LIL’ BUDDY’S BLOG – MY FAVORITE CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS – LAKEVIEW!

LIL’ BUDDY’S BLOG – MY FAVORITE CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS – LAKEVIEW!

THE CHICAGO REAL ESTATE MARKET AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG!

You know if you look real close you’ll see my eyes are actually GREEN! Scary boys and girls!

Did you see the Cub Game versus the Houston Astros on Wednesday night September 12th! They did win but my Daddy and I had to each pound down a whole bottle of Heart Attack pills as our Closer Ryan Dempster had a close call at the bottom of the ninth. Well we did win 3-2 and with only 17 games remaining in the 2007 Cubs Season It’s still possible we’ll be playing baseball here on the North Side in October. (Hopefully it will be a Major League Game we’ll be playing not just a little game of Doggie-Catch!)

I’m pictured here with my nearly-authentic Cub hat from 1953 the same year Cub Legend Ernie Banks played at the Friendly Confines for the first time.

Being the Official Dean’s Team Four-Paw Ambassador of Everything Chicago and Chicago Real Estate not a day goes by when I am not asked about my favorite neighborhoods in the city. One of my favorite neighborhoods to visit is the Northside Chicago Neighborhood of Lakeview. Bounded by Diversey Parkway on the South Montrose on the North Ravenswood Avenue on the West and Lake Michigan on the east this bustling and diverse community is only about 4 miles from Downtown Chicago and the Loop. Nearly 95000 Chicagoans call Lakeview home making it one of the most populous neighborhoods in the city.

Before I tell you about a few of the dozens upon dozens of restaurants clubs and music venues that call the Lakeview Neighborhood home I’d like to tell you about two of my favorite parks in the community. The first or course is Wrigley Field home of Chicago Cubs baseball every season since 1916. Actually built for the old Chicago Whales of the long-defunct Federal League the park retains much of it’s charm and style from way way back in the day. The famous ivy on the outfield wall dates back to 1937 when local legend and long-time Cub Fan Bill Veeck (as in "wreck") Junior planted it at the direction of his father then Cubs Executive Bill Veeck Senior.

You know the Cubs have played here for over 90 years but believe it or not much to most Cub Fan’s disappointment they haven’t brought a World Series Victory to Chicago since 1908 – six years before this old gem of a ballpark was even built! In fact the last World Series the Chicago Cubs participated in was 1945 the same year World War II ended. That’s 62 years or 434 Dog Years ago! (Geez most of the people and NONE of the dogs reading this blog WERE EVEN AROUND way back then!) It’s still a great place to take in a ball game and enjoy a cold Old Style Beer or two or three as I have with my Daddy for the last couple of summers!

Close behind Wrigley Field is Wiggly Field or as officially known Grace Noethling Park at 2645 N. Sheffield Avenue about 1 1/4 miles due south of where the Cubs play. It not much of a park for humans to look at being near the Red Line L tracks and mainly concreted with just a few trees and small patches of grass. To us dogs however – IT IS HEAVEN. One of the first off-leash dog parks in Chicago the rules of behavior here for humans are simple – no female dogs in heat (TOO BAD!) no more than two dogs per human all dogs must have current shots and all humans must pick up after their dogs because we dogs don’t usually pick up after ourselves you know! Last Fall my Dad and I visited here for the first time. I must admit I was a bit scared and spent about a half hour hiding under a bench with the other smaller dogs. Got my courage up as time went on however and ventured out. Now every time I go to Wiggly – I OWN THE PLACE!

Now about those cool restaurants and clubs – there are literally DOZENS of good ones so I’ll just pick out my favorites here.

Want a great breakfast tasty lunch or economical delicious dinner? Head to Ann Sather 929 W. Belmont. Their Cinnamon Rolls and Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries are legendary! The coffee is hot the service always friendly. Now owned by current 44th Ward Chicago Alderman Tom Tunney who will often greet you at the front door plan on a 30-45 minute wait for brunch on the weekends.

One of the best places for a Mexican Lunch or Dinner along with a great Margarita at a very reasonable price is the El Jardin Café 3401 N. Clark Street. Great Fajitas Burritos Homemade Salsa and Guacamole. (Dogs don’t eat too much now – you know what too much Mexican food does for your sensitive tummies!)

