Trader Joe's
Neighborhood: Near North Side

44 E Ontario St
Chicago, IL 60611

Shana C. writes: So, I've got to get better about watching my spending which means the $10 lunch is off the menu for a (long) while.  It's looking like Mother Hubbard's cabinets at home and I'm out of Indian Box Lunches in my desk, so I went over to TJs to see what I…

Chicago Cares
Neighborhood: The Loop

300 West Adams
Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60606

Andrea R. writes: I've heard so much praise for Chicago Cares over the past few years and yesterday finally got the chance to see what this wonderful organization is all about during the annual serve-a-thon.  I, along with many other yelpers, helped paint the…

North Park Village Nature Center
Neighborhood: North Park

5801 N Pulaski Rd # C
Chicago, IL 60646

Colleen C. writes: Um, I saw a deer. A live one, not the plastic lawn ornament kind that drive my dog crazy. A real, live breathing deer. I usually only see them dead on the side of the road when I head to Northern Michigan...

So, this was quite a pleasant surprise. Can…

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Neighborhood: Near North Side

60 E Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Kathryn T. writes: Go to Joe's, sit at the bar and order a martini. And NOT one of those fruity ones! A classic martini, maybe a little dirty. Go ahead, order a second martini; you put in a hard day of work. For dinner, start off with the stone crab, and then order…

Scooter's Frozen Custard
Neighborhood: Lakeview

1658 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

Colleen C. writes: So, I happen to be lucky enough to babysit for one of the coolest kids in Chicago, who also happens to live a block from Scooter's. SCORE. Fun for all...especially on a decidedly muggy day. IF Scooter's is open, it's officially summer...and the…

Hot House
Neighborhood: South Loop

31 E Balbo Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

Thamara D. writes: Hot House is looking for a new home at this time and no longer resides at this space. Please check their site for updates.

Hot House,
the center for the international performance and exibition.
For tickets, updates and info visit www.hothouse.net
Help…

Hyde Park Produce
Neighborhood: Hyde Park

1226 E 53rd St
Chicago, IL 60615

Kara B. writes: Hyde Park produce is a God among grocery stores. And its new location has only made it more wonderful. Here is a list of the awesomeness:

1) DIRT cheap veggies
  a) that are fresh
  b) that taste wonderful!
  c) with a HUGGGGEEEE selection
2) Boar's…

Miko's Italian Ice
Neighborhood: Bucktown

1846 N. Damen Street
Chicago, IL 60647

elizabeth n. writes: All I have to say is banana chocolate chip Italian ice- delicious!  I stopped in at Miko's for some Italian ice and thought it was the best I have ever tasted.  The strawberry ice is great but the banana chocolate chip is awesome.  It's a cute little…

Twisted Scissors
Neighborhood: Bucktown

2001 N Point St
on Armitage between Western & California
Chicago, IL 60647

Colleen C. writes: A word to the wise: Do not park on Armitage during rush hour. My cheap(ish) little styling venture was ambushed by a $50 ticket. Booo!

However, that was the only negative in my experience. :)

Now, on this particular day I was feeling like I should let…

Sweet Cakes
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village

935 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

laura b. writes: eating a root beer float mini vegan cupcake from sweet cakes is pretty much the closest i'll ever get to heaven (while not under the influence of ecstasy because then a remotely attractive person touching my leg can be a transcendental experience).…

Walker Bros Original Pancake House

620 Central Ave
Highland Park, IL 60035

molly c. writes: so, highland park is like half way between my home (chicago) and my parent's home (racine, wi). mom and i will sometimes meet there and have breakfast/lunch.

the blueberry pancakes are SO good...made with real, fresh, whole, non-pie filling…

Campagnola

815 Chicago Ave
Evanston, IL 60202

Jesster A. writes: O' Julie H - if you hadn't written about Campagnola, I probably would have forgotten it existed - and we live like a mile away...

