'''Lakeview''' has the lion's share of Chicago nightlife, starting with '''Wrigleyville''', home of the Chicago Cubs and major players in the city's theater and music scenes, and '''Boystown''', one of the largest and most vibrant GLBT communities in the United States. Down the street from both is the Belmont strip, where teen punks flock to shop and show off in the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot.

Further west are the neighborhoods of '''North Center''', '''Roscoe Village''' and '''St. Ben's''', which have fun, laid-back bars and restaurants.

Understand

For many years, Lakeview was so far away from the action that opening a saloon on Clark Street was a considered a peaceful retirement for convicted ex-politicians in Chicago. With the expansion of the elevated train system, however, that changed rapidly, and with the 1914 construction of Weeghman Park, later to be known as '''Wrigley Field''', Lakeview became the capital of the North Side. The Chicago Cubs, also known as the most dominant baseball franchise of the 19th century, took up residence at Wrigley and commenced the relentless lack of success that has made them famous. Other teams have slumps, but the Cubs are beyond compare, tormenting their fans a hundred years of near-misses, late collapses, and abject futility unrivaled in American professional sports. So why is Game Day still a joy in Wrigleyville? As the last franchise in baseball to install stadium lights for night games, the Cubs' schedule still features more early afternoon starts than any other team in the league, and the sun-soaked ivy walls of Wrigley Field are a pleasure no matter what the score. Today, it's a rare thing in America: a genuine neighborhood ballpark, surrounded by streets that amplify the Cubs fandom into frenzy on game day. As a nightlife destination, Wrigleyville also supports the '''Metro''', one of Chicago's foremost rock venues, and other great ones like '''Schuba's''' and '''The Vic'''. The storefront theater scene also thrives here.

But there's more to Lakeview than Wrigleyville. A short walk east is '''Boystown''', home of a cheerful, lively GLBT community and a great destination for anyone who enjoys high-energy nightlife. It's also home to the massive annual '''Pride Parade''' in June. '''Roscoe Village''' is west of Wrigley, and is popular with older gay couples and young people lured in by fashionable boutiques and the promise of a sunny day at one of the many sidewalk cafes on Southport, not to mention Chicago's premier movie revival house, the '''Music Box'''. And Lakeview embraces its inner dive bar in '''North Center''', full of converted warehouses, quality bowling alleys and cheap beer without the jocks.

Get in

By train

The CTA '''Red Line''' makes stops in Lakeview (Belmont) and Wrigleyville (Addison, Sheridan). The '''Brown Line''', further west, connects with the Red Line at Belmont, and makes additional stops in Lakeview (Diversey, Wellington - closed til 6/2009, Southport), Roscoe Village (Paulina), and North Center (Addison, Irving Park). All but Belmont and Sheridan are wheelchair accessible.

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By bus

  • '''8 Halsted''' travels through Boystown. Be warned, though, that a recent poll named this the worst bus route in the city. It's late when it shows up and goes nowhere fast.
  • '''9 Ashland''' is an all-night route.
  • '''11 Lincoln''' runs from Lincoln Park through some nice parts of Roscoe Village and North Center, connecting with the Brown Line at Paulina, and on to Lincoln Square.
  • '''22 Clark''' runs the length of the north side, but it slows to a crawl through Wrigleyville, particularly on weekends and on days of Cubs games. It runs all night long.
  • '''36 Broadway''' comes in from Uptown and carries on to the Loop.
  • '''49 Western''' runs all night through most of the city and hits the Belmont/Western intersection, near which is the best of the Roscoe Village nightlife.
  • '''76 Diversey''' runs east/west on Diversey, the border between Lincoln Park and Lakeview, and continues to Logan Square.
  • '''77 Belmont''' runs all night and connects Roscoe Village with the Belmont Red/Brown Line stop and Boystown.
  • '''80 Irving Park''' runs most of the east/west length of the city, connecting with the Brown Line in North Center and the Sheridan Red Line.
  • '''152 Addison''' travels east/west through the edge of Boystown, Wrigleyville, and on to North Center.
  • By car

    '''Lake Shore Drive''' has exits at Belmont and Addison. Beware of driving on Clark Street on weekends and during Cubs games, though. The taxis are a menace and the drunks are drawn to the middle of the street like flies to lights. You'll go nowhere fast and see Chicago at its worst in slow-motion.

