Chicago’s Great Backyard: More than Meets the Map
‘Burb-Watch: Evanston
Northwestern Campus shot by Vanessa Quirk
As I munched on my Pad See Ew, the Hulk stared me down. He wasn’t alone either. A magnificent display of nostalgic kitsch (in the form of lunch boxes, license plates, and robots) that covered the walls observed my progress. It was enough to make you look around in wonder – certainly to talk about during every lull in conversation – but not so much that it overwhelmed your sense that this was, indeed, a well-loved spot.
Inside Cozy Noodle, Evanston
Cozy Noodle, a restaurant packed with a diverse clientele that comes for its bright atmosphere and comfortable Thai fare, was one of those finds that makes you feel like a local, fills you up with good food and offers an experience you couldn’t get anywhere else – the kind of stuff you live for when traveling. But, it definitely wasn’t in my guidebook, and unless you knew its name, it would have been impossible to find online.
Evanston, a college town an hour north of Chicago, has tons of fabulous restaurants (like Cozy Noodle), boutiques, and cultural sites that are completely under the radar of most tourists – which is a shame, because it’s the only town I’ve ever been to that manages to mesh a collegiate, cultural atmosphere with truly family-oriented, friendly establishments.
Hotel Orrington, Evanston
Evanston’s restaurant and café scene caters to all types, and it should be no surprise that Evanston eateries made up about half of North Shore Magazine’s October round-up of great places to eat in northern Chicago. If you’re a coffee fiend, there’s Peet’s Coffee & Tea or The Brothers K; if you’re a tea geek, savor the loose leaf goodness at Argo Tea. Should your appetite demand something heartier, Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop (the Hyde Park location is a favorite of Barrack Obama’s) will fill you up with cheesy, Cajun goodness in no time.
For shopping, Evanston has major department stores, but it also has a few small boutiques that are definitely worth your while. For the environmentally and price conscious shopper, Crossroads Trading Company is a brilliant shop that sells lightly used and recycled clothing at great prices.
Northwestern University has provided the backdrop for Evanston – and contributed greatly to its continued popularity – since 1850 (if the University is your main point of attraction, check out Hotel Orrington, a four star hotel half a block away). A walk on campus gives you beautiful views of Lake Michigan and provides ample beach front when the weather turns warmer, but it also offers beautiful architecture and many cultural exhibits.
Of course, if you’re an architecture buff, there’s one place you absolutely should not miss.
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