Neighborhood: Wicker Park

The Hideout, Chicago’s favorite alternative country bar, makes a great date spot. Popular, but not overcrowded, the Hideout offers all kinds of entertainment and bargain price drinks. It’s fun, unpretentious, and feels like drinking at a friend’s house.

Best known for its alternative country music, the Hideout also offers blues, rock, dance mixes, metal and reggae. Last year, I saw Delta Bluesman David “Honeyboy” Edwards there, still sounding great at 92. Every Tuesday the house band, Devil in A Woodpile, plays ragtime and bluegrass with piano, string bass, jug and washboard. D.J. Bald Eagle and Mother Hubbard host a dance party every other Saturday night, starting at 11. The Hideout also throws block parties with food and music outdoors in the adjoining lots. Last summer’s Hideout Block Party included rock and roll choir Blue Ribbon Glee Club and post-modern marching band Mucca Pazza. An April 4 show called “The Hideout Gets Heavier” featured Yakuza, Rabid Rabbit and Kommandant. No matter what your date’s musical taste, you can find something to impress them at the Hideout. It’s a fun place to dance or just sit back and watch a show.

If you and your date prefer comedy or film, check out the Chicago Short Film Brigade or the Interview Show. Once a month, the Chicago Short Film Brigade shows serious and funny short films, with popcorn and sometimes pie for concessions. The Interview Show follows a Jay Leno/David Letterman format with host Mark Bazer bringing in local musicians, comedians and filmmakers. Covers for these entertaining shows are $5 to $10, less than a movie.

Drinks at the Hideout are also reasonably priced. My favorite beer there is the Berghoff Red for $2.50 a bottle. Goose Island, Red Seal and Newcastle Brown Ale are also on tap and the full bar serves cocktails like the house special “Wooden Leg” with rye. Note that there is no food except snacks, like the popcorn on movie nights and the bar is cash only, but there is an ATM.

True to its name, the Hideout is isolated from the rest of Wicker Park and somewhat hard to find. Industrial lots surround the Hideout, so there’s plenty of parking nearby. The Hideout is close to North Avenue and Elston. You can walk there from the Damen Blue Line El Stop, going east on North Avenue and north on Ada. Look for the Old Style beer sign.

The Hideout’s building is a two-story wood house with a big patio out front. Inside, it has stuffed deer heads and swordfish on the walls and yellow Christmas lights strung up from the ceiling. Its relaxed kitsch welcomes all visitors and the chalkboard above the bar reads “Drinking unites; sobriety divides.”

Ladies, it’s time to go out for a night on the town. You’re gonna meet up with the girls and hopefully, later on, meet up with some guys. So you throw on your black stiletto boots, tight jeans, strappy low-cut shirt and accessorize with sparkly, dangly jewelry. Right?

Wrong. It’s time to spice things up. You want to stand apart when you go to the bar, am I right? My advice is: head to store B in Wicker Park. This upscale antique/thrift shop is full to the brim with classy accessories and rare clothing finds that will have you looking like an old-time movie star at a glamorous premiere.

I stopped in there a couple of weeks ago and the glimmer of style from an era past caught my eye with every unique handbag, cute hat and sophisticated fur coat. This is where you go when you want to liven up your wardrobe in a way that is completely new as well as old.

Beautifully decorated, this place gives me a vibe that I don’t usually get in antique stores. No stinky, dusty smell, no junk, nothing that made me cringe. Just upscale, good quality clothing in a soothing, relaxed environment. The exposed brick, pendant lighting and elegant chandelier certainly bring a modern feeling to the space.

Trying on a couple of hats, I thought back to a girls night out I had a few years back, where I loaned out some of my vintage hats to some friends before we ventured out and painted the town red. Sporting our unique style, we got plenty of interesting looks and lots of compliments. Store B has a great collection of hats, so grab your girls and try some on.

You’ll also find plenty of gift items here, like unique glasswares and captivating knick-knacks. Personally, I can’t keep my hands off the adorable handbags, some in shiny patent leather and some with intricate beadwork. You’ll only find the best of the best here, but expect to pay a hefty price for it. A vintage handbag in good condition will set you back between $50 and $100 dollars.

Ever thought of wearing a vintage party dress to a dinner party? Check out their dress racks and see if you can find something that you can pair with an old handbag or a awesomely gaudy necklace. Since a lot of the newer styles are throwbacks to the fashions of past decades, you won’t look outdated at all, just vintage chic.

When you’re shopping with the girls in Wicker Park, make sure to stop by Store B. It may make you change your mind about antiques.

As too many Wicker Park restaurants rise out of my price range, and Starbucks replaces Filter, the Earwax Cafe remains refreshingly the same. Don’t be disgusted by the name, which came from the record store in the same location on Milwaukee Avenue, near the North/Milwaukee/Division intersection in the heart of Wicker Park. The café is now a delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee spot. The Earwax Café makes a perfect place to relax with friends before a show at the Subterranean or after hunting for second-hand treasure at Myopic Books or Reckless Records.

Groups of friends can sit in one of the high-backed gold and red booths by the old circus posters of Ostrich Boy and the knife thrower and the golden horned dragon head on the wall. You can talk for hours over the bottomless coffee ($3.75) and eat breakfast at any time of day. Vegetarian or vegan friends can dine well on the meatless burgers made from soy, or black beans, tempeh (soy, barley and spices) and even a seitan chorizo burrito. I was impressed by the Reuben with seitan (wheat gluten) seasoned exactly like corned beef. I would recommend the chocolate soy shake with ribbons of chocolate syrup to anyone. Carnivores can go straight for the pulled pork sandwich ($7.50) or Jamaican Jerk chicken ($8.95) with mashed sweet potatoes and rice. Crunchy, gingery sesame coleslaw and seasoned thin French fries make excellent sides and the vegan carrot cake lets you claim that your dessert is socially responsible. Get all your daily servings of produce at once in the Garbage Salad ($8.95) with romaine, spinach, carrot, bell peppers, mandarin oranges, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and honey mustard dressing.

There’s no wine or beer here, but a good selection of espresso coffee drinks and loose leaf teas like oo long, sassafras and medicinal teas to fight off a cold. The Blue Velvet berry smoothie and Peanut Butter Chocolate smoothie are fun and filling. If your friends need a good meal before or after hitting the nearby bars, Earwax Café is ready for you.

Be warned, Earwax Café is cash only. The flyers for local art and music shows covering the wall and the litany of graffiti in the bathroom keep it real. This is the type of humble punk art place that made Wicker Park cool to begin with. Look for videos to rent and independent magazines in the back and downstairs.

Next time you have a whole day set aside for shopping, head over to Buffalo Exchange in Wicker Park, but don’t expect to go anywhere else. This store has everything you need, and chances are, you’ll find yourself unable to leave.

Trendier than a typical thrift shop but full of the one-of-a-kind items that only thrift shopping can turn up, Buffalo Exchange is a fabulous new addition to Wicker Park’s line of second-hand shops. This particular store opened in October of 2007 and is part of a larger national chain, although you definitely don’t get that feeling when you walk in. Right away, a jewelry counter overflowing with colorful, sparkling treasures will call out to you. And sprawled out before you are clothing racks that are just waiting to be explored. Tons of different styles are intermingling in this shop, and I guarantee there’s something for everyone. Putting an entire outfit won’t be hard; they have purses, hats, shoes, boots, coats, jeans, belts, sunglasses and other accessories in abundance.

The walls are decked out in the vibrant red paint color that has become popular as of late, a nice touch with the classic high ceilings and the thoughtfully tasteful displays. And when your arm is about to give out from the huge stack of clothes you’ve picked out to try on, you’ll be glad to know that this unique store has a wonderfully not-so-unique feature: eight, count ‘em, eight oversized dressing rooms! This is not your neighborhood Salvation Army, that’s for sure.

Not used to thrift shopping? No worries. This place doesn’t even really feel like a second-hand shop, with its friendly staff, wide aisles and laid-back vibe. As long as you have an eye for fashion, you’ll feel perfectly at home.

Of course, once you’ve sifted through the racks and compiled a mound of new additions to your wardrobe, you’ll undoubtedly feel that sense of apprehension as you head to the register. But the best part about Buffalo Exchange is that this sense of worry will dissolve once you’ve been rung up, thanks to the amazingly affordable prices. You’d be surprised at how much bang for your back you can get at this place, compared with some of the pricier shops in the same neighborhood.

And if you really don’t have much in your budget for shopping, keep in mind that this shop will actually buy your clothes from you, for either cash or store credit. So whether you need rent money or a new dress, this place can hook you up and will keep you coming back for more. Happy shopping!

Wicker Park residents are known for their hip, trendy clothes. But who would have thought that in a big city like Chicago, you could find all the latest trends at a consignment shop? At Lenny & Me on Milwaukee Ave, you can do just that. However, upon stepping in, you might not even realize you’re in a used-clothing store.

Set up like an upscale boutique, Lenny & Me adds a touch of class to resale shopping, which isn’t always so glamorous. Beside carrying high quality vintage coats, dresses, hats and other clothing items, this store has a layout and organization that surpasses most resale shops, even in the area. When you first walk-in, your eye is drawn to the collection of vintage handbags that are neatly displayed to the right. At places like the Goodwill, purses would be strewn about in a haphazard fashion. But here, each purse occupies a rack with few other purses, making it easier to pick one up and admire it. There are also some exceptional furniture pieces here, and not the kind that you would find by the side of the road, either!

Unique jewelry design glimmer from the glass jewelry case, giving the pieces a more distinguished feel, and keeping them from looking like a bunch of old necklaces that Grandma dropped off.

Low lighting and stylish decor also add to the appeal of the store. This shop manages to balance having a large inventory with allowing for plenty of space to walk around. You can shop without feeling like you’re going to knock something over or run into someone.

You’ll find cute 60’s party dresses, one-of-a-kind-footwear, and almost-forgotten outerwear from generations ago. You’ll be surprised at the quality of the items, too. No stains or tears on these clothes!

Next time you’re looking for a really unique outfit, head over to Lenny & Me. You might find that one unexpected item that could take your wardrobe from drab to fabulous. And unlike the Goodwill, you won’t have to deal with any funky smells.

The outside of the Skylark bar in Pilsen looks like an ordinary two-story brick house. The white bird over its front door and the neon beer signs in its window hardly hint at its strange inner beauty. Friends had recommended the Skylark to me and I was pleasantly surprised by its unique charm. I expected a good dive bar and this is one I would recommend for a date.

Inside, the Skylark has brown walls and red lights on the liquor cabinets behind the long dark bar. Bring a date and enjoy the soft lighting and honky tonk or alternative rock music. Hang your coat on a hook and slip into their comfortable vinyl booths. Look up at the cases of kitschy curios like china ducks and someone’s tin foil art project. Play some pinball on the Elvis pinball machine and take a picture in the old curtained photo booth. The one part of the Skylark I cannot recommend is the library, a magazine rack with a few abandoned paperbacks and artsy local magazines like The 2nd Hand and Interview. It’s too dark to read in here.

There’s a full bar and the beers range from cheap date Pabst and Old Style ($2-$2.50) to high maintenance Edmund Fitzgerald Porter and Robert the Bruce ($3.50-$4). The menu has something for everyone, including vegetarians, with food items from cheeseburgers and fried chicken to the eggplant sandwich and butternut squash. I had a spicy barbecue pulled pork sandwich on a white roll with crisp coleslaw and tater tots. You can get piergoies or tater tots as an appetizer. If you press them, most folks will admit their secret love of tater tots. Most of the menu items cost $6 to $11, so you can treat your sweetheart to a complete lunch or dinner and not break the bank. Skykark's kitchen stays open late, until midnight on weeknights and one on Fridays and Saturdays. When you and your date are suddenly starving at 10pm, this menu is more fun than fast food and more satisfying than basic bar grub.

Skylark is kitschy but not pretentious. It can get crowded when a band plays there, but on the Thursday night when I went, they had plenty of room. My waiter was fast and friendly and the beer bottles came with a small glass for slow sipping. Before you go, note that the Skylark only takes cash, so don’t count on your credit card here. In case you forget this, an ATM waits by the front door. I may be a cheap date, but I’d definitely see the Skylark again.

Looking for an original vinyl of the Scorpions “In Trance” album? How about that killer CD by The Pixies? Well grab up that list and head down to Reckless Records! It’s a store that remembers what it’s like to actually collect music on mediums other than iPods owned by independent owners. It’s also where all the cool kids still go, even if some of those kids happen to be pushing the envelope on their AARP memberships!

This trio of record stores located in some of the hippest neighborhoods around town have a major cult following by a vast amount of folks who still like to buy their music in person. On top of the latest releases by underground and cult favorites, Reckless Records carries a fantastic collection of used CDs, and they even have cassettes and vinyl as well! How cool is that? While the prevalent genres stocked are rock and alternative, quite a few other styles are also available, making this the perfect spot to scope out those hard to find tracks. A small selection of vintage posters, t shirts and video games are also available for die hard collectors.

Of course, since they carry a good deal of used stuff, they obviously need to get it from somewhere. Folks in the know frequently unload their used items here in confidence, knowing they are going to fetch a good price for them. These guys are very good about keeping track of where everything comes from, so shoppers can also feel good about knowing nothing here is “hot”, making all three of these indie shops great places to support.

The fun, helpful and extremely knowledgeable staff really earn their chops, and they genuinely love what they do, many in underground bands themselves, so chat it up with a local celebrity or two! No music trivia question goes unanswered, so those looking for the extremely hard to find can begin their quests here.