    See

  • Horner Park. 741 W Montrose Ave. 1 773 478-3499. ttp://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.detail/object_id/D078CCC6-7A69-45B3-ADA9-A5002DB4DDB7.cfm. Great big wonderful park with plenty of softball fields, football and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, trees, and a nice walking path. The leafy surroundings make it a great place for the annual pumpkin patch in the fall.

  • Wunders Cemetery. 963 N Clark St. heridan Red Line. 1 773 525-4038. ree. Overshadowed by the magnificent Graceland Cemetery across the street in Uptown, the smaller, slightly overgrown Wunders was established in 1859 and features some intriguing monuments, with more of a forgotten-by-time atmosphere than its more famous neighbor. A third cemetery, '''Jewish Graceland''', is directly south.

    Do

  • Music Box. 733 N Southport Ave. outhport Brown Line. 1 773 871-6604. vening shows on weekdays, matinees and midnight movies on weekends. ickers $7.25-$9.25. ttp://www.musicboxtheatre.com/. Chicago's foremost source of cinematic delight, with classic and world-premiere independent movies and the occasional mini-festival in a vintage theater.

  • Timber Lanes. 851 W Irving Park Rd. rving Park Brown Line. 1 773 549-9770. ttp://www.timberlaneschgo.com/. -F 11AM-2AM, Sa 3PM-3AM, Su 1PM-2AM. 2-$2.50 per game, except F-Sa at night, when it's $20/hour per lane. If you like to sample the bowling culture of any city you visit, this is a fine choice; there are eight well-kept lanes, a cash bar, a good jukebox, and a few references to ''The Big Lebowski''. Might be wise to call ahead for availability in the early evening, though, as there are a few leagues.

  • Wrigley Field. 060 W Addision St. ddison Red Line. 1 773 404-2827. ickets can be as low as $8 for 'value dates', but the prize seats in the bleachers are usually $32, and certain dates wind up in scalpers' hands long before regular folks get a shot at them. 'Associations' host 'guests' on the rooftops around Wrigley, usually with unlimited beer and burgers, for upwards of $100. ttp://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/. Ernie Banks, Harry Caray, that damned billy goat, and the 1908 champs; yes, this is the home of the '''Chicago Cubs''', the North Side's beloved, diabolically unsuccessful baseball team. Among ballparks, only Fenway in

    Events & Festivals

  • Pride Parade. 712 N Broadway St. 1 773 348-8243. ttp://www.chicagopridecalendar.org/. ast weekend of June. The annual celebration of Chicago's gay community, led by a parade down Halsted with floats and foam rubber contraptions that are not for the faint-of-heart. It's ''crowded'', but it's a favorite of people from all over the city, and always high-energy. Most Boystown bars, clubs, and restaurants hold special events along with it.

    Buy

    There are a few shopping areas of note. The '''Southport Corridor''' (3300 N to 3800 N) has a row of independent boutiques along with a few specialty stores. '''Lincoln Avenue''' in Roscoe Village also has some worthwhile shops, particularly near the Paulina Brown Line stop. '''Clark Street''' near Diversey has a few chain retailers like Marshall's.

    On game days, the streets of Wrigleyville are packed with vendors selling cheap Cubs gear.

  • The Alley. 228 N Clark St. elmont Red/Brown/Purple Line. ttp://www.thealley.com/servlet/StoreFront. ''The'' rock 'n roll shop in Chicago. Styles extend into punk, mod, emo, rockabilly, and goth; offerings range from clothes, shoes, and jewelry to bondage gear. It's the kind of edgy that is loved by no one as much as teenagers. Look for the skull and crossbones logo.

  • Anthropologie. 532 N Southport Ave. outhport Brown Line. 1 773 935-2693. ttp://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp. Librarian chic clothes boutique.

  • The Brown Elephant. 645 N Halsted St.. 1 773 549-5943 . 1AM-6PM daily. Find bargains on a large selection of second hand merchandise, including many upscale brands. All proceeds support HIV/AIDS care and gay and lesbian services.

  • Century Shopping Centre. 828 N Clark St. 1 773 929-8100. ost stores M-F 10:30AM-9PM, Sa 10:30AM-6PM, Su 12-6PM; open later for movies. A vertical mall headlined by the '''Landmark's Century Centre''' multiplex [http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/Chicago/Landmark'sCenturyCentreCinema.htm] showing independent and foreign movies, and several floors of stores from fashion chains like '''The Express'''.

