bar attitude about the place, but that isn't exactly a bad thing. It attracts a fun, young crowd and always serves cheap domestic beer. You can also have the namesake drink, a mix of gin, ginger ale and lemon juice that serves as a cheap, fizzy substitute for gin and juice, at $2 a glass. It's a comfortable spot to snag a leather barstool (or outside tables during warm weather) and throw down a few beers and relax. Expect a semi-stylish set, with men wearing jeans and a nice shirt, to invade the place on weekends