West Side Best Side? Explore North Lawndale to Garfield Park
Host Jacoby Cochran and freelance journalist Natalie Frazier stop by Comercio Popular in Lawndale to talk about Natalie’s family’s history on the West Side. From growing up in Austin, visiting granny in Garfield Park, and putting down roots in North Lawndale, Natalie shares with us the pride she feels in her community and her desire to see it thrive. She also shares her favorite things to do, see, and eat in her neighborhoods.
Spots Natalie Recommends:
Monday Coffee @ Garfield Park Conservatory
Firehouse Community Arts Center
Check out our other neighborhood guides for Rogers Park, Uptown, and Edgewater and for Beverly, Morgan Park, and Mount Greenwood.
Want to take us around YOUR neighborhood? Or have recs on where to go? Email us at chicago@citycast.fm.
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm
Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Why It’s Totally Worth Visiting Every Chicago Neighborhood
Today we’re talking with Chicagoans who have made it their mini-mission to visit every community area. And they have all taken very diffe...
School Board Passes Amended Budget. Plus, Vote on Park Improvements
Last week, Chicago’s school board voted 11-7 to pass an amended $10 billion budget. To avoid hundreds of layoffs, the board budgeted for...
New Mayoral Candidates, More Grocery Closures, and Chicago’s Rainy Summer
On Tuesday, candidates hoping to get on February’s ballot were able to start gathering nominating petitions. That includes folks who want...
Your Guide to August 2026 in Chicago
August in Chicago is packed with reasons to visit all corners of the city, including the Bud Billiken Parade, Northalsted Market Days, th...
CPS Budget Woes, Chi's Best Chicken Wings, and the Esteem Awards
The Board of Education is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a Chicago Public Schools budget plan that would lay off 760 teachers and 801 teac...
Chicago Renter Protections, Edgewater Restricts E-Scooters, and Lollapalooza Weekend
Right now, Chicago’s City Council is weighing exactly how to update the city’s 40-year-old Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. The...
Why Chicagoans Feel Like Crime Is Up. Plus, Archdiocese Sues Accusers
A public opinion poll from the University of Chicago indicates many Chicagoans feel like violent crime rates are rising even though the d...
Can Chicago Save Save-A-Lot Stores? Plus, Safety Net Hospitals Are Struggling
Seven Save-A-Lot grocery stores across the South and West Sides could close their doors as early as Saturday if Yellow Banana, the compan...
How To Check For Chicagoland Ticks. Plus, Amusement Parks, and Reboots We Want
Now that the smoke has largely cleared out, it is the perfect time to get outdoors and into nature. Whether you’re planning a quick hike...
Are Parking Meters Connected to ICE? Plus, Chicago Therapy Collective and Chicago’s Busiest Weekend
A plan to sell Chicago’s 36,000 parking meters remains stalled in the City Council. A group of alders is critical of the potential buyer'...