  • Gaymart. 457 N Halsted St. elmont Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 929-4272. With a large variety of gay-themed items and a cheerful lack of restraint, Gaymart is a must for Boystown shoppers.

  • Pink Frog. 201 N Clark St. 1 773 525-2680. -Sa 11AM-7:30PM, Su 12-5PM. One of the best places in Chicago for cute and stylish shoes for women, and a selection of jackets and skirts to match. If you can't find the shoes you want here, the DSW Warehouse at 3131 N Clark is huge and might have them.

  • Ragstock. 12 W Belmont Ave. elmont Red Line. 1 773 868-9263. ttp://www.ragstock.com/html/locations.html. -Th 10AM-9PM, F-Sa 10AM-10PM, Su 12-7PM. Cheap re-sale clothes shop. They also have a location in Wicker Park, but this one is open later (for those impulse fedoras) and has two floors.

  • Twosided. 958 N Clark St. ellington Brown Line. 1 773 244-6431. ttp://www.twosided.net. on-Sat 11AM-7PM, Sun 11AM-6PM. Excellent selection of letterpress cards and other artful items, antiques, and one-of-a-kind objects. They also have a framing gallery in Andersonville, Foursided, but this one is a true gem.

  • Uncle Fun. 338 W Belmont Ave. elmont Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 477-8223. ttp://www.unclefunchicago.com/. u-F 12-7PM, Sa 11AM-7PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Somewhere between a treasure hunt, a toy store, and a state of derangement — all designed, in their own words, to Restore your Whimsical Nature.

    Eat

    It's not until you reach the high-end that Lakeview dining becomes especially memorable, but there are plenty of quick, reliable places. Most importantly, a lot of them are '''open late''' — this is probably the best place in the city to grab a bite after midnight.

    Budget

  • Bobtail Ice Cream Company. 951 N Broadway St, 3425 N Southport Ave. 1 773 880-7372 (Broadway), 773-248-6104 (Southport). ct-Mar Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM; Apr-Sept Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-midnight. ttp://www.bobtailicecream.com/. Terrific locally-made ice cream at half the price of Cold Stone. The Broadway location has a small, retro soda fountain ambiance, while the Southport is roomier and more modern.

  • Lincoln Restaurant. 008 N Lincoln Ave. rving Park Brown Line. 1 773 248-1820. -F 6AM-10:30PM, Sa-Su 6AM-11PM. The food is average/above average diner fare, and the decor hasn't changed for decades, but a certain kind of person will feel compelled to enter by the giant head of Abraham Lincoln hanging out front, and perhaps you are that person. There's no accounting for the Civil War-themed menus, though. Good stand-up comedy shows are sometimes held in the '''Lincoln Lodge''' [http://www.thelincolnlodge.com/] side-room, and there's a bar as well.

  • Melrose Restaurant. 233 N Broadway St. 1 773 327-2060. 4 hours. 7-9. Open around the clock and always busy, the Melrose is a diner of modest culinary aspirations (burgers, omelettes) but it's right at the center of Boystown whether it's time for brunch or long past time to sleep.

  • Nookie's Tree. 334 N Halsted St. 1 773 248-9888. -Th, Su 7AM-12AM, F-Sa all night. Casual, unpretentious diner that has been in Boystown for a long time. It's great for brunch, late-nights on weekends, and people-watching.

  • Penny's Noodle Shop. 400 N Sheffield Ave. 1 773 281-8222. ttp://www.pennysnoodleshop.com/. u,Tu-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-10:30PM, M closed. 4-8. The original location and always busy. If you're looking for fast food, Penny's serves delicious Thai/Asian food and charges less than McDonald's.

  • Salt n' Pepper Diner. 537 N Clark St. ddison Red Line. 1 773 883-9800. -Th 7AM-10PM, F-Sa 7AM-midnight, Su 7AM-4PM. unch under $9. This Wrigleyville greasy spoon has typical diner fare, but done in a way that makes it uniquely Chicago. The burgers are excellent, and so is the service.

  • Satay. 36 W Diversey Ave. iversey Brown Line. 1 773 477-0100. u-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su-M 4PM-10PM. 7-11. Decent Thai, Chinese, and Japanese food directly under the Diversey station. (It's never too loud, though.) The menu is surprisingly long for the size of the place, and they tend to do tofu notably well.

