Logan Square Neighborhood Information

Attractions

Logan Square is one of Chicago most distinctive and diverse neighborhoods. Along its beautiful wide boulevards and quiet side streets resides a wealth of great restaurants, shops, nightspots and the people who form the community.

Sightseeing
Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristics of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood are its landmark boulevards which have been preserved as part of the Logan Square Boulevards Historic District. These expansive tree-lined thoroughfares are trimmed with beautiful mansions, a reminder of the community's rich history.

The 2.5 miles of wide drives that connect Logan, Kedzie, Palmer and Humboldt boulevards today are remnants of Chicago's original 26-mile boulevard system built over a period of three decades in the late 19th Century. In the neighborhood's center, where Kedzie and Logan boulevards intersect with Milwaukee Avenue, is Logan Square. This European-style roundabout is a beautiful piece of Chicago's cityscape. The towering monument that sits in the center of the square is the Illinois Centennial Memorial Column. The 70-foot marble column was erected in 1918 to commemorate 100 years of Illinois' statehood. It was designed by architect Henry Bacon (the man behind the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.) and was sculpted by Evelyn Longman. The depictions chiseled into the base of the Memorial Column portray Illinois history from the days of Native Americans inhabitants to early farmers to the laborers of the industrial and post industrial revolution.

For a chance to learn more about the history of Logan Square and to get a first-hand peek into some of the neighborhood's great homes, check out the Historic Mansion House and Garden Walk. This is a unique opportunity to tour the community and appreciate the harmony of past and present life. The walk has been held every September for over a quarter century.

Shopping
Auto sales are down, bike sales are up and that's good for Logan Square's two bike shops. Boulevard Bikes (right next door to Lula's Cafe) has a selection of both new and used bicycles to choose from. Oscar Wastyn Cycles is a neighborhood institution. This bike sales and repair shop has maintained a Logan Square location for almost a century. The oddly named Wolfbait & B-girls is a great place to score hip clothes and accessories, but if you're on a tight budget then head to Family Thrift for a good dollar deal. For that indoor flea market experience check out the MegaMall on Milwaukee Ave, where you're likely to find a little bit of anything and a whole lot of everything. Logan Square is also home to a Gap Outlet, stop in for a good deal on your favorite pair of carpenter pants and all things khaki.

Music Venues
Logan Square is home to a few good dive bars that happen to host live music on a regular basis. It's a tough call as to which is the diviest but Ronny's will give you a good run for the money. If you like live rock and roll, cheap beer and unfriendly service then you'll love Ronny's. With a small bar area in front (or in back depending on your perspective of triangular-shaped corner establishments) and a larger room in the back, which has the look and feel of a slightly cluttered garage, Ronny's is a good place to catch local bands as well as lesser known touring acts. For good dive bars in Logan Square, The Mutiny is a close second. This dark and dank joint boasts what is perhaps the biggest urinal in Chicago. The Mutiny also has live music (with no cover), but surprisingly overpriced domestic beer and some ornery and territorial barflies. For live blues that's completely of the tourist map, true fans of the genre head to Rosa's. Rosa's is the spot to find both established old-time blues players and up-and-comers on the blues scene.

For musical acts whose fan base has long outgrown the small clubs, there are two venues in Logan Square that can accommodate larger crowds. Logan Square Auditorium has seen quite an increase in bookings in recent years -- thanks in part to the folks at Empty Bottle who regularly use this place for events too big for their smaller West Town stage. The even bigger Congress Theater can handle even bigger crowds for more popular touring bands on their way through our fair city.

Movies
Logan Theater is a second-run theater located just off the Square where you can enjoy a matinee movie for as little as three dollars. You're not likely to find a better deal in town, but of course at those prices you can expect sticky floors in a less-than-state-of-the-art facility. If you'd rather trade up to the modern conveniences of the big movie house, then check out City North 15 Cinema where you can see all the latest Hollywood blockbusters in comfort.

Dining and Nightlife in Logan Square

Dining
One of Logan Square's most popular dining spots is no secret to Chicago's biggest foodies. In fact, Cafe Lula has been known to attract some of Chicago's top chefs. Not to work their magic in the kitchen, but to enjoy the cuisine served in the dining room. Lula's features an ever-changing menu that takes full advantage of the best local and regional organic foods on the market. Open for breakfast, brunch and dinner, Lula's is a must-visit eatery in Logan Square

Lula's does not take reservations, so if you can't get a table simply turn the corner and you've arrived at Dunlay's on the Square. Dunlay's is the sister establishment to Dunlay's on Clark in Lincoln Park. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner to hungry Logan Square denizens. Stop in and order Big Mike's Big Irish breakfast (served with a pint of Guinness). Irish breakfasts aside, Dunlay's menu is mostly American fare featuring such staples as meatloaf, jambalaya, BBQ chicken and babyback ribs. There's also a full-service bar on hand as well as great outdoor patio seating right on the Square -- it's called Dunlay's on the Square for a reason! With the right cooperation from Chicago weather this can make for a highly enjoyable al fresco dining experience.

