Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

If you are really trying to make a good first impression or want to celebrate a mile stone, this is the ultimate place to take that special someone. Fondue is fun, communal and slow paced – a great way to get to really know and spend time with each other! With the very dark setting, soft candle lighting and gentle guitar strumming, it really sets up the night for all that is romance. And yes, there is just something so sexy and seductive about watching your date slowly ease a hot and decadent morsel of food off a skewer with his or her mouth, perhaps dripping a bit of melted cheese onto the corner and licking it ever so gently.

Now when I say dark, I mean it! In fact, I suggest going later in the evening so that your eyes will be better suited for adjusting when coming in from the outside. And while the food is certainly not for the health conscious, since anything this sinful usually carries extra calories along for the ride, there is no mistaking its absolute deliciousness. And for those who don't quite have their fancy table etiquette down pat, this formal dining style takes all the worry out of the bag. It's little wonder why fondue is making such a big come back!

To make the most out of the overall experience, go with one of their premier fondue dinners. The salad is pretty slim but fresh, but everything else brought out to you is very well deserving of its price tag. That, and all those wonderful dipping sauces for the high grade meats and seafood are simply superb! Appetizers and dessert are included, so it helps to take the stress out of what to order as well. The only thing left to choose is from their ample wine list, of which the servers are more than helpful and knowledgeable on.

Geja's is so popular and sought after with couples that they begin booking Valentine's Day a month ahead. However, I suggest going on a week night, since the place really books up on weekends and seating can be a little tight. Also, parking in the area is notoriously painful, so it's a good idea to take them up on their $8 valet service offer. Mondays offer half bottle wine specials, which is good for couples who choose to load up on the food instead of the alcohol, and it's also the easiest night to score a secluded booth.

I’m not one to rave about grocery stores, so listen up! Like just about everyone else these days, I try to be a smart shopper and buy more organic and healthy food, but the cost of superior products can really be a daunting task. I really don’t care for the predominantly snooty and asinine clientele one tends to find at Whole Paychecks or the overall craziness typical with that Trader fellow‘s stores. So when this store rolled into town, I admit I was pretty skeptical but was lured in with the coupon I got in the mail. Wow! So, so happy here, and I am now a loyal customer!

The very first thing people are going to notice is just how darn easy it is to get a parking spot! There’s almost always a spot up front, without any Land Rovers hogging up doubles in the lot. If you drive in from Marcey Street instead of Clybourn, you don’t even have to deal with the traffic! Then when you walk inside, the first thing you see is the produce section. Not huge, but the fact that the crisper section stuff is kept in a walk in crisper is an absolute treasure, and you can pretty much find everything you need. And then comes the prices you notice on said produce - not bad at all! In fact, a lot of what I see here is priced even lower than conventional super market prices, and this stuff is organic!

The rest of the store just makes me happy. It’s all big, bright and inviting, and it’s never, ever crowded. The people who shop here are just as eclectic as the regular super market chains, and the store help are some of the absolute friendliest and most helpful I have ever encountered. Consistently. I don’t think I have ever had a bad shopping experience here, and I rather look forward to doing the grocery shopping! Who can say that?

For those shopping on a budget, they offer so many discounts on top of their great prices it’s unreal! Coupons galore, discounts for using your own bags, their reusable bags are only $0.99, and Thursdays and Fridays offer you an ADDITIONAL $5 off for reusing bags!

Now it’s true they don’t have a meat or deli department, so that next section you go through is almost all pre-packaged. Oh well - they at least make up for it with having lots of free snacky things to munch on while you go through the aisles. And what they do offer is pretty decent, so yes, you can definitely make a few meals from here. Also, the choices of bread and pastries are pretty non existent, but again, it’s not a one stop shop. Even so, it’s such a wonderful overall experience, and I hope they stick around for many years to come.

What an exciting place to take the kids! There is just so much for them to see and do, all with a gentle slant that will leave you all with a passion for wanting to take charge in caring for the environment! And yes, you just might learn a thing or two as well! And, because it’s right by the beach, you can certainly make a day of your visit!