    Mid-range

  • Angelina's Ristorante. 561 N Broadway St. 1 773 935-5933. ttp://www.angelinaristorante.com/. -Th 5:30-10PM, F-Sa 5:30-11PM, Su brunch 10:30AM-3PM, 5:30-10PM. 14-25. High-end Italian cuisine with a charming, intimate vibe. The pumpkin ravioli is a knockout.

  • Ann Sather. 29 W Belmont Ave. elmont Red Line. 1 773 348-2378. ttp://annsather.com/restaurants/locations.shtml. -F 7AM-3PM, Sa-Su 7AM-4PM. 10-14. This Swedish standby is a can't-miss for one of the city's best breakfasts, served all day, including warm, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls dripping with sugary icing. Now a bona-fide chainlet with five locations around Chicago, but try the nicely renovated 50-year-old Belmont branch.

  • Cesar's Restaurant. 166 N Clark St. elmont Red Line. 1 773 248-2835. ttp://www.killermargaritas.com/. -Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 1-8PM. 9-14 for a meal, although the sky's the limit with the margaritas. Mind-blowing margaritas and Mexican food at a price that practically demands over-indulgence. There's another location nearby at 2924 N Broadway.

  • The Chicago Diner. 411 N Halsted St. 1 773 935-6696. ttp://www.veggiediner.com/. -Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 10AM-11PM, Su 10AM-10PM. A restaurant serving vegetarian-only food on Chicago's north side, the Diner's emphasis on quality — and its vegan shakes, which it proudly describes as "the shiznit" — has kept it around for more than 20 years.

  • La Creperie. 845 N Clark St. iversey Brown Line. 1 773 528-9050. u-F 11:30AM-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-9:30PM. 8-14. ttp://www.lacreperieusa.com. Big, tasty crepes for breakfast, dinner, and dessert, with plenty of wine and beer. The outdoor seating is especially nice.

  • Laschet's Inn. 119 W Irving Park Rd. rving Park Brown Line. 1 773 478-7915. -F 2PM-10:30PM, Sa-Su noon-10:30PM; tavern to 2AM Su-F, to 3AM Sa. 7-20. Originally a tavern, Laschet's now has a full kitchen for mighty German food and meaty dinner specials.

  • Leona's. 215 N Sheffield Ave. elmont Red Line. 1 773 327-8861. u-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F-Sa 11:30AM-12:30AM. 12-18. ttp://www.leonas.com/. The original location of the Chicago chainlet, serving good Italian and American fare. They serve plenty of meat, but the menu is friendly to vegetarians.

  • Matsuya. 469 N Clark St. ddison Red Line. 1 773 248-2677. -F 5-11:30PM, Sa-Su noon-11:30PM. 11-$17. Not to be confused the beef bowl chain in
  • Firefly. 335 N Halsted St. 1 773 525-2505. -Sa 5:30PM-1:30AM (closed Tu), Su 5:30PM-midnight. 18-27. Fine dining and a fine atmosphere in the midst of Boystown, with a mostly carnivorous French-accented menu. Just an all-around nice place for a good evening with a friend, a date, or anyone visiting Boystown for the first time.

  • Kaze. 032 W Roscoe St. ddison Brown Line. 1 773 327-4860. ttp://www.kazesushi.com/. -11PM. uesday nights feature a four-course (plus sake) tasting menu for $45 per person. Top-of-the-line fresh sushi.

  • Mia Francesca. 311 N Clark St. elmont Red Line. 1 773 281-3310. ttp://www.miafrancesca.com/restaurants/mia/. inner Su-Th 5-10PM, F-Sa 5-11PM; brunch Sa-Su 11:30AM-2PM. 18-30. The original location for Mia Francesca's fine Italian dining, and the best — it's noisy, crowded, and ''not'' the place for an intimate meal, but Mia's has great pasta & fish, and offers a very Chicago atmosphere of hustle & bustle.

  • Rick's Cafe. 915 N Sheridan Rd. heridan Red Line. 1 773 327-1972. u-Su 6-10:30PM, M closed. 20-30. The food is made with love at this great little restaurant, run by a husband and wife. "Casablanca" is the perfect metaphor for the menu here, which surrounds colonial powers like Spanish, French, and Italian food with elements from Moroccan and Mediterranean. It's BYOB, and there's a liquor store across the street.