I just hate it when you want to love a place for all the right reasons and the food is consistently good, but not…

Urban Oasis
Neighborhood: Near North Side

939 W North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622

Alison M. writes: I wish Urban Oasis would adopt me so that I could live there forever.  The massage therapists that I've had have all been great-- they listen to me about what I would like them to focus on and are very attentive to the amount of pressure that I want.…

Evanston Century 12 & Cinearts 6

1715 Maple Ave
Evanston, IL 60201

Katarina X. writes: I wish I liked it. I do so try. Everytime I go, no matter how late the hour (I'm an insomniac, so I veer towards the latest possible showings) I am reminded why I appreciate Netflix and birth control.
Waaaaaay too many, obnoxious, hyperactive kids…

Cross-Rhodes

913 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202

Keiko S. writes: Augh, we should've checked the reviews more carefully before heading out here, because we forgot to try their famous lemon fries! Regardless, we liked the food. They're generous with the olive oil and basically with everything else as the portion's…

Peet's Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Near North Side, DePaul

1000 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Ed to the M. writes: OMFG STFU LOLz!!!!!!!!

I can *finally* get a decent latte here.  Ed M.'s been a little cranky here in Chicago, and it's partly because of the lack of decent espresso joints here in the Em-Dub.

Leave it to Berkeley's own Peets Coffee to come and save…

Swedish Bakery
Neighborhood: Andersonville, Edgewater

5348 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60640

Julia W. writes: Oh, Swedish Bakery, you are a true lesson in patience.  First, I have to wait for the Clark St. bus to get to you.  Then, I have to wait amidst a crowd of fiending, hungry bakery whores, clutching my number like the Golden Ticket.  Luckily, the wait…

Fogo de Chao
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River North

661 N LaSalle St
Chicago, IL 60610

ben -. writes: Fantastic.

It starts when you gorge yourself on smoked salmon and artichoke hearts. It continues when you start eating the first bite of the 7 cuts of meat from the dudes walking around with them. You take a bite, and before you can finish there's…

Tweet
Neighborhood: Uptown

5020 N Sheridan Rd
Chicago, IL 60640

Colleen C. writes: Dear Mikey,

How adorable are you? I mean really, it should be a crime to be so damn cute. I am writing to inform you that you are currently my favorite brunch server in Chicago, maybe the world.

Your cheeky humor, acute attention to detail and…

Jarosch Bakery

35 S Arlington Heights Road
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

Nancy K. writes: Excellent good old fashioned full service bakery.  

Do they ...?  Can they ...?   ...Yes.

Everything at the website.  
http://www.jaroschbake...

Love the details -- waxed paper bags (goods don't dry out by the time you get home) and they have a machine…

Mr Beef On Orleans
Neighborhood: Near North Side, River North

666 N Orleans St
Chicago, IL 60610

steve h. writes: so driving up orleans around midnight...what did i see?
a light on at mr beef's?!
were my eyes playing tricks on me??
*screech*
pulled a 'u-ey' right there and saw that mr beef's had PATRONS in there..EATING ITALIAN BEEFS!!

you heard it here first…

Perry's
Neighborhood: The Loop

180 N Franklin Street
Chicago, IL 60606

Matt W. writes: We stepped inside, I for the first time and he for the umpteenth. My little soul with the little yarmulke and little peyot cascading down the sides of its little head rubbed its eyes, awakening from a slumber that only exile into the suburbs can…

Landmark Century Centre Cinema
Neighborhood: Lakeview

2828 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60657

Jerry M. writes: My days of being the youngest person in the room are long gone, but for a 4:30 movie on a Saturday afternoon I swear I had stepped into a showing of "Cocoon: The Return."

Every man, woman (no child though - remember my 30-something tired old ass is…

Oriental Theatre
Neighborhood: The Loop

24 W. Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601

Ellen M. writes: The one "additional tips" question below was "Good for Kids?"

Definitely.  Especially if you have balcony seats.  If you're over 5'7" you'll have a hard time finding a place for your knees, and if you're over 5'11" you'll wish you were anywhere in the…

Maza
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park, DePaul

2748 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60610

K T. writes: Sometimes, there is a same-ness to restaurants that serve food from the region between, say, Italy and India.  Every now and then, though, you come across a restaurant that transports one to a specific place and/or time.  Maza is one of those places.…

Sherwyn's Health Food Shops
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

645 W Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614

Jerry M. writes: I miss this place! I've been going here ever since I moved to the city many moons ago - I got lots of stuff here, and it seemed really cheap - at least compared to Whole Paycheck.

