Illinois Centennial Memorial Column in Logan Square

(Part 1 of a series on Chicago's bike-friendly neighborhoods.)

Welcome to Logan Square.

Constantly referred to as one of the most bike-friendly neighborhoods in Chicago, there certainly are cyclists seemingly everywhere you look.

At the heart of Logan Square is, well, the square. Dominated by the Illinois Centennial Memorial Column, designed by Henry Bacon (of the Lincoln Memorial), the grassy park and adjacent buildings are abuzz with people all day and night in this rapidly gentrifying area. The bike racks are chock full of every conceivable ride, and public transit options are plentiful, with a Blue Line subway station and three bus lines within walking distance.

Boulevard Bikes, owned by Kevin Womack, is the LBS of Logan Square and has a loyal following. A mix of hipsters, commuting professionals, and the occasional roadie are always milling about, getting air, and finishing up a purchase or tune-up. Along with the new Bianchi track, road and cross models are several vintage models, including a fat-tire cruiser from the 1950s and a couple of steel road bikes from the “Breaking Away” era. The shop is earthy and warm, snug and inviting without being confining.

Some of the other long term businesses that contribute to Logan Square's attractive draw are the Logan Theater, a second run movie house that has existed in some form or another since the 1920s and El Cid, serving reliably good Mexican food in one of the most enjoyable and spacious outdoor patios in the city. Popular local bars include Helen's Two Way Lounge and the Whirlaway Tavern: rough-around the edges places – with vintage tin ceilings and well-worn woodwork – places where you can enjoy a shot of bourbon and a cold beer with your friends, complete strangers, or just by yourself.

More upscale gentrification is on its way however, and for now at least, it is welcome. Azucