Directly on the border of Old Town and the Gold Coast, and less than a half mile from Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan, the Sedgwick Brown Line stop lies in close proximity to beautiful views both natural and man-made. But most folks aren't heading to the Sedgwick station to gaze, but rather to shop and dine. Whatever the reason for your journey, the myriad options around the Sedgwick stop make this one trip worth taking.
Panhandler rating: Not a one.
Safety rating: Right around the station it is a little secluded, but there is no reason to feel unsure of oneself near North and Wells.
Where to chill
Corcoran's Pub and Grill
The menu at Corcoran's can deliver whatever your taste buds are asking for, unless of course you don't happen to like bar food, in which case you're out of luck. If you want to snack on something that isn't alcoholic, you can select from such popular pub classics like mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, spinach and artichoke dip and buffalo wings. Dishing cheap eats and operating at full capacity late into the night, Corcoran's grill isn't revolutionizing the culinary world.
However, that can be forgiven, because folks fill the bar at Corcoran's every night for what comes in the glass, not what's on the plate. At Corcoran's, you can soak in a great atmosphere as well as slurp down some cold beers. The simple layout (a long bar on one side of the narrow room, a row of booths on the other) and dim lighting make for an excellent no-frills drinking experience. The beer garden in the restaurant's rear is a good option as the weather warms. Sitting five blocks from the station, Corcoran's is still close enough to walk to when the temperature is still hugging single digits. (Full disclosure: This pub has no affiliation with your correspondent, though he does find the coincidence amusing.)
For the artiste
Chicago Historical Society
The Chicago Historical Society is not among the city's handful of world-famous museums, but it occupies a special place in the local landscape. Chicago is a city with a rich, colorful history, and no museum does more to bring this to life than the one sitting at the corner of North and Clark. From the city's frontier roots through its travails with Mrs. O'Leary's bovine arsonist to its explosive growth as an industrial hub to its present day status as a world-renowned metropolis, the Chicago Historical Society can tell you all you need to know about how Chicago grew up. Particularly illuminating is the section on the Great Fire: Not only does this permanent exhibit demonstrate the massive scale of destruction wrought in the 19th-century disaster, it also shows how the city's tragic destruction also paved the way for Chicago to be rebuilt as a modern city, with wood being replaced by iron and steel.
The Chicago Historical Society may not be on a weekend tourist's short list of sites to see, but the museum is a must for any resident. It provides a wealth of information about the Windy City's maturation and character, an experience that you just can't buy. This is particularly true on Mondays, when the $5 entrance fee is waved.
No wallet needed
Sedgwick's
It may be more than a year away (not to mention more than an ocean away), but I've already come down with a hard case of World Cup fever. I suspect it will only get worse, as the American side stakes its claim as a member of the world's best teams. And when Landon Donovan and his mates make their way to Germany alongside Ronaldo, Luis Figo and David Beckham in 2006, I know right where I will be: Sedgwick's, which modestly calls itself America's best soccer bar. I'll take them at their word. With dozens of televisions and a lively atmosphere, I don't know of a better place to hoist a glass, chant "ole" with a room full of hooligans and watch world-class athletes dance across the pitch.
Even if soccer isn't your sport, Sedgwick's won't bore you. The beer tastes the same no matter what's on the TV, and Sedgwick's taps are always flowing. Golden Tee and pool are welcome diversions, and the billiards are free Monday nights. You may find more in common with your neighbors along the bar, however, if you don't mind swearing at the screen for Manchester United. If the trip to Germany isn't going to happen in 2006, than any World Cup vacation should start and end at Sedgwick's.
Good for groups
Las Pinatas
Let's see: A Mexican restaurant named Las Pinatas opens up, and the bosses are trying to figure out how to decorate. Hanging a score of pinatas from the ceiling is certainly a bit obvious, but in the case of this spicy Old Town joint, it was the right call. Pinata's has all of the traditional Mexican fare you would expect, including burritos, tacos, flautas and especially enchiladas, which it features in four different plates. The menu truly shines, not so much in its standard Mexican food, but in its house specialties, a list of 20 meals that distinguish Las Pinatas from its counterparts around the city. Foremost among the specialties are the huachinango a la veracruzana, a sauteed red snapper served under a special tomato sauce that comes straight from Veracruz, and the banderillas, skewers of beef and vegetable chunks served in their own delicious juices. Pinatas serves all of its meals with sides of rice and beans.
Pinatas also offers a long list of beer, wine and liquor to wash down the food. Pitchers of sangria and margaritas will help the whole table leave with a smile. At the end of the meal, the best desserts are alcoholic coffee drinks, with fantastic names like the Spanish fly and the brave bull.
In-the-know spot
Fresh Choice
I fell in love once, several years ago in a state far away, not with a woman but with a smoothie. A perfect blend of strawberries, bananas, and artificial ice cream, my smoothie had such rich texture, such timeless taste, I still can't get it out of my mind. It was love at first suck, and in many ways my life since then has just been one attempt after another to find another one like it. I still haven't, but I came closer than ever before at Fresh Choice. These smoothies are about as good as any you will find. Name your own ingredients or choose one of the six pre-designed recipes, but whatever you do, you can't go wrong.
Fresh Choice goes beyond merely what you can pull through a straw. Baked subs and soups are as fresh as the jungle after rainy season, and salad eaters have a small handful of choices as well. None of the options will suck a huge whole in the wallet, either. A sub with a 24-ounce smoothie for dessert will clock in at around $11.
Cheap eats
Old Jerusalem
Old Jerusalem's list of Lebanese cuisine is both long and tempting. The feta cheese plate, baba ganouj and falafel are three appetizers that stand out above the rest in a menu crowded with appetizing options. Kabobs and hommos plates dominate the entree menu, with beef, chicken, lamb and shawirma (a recipe mixing roasted lamb and beef) versions. The entrees are served on rice pilaf with Lebanese bread and salad on the side. Lighter eaters can nibble on veggie plates and sandwiches. Old Jerusalem creates a mellow atmosphere with its three, off-white walls, one of dull brown brick, and dark brown wood floors and tables. The sparsely decorated eatery is not merely for eating in, however; the restaurant does a thriving carryout business, and for a quick meal that doesn't empty your wallet, Old Jerusalem is unbeatable.
Sure bet for shopping
Old Town Motorcycle Club
Maybe you recently read "Hell's Angels" or watched "Easy Rider," or maybe you're just in the midst of a midlife crisis, but you can't get the idea of tearing down the highway in a motorcycle out of your head. There's nothing to be ashamed of. A lust for the open road should be encouraged, even nurtured. There's no better place to nurse a passion for two-wheelers than Old Town Motorcycle Club.
This enormous Old Town space houses a handful of bikes, scooters, jet skis and rack upon rack of motorcycle gear and apparel. Motorcycles by Triumph and Victory decorate the showroom. Christmas gifts are easy to come by, whether you are buying for an experienced rider, a novice just learning or just a friend who needs a little more edge in his wardrobe. The clothes run the gamut from hard-core Hells Angels looks to just-want-to-keep-warm-and-still-look-hip sweatshirts by West Coast Choppers. Leather lovers will find plenty of choice options, but most of the clothes are more subdued. The Sedgwick stop is the best way to come to Old Town Motorcycle Shop, but the happiest patrons are leaving on a new motorcycle.
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