  • Sola. 868 N Lincoln Ave. rving Park Brown Line. 1 773 327-3868. ttp://www.sola-restaurant.com/. unch Th-F 11:30AM-2PM, Sa-Su 10AM-2PM; Dinner Su-Th 5:30-10PM, F-Sa 5:30-11PM. 15-28. Chef Carol Wallack was Jack Nicholson's personal chef, which is about as fine a qualification as anyone could have. The menu covers contemporary American cuisine with Hawaiian, Asian, and Polynesian accents.

  • Tango Sur. 763 N Southport Ave. outhport Brown Line. 1 773 477-5466. -Th 5-10:30PM, F-Sa 5-11:30PM, Su noon-10:30PM. 20-30. Argentinean steakhouse with ''fantastic'' beef. There are a few side dishes like empanadas and a good dessert menu, but the beef is the star attraction. It's BYOB.

  • Turquoise Restaurant. 147 W Roscoe St. 1 773 549-3523. ttp://www.turquoisedining.com/. -Th 11:30AM-11PM, F-Su 11AM-midnight. 18-26. Extensive menu of fresh seafood, Mediterranean, and vegetarian specialties. Plenty of fruity and exotic drinks and lounging space on offer, too.

    Drink

    Boystown

    The nightlife in Boystown may be the best in Chicago. It's wild, uninhibited and just plain fun, regardless of sexual orientation. Most of the action is on Halsted/Broadway between Addison and Belmont.

  • Charlie's. 726 N Broadway St. 1 773 871-8887. ttp://www.charlieschicago.com/. u-F 3PM-4AM, Sa 3PM-5AM. Late night dance bar and a great place for the after hours party, although they play country for the early crowd before midnight on weeknights or 2AM on the weekends. Karaoke hits on Sunday and Thursday.

  • The Closet. 325 N Broadway St. 1 773 477-8533. ttp://www.theclosetbar.com/. -F 2PM-4AM, Sa 12PM-5AM, Su 12PM-4AM. Forgive the pun if you can — this lesbian dive bar is another great after hours destination and ''the'' place to go for hook-up attempts that drag late into the night. It's open a lot earlier in the day than most Boystown spots and usually has sports or music videos on by day.

  • Cocktail. 359 N Halsted St. 1 773 477-1420. u-F 4PM-2AM, Sa 4PM-3AM. A small, fashionable bar that anyone can walk right into for a drink at the bar or a dance among the eye candy at the back.

  • Hydrate. 458 N Halsted St. 1 773 975-9244. ttp://www.hydratechicago.com/. u-F 8PM-4AM, Sa 8PM-5AM. over $10-20, depending on DJ and event. Inheritor of the space formerly owned by the infamous Manhole, Hydrate is now the ultimate dance club to See-and-Be-Seen on Halsted. On a night out in Boystown, everybody winds up here at one point or another.

  • Roscoe's. 356 N Halsted St. 1 773 281-3355. ttp://www.roscoes.com/. -Th 3PM-2AM, F 2PM-2AM, Sa 1PM-3AM, Su 1PM-2AM. Roscoe's is a multi-purpose bar — by night, there are good drink specials and a great dance floor, but by day, you'll find a relaxed neighborhood bar with artwork by local artists and a sidewalk cafe (in the summer) for lunch.

  • Sidetracks. 349 N Halsted St. 1 773 477-9189. ttp://www.sidetrackchicago.com/. u-F 3PM-2AM, Sa 3PM-3AM. A large, stylish, multi-room bar that makes a great place to start the night, with slushy drinks and showtunes on a big screen. (Sundays are sing-along nights.) Gay or straight, this is one of the best bars in Chicago.

    Wrigleyville

    There is a watering hole for just about every personality type in Wrigleyville, particularly if you venture off the Clark Street drag near the ballpark. If you're here for a Cubs home game, rest assured that you'll be surrounded by thousands of merry Cubs fans and a world that desires nothing more than to put beer in your hands; on the downside, you'll be surrounded by thousands of Cubs fans and a world that desires nothing more than to spill beer on you, so get comfortable with sharing personal space with strangers. If you're drinking well into the night, choose wisely; as the evening wears on, a few of the bars on Clark turn into half-eaten piles of rancid nachos and the city's ripest gathering ground for date rape statistics.

