I wasn’t entirely convinced that Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood existed after my failure a few months ago to find it. But this time, my stepdaughter – an enthusiastic Chicago transplant, originally from Oklahoma – was on board to show me exactly where it is. And it does indeed exist and is a fun place to explore on a sunny afternoon (or any other kind of afternoon). To get there from Lake Shore Drive, you take Irving Park west to Lincoln Ave (northwest) and at first there’s not much of great interest but then it gets more interesting as you get to Lawrence Ave (see map below), especially when you walk through the gates heralding the last block that has diagonal parking. Among the highlights in this neighborhood of well-groomed children and well-groomed dogs:
- Krause Music Store, a landmark building designed in 1922 by Louis Sullivan with gorgeous ornate facade of grey-green terra cotta (see photo below). I’d love to see it at night – there are light bulbs embedded in the facade. Word has it this is Sullivan’s last work – and was recently renovated.
- Gene’s Sausage, an old-fashioned sausage shop with lots of modern-day imported packaged foods from Germany and Eastern Europe. Long line at the meat and cheese counter. The baked goods looked yummy too.
- A Secret Closet – a resale shop with such good-and-reasonably-priced stuff that every gal in our group (all four of us) bought something. I bought a necklace. My step-daughter, a dress; my daughter a shirt; and my sister-in-law, earrings.
- Selmarie Cafe – cheerful cafe with coffee and pastries overlooking a pretty square where the well-groomed children and dogs gather.
- Merz Apothecary, dating back to 1875, which very wide selection of lotions and potions. I asked in particular about my favorite scent, Bergamot (which stems from the oil of the Bergamot orange which is lemon-yellow and found in southern Italy and France), and was directed to no less than three items containing it. (Including lovely smelling soap.)
- Davis theater, old-fashioned facade, up-to-date films.
- There’s a lot more info at http://www.lincolnsquare.org including details about the annual “Spring Wine Stroll” on Thursday march 29.
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Lincoln Square Map
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