I loved their version of corn nuts and dried apples. I get them now at…

Ann's Bakery
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village

2158 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Kat S. writes: I have been shopping there for my groceries for 20 years. Every time I miss home (Poland) and feel sentimental, I crave euro-food...lol.
I have been going back and forth USA/Poland all my life... but I always went back to Ann's when in US for my…

Trader Joe's
Neighborhood: DePaul

1840 N Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614

Kristin C. writes: A trip to Trader Joe's is always an adventure. It is a cramped, hectic adventure but an adventure nonetheless.  For some reason I always feel like I'm on an episode of Supermarket Sweep - except there are yuppies all around (especially at this…

Gene & Jude's Red Hot Stand

2720 River Road
River Grove, IL 60171

Sharin F. writes: I can't believe that I never went here before last night.  You all know I'm  cheap and have a deep affection for grease pits, you'd think I'd have been all over this place like a crackwhore on a rich guy's balls.

Gene & Jude's...what to say...where…

Caputo's Fresh Markets
Neighborhood: Montclare

2560 N Harlem Ave
Elmwood Park, IL 60707

Kathleen O. writes: Last fall, when I told my buddy Nick about Caputo's, I think I came off as a crazy person.  But it is THAT GREAT.  They have 7 kinds of eggplant.  The vegetables are so fresh that they taste like vegetables.  And cheap, too.  I'm a single person and…

Pita Inn

9854 N Milwaukee Ave
Glenview, IL 60016

Sharin F. writes: I fucking love Pita Inn!  It's like my cheap Jew heaven ( I would know since I'm a cheap Jew!)  of delcious food at a great price!  

There's another, more popular location in Skokie, but this one is closer to my house so this is the one I go to!…

Grant Park
Neighborhood: The Loop

331 E. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601

Dave S. writes: Sometimes I do have difficulty calling this a park. It has all of the qualities that constitutes it as a park but I still have problems. It seems like the only time I am down here is with a crowd - Blues Fest, Taste of Chicago, the end of the Chicago…

Quimby's Bookstore
Neighborhood: Wicker Park

1854 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Vaughn C. writes: Fine. I might as well get around to writing about my #1, A+, top notch, most favorite, hyperbole-laced-superlati ve-bound retail locale in the Chicago area. I've been saving this one up for when I'm amply caffeinated and aptly sleep-deprived.

Q: So,…

Paper Boy
Neighborhood: Lakeview

1351 W Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60657

Alison M. writes: So, your love is special and unique and you want to express it in a card.... but, not any old card, your love is just too special for that.  

Come here.  They have so many funny, cute, lovey cards, you won't know what to do with yourself.  Also, if…

Peninsula Hotel Chicago
Neighborhood: Near North Side

108 E Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Lindley E. writes: Haven't stayed there yet (or eaten at Avenues...sigh) but the afternoon tea in the terrace/veranda/whatever they call it is ample, filling, well-prepared, elegant and fun. Servers struggle to properly pronounce the french names of the various…

Perez Restaurant
Neighborhood: Near West Side

853 W Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60607

Karen T. writes: This place is in a meat locker? Are you kidding me? FYI, I've been here a handful of times and never noticed. Clearly my powers of perception are top notch.

Decent Mexican you *don't* have to hike over to Pilsen or Logan Square for. In the heart of…

Binny's Beverage Depot
Neighborhood: Lakeview

3000 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657

John B. writes: Oh Binny's. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? A summer's day falling down drunk, I suppose.

I like walking in the door of this place. It's clean and well laid out, with wine and likka stretching as far as the eye can see. They have a great…

Weber's Bakery
Neighborhood: Garfield Ridge

7055 W Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60638

Clarissa J. writes: How sweet it is.

It's like stepping into a different world, a bakery like no other.  Sweet, comfy, welcoming like a loved-one's house, well-kept, pretty, willing to show you every baked morsel made.... I came here for donuts, on a Sunday afternoon,…

Jazz Record Mart
Neighborhood: Near North Side

27 E Illinois
Chicago, IL 60611

Nancy K. writes: Great source for jazz and blues.

Arlington Park Racetrack

2200 W Euclid Ave
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Colleen C. writes: $7 in admission.
$2.40 to bet on a superfecta, which included Elusive Man and Wild Expectations (yes, I bet solely based on names, and throw an underdog in)
$5.75 for a huge Miller Lite
Not having to go downtown with my family: PRICELESS.

So, on a…