  • Bernie's Tavern. 664 N Clark St. 1 773 525-1898. 0AM-2AM Su-F; 8AM-3AM Sa. One of the most popular bars with locals and out-of-towners alike. The rather small inside bar opens to a large back patio. Crowd has gotten younger the past few years, but you'll still find fans from ages 20 to 90 having a good time.

  • The Ginger Man. 740 N Clark St. ddison Red Line. 1 773 549-2050. -F 3PM-2AM, 12PM-3AM, Su 12PM-2AM. Guaranteed the only bar in Wrigleyville with Joy Division and Public Enemy on the jukebox. If you want a beer after a Cubs game and you don't want to be surrounded by frat boys, this is the place. Next to the Metro and Smart Bar.

  • Goose Island. 535 N Clark St. 1 773 832-9040. -11PM M-W; 4PM-12AM Th; 4PM-2AM F; 11AM-2AM Sa; 11AM-11PM Su. As the name suggests, you can drink the full range of the local Goose Island microbrews here, and it's reasonably spacious by Wrigleyville standards. Tasty food, too.

  • Guthrie's Tavern. 300 W Addison Ave. 1 773 477-2900. PM-2AM M-Th; 4PM-2AM F; 2PM-3PM Sa; 2PM-2AM Su. Cozy neighborhood bar known for its extensive collection of board games and bottled wines. It's a local favorite that escapes most of the obnoxious behavior found down the street.

  • Lakeview Broadcasting Company. BC. 542 N Halsted St. 1 773 857-2444. ttp://www.lbcchicago.com/site.html. 6-10PM, Th-F 6PM-2AM, Sa 11AM-3AM, Su-Tu closed. It's not very big, but the trendy LBC is comfortable and has a great mid-20's/mid-30's crowd and refreshingly mixed clientele — gay and straight, black and white, nerds and fashionistas.

  • Murphy_fs Bleachers. 655 N Sheffield Ave. 1 773 281-5356. ttp://www.murphysbleachers.com/. AM-2PM Su-F; 9AM-3AM Sa. Granddaddy bar for all bleacher bums. Get there early if you want one of the coveted outside tables. It's always packed on game days; expect to pay $5 for a can of domestic beer. In the off-season, Murphy's turns into a rather cozy neighborhood bar.

  • Nisei Lounge. 439 N Sheffield Ave. 1 773 525-0557. 1AM-2AM Su, Tu-F; 11AM-3AM Sa; 6PM-2AM M; open at 11AM on game days. Local cult favorite with an interesting Japanese backstory. No sushi here; just a great bar with a few pool tables.

  • Piano Man. 801 N Clark St. 1 773 868-9611. 1AM-2AM Su-F; 8AM-3AM Sa; may be sporadically closed during the week in the off season. Popular local bar that has no piano, just a jukebox. Neighbors want to keep this place a secret, but the word has gotten out.

  • Sluggers Sports Bar & Dueling Pianos. 540 N Clark St. 1 773 248-0055. 0AM-2AM on all Cubs home game days, otherwise, 3PM-2AM M-Th; 11AM-2AM F,Su; 11AM-3AM Sa; Piano Bar 8PM-2AM F; 8PM-3AM Sa. Home away from home for suburbanites. Packed on game days; some say too packed. Sing to your heart_fs content with the piano guys upstairs or get out your pent-up aggression from another Cubs_f heartbreaking loss in the batting cages.

  • Trace. 714 N Clark St. 1 773 477-3400. PM-4AM Su-F; 5PM-4AM Sa; 4PM-4AM Cubs night games; open two hours prior to Cubs home games. Less overtly sports-focused than its neighbors. Great place if you are thirsty at 3AM.

  • Uncommon Ground. 800 N Clark St. 1 773 929-3680. ttp://www.uncommonground.com/. u-Th 9AM-11PM, F-Sa 9AM-midnight. It's almost unbelievable that such a lovely, relaxed bar/cafe is this close to Wrigley, but there it is. Evenings see a full schedule of acoustic music with a full bar of beer, cocktails, and wine, while organic breakfast, lunch and dinner are served all day, and two fireplaces await in the winter. Uncommon Ground also hosts the annual '''Jeff Buckley Festival''', now in its tenth year, in honor of the singer's legendary 1994 performance there.

