CHI: Life On the Square

Brandon Heckman, artist and writer, is a man in love with his neighborhood — Lincoln Square to be exact. We asked him about places to go and things to do around his North Side haunt.

What are your favorite places to hang out in Lincoln Square?

Lincoln Square has some great coffee shops and bars — I'm a big fan of The Grind coffee shop and of The Huttenbar. I find myself often wandering through Fine Wine Brokers; Gerhardt and his staff are a huge help with knowledgeable wine selection, and his store is stocked with a variety of great offerings. I also really like Bouffe for gourmet nibbles. Aside from the shops and such, Lincoln Square and the surrounding neighborhoods offer some pretty beautiful walks and parks — I like strolling through Ravenswood Manor, Ravenswood and Winnemac Park.

What about dining in the neighborhood? Any faves?

I love The Grind (again) and find myself at the Daily Bar & Grill often — try the granola at the former and the Daily Chicken Wrap at the latter. There's also a new restaurant called Fiddlehead that serves a really mean brunch — they really give Cafe Selmarie a run for their money — great eggs benedict and amazing Captain Crunch French Toast. For cheap, delicious Mexican, you can't beat Garcia's — best Chimichangas ever and $5 margaritas that'll knock you flat.

Is there an event (concert, play, etc.) coming up that you're excited about?

Not anything in the immediate future, but I am looking forward to the Andrew Bird show on April 20th, and there's always fun to be had at Berlin on Fridays and Saturdays — be sure to check out Greg Haus and Larissa when they spin.

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