The largest exhibit they offer is outdoors called the Greening Project, which is really pretty and shows just how much they care about the environment. It’s also a recycling center, so feel free to bring your glass, plastic and paper along for the kids to contribute. An exhibit geared towards little ones is two stories tall, called the Hands On Habitat. It gives an inside view of various animal homes, which is always a big hit with the kiddos - climb up into the tree house, play with the water, ride down the slide, whatever! Another exhibit kids gravitate towards is the Mysteries of the Marsh, with creepy crawlies and swampy plants. Then there’s the Riverworks exhibit, another place to play with the water while learning a little something along the way.

Of course, one of the museum’s best assets is the butterfly room. Hundreds of beautiful butterflies merrily flutter around, many times landing on you. Some say it is a kiss from Nature, others a sign of good luck, so telling the kids those little tidbits ahead of time will make them even more eager to head in there! Just please remember not to touch them - let them touch you!

As far as the food goes, while it may be on the pricer side of things, you can be rest assured every item on the menu is all natural and home made and provided from local businesses, many ingredients local as well. Brown bagging is perfectly fine as well, with a group seating area on the first level over by the marsh exhibit. Please remember to use the recycling facilities! Oh and also, Chicago residents who have a library card can stop by the library and check out a museum pass at the counter! It’s good for 4 people, gets you in for free and lets you bypass the lines!

What I love about this stretch of lake front is its openness and accessibility to everyone, and not just the hipsters and other trendy people who tend to congregate further south. Dogs have their own designated spots to play and romp around in, families have playing fields to use, sun worshipers have plenty of room to stretch out (and not be judged or gawked at!), budding artists have a chance to express themselves, there’s lots of biking and jogging paths around, barbecues and picnics are okay, and there’s even free parking to be had - so much so that I learned how to drive a stick here without killing someone! And yes, there are spots to change in and grab a snack, and on a clear day, you can get a nice view of the skyline. The best part is though, couples who just want to be together can do so without interruption, thanks to the way the beaches have been laid out.

Up north near the start of Lake Shore Drive, Foster Beach is an oasis for the public to enjoy a summer day. The famous rocks just north of the beach itself along the shore has taken on the persona of a public art gallery, where folks have chiseled and painted beautiful and whimsical works of art where ever a free spot was available. Take a stroll with that special someone and spend some time here, because the images are very telling of the people who have come and gone over the last fifty years. 70s album covers and cartoon characters aside, some of the most interesting pieces lie mostly faded from the surface. Those who study these relics will get a sense of how people really live and have lived, from lovers carving their initials into the rocks to those honoring deceased members of their family and friends, along with statements and slogans of the times.

Of course, if the water is warm enough and has the all clear, go ahead and dive in! Since this stretch has a lot less people than further south, those who don’t feel their sexiest in a swim suit can leave their insecurities aside and enjoy the water and weather. The beaches are kept pretty clean too, so no worries about laying out your favorite towels and blankets on the sand. After you get your tan on, take a stroll further south to the other beaches, Wilson and Montrose. More murals are to be had as well, and doggies are even welcome to go play!

An added bonus about this stretch is how the beach patrol here are a lot more lax. On the 4th of July, they tend to turn a blind eye to those wanting to shoot off fireworks in spite of the Illinois ban, as long as people aren’t stupid about it and clean up after themselves. It is truly a romantic sight to see the fireworks without a million other people hoarding for the same square foot of space.

Whiskey lovers unite! Even if you're not particularly fond of the overall punk scene, there really is no place like Delilah's when it comes to getting schooled from their massive selection of whiskey, neatly categorized on its own menu by type, country of origin and year. The bizarre, morbid artwork gracing the walls spiral in your head faster than the libations that go down oh so smoothly, and the edgy music in the darkened rooms add to that overall effect of transporting your hum drum life into something a little more rebellious.

This is a bar lover's bar, make no mistake, which is surprisingly unpretentious in comparison to just about every other bar in the area. Finally, a place where everyone can feel just as welcome as their money is! Big kudos for that alone. Many a liver has been replaced due to this place, but yet no one seems to care. The punkiness has calmed down somewhat from its heyday, but Delilah's still has its overall FTW attitude that very few places in town can claim. The juke box has a great selection of music, but if the staff don't like what you picked, they do have a tendency to knock down the volume while your selection is playing and kick it back up when they approve.

