For Insiders Only 

Every week we sift through gobs of information to determine who in the neighborhood is offering the best of the best; the best theater, music, cool events, art exhibitions, deals, unique real estate opportunities and more.  And every week we publish the Wicker Park Bucktown Insider Weekend Guide which features these special events combined with local news including new restaurants, retail shops and bars.

So if you'd like to be privy to the very best in the neighborhood, sign up for our Weekend Guide below. And you'll receive your Weekend Guide every Friday.

Just go to the bottom of this page and be sure to add us to your address book.  

We don't include every little thing ... just the very best things. Sign up today! We also publish up-to-the-minute updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks and we'll see you in the neighborhood.

The Wicker Park Bucktown Insider's Guide

We reported last December that a new Middle Eastern restaurant was in the works for Division Avenue in the former home of Habitat and at long last Shawarma Garden is ready to open. 

Owner Mary Anne Mubayed is bringing her family's "secret" Middle Eastern recipes to Wicker Park and, based on the menu, it looks like a lot of traditional dishes will be available. You'll find favorites including: hummus, grape leaves, baba ghanoush, falafel, tabouleh salad, a variety of 'kabob' entrees, shawarma, and gyros. Approximately 25 menu items are available that offer affordable prices & generous portions. Prices start at $3.00 for falafel and work their way up. The highest priced item is the lamb kabob entree at $13.99. Sandwiches are in the $5.00 range.

Take out and delivery are also available. Shawarma Garden will be open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Look for Shawarma Garden to open at 1951 W. Division Street this Wednesday November 20th .

We reported last December that a new Middle Eastern restaurant was in the works for Division Avenue in the former home of Habitat and at long last Shawarma Garden is ready to open. 

Owner Mary Anne Mubayed is bringing her family's "secret" Middle Eastern recipes to Wicker Park and, based on the menu, it looks like a lot of traditional dishes will be available. You'll find favorites including: hummus, grape leaves, baba ghanoush, falafel, tabouleh salad, a variety of 'kabob' entrees, shawarma, and gyros. Approximately 25 menu items are available that offer affordable prices & generous portions. Prices start at $3.00 for falafel and work their way up. The highest priced item is the lamb kabob entree at $13.99. Sandwiches are in the $5.00 range.

Take out and delivery are also available. Shawarma Garden will be open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Look for Shawarma Garden to open at 1951 W. Division Street this Wednesday November 20th .

Updated November 10, 2013:  Work is well underway for the new Rick Bayless restaurant heading to Wicker Park in the space formerly the home of Salud at 1471 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

And Chef Bayless announced during the Chicago Humanities Fest this weekend a little more about his vision for the new space. According to Chicago Tribune writer Kevin Pang:

For those who may not know Xoco is a Mexican Cafe that features street food and snacks including: churros, empanadas, tortas, caldos and more. Look for Chef Bayless's new cafe to open in Wicker Park this Spring 2014. 

Updated September 24, 2013: Following our publishing of the information outlined below, Alderman Moreno confirmed with us directly that the rumor is true and Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless will, in fact, be opening a restaurant in the former Salud space 1471 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. He has signed a 10 year lease for the space.

Published September 23, 2013 - Eater Chicago is reporting that Chef Rick Bayless may just have his sights set on the space formerly that of Salud in Wicker Park at 1471 N. Milwaukee Avenue. According to the report published earlier today, Bayless is opening a new restaurant but the location has yet to be disclosed. A number of sources have confirmed the spot will be in Wicker Park and a new tenant just signed a 10 year lease 2 months ago.

Bayless is a Bucktown resident and the host of Mexico - One Plate at a Time. He has also recently been focused on opening Fronteras Frescos and Tortas Fronteras in different locations throughout the country.

New Rick Bayless Restaurant Coming- Is it in Wicker Park? [Eater Chicago]

Looking for a cool date idea? Head to Arts n Spirits in Bucktown at 1921 N. Damen Avenue. It's a great little spot where you'll be instructed how to paint a picture. Plus it's byob. You'll come home with this cool picture and tonight, guys paint for free.

That's a savings of $40. 

Sign up like you would for a traditional class but guys won't be charged.

Tonight only in Bucktown.

