Page 91 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guides - Chicago

Northside ❮❮ 89

North Avenue Beach
9 EXPLORING NORTHSIDE
MAP F4 • Lakeshore Dr. &
North Ave. • Open dawn to dusk
• Lifeguards on duty from Memorial Mia
Lak e
Day–Labor Day CAB Francesca’s M ichigan
When summer graces Chicago with Frances'
its presence, locals of all ages and CAB
nationalities converge on this short, Kingston
Mines
but inviting beach. Running along its Lincoln Park Zoo
edge is the lakefront path, where CAB Cafe Brauer
cyclists, in-line skaters, runners, and CAB BUS
walkers stream by. Confident folks Armitage/Halsted Chicago
Shopping District
History
strut their stuff at the outdoor gym, Museum
sand volleyball courts allow the MORNING
energetic to let off steam, and the
rooftop bar of the steamship-shaped Fuel up for the day at one of
beach house is perfect for a drink Lincoln Park’s favorite breakfast
while watching the activity below. joints, Frances’ (2552 N. Clark
St.), where they serve a
wonderfully fluffy French toast.
Afterwards, take a stroll east
down Wrightwood Avenue and
keep walking until you come to
the Lincoln Park Zoo (see pp30–
31), where you can ride on the
wild side on the African Safari
motion simulator. Then meet all
the animals before breaking for
lunch with a view at Café Brauer,
built in 1908 by Prairie School
architect Dwight Perkins.
AFTERNOON
During warm weather, head to
Jogging, North Avenue Beach the lakefront along Fullerton
Second City
0 Avenue where you can stroll, rent
bikes, sunbathe, or even brave
the chilly Lake Michigan waters.
MAP F4 • 1616 N. Wells St. •
312-337-3992 • www.secondcity.com In colder months, catch a bus
It’s hard to overstate the influence (nos. 22 or 151) and immerse
that Second City has had on comedy yourself in the Chicago History
Museum (see p87), or take a five-
in America since it opened it doors minute cab ride to Armitage/
at North Wells Street in 1959. The Halsted Shopping District (see
home of improvisational comedy, p88) for classy retail therapy.
Second City has been the starting
point for an army of talent from EVENING
John Belushi and Bill Murray to
Tina Fey, Dan Aykroyd, and Stephen This part of town has an
abundance of good eateries: hop
Colbert, and entire casts of the the “L” four stops or cab it to try
popular TV show Saturday Night Live. Mia Francesca’s (see p93), a lively
On two stages at its headquarters in Italian trattoria where the pasta
Old Town, Second City offers full- dishes are big enough for two,
length shows (another venue, UP and there’s an excellent wine list.
Comedy Club on West North Avenue, Round off your day with a visit to
is reserved for stand-up comedy). Kingston Mines (see p56) – just a
short cab-ride away – to hear some
Improv seating is first come first of the city’s best blues musicians.
served and tight, which just makes
the hilarity even more contagious.
See map on p86e
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