City Cast Chicago lead producer Simone Alicea here 👋 I’m always hanging out in Andersonville, so I wanted to share some of my favorites from the North Side neighborhood.
Andersonville started out as a Swedish enclave in the mid-19th century. Then in the 1980s, many LGBTQ Chicagoans settled there as rents and home prices rose in nearby Lakeview.
Clark Street is now one of the city’s most vibrant business corridors, with a mix of longtime neighborhood staples and Andersonville newcomers.
Something to Eat
Date night? Hopleaf or Anteprima, especially their patios in the summer. Brunch? Big Jones for your in-laws or Svea for your hangover. A bite and dessert? Middle East Bakery or First Slice Pie.
Something to See
Take in the neighborhood’s Swedish history with public art and the Swedish flag water tower. Check out the Swedish American Museum before grabbing a drink (it’s almost glogg season!) at Simon’s Tavern.
Something to Do
Shop until you drop. Thrift hidden gems at Belmont Army Vintage, Woolly Mammoth, Brown Elephant, and more. Go artisanal at Andersonville Galleria and Five Elements Home. Get reading at AlleyCat Comics and Women & Children First.
Know your way around Galewood? Garfield Ridge? Forest Glen? Let’s talk! Email chicago@citycast.fm.