Every section of Delilah's is the place to be: the bar staff and the majority of the patrons are pretty cool, and even a wait in line for the surprisingly clean bathrooms can be a place to strike up a good conversation and make new friends. Even the bar stools are comfortable, and probably need to be! After all, there are just so many interesting conversation starters to choose from! Drink specials throughout the week keep people coming back for more, and even on its busiest nights, the place is big enough to support actual chit chat with your group, whether you came with them or formed your posse right there and then.

One special word of mention is that the proportions of liquor to mixer will vary, based on the particular server, but it can go for the better. Many times, that JB and 7 will be almost all JB, and when there's a special going on, a ten spot can really go a long way! Unless you go to a genuine “bum bar”, you're not going to be able to stretch your dollar like that, that's for sure!

Where oh where in Chicago can one take in a live performance featuring the likes of Gary Sinise, Terry Kinney and John Mahoney and maybe even the incredible John Malkovich, all within an intimate, true theatre setting, where every seat is a great one? Steppenwolf Theatre, my dear!

Not only is this place fabulous for seeing true live theatre, but so many of the shows themselves are absolute treasures, with actors who have a knack for hitting the nail on the head when it comes to truly understanding the Chicago culture. Witty, thought provoking, powerful, and dare I say sensual and even bad ass! The Goodman will never get that description, I'm sure! While blue bloods are most certainly welcome to attend, regular Joes who may be leery of seeing a production will thank me profusely for sending them here! Hollywood will never be able to capture the pure energy that is Steppenwolf.

The production quality is beyond all expectations, many times leaving folks with their jaws agape at the sheer investments. Even so, these guys haven't forgotten who makes this place tick and thanks them in several ways, like providing a reasonably priced parking lot in an otherwise impossible area (including time for some grub afterwards!), and by offering tickets at half price an hour before the show. Since shows rarely sell out, scoring a seat can wind up costing as little as $10! If you're looking for the seriously edgy and raw, you may want to check out performances held in the Garage Theatre.

Of course, the Steppenwolf is more than just a place to catch some great performances by real actors, as it's also a performing arts school, again giving it credence as a theatre that truly nurtures its talent. After all, this is the birth place of some of the best Hollywood has to offer, so it's only right they keep up with that tradition.

So yes, yes, yes! Hit the box office and see what sparks your interest. And leave the formalwear in the back of the closet – save that for your cousin Bob's wedding.

If you have spent more than a single week in Chicago and have not tried a deep dish pizza, you should be absolutely ashamed of yourself! This is the stuff we're known for, so take pride in where you're at and dig in! That first bite should be artfully crafted by one of the members of the Big Four*, and Lou Malnati's is certainly one of them.

What sets apart Lou Malnati's from the other members of the deep dish board is the fact that it's just a little bit different and a little bit... well, more. The owner honed his craft from working at Uno's, where the deep dish idea came from, and then embellished on it. Since Chicagoans are partial to sausage rather than pepperoni, the pizzas from here really focus on that. One full layer is laid out, so not a single bite misses out on that greasy, spicy goodness. The other signature ingredient is loads and loads of big, chunky tomatoes! These pizzas really add a whallop of flavor!

Personally, I prefer to go with a pie that is heavy in onions, and this is one of the few places that not only supplies its customers with the right amount of ingredients (which is A LOT!), but has a working knowledge of how to slice and cook them. This may seem pretty elementary or even nit picky to the pizza novice, but to us pie experts, this is critical! Otherwise, why bother adding toppings if they can't be tasted?

Perhaps the one oddity with Lou Malnati's is its main location, in the northern border burb of Lincolnwood, instead of the city proper. Perhaps the founder unwittingly opened his business here just to prove he really could whip up a pie better than his mentor, and he wanted to prove it with being as far away as he could and still get great business!

So, if you like your pizza so big and dense that it can be exchanged for a spare tire, then be sure to give Lou Malnati's a try. And yes, try the others, too, at least for comparison! Your diet may hate you, but your taste buds will be forever grateful.

* The other three, in no particular order, are: Uno's / Due's, Gino's East and Giordanos.

The scene in Lincoln Park is primarily known for one thing: pricey sports bars packed with reverting Frat boys and Trixies. However, there is one place where the kids from that one particular school lunch table (you know, that one, way in the back!) congregate and shake their money makers: that place is the Neo.

