Andersonville

This north side family-friendly neighborhood, an area within Edgewater, is the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon.

The traffic in this formerly all Swedish area is surprisingly light for Chicago, and though parking can prove difficult on the main drag, the side streets offer up more than enough room.

Packed with a surprising variety of stores and restaurants- located on Andersonville’s continually expanding commercial strip along north Clark Street (about 5000N) - this hidden gem of a neighborhood offers up a good deal of treasures.

For shoppers wanting big city fashionable finds without the big city traffic, Hip Fit and His Stuff sell designer labels in clothing and accessories.  Alamo Shoes is a local favorite for men and women’s name brand footwear, at more affordable prices than its downtown counterparts.

Attractively designed home furnishings are housed at Cassona and Urbanest while antique lovers will want to check out the offerings at Scout and White Attic.  And a stop in the Red Balloon for children's gifts is a must.

Stop in and peruse the latest literary offerings at Women & Children First Bookstore or shop for unique cards and stationery at The Paper Trail.  A little further north along Clark St., Gethsemane Garden Center has an amazing selection of flowers and plants for urban garderners.

If it is the culture of this neighborhood that interests you most, be sure to stop in and sample some traditional Swedish food at one of the many bakeries and gourmet grocery shops that reside in the neighborhood. Try Bon Bon, a gourmet chocolate shop which uses such unusual spices as Chinese Five-Spice to add to their decadent desserts, swing by A Taste of Heaven, a dessert shop and deli, or pick up Swedish pastries and cookies at the Swedish Bakery.

For history buffs, there is the Swedish American Museum Center, which documents the experiences of Swedish Americans, focusing on those in the Chicago area.

If you’re in the mood for a bite to eat, you can choose from such unique restaurants as the popular Reza’s, which features Middle Eastern cuisine, or HopLeaf, which caters to fans of both Belgian food and beer. For something a bit different, there is the funky alternative Kopi Café, where vegetarians can find a meat-free version of the Croque Monsieur and coffee lovers can check out a large list of choices.  

No matter what shops, bakeries, or restaurants you choose to experience on your trip, you’ll certainly be glad you discovered this little diamond in the rough.

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What you’ll find here:

Accessories: Alamo Shoes

Children: Red Balloon,Toys et cetera

Clothing/Accessories:  Hip Fit, His Stuff, Presence

Grocery, Gourmet & Specialty Foods: A Taste of Heaven, Bon Bon, In Fine Spirits, Wikstrom's Gourmet Foods, Swedish Bakery

Home Furnishings: Cassona, Scout, Urbanest, White Attic, Wooden Spoon

Specialty Stores: Chicago Dance Supply, Gethsemane Garden Center, New Attitude, The Paper Trail, Swedish American Museum Center, Trillium at the Landmark, Women & Children First Bookstore  

 

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Neighborhood Association:  www.andersonville.org

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Nearby Shopping Destinations: Lakeview, Lincoln Square

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SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writers - C. Mangan and E. Engquist.

Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by SeeMoreShopping.   Publ. 10/06.