  • Yak-Zies Bar & Grill. 710 N Clark St. 1 773 525-9200. 1AM-2AM Su-F; 11AM-3AM Sa. Surprisingly good food at this cash-only joint. Owners will put just about any sport that_fs televised anywhere on at least one TV if asked. Cornell vs. Harvard Men_fs Ice Hockey anyone?

    Others

    Lakeview bars may get a bad name from the roiling mess on Clark Street, but there are actually several great places to drink within range of Wrigley.
  • 404 Wine Bar. 852 N Southport Ave. 1 773 404-5886. -F 5PM-2AM, Sa 5PM-3AM. Comfortable atmosphere and a wide variety of wines. It may not be the first thing you think of when you think about a wine bar, but they serve a chicken pot pie that is ''delicious''. It's connected to '''Jack's''' next door, which is more of a sports bar.

  • Beat Kitchen. 100 W Belmont Ave. 1 773 281-4444. ttp://www.beatkitchen.com/. -Th 4PM-2AM, F 11:30AM-2AM, Sa 11:30AM-3AM, Su 11:30AM-2AM. There's beer and late-night food in the quiet front room, but the Beat Kitchen is worthy of recognition as one of the best venues in the city outside of Wicker Park for double or triple bills of excellent, little-known local and touring bands. Tuesdays are set aside for the Chicago Underground Comedy stand-up showcase.

  • Fizz Bar & Grill. 220 N Lincoln Ave. aulina Brown Line. 1 773 348-6000. ttp://fizzchicago.com/. -F 5PM-2AM, Sa 12PM-3AM, Su 11AM-1AM. Nothing exceptional — just a bar on the classy side of things with a good beer garden, upscale food menu, and a dance floor that occasionally gets going.

  • Hungry Brain. 319 W Belmont Ave. 1 773 935-2118. ttp://www.emergingimprovisers.org/hungrybrain.html. u-Su 8PM-2AM, M closed. There's a lot to like at this small Roscoe Village bar: a few pinball and arcade machines, the sense of being in someone's comfortable basement (with beer), and the Sunday night (10PM) Transmission series for improvisational and experimental jazz.

  • Jake's Pub. 932 N Clark St. 1 773 248-3318. ttp://www.jakespub.net/home.html. -F 3PM-2AM, Sa noon-3AM, Su noon-2AM. A good place to recover from shopping binges at the Century Shopping Centre and its neighbors (see Buy). Jake's has a good beer selection and dependable jukebox. Dogs are not only welcome — they're encouraged.

  • Johnny's Tavern. 425 N Lincoln Ave. aulina Brown Line. 1 773 248-3000. ours vary. About as far from the Wrigleyville bar scene as you can possibly get; this legendary, straight-outta-1974 tavern is owned by an old man, Johnny, who is well into his eighties. If he chooses to let you in — after you've rang the doorbell, and waited patiently for admittance — you'll enjoy cheap Czech beers and a time-warp.

  • Katerina's. 920 W Irving Park Rd. '+1 773'' 348-7592. -F 5PM-2AM, Sa 5PM-3AM. ttp://www.katerinas.com/. A small and intimate setting for jazz, funk, blues, and Greek music most nights, and poetry, performance and movies when there isn't music. Southern European cuisine served along with the drinks.

  • The Long Room. 612 W Irving Park Rd. rving Park Brown Line. 1 773 665-4500. -F 5PM-2AM, Sa 5PM-3AM, Su 7PM-2AM. A low-lit neighborhood lounge with a casual atmosphere worth settling into for a while — and, yes, it's a very long room.

  • Resi's Bierstube. 034 W Irving Park Rd. rving Park Brown Line. 1 773 472-1749. PM-2AM. A fine old-fashioned brauhaus, with high marks for the music, the beer garden, and the ambiance. Food on offer from the kitchen (closed Mondays) includes sausages and schnitzel, of course.

  • Ten Cat Tavern. 931 N Ashland Ave. rving Park Brown Line. 1 773 935-5377. u-F 3PM-2AM, Sa 3PM-3AM. The kitty on the sign is cradling a ten-ball because there's pool to be played here, but in most other respects, this is someone's apartment that happens to have a bar in it (and a pretty good backyard).

    Sleep

    Most visitors will feel comfortable staying here in terms of safety, and Lakeview is a better place to experience something of the real city than the retail isolation of the Near North. Given the boozy atmosphere, though, it's probably better for singles and young couples than families with kids in tow. (You can get to Wrigley from anywhere in the city, after all.)

    There are also a handful of budget and mid-range options just south of Boystown in Lincoln Park. Hotels are usually booked solid for the Pride Parade in June, so make reservations early or be ready to check in other areas.

    Mid-range

  • Old Chicago Inn. 222 N Sheffield Ave. elmont Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 816-2465. ooms from $99. ttp://www.oldchicagoinn.com/. Reasonably priced bed and breakfast in a turn-of-the-century greystone building, not far from Wrigley Field and the nightlife on Belmont. Amenities include internet access in the lobby, continental breakfast, and a complimentary lunch or dinner at Trader Todd's restaurant/karaoke bar two doors south.

  • Villa Toscana Bed & Breakfast. 447 N Halsted St. ddison Red Line. 00-404-2643. ooms from $99/$109 off and on-season. ttp://www.thevillatoscana.com/. Closest accommodations to Wrigley Field, in a turn-of-the-century building.

    Splurge

  • Best Western Hawthorn Terrace. 434 N Broadway St. ddison Red Line. 1 773 244-3434. ooms from $189. ttp://www.bestwesternillinois.com/hotels/best-western-hawthorne-terrace-hotel/. Close to Wrigley Field and the bars on Clark Street, and also to the lake.

  • City Suites Hotel. 33 W Belmont Ave. elmont Red/Brown/Purple Line. 00-248-9108. ooms from $189. ttp://www.cityinns.com/citysuites/. Art Deco interiors and elegant furnishings, right next to the Belmont train station. Among the amenities are wi-fi, afternoon cookies and access to Bally's Fitness Club.

  • Majestic Hotel. 28 W Brompton Ave. elmont Red/Brown/Purple Line. 00-727-5108. ooms from $209. ttp://www.cityinns.com/majestic/. Boutique hotel in a residential pocket, with olde worlde touches like poster beds and butler pantries. Similar amenities to the City Suites Hotel, which is under the same management.

  • The Willows Hotel. 55 W Surf St. elmont Red/Brown/Purple Line. 00-787-3108. ooms from $179. ttp://www.cityinns.com/willows/. European decor in a city-designated landmark building, two blocks from the lake. Same management as the City Suites and Majestic hotels.

    Contact

  • <listing name="Computer Network Source" alt="" directions="Wellington Brown Line" address="2917 N Broadway St" phone="+1 773 755-5225" email="" fax="" hours="" price="Remarkably cheap at $3/hour" url="http://www.compnetsource.com/browse.html"> Scanning, printing, CD-burning available.</listing>
  • <listing name="Merlo Branch Library" alt="" directions="Belmont Red/Brown/Purple Line" address="644 W Belmont Ave" phone="+1 312 744-1139" email="" fax="" url="http://www.chipublib.org/002branches/merlo/merlo.html" hours="M-Th 9AM-9PM, F-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su closed" price=""> Free public internet access. Three blocks east of the train station, near Boystown.</listing>
  • <listing name="Lincoln/Belmont Branch Library" alt="" directions="Paulina Brown Line" address="1659 W Melrose St" phone="+1 312 744-0166" email="" fax="" url="http://www.chipublib.org/002branches/linbelm/linbelm.html" hours="M-Th 9AM-9PM, F-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su closed" price=""> Free public internet access. Three blocks south of the train station.</listing>
  • Get out

  • If it's a crosstown baseball series, you'll need to get on the Red Line and head south to Bridgeport for the Chicago White Sox.
  • It would take more than one curse to put the Cubs in their current condition, but the most famous of them, the Billy Goat Curse, began with the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern in the Near North.
  • Follow the theater trail in the storefront comedy direction to Uptown or the big-name comedy/drama direction in Old Town.
  • Andersonville is a stylish neighborhood a short trip northwest of Boystown with several gay and lesbian-friendly bars and businesses.
  • Edgewater has the GLBT Gerber/Hart Library and the less scholarly Leather Archives and Museum. During the summer, Chicago's gay community tans at Edgewater's Hollywood Beach.
  • Dedicated to original theater that explores gender and sexual identity, the '''About Face Theater Company''' [http://aboutfacetheatre.com/] performs at major theaters like Steppenwolf in Old Town and storefronts around Boystown.