Whether you’re into the Goth, Punk, Metal or 80s New Wave scene, the DJs here spin it all! There might even be a few 80s pop songs thrown in for good measure. The entire place is decked out in black, the blackest black, the lights are hitting all the right places, the fog machine has that definitive haunted house smell, the floor is open to everyone and the gin and tonics will knock you on your keister! What more could anyone want?

What makes this place truly a cool place to go is that you can dance like a complete idiot without a care in the world, as the regulars there really aren’t taking notes. Really! There are no attitudes at his place, because real underground scenes like this simply won’t put up with it. The other thing that’s great is most people who hit this spot go there spontaneously off the cuff, so pretty much everyone there is looking to get something going, which also kicks a lot of the pretension out the door. Also, that customary meat market mentality is also lacking, so ladies can go there without worrying about some slime ball “accidentally” bumping them over and over.

So if you’re looking to party and go dancing with your friends in what is probably the absolute coolest bar in Chicago, here is what you need to do:

Dress the way you really want to - be it denim, leather, pleather or lace

Dress as lightly as possible or bring your guard dog buddy, since there’s no coat check

Bring cash

Take the train or cab, as parking really sucks

Find your way back into the alley on Clark and go inside

Dance till dawn!

What is probably the smallest, most under rated night club in town for twenty- and early thirty- somethings, the Liar's Club is a place to go when the notion hits to do something a little different. Its unassuming exterior seems to beckon those looking for a little anonymity, but takes on all comers.

Every night brings on new types of people and music, depending on who is spinning the tunes. And, every night tends to have a decent crowd, since many regulars work odd shifts. Also, the crowd splits up between the upstairs and downstairs, depending on who feels like taking advantage of the dance floor, and who would rather just jam out and throw back a few drinks.

Weekend nights have a meager $3.00 cover, and the joint fills up really fast! Those wanting to score one of the coveted secluded loveseats or bar stools should get there by 9pm. The music is loud and non stop, the bar staff are fast and quick as a whip, and the d?cor is an eclectic mix of Punk meets Moose Lodge, with fez hat logos tucked away just about everywhere. This is the corner bar that dad and his Shriner friends would rather go sober than drink at!

Since Trixies and sports bar fans are not the target audience here, what's usually on the screen is either rock videos (they're big KISS fans there!) or old school porn. The place has a good mix of couples, groups and singles on the prowl, wearing pretty much whatever is clean that particular night, or whatever looks somewhat presentable from the hamper. The brick walls are painted red and decked out with old velvet Elvi icons (the plural of Elvis!). And the dance floor? It's really small but fun, with these disco lights on the floor with a ball overhead. It is definitely the place to do a little people watching while having a good time!

In a city renowned for very good pizza, it can be really difficult to pinpoint even a dozen extremely notable locations. Pequod's manages to do just that, due to its main feature, which can really throw people off on a first try. “They burnt my pizza!” people exclaim, but in actuality, the crust has been caramelized, inviting a whole new taste sensation even traditionalists enjoy.

This pizza joint is the real deal, residing in a converted two flat building with charming exposed brick, giant TV's and a juke box. There are a few appetizer, sandwich and pasta selections also available, which are excellent in their own right, but some would argue they exist merely to fill a menu, as the pizza itself needs no help - it's honestly just that good! In fact, the other surprising feature left out of the picture is Pequod's make their specialty in only two fashions, thin crust and pan, excluding what put Chicago on map in the first place, Chicago style deep dish, also known as stuffed.

Upon entering, the mouth will immediately begin to salivate, as the smell of baking cheese, crust and toppings fill the air. The décor is light and friendly, and since Pequod’s occupies both floors, those looking for a more intimate setting would enjoy the quieter area upstairs. Its location is right across the street from the popular Webster Place Cineplex and plenty of nearby shops, book stores and boutiques. It is therefore an ideal hot spot to do a little shopping, stop to eat and grab a pitcher, followed up with that blockbuster everyone is raving about!

While street parking can be difficult just about anywhere in Lincoln Park, the Webster Street lot offers plenty with store or movie validation, making the night a package deal all the more enticing. Of course, locals can get their burnt… no, carmelized, pizza delivered at home, should they decide to take the night indoors!

So remember: the next time you wander into the western section of Lincoln Park of that pizza place with the quirky name and their unusual crust for a casual night in the 'hood! It's worth a thousand trips more!