CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Logan Square, Gold Coast, Oak Park
Lakeview: A new gelato shop is opening in the Lakeview neighborhood next month. Frio Gelato, an Argentinean shop, will fit right into the “Argentine Alley” that includes an Argentinean steakhouse and empanada restaurant. This is the second outpost of Frio Gelato (located at 3721 N. Southport Ave.), with the first in Evanston. Their Argentinean gelato is billed as a cross between regular ice cream and rich Italian gelato. Their flavors are unique and varied. My eye was caught by the Malbec con Frutos Rojos: malbec wine with berries; as well as the Tramontana: vanilla streaked with milk caramel and chocolate chips. Check out more information about this exciting new venue on their website.
Lincoln Park: A new exhibit has opened at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park. “Our House: Rethinking Home in a Changing Climate” opened last Saturday. Geared towards kids, the exhibit is very hands-on. It encourages children to think about how homes will deal with global warming. On April 6, there will be a special forum called “Thriving in a Changing Climate” with experts giving their opinions. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is very affordable, coming in at $9 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, $6 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, and free for children under 3.
Bucktown and Wicker Park: Ipsento 606, a Bucktown coffee shop (1813 N Milwaukee), has been working on their doughnut recipe for months. Owner Tim Taylor thinks they’ve “finally nailed it”. To celebrate, they will be giving away free doughnuts this Friday, March 31. The doughnuts are made from scratch with milled kamut (an ancient, high-nutrient grain) and sweet potato, and are fried in coconut oil. Starting Friday, they will be offering a slew of new doughnut flavors, including: chocolate ganache and pistachio, cinnamon and sugar, blueberry glaze, lemon, and a special flavor based on their latte. This doughnut will be flavored with honey, espresso, coconut, and cayenne. Customers will receive a free doughnut with any purchase on Friday. The shop opens at 7 am and will serve doughnuts until 2 pm.
Logan Square: Logan Square’s restaurant scene continues to expand with the addition of the hip new Indian spot, The Spice Room. Formerly Two Lions Pub and Grill, The Spice Room is located at 2906 W. Armitage Ave. The menu is large and incredibly varied. Their website bills their food as “modern interpretations of classic dishes using high-quality ingredients”. Glancing through the menu, I’m intrigued by the classic Butter Chicken: chicken cooked in a tomato based sauce with fragrant spices, butter and cream. I also want to try the Keema Samosa, filled with spiced minced lamb and peas. Hours are daily from 4-10 pm. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
Gold Coast: Renowned chef Derek Rylon (of Lincoln Park’s Batter & Berries) has just opened a new restaurant, Palette, in the Gold Coast neighborhood. Located at 1204 N. State St., the menu is varied and eclectic. During the day, Rylon will serve waffle flights and crawfish omelets. For the evening menu, he promises upscale dishes like lobster spaghetti with sautéed herb sauce, crab cakes with pineapple chutney, and filet mignon with lump crab and a red wine glaze. A waffle flight is just $11 and will be available until 5 pm on weekends. You can also make your waffles “boozy”, by pairing them with a shot for $3. Predicted hours are from 9 am to midnight on weekdays and 9 am to 2 am on weekends. Find more information on their website.
Oak Park: Looking for your next musical fix? The Fantasticks opens this weekend at Madison Street Theatre, presented by Concordia Collective. This timeless musical tells the story of two young lovers, their parents, and the journey we all take through the growing pains of hurt and betrayal. Performances are this Friday, March 31, at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm. Next weekend’s performances are the same time, on April 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively. Student and senior tickets are $15 and general admission tickets are $20. Buy yours today, here!
RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