For something a little less upscale, Logan Square residents head to Johnny's Grill for that authentic greasy spoon experience. Eggs and bacon, burgers, BLTs and a bit of attitude are what you can expect from this no-frills establishment. Johnny's tends to attract some of the overflow from Lulu's but it also has its own group of regulars that pop in for a bite. Although the food doesn't exactly get rave reviews from its patrons, the best part of Johnny's Grill is the prices. Most items on the menu ring in for under six bucks. You would think Johnny's would be a 24-hour diner, and indeed it was for many of its thirty years in business, but these days they close at 10pm, well before the bars shut down.

For great Mexican cuisine, especially late at night, El Cid 2 is arguably the best spot in Logan Square. We should say best spots plural, because El Cid Tacos is the original location located just a few blocks away. In addition to great food and drink, El Cid 2 also has an outdoor back patio, which is an excellent place to spend a summer night drinking a gigantic margarita. With generous portions and friendly service, El Cid rarely disappoints it loyal clientele.

Charlie Thai, is a tasty little Thai place on Armitage Avenue that offers up good curry dishes, spicy fried rice and, of course, the obligatory pad Thai. They do pick-up and delivery if you don't feel like eating in. El Nandu is one of the few Argentine restaurants in the city and it's worth checking out for that fact alone. Argentineans take their steaks as seriously as Texans and you'll find plenty of steak and meat options here as well as a plethora of empanadas.

Streetside Bar and Grill is an American-style pub and hangout spot for Logan Square residents. The menu features better-than-average bar fare and sidewalk seating at this corner bar is a prime place to hangout in the warmer months. The Atlas Cafe makes a mean milkshake with a variety of fanciful ingredients and they pride themselves on their international cuisine, serving dishes with origins in every edge of the globe. The Brown Sack is the perfect "shack" for soups, sandwiches and shakes served with tasty sides like macaroni 'n cheese and meatballs. For a truly gut-busting pizza experience, the deep dish pizza from Congress Pizzeria is a modern marvel of cheese and dough. Order delivery from this Logan Square mainstay and after just two slices you'll have trouble moving off your couch for a few hours. For your standard fare in take-out Chinese, give the Blue Willow a call.

Margie's Candies has been a Logan Square institution for over eight decades. Situated on Logan Square's eastern edge, where Logan Square ends and Bucktown begins, Margie's has maintained the charm and character (and maybe a bit of the dust) of an era gone by. Hand-made ice cream is still the specialty. Margie's serves up sweets year round but it's in the hot summer months that this place really gets hopping.

Bars and Nightlife
For a friendly neighborhood bar experience, the Whirlaway is tough to beat. It seems like if you've been there twice, the bartender will recognize you and remember your name and you might even get your picture hung up on the wall. The Whirlaway also has a great jukebox and a pool table to entertain patrons between swigs of beer. In a similar vein, but with an emphasize on sports, the Bob Inn is a good place to spend the afternoon with an Old Style or two while rooting for or deriding one of the local sports teams.

Logan Bar and Grill is one of the newer establishments in Logan Square. This joint fits the template of a neighborhood watering hole -- good bar food, plenty of big-screen sports action, a great drink selection, and an outdoor patio. It's no wonder the owners got it right, they're also behind West Town's Black Beetle and The Northside Bar and Grille in Bucktown. Forget dining -- if drinking is all you're after, then head to the Green Eye. Located right smack dab under the Blue Line Milwaukee stop, the Green Eye recently expanded, pushing into the former barber shop next door. This much needed addition is a welcome relief to the bar's patrons, giving a little more breathing room to the formerly too-crowded bar. And with the bartenders blasting their favorite tunes on the stereo, you won't even hear the trains roaring by overhead.

The Logan Square location of Small Bar (there's one in West Town as well) is truly off the beaten path. Located on a quiet side street that runs into the Kennedy Expressway, the Small Bar (it's small, sure, but it hardly deserves the name) has a great selection of imported beer, limited yet tasty bar menu, great jukebox and friendly bartenders. Despite its hidden location, Small Bar is no secret and attracts quite a thirsty crowd on weekends. Sitting on the border of Logan Square and Bucktown is Quenchers Saloon. This comfortable corner hangout has been serving residents of both neighborhoods since it first opened its doors in 1979. Quenchers has an ever-changing beer list that contains hundreds of brews from all over the U.S. and the rest of the globe. They also book local bands in the back room area and with no cover charge that's a good entertainment deal. For much of the '90s and early '00s, The Fireside Bowl was thee place to see all-ages live music shows. Part of the charm of this bowling alley-turned-rock club was the decrepit nature of the place. Well, that's changed in recent years as the Fireside has undergone a facelift with the emphasis put back on the bowling and only a few live shows here and there these days. If you like to bowl then you're in luck.

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