Leona’s 3215 N. Sheffield. Great Italian and American Food Casual Atmosphere and Attentive Service – hallmarks at Leona’s Lakeview since the place opened in 1950. In the same family all these 57 years try the Romano Crusted Chicken the Homemade Lasagna and both Thin and Thick Crust Pizza. A few outdoor tables in the summertime too – some overlook Sheffield Avenue some have a great view of the Red Line L. Great variety of beer and wine too!

One of the first Thai Restaurants on the Northside was P.S. Bangkok 3345 N. Clark Street. Like it hot? Try their famous Panang Curry. Their Charcoal Chicken – skinless and de-boned delicious as well. Great Pad Thai as well and don’t forget Sticky Rice with Mango for dessert when in season.

The Goose Island Brewery Wrigleyville. Located just a foul ball south of the Friendly Confines at 3535 N. Clark Street this brew pub offers as many as a dozen variety of custom brews. Great sandwiches appetizers and 9 oversized TV’s for Cub games and other sporting events. (Hey you dogs of age try their India Pale Ale with a Brat! Whew-oof!!!)

Looking for a bar that has it all? Check out Sluggers 3540 N. Clark Street. In addition to the large bar with full menu and summertime patio on the main level Sluggers offers batting cages a golf simulator a ski simulator and a raucous Dueling Pianos review each weekend! ESPN has named it one of the three best sports bars in the country!

Located directly across from the Friendly Confines at 1059 W. Addison Street (Wrigley itself is at 1060 W. Addison Street) The Cubby Bear has been serving Old Style Beer and offering great Live Music since 1953 – when the Cubs shared Wrigley with The Chicago Bears! Loads of TV’s for sporting events too. Expect very big crowds especially on game days and on weekends.

Metro/Chicago also known as Cabaret Metro at 3730 N. Clark Street is one of the best places in the city to see up-and-coming rock and alternative music acts. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2007 you’ll find no food here – just great music in a larger yet still quite intimate setting. Reserve concert tickets early especially for name acts.

Last but not least here’s our favorite neighborhood haunt – also the official gathering spot for the Wrigley Field Bleacher Fans after each Cub Game. The Full Schilling just south of Metro/Chicago at 3724 N. Clark Street offers a fully-stocked bar late hours a DJ on the weekends plenty of TV’s for sports – even free hot dogs with a Cub ticket stub on game days!

Want to get downtown? Hop onto the Brown Line L with stops at Paulina or Belmont Stations or beginning in Spring 2008 the reconstructed Southport or Addison Stations. Or the Red Line L at the Sheridan Addison or Belmont Stations. It’s only about 20 minutes on the L to downtown – very close with a ton of transportation options. Fare is less than $2 with ChicagoCard and ChicagoCard Plus Farecards from the CTA.

Each Summer the Lakeview Neighborhood hosts a number or Street Festivals and Community Events. Chicago’s Annual Gay Pride Parade kicks off each summer near Broadway Clark Street and Diversey Parkway. The Lakeview Music & Art Festival happens annually each July. North Halsted Market Days on Halsted Street between Belmont and Addison celebrates the diversity of the Lakeview Neighborhod in Chicago. The Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival each June hosts a number of local and regional bands – all FREE!

Considering a move to the Lakeview Neighborhood of Chicago? Hop on the EL to Western Avenue walk one block south and scooch in to Dean’s Team World Headquarters at 4601 N. Western Avenue – Keller Williams Fox Realty. Sniff around for us anytime!

Here are some recent home and condo trends in Lakeview –

LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY CHICAGO IL (SOURCE: MLSNI AREA MARKET SURVEY DATA)

PROPERTY TYPE # CURR AVAIL AVG PRICE SOLD LAST 12 MOS AVG SALE PRICE AVG MKT TIME

CONDOS 1206 $406782 2493 $359110 102 DAYS

SF HOMES 147 $1558691 142 $1166208 148 DAYS

2-4 UNIT BLDGS 96 $861164 112 $802618 100 DAYS

Have any thoughts comments and experiences in Lakeview? Hey let us know with your barks growls or yelps!

YOUR ACE REPORTER ON FOUR PAWS

BUDDY HOLLY MOSS