You'll be painting this:

Sign up information: https://www.artsnspirits.com/quick-signup.php?eventid=1747

photo courtesy of DNAInfo Chicago

According to a report published yesterday by DNAInfo Chicago, UnderDog is re-opening this year in the basement of the Flash Taco space 1570 N. Damen Avenue in Wicker Park.

Underdogg to Heat to Underdog Once Again

For those who may not know, UnderDogg (with 2 g's) was a late night hot dog spot that closed its doors to greasy fries and veggie dogs in 2009. The owners re-concepted and the space became Heat; a gourmet hot dog shop with an emphasis on game and other unique fare like duck and elk hot dogs and boar sausage. 

But now it seems the space is heading back to its former UnderDogg roots. The new concept is not only losing the extra "g", however. It's losing the gourmet spin and game hot dogs.This casual eatery is featuring a new menu including Mexican-style hot dogs, Vienna beef hot dogs and will eventually add an ice cream parlor and coffee. They will also be adding veggie dogs back onto the menu. 

Prices for the dogs will be $3 and that includes fries. Gyros and burgers will stay on the menu.

Sounds like the newer version of the original concept may just be a better fit for the late night crowd at North, Damen and Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park. UnderDog is in the middle of renovations but is looking to reopen in November of this year and will, once again, be open until 5am. 

Underdog - 1570 1/2 N. Damen Avenue - Wicker Park

UnderDog Returns to Neighborhood's Main Hub Below Flash Taco [DNAInfo Chicago]

A great Halloween photo of Steve O Sullivan waiting for the Blue Line published October 29, 2012 by People of the CTA.

 Have any cool Halloween photos? Tag us on Facebook or send them to us via Twitter. We're happy to share with full credit to you of course.

Photo: Division and Paulina - Wicker Park 

In light of the fact that it's Halloween week and a lot of people will be out (including kids) here's a friendly reminder to all people driving in Illinois: It is not optional to stop at pedestrian crosswalks. It is an Illinois State Law. 

If you're driving a car in Illinois, you should be familiar with this law. If you're not, here's what you need to know effective 2010:

Illinois drivers must come to a complete stop for pedestrians in all crosswalks.  

Definition of “crosswalk” 
There are several kinds of crosswalks. 
• Signalized: These are crosswalks at stop signs and traffic signals. 
• Unsignalized: These are crosswalks that don’t have a stop sign or traffic signal. They are also referred to as “mid-block crosswalks.” 
• Marked: These are the crosswalks you can see. Painted lines on the road designate their location. 
• Unmarked: Not all crosswalks are marked with paint. The law is filled with jargon (see below) but simply put, a crosswalk is present whenever a sidewalk leads into the street. 
 

Illinois drivers must come to a complete stop for pedestrians in any of those crosswalks: marked, unmarked, signalized or unsignalized. 

 
Legal Definition of a Crosswalk 
 
Illinois defines crosswalks as “That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs, and in the absence of a sidewalk on one side of the highway, that part of the highway included within the extension of the lateral line of the existing sidewalk to the side of the highway without the sidewalk” (625 ILCS 5/1-113 (a)) 
 

Violation penalties 

Penalties for violating this law vary by county and may include fines and court costs. Cook County penalties start at $50 and may include court costs. 
 

Take action

 
You can take action if a car does not come to a complete stop while you are in a crosswalk. Call 911 and report them. If possible, record the license plate number and include that along with your location in your police report. 

Every Sunday from 10am to 4pm you can head to the Dose Market located right in the heart of Wicker Park and Bucktown .... in the new space at the 1st Ward/Chop Shop located at 2033 W. North Avenue. 

Dose Market will feature a selection of garments, jewelry, food, sweets, design objects, gifts and more. A variety of entrepreneurs, boutiques and restaurants are featured every weekend and the market is located directly next to Chop Shop where you'll find amazing food, coffee, pastry and a full service kitchen.

Dose Market kicks off Sunday September 29th and continues every Sunday through December 15th. Here's a look at each week and Dose Market will be filling in the details for every Sunday's market:

There is an entry fee of $5 per week. Discounts for season tickets are available. For additional details, visit the Dose Marketwebsite. 

images courtesy of Dose Market