CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lakeview, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, River North, Edgewater, Evanston

Lakeview: Houndstooth Saloon is celebrating their 11th anniversary this weekend! Houndstooth has been serving up Southern-inspired American food, an extensive draft beer list, and craft cocktails since 2006. On Saturday night, they’ll celebrate their birthday with their customers by offering 11-cent (yes you read that right, 11 CENTS!) Smirnoff cocktails and $1.11 Bell’s Brewery drafts. Stop in for cheap drinks and good, down home Southern food!

Bucktown and Wicker Park: The StopAlong (1812 N. Milwaukee Ave.), a popular pizza joint in Wicker Park, is kicking off summer with a bang this weekend! To show off their new patio and the return of warmer temperatures, StopAlong will be hosting a Free Slice Day this Sunday from 2 to 5 pm. While supplies last, customers can choose between a free slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza (one slice per person). Bell’s Brewery will be hosting a beer tasting as well, offering samples of their summer seasonals: Oberon, Pooltime, and Two Hearted. Get your pizza and beer on!

Lincoln Park: A new weekly music series opened this Wednesday on the Patio at Café Brauer. Called “Locally Sourced”, the series is programmed by the Old Town School of Folk Music. Music runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm each Wednesday and is free to the public. Music is scheduled from now until August 30. Check out the full line-up here!

River North: The Wit (201 N State St.) is hosting a free summer movie series at their rooftop bar. They’ll also offer free popcorn, as well as items for purchase from the bar. The series begins on June 26 at dusk with the Oscar-winning La La Land. Here’s the full summer lineup! July 3: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, July 17: Office Christmas Party, July 31: The Lego Batman Movie, August 21: Kong Skull Island, August 28: Fifty Shades Darker.

Edgewater: Are you a beer lover? Do you live on the North Side? Well, get excited, because Empirical Brewery is bringing a new brewpub to Rogers Park! Located at 1330 W Morse Ave, the new spot will have its soft opening this week. Empirical will be adding some new beer cocktails to its menu. One that caught my eye is the Gamma-Ray Ginger Mule: Gamma-Ray Ginger Wheat beer, lime cordial, and vodka. The bar will also offer wine and cider on tap! The menu is heavily infused with beer as well. The house burger is served with a Kolsch cheese sauce and their warm Brussel sprout salad is topped with a Cream Ale vinaigrette. Hours are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12 pm to 10 pm, Thursdays through Saturdays from 12 pm to midnight, and Sundays from 12 pm to 8 pm.

Evanston: Are you looking for some cultural engagement this weekend? Check out Yellowman, a 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist play showing in Evanston. The play explores the negative associations of male blackness and the effect these racial stereotypes have on black women. The show runs from June 17 through July 2 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center (927 Noyes St.) You can purchase tickets in advance online for $15 here, or for $20 at the door.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO