Second City. 616 N Wells St. edgwick Brown Line. 1 312 337-3992. ttp://www.secondcity.com/?id=theatres/chicago. PM (Su 7PM), F-Sa also 11PM. ickets M $14, Su,Tu-Th $19, F-Sa $24. The list of Second City alumni in show business has become something of a cliche — Alan Alda, John Belushi, Bill Murray, on and on — and it's still going strong today, with recent graduates like Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, and Tina Fey. The separate revues on the '''Mainstage''' and the '''e.t.c.''' theaters are consistently smart, timely, and funny. (The third stage, Donny's Skybox, is rented out to local sketch troupes outside the artistic direction of Second City, and is hit-or-miss.) The third act of the night is fully improvised, and if there's space left among the paying customers from the first two acts, admission is free.
Steppenwolf. 650 N Halsted St. orth/Clybourn Red Line. 1 312 335-1650. ttp://www.steppenwolf.org/. ox office M-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su 1-5PM. ickets from $40. The creation of John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, and many others, Steppenwolf features cutting-edge theater and doesn't trade on the famous name, offering both original material and incisive re-stagings of classic plays (like a terrific recent production of ''The Crucible''). Unlike Second City, the famous alumni of Steppenwolf make occasional returns to the stage as their schedules allow.
Tony & Tina's Wedding. 30 W North Ave. edgwick Brown Line. 1 312 664-8844. ttp://www.tonyntina.com/. u 5PM, W-Th 7:30PM, F 8PM, Sa 7PM. 55-65. Dinner theater is definitely an acquired taste, but if you're a fan, this is about as good as it comes. Tony, Tina, and their cartoon Italian families have been getting married for more than a decade, interacting with their "guests" at the bar, during the dinner (pasta, naturally), and an after-party.
Victory Gardens. 433 N Lincoln Ave. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 871-3000. ox office Tu-Sa 12-8pm, Su 12-4pm. ickets $15-45. ttp://www.victorygardens.org/. One of the premier Off-Loop theaters in Chicago, Victory Gardens hosts a noteworthy slate of original plays and adaptations both fun and dramatic. Among their several stages is the Biograph Theater, and they're kind enough to screen classic movies there ($5) from time to time so people can relive old Hollywood and ill-fated dates of John Dillinger.
Zanies Comedy Nite Club. 548 N Wells St. edgwick Brown Line. 1 312 337-4027. 1 312 337-3943. ttp://www.chicago.zanies.com/. u-Th 8:30, F 8:30 & 10:30, Sa 7PM, 9PM, & 11:15PM. 20 cover & 2-item order minimum, cover may vary. This is Chicago's flagship stand-up comedy club and hosts all the big international stand-up touring acts.
Buy
Trendy boutique shopping can be found at the shops on Armitage between Halsted and Sheffield in Lincoln Park.
Fleet Feet Sports. 10 W North Ave, Piper's Alley. edgwick Brown/Purple Line. 1 312 587-3338. ttp://www.fleetfeetchicago.com/. -F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Reinforce tired feet and outdoor gear here. Fun runs on M-W at 6:30PM (Tu women only).
Lori's Shoes. 24 W Armitage Ave. rmitage Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 281-5655. ttp://www.lorisshoes.com/. -Th 11AM-7PM, F 11AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 12-5PM. Reinforce unfashionable feet and unremarkable soles here. Handbags and jewelry available as well.
Old Town Aquarium. 538 N Wells St. 1 312 642-8763. ttp://www.oldtownaquarium.com/. ,W,F 12-7PM, Tu-Th 12-8PM, Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 12-6PM. If you can't make it to Shedd, at least you can go to one of their sources, and without the price of admission. Old Town Aquarium stocks freshwater and saltwater fish from around the world, and they have an extensive portfolio of custom aquarium designs to their credit.
Piper's Alley. 10 W North Ave. edgwick Brown Line. ours vary by store. A good indoor mall with several floors of stores and restaurants. Piper's Alley houses a lot of the entertainment in Old Town, including an art-movie multiplex, Tony & Tina's Wedding, and the entrances to Second City's e.t.c and Skybox stages. If you've been to a show here and parked in the garage, you might as well go fishing to see if a small purchase anywhere might get your parking validated.
Eat
The Lincoln Park Zoo may be free, but the food court and the concessions are a bit steep. If you need to eat at the zoo, take some solace in remembering how much you paid to get in!
Budget
The DePaul area has a lot of fast food targeted at students, mostly sandwich and noodle shops.
Clarke's. 441 N Lincoln Ave. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 472-3505. ttp://clarkesdiner.com/. 4 hours. 3-8. Breakfast all day and night, although burgers are available, too. The food is decent at best, but the hours make it a must-know for anyone on the Lincoln Park bar scene.
Salt n' Pepper Diner. 575 N Lincoln Ave. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 525-8788. AM-4PM daily. 4-9. If you need an early breakfast or a cheap lunch, Salt & Pepper sticks to the basics and does them well, with an acclaimed rockabilly jukebox.
Sultan's Market. 521 N Clark St. 1 312 638-9151. ttp://chicagofalafel.com/. -Th 10AM-10PM, F-Sa 10AM-midnight, Su 10AM-9PM. 3.50-8. Take note if you're in the park by the lakefront, or if you're carrying a lighter wallet after a trip to the Century Shopping Centre in Lakeview a couple blocks north. The prices are absurdly low for the amount of satisfaction you'll get from the Mediterranean salad bar or falafel sandwiches here. They also do a fine shawerma.
Vienna Beef Factory. 501 N Damen St. 1 773 235-6652. ttp://www.viennabeef.com/. eli: M-F 6:30AM-2PM, Sa 10AM-2:30PM. 1.50-5. Hoo boy, it's the motherlode. This is where all Chicago's hot dogs are born (not to mention Polish sausages, Italian Beef, and other assorted deli meats). You cannot eat a truer Chicago hot dog than in the factory itself, and the prices are among the best in the city. Parking is easy in the outside lot.
The Wiener's Circle. 622 N Clark St. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. u-Th 11AM-4AM, F-Sa 11AM-5AM. 3-7. The food is only so-so, the prices fair, but what makes this walk-up joint famous is the staff, who have zero patience for customers and the colorful language skills of a bartender at the seediest dockside bar imaginable. A favorite of the late-night crowd, who after a long night of drinking seem to find major entertainment value in being served a massive dose of profane invective with their greasy chili fries and Chicago-style hot dogs.
Mid-range
Lincoln Park is crammed with mid-range Italian restaurants. Sushi places aren't rare, either.
Bacino's Pizzeria. 204 N Lincoln Ave. 1 773 472-7400. ttp://www.bacinos.com/location.php. 12-20. A Lincoln Park branch of the Loop favorite that serves what many call the city's best stuffed pizza.
Bistrot Margot. 437 N Wells St. edgwick Brown Line. 1 312 587-3660. ttp://www.bistrotmargot.com/. 11:30AM-9PM, Tu-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F 11:30AM-11PM, Sa 10:30AM-11PM, Su 10:30AM-9PM. 18-26. Casual French bistro at reasonable prices, with an enthusiastic chef and charming decor. There's a bar on the second floor.
Fattoush Restaurant. 652 N Halsted St. iversey Brown Line. 1 773 327-2652. -Tu 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-9PM. 7-15. ttp://www.fattoushrestaurant.com. Lebanese cuisine on Halsted, good for a quick bite before the B.L.U.E.S. or the Kingston Mines.
Kamehachi. 400 N Wells St. edgwick Brown Line. 1 312 664-3663. ttp://www.kamehachi.com. -Sa 11:30AM-2AM, Su 4:30PM-midnight. 16-22. Reliable and sometimes exceptional sushi at this Old Town outlet of the Chicago sushi chainlet. There's relief for vegetarians as well: try the agedashi tofu.
Lou Malnati's. 58 W Wrightwood Ave. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 832-4030. -Th 4-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10PM. 7-12. ttp://www.loumalnatis.com/locations/chicago_lincolnpark.html. Lincoln Park branch of the deep-dish pizza giant. This location has outdoor seating and a nice park across the street.
Mangia Roma. 623 N Halsted St. orth/Clybourn Red Line. 1 312 475-9801. ttp://www.mangiaromaitalian.com/. u-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-10:30PM, Su noon-10PM. 9-16. Near Steppenwolf and the Royal George — the casual pizza dinners get cheaper if you're also going to a show.
Mayan Palace. 703 N Halsted St. iversey Brown Line. 1 773 935-4200. ttp://www.themayanpalace.com/. 8-13. Good Mexican food in a relaxed atmosphere, indoor and outdoor seating. Don't put much stock in their claim regarding the best margaritas in the world (1/2 price Tu&Th), but their ''mole'' sauce and their fried ice cream ''are'' worth bragging about.
Pequod's. 207 N Clybourn Ave. 1 773 327-1512. -Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 11AM-midnight. 6-12. ttp://www.pequodspizza.com/. Great place to get caramelized/burnt crust Chicago style deep dish pizza, considered a secret favorite.
Raj Darbar. 660 N Halsted St. 1 773 348-1010. u-Th 5-10PM, F-Sa 5-11PM. 13-25. ttp://www.rajdarbar.com. Great Indian food with an extensive menu. The service is creaky and the staff always seem to be breaking in flocks of new busboys, but the taste and decor are worth the stop.
Twin Anchors. 655 N Sedgwick St. 1 312 266-1616. ttp://www.twinanchorsribs.com/. -Th 5PM-11PM, F 5PM-12AM, Sa Noon-Midnight, Su Noon-10:30PM. 12-25. Impress your friends with your knowledge of Chicago by "stumbling across" this hidden neighborhood joint. Once Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurant in Chicago, it's best known for its ribs, although they also have decent steak.
Splurge
It's no accident that the most fashionable (and expensive) restaurants are situated near Steppenwolf and the surrounding theaters on Halsted. The ease of getting a reservation will be inversely proportional to the number of shows on around that time!
Each one of these restaurants offers a memorable, world-class dining experience, and will give you a great story to tell. Don't lose track of your budget, though — spending $500 on a meal for two is not unheard of.
Alinea. 723 N Halsted St. orth/Clybourn Red Line. 1 312 867-0110. asting: $135, Tour: $195. ttp://www.alinea-restaurant.com/. Ranked #1 in 2006 on Gourmet Magazine's "America's Top 50 Restaurants," Alinea is just two blocks from Charlie Trotter's, where the head chef started his career. The meal is served as either a 12-course tasting menu or 24-course "tour" menu, so plan your evening with plenty of time.
Boka. 729 N Halsted St. orth/Clybourn Red Line. 1 312 337-6070. ttp://www.bokachicago.com/. u-F 5PM-2AM, Sa 5PM-3AM. 50+. Another Charlie Trotter's alum runs this popular, trendy restaurant. You won't need formal dress, but you will need a reservation. The menu mixes Japanese, Mediterranean, European, and dang ol' Midwestern food without apparent self-consciousness. Plenty of seafood and a raw bar, too. Dinners are satisfying but light, making it the perfect place for a pre-show meal.
Charlie Trotter's. 16 W Armitage Ave. orth/Clybourn Red Line. 1 773 248-6228. 125-200. ttp://www.charlietrotters.com/restaurant/. One of the finest restaurants in the world, this contemporary American establishment has set the standard by which all others are judged for the past 20 years. Even if the menu is a bit dated now, nobody does a wine-and-food pairing as well as Charlie Trotter's.
Drink
If there's a college sports game that you can't miss while you're in town, make tracks to Lincoln Park. Most of the alumni associations (especially for Big Ten schools) have a bar staked out for themselves.
3rd Coast Cafe. 260 N Dearborn St. 1 312 649-0730. ttp://www.3rdcoastcafe.com/. AM-midnight daily. Once known as the Chicago meet-up spot for 2600, the computer hackers quarterly, 3rd Coast is an upscale late-night oasis amid blocks of impressive, silent Old Town row houses. Evenings feature jazz and solo guitarists, and the food is far above average for a cafe.
B.L.U.E.S.. .L.U.E.S. on Halsted St. 519 N Halsted St. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. ttp://www.chicagobluesbar.com/. u-F 8PM-2AM, Sa 8PM-3AM. Small but dedicated blues bar. On Sundays, one cover charge gets you into B.L.U.E.S. and Kingston Mines across the road.
Delilah's. 770 N Lincoln Ave. 1 773 472-2771. ttp://www.delilahschicago.com/. u-F 4PM-2AM, Sa 4PM-3AM. This is the joint where Kurt (Cobain) met Courtney (Love). No kidding. The booze selection is unbeatable and recent almost-rock-stars spin the records.
Kingston Mines. 548 N Halsted St. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. ttp://www.kingstonmines.com/. u-F 8PM-4AM, Sa 8PM-5AM. The larger of the blues bars on Halsted. Has a great set-up with two stages and two bands every night. One band plays for an hour on one stage then the other band takes over on the second stage for an hour — continuous music all night from 9:30PM.
Liar's Club. 665 W Fullerton Ave. 4 Fullerton bus. 1 773 665-1110. u-F 8PM-2AM, Sa 8PM-3AM. 5 cover on weekends. Good place to dance on the weekend — the DJs play the hits and know how to take the measure of the frat-free crowd. The round wood track-lit dance floor is a stand-out, too. If your friends don't dance, they can wait at the bar upstairs.
Neo. 350 N Clark St. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 528-2622. ttp://neo-chicago.com/. u-F 10PM-4AM, Sa 10PM-5AM. h-Sa Cover $5. A Goth dance fortress in the heart of Lincoln Park. Music varies by night, mostly industrial and electro, with metal on Mondays and '80s/new wave on Thursdays. Drinks are reasonably priced, and include cheap beer.
Old Town Ale House. 19 W North Ave. edgwick Brown Line. 1 312 944-7020. ttp://www.oldtownalehouse.net/. -F 8AM-4AM, Sa 8AM-5AM, Su noon-4AM. An old-time Old Town dive, decorated with photos and newspaper clippings to show its history and favored status among famous Second City alums. Note the ''very'' late hours.
Red Lion Pub. 446 Lincoln Ave. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 348-2695. ttp://www.redlionchicago.com/. 2PM-1:30AM. Great English pub with two comfortable floors across the street from the Biograph. (And like the Biograph, it's rumored to be haunted.) A few literary clubs meet here for readings.
Webster's Wine Bar. 480 W Webster Ave. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 868-0608. ttp://www.websterwinebar.com/. Webster's has wine tastings/classes twice a month, and all of the expertise to satisfy a sophisticate.
Sleep
Arlington International House. 16 W Arlington Pl. ullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line. 1 773 929-5380, +1 800 467-8355. 28 per night. ttp://www.arlingtonhouse.com. Kitchen and laundry.
Belair Hotel. 24 W Diversey Pkwy. iversey Brown Line. 1 773 248-4000. ooms from $208/week. Caters to travelers on long-term stays — amenities are spare, but it's a cheap back-up option. Close to the lakefront.
The Belden-Stratford Hotel. 300 Lincoln Park West. ullerton Red Line. 1 773 281-2900. ooms from $139 per night. ttp://www.beldenstratford.com/. Gorgeous building across from the Lincoln Park Zoo, overlooking the lake. It's primarily an apartment building, but there are 40 guest rooms across its 17 floors.
Days Inn - Lincoln Park North. 44 W Diversey Pkwy. iversey Brown Line. 1 888 576-3297. 98-$130 per night. ttp://www.lpndaysinn.com. Frequented by touring bands in town to play at one of the many big clubs on the north side.
The Inn at Lincoln Park. 01 W Diversey Pkwy. iversey Brown Line. 1 773 348-2810. ooms from $148. ttp://www.innlp.com/. A short walk to the Lincoln Park Zoo and the lakefront.
Contact
<listing name="Lincoln Park Branch Library" alt="" directions="Fullerton Red/Brown/Purple Line" address="1150 W Fullerton Ave" phone="+1 312 744-1926" email="" fax="" url="http://www.chipublib.org/002branches/lincoln/lincoln.html" hours="M-Th 9AM-9PM, F-Sa 9AM-5PM" price=""> Public library with free internet access. Two blocks west of the train station.</listing>
<listing name="Screenz" alt="" directions="" address="2717 N Clark St" phone="+1 773 348-9300" email="" fax="+1 773 348-9170" hours="M-Th 8AM-midnight, F 8AM-1AM, Sa 9AM-1AM, Su 9AM-midnight" price="" url="http://www.screenz.com/screenz/"> Full-service internet cafe.</listing>
Get out
If you are in the mood for exploration, and would like to evade the sports bar scene in Lincoln Park, consider heading west across the river to Wicker Park or Bucktown for some more colorful nightlife and shopping.