iO Considering a Move from Wrigleyville to Lincoln Square

The owner of the internationally known improvisational comedy center, iO Theater, is considering a move to Lincoln Square. “I like the alderman and he wanted me there,” said Charna Halpern. “I think it’s a hip neighborhood.” First reported by CBS 2 Chicago, iO Theater (formerly known as the Improv Olympic), must leave Wrigleyville to make [...]

Festival-A-Gogo!

This weekend, draw the shades, slather on the sunscreen, and head out the door. The area will be bustling with excitement and a whole lot to do. The Old Town School of Folk Music takes over Lincoln Square with the Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, while BenFest 2010 (sponsored by the St. Benedict community) covers [...]

Beautification Begins on Irving Park, Clark Streetscaping Moves Forward

Yesterday Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th), Chicago Department of Transportation representatives, and Northcenter business leaders gathered at the intersection of Lincoln, Damen, and Irving Park to break ground on the new Irving Park streetscape. Expected to take 180 days, the $6 million beautification effort along Irving Park between Western and Damen includes aesthetic upgrades and design [...]

Lincoln Square Arch

Power Outage in Northcenter

Northcenter residents west of Western Avenue have been reporting power outages since 4 p.m. today. Power has not affected traffic lights on Western. The Center Square Journal received numerous reports by phone and Twitter from residents without power. Residents trying to beat the 90-degree heat opened their windows and doors and poured out onto sidewalks, [...]

Details Unveiled for Lawrence Avenue Streetscape

Lawrence Avenue is yet another street in the 47th Ward that will undergo a major facelift (as previously reported), and now more details of the project have emerged. Starting next spring, the Chicago Department of Transportation will transform the section of Lawrence between Western and Ashland avenues into a three-lane street, with one lane headed [...]

Pizza Art Café

Pizza Art Caf? is not your typical pizzeria. The cozy BYOB near the Rockwell El stop is run by Jasmin ?Jasko? Bekto, a Bosnian who learned how to work a pizza oven in Milan. So you might be surprised to see that your order of bruschetta comes out as a chewy loaf of ciabatta bread [...]

Our Big Survey Drawing Winner!

Over 100 of you completed our first ever reader survey, and almost that many entered our drawing for a $25 gift certificate from Provenance Food & Wine. But only one person could win our drawing, and that lucky person was Deirdre Maeve Smith from Lincoln Square. You are our lucky person for the day, Deirdre! [...]

Family Grounds Cafe Provides Kid-Focused Fun

Most moms and dads out there have gotten “the look.” Waiting in line for your extra large quadruple-shot latte?sweat dripping down your brow, a screaming toddler in one arm and another pulling every juice box and milk carton out of the cooler?you look up in search of salvation, only to be met with disapproving, “what-would-possess-you-to-bring-those-kids-to-my-coffee-haven” [...]

The Bike Enthusiast

Name: Rachael Huttner What neighborhood she lives in: Ravenswood Where we saw her: Near the intersection of North Lincoln and West Eastwood avenues What do you like about the neighborhood? To begin with, I really love the neighborhood. I always wanted to live here since I knew it existed. I like how it’s quiet?but not [...]

Folk and Roots Festival Main Tent Lineup

The Old Town School of Folk Music knows how to throw a party! Since its inception in 1998, the school’s annual Chicago Folk and Roots Festival has shaken things up in Welles Park. For those of you whose hips are already swaying and toes are already tapping in anticipation of next weekend?s music lovers? extravaganza, [...]

Are You Staying North on the Fourth?

Our Northcenter block started the Fourth of July festivities a little early this year. Late Tuesday evening a loud ?BOOM? pulsated through closed windows, bringing forth throngs of sleepy-eyed neighbors to their front lawns. Six patrol cars and a bomb squad unit later, it appeared as though the culprit was an M-80 (or two) thrown [...]

City Brings Fourth of July Fireworks to North Side

This year, in lieu of the traditional July 3 fireworks at the Taste of Chicago, the City of Chicago will stage three smaller scale displays along the lakefront on Sunday, July 4. The North Side fireworks show will be viewable between Montrose Beach and Foster Avenue Beach (5200 N. Lake Shore Drive). It starts at [...]