The Double Door gets its name from the two entrances it has (the main on Damen, the other on Milwaukee) and By far, this is probably the best place to catch a small show in Chicago! They feature promising up and comers all the way up to the likes of the Rolling Stones, and therefore is undoubtedly a highly sought after venue by local acts and traveling musicians alike.

Due to its direct proximity to the Blue Line train and tons of great hangouts just steps away, folks tend to pack this intimate venue on Friday and Saturday nights no matter who's on the bill. The stage is decently elevated, allowing just about everyone to catch a good view of the bands no matter where they happen to hang out, and the long bar allows for the drinks to pour without missing a beat. Even on extremely crowded nights, folks can find an escape by hitting the smaller bar downstairs below the stage, and is where the bands tend to congregate after their gigs.

What's nice about The Double Door is the large variety of acts they book, offering up an eclectic mix of music that attracts folks from all corners, be it Alternative or Metal, Hip Hop or Funk, and just about anything else folks could want to hear. The scene is dark and gritty, which most people find to be the perfect element for concert going, leaving the pompous arenas to eat their dust.

Concert goes should take note that parking in the vicinity can be pretty hard to come by at night, especially on the weekends. Also the traffic in that immediate area can get really tight, due to folks bar hopping and darting in and out of traffic. So do like the locals do and either hoof it a few blocks or take advantage of the all night train running overhead! Folks driving in just need to be wary of the permit only parking on many of the side streets to avoid getting ticketed or towed.

Looking to take in a night of classic Italian food and follow it up with the best mixed drinks in town? Want it all wrapped up in a swanky supper club lounge that The Chairman would approve of? Then head to Club Lucky - serving up the absolute best martinis in town, right alongside some wonderful food at gastronomical portions!

Located off the area's main streets, this former speak easy embraces its heyday by keeping it real, mixing up fantastic concoctions like their Killer Martinis, garnished with either bleu cheese or anchovy stuffed olives made right there at home. This noisy, dimly lit 50's era establishment would make Tony Soprano proud, and is just as welcoming to the eclectic locals and politicians alike. While the upbeat scene may make some folks wary of pushy, in and out service, they can be rest assured knowing that taking their time to enjoy their drinks with pleasant company is perfectly fine.

For those deciding to go ahead and order up some food, the Sicilian menu is sure to please. The grilled calamari always needs to be boxed up due to its large servings, but comes in at a close second to their pasta, steaks and chops. The d?cor begs folks to enjoy twirling that enormous plate of spaghetti they offer, complimented of course with a nice Chianti as the likes of Sinatra croon through the air. And yes, heavenly tiramisu is featured on their dessert menu and is always a favorite!

So yes, Club Lucky is a must do, perhaps before taking in a show at the nearby Double Door or while on the hunt for a late night bar!

People say you can’t have your cake and eat it, too, but at Sweet Thang on North Avenue, you certainly can. Specializing in traditional French and American pastries, cakes and croissants, Sweet Thang has created quite a buzz in Wicker Park in its almost five years of being open. Anyone who has ever walked by and peeked in can attest to the romantic draw of the red heart-shaped chairs and the sugary sweets that call out from the pastry cases.

Inside, the café has a quaint, French atmosphere. Chairs and tables are cozily squeezed into the area across from the long counter, adorned overhead with ornate, vintage-style lamp shades over unique hanging light fixtures. Red paint, an exposed brick wall and detailed crown molding add a classy touch, and really make it hard not to stick around and have another cookie with your coffee. The back of the café features a slightly bigger sitting area, stylishly decorated with long draperies and chandeliers. To get to this area, you’ll pass under a decorative “wedding cake” that sits majestically over the entryway. A definite attention-getter!

As for cookies, they’re fresh and delicious, and the same can be said of the coffee. If you’ve got a few minutes to spare, let the person at the counter take a minute to make you a cappuccino. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is something you’d expect to experience in a café like this. Go ahead, give a chocolate chip or a peanut butter cookie a try—when was the last time you got to have a freshly baked cookie, anyway?

Sweet Thang also boasts wedding and specialty cakes, which range in price from $4 to $15 per person. Their talented staff can accommodate almost any cake design, even such odd requests as musical instruments, books, tools and clothes, just to name a few. Sweet Thang’s dessert cases also house treats like cheesecake, tarts, pies and mousses. If you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, this place has just what you need!

Whether you’re by yourself looking for a quiet place to relax and read a book, or with friends looking for an intimate setting to make the latest juicy confession, Sweet Thang provides the ideal environment.