Explore Chicago
Bars, Restaurants, & Coffee
Some of our favorites near The Joinery & our home: Best Intentions Alyson's favorite bar. Great patio & great food. They gifted us a bottle of champagne the night we got engaged :) The Native A great dive bar, great patio, great Malort slushie cocktail. Cash only. Reno Our favorite spot for brunch. Get a Bloody Mary. Webster's Wine Bar Extensive wine list by the bottle or glass & a delicious small plates food menu. Margie's Candies A Chicago legend! Great ice cream sundaes & a straightforward sandwich menu. Bungalow by Middlebrow Wood fired pizza, house made beer & wine, soft serve ice cream. Caffè Umbria Right by The Joinery! Electric Mud Coffee Bar By Ramiro's old apartment and our favorite. Ipsento 606 Right off the 606 trail.
Activities
Some of our favorites all around the city: Humboldt Park An expansive green space in the middle of the city! Miles of trails to walk, a lagoon, & also the hill where we got engaged :) The 606 A 2.7 mile elevated, paved trail that starts right by our house. Walk (or run like Ramiro or bike like Alyson) through Logan Square, Bucktown, and Wicker Park & easily hop off to stop for coffee or a drink. Architecture Boat Tour (see photo above :) One of the very worthwhile tourist activities. Float along the Chicago River downtown & learn about all the buildings along the way along with some city history. Look into Wendella or Shoreline Sightseeing companies. Schuba's Tavern One of our favorite spots to catch a random concert with live music almost every night. Reckless Records New & used record shop with multiple locations. Logan Arcade Arcade bar with a huge collection of pinball machines. Where we celebrated Ramiro's birthday this year!
Explore A Neighborhood!
Logan Square One of the cities liveliest neighborhoods and the one we call home :) Start as far north as Milwaukee Ave & Kimball Ave, or the south end at Milwaukee Ave & California Ave. Wicker Park Ramiro's old neighborhood. Start at what he fondly calls "the center of the universe" at the intersection of Milwaukee Ave, North Ave, and Damen Ave. From there, walk in any direction! Humboldt Park Ramiro's other old neighborhood (Alyson's just lived in Logan the whole time). Historically a Puerto Rican neighborhood. Start at Humboldt Haus Sandwich Bar (try the West Sider) and walk south through the park or on California Ave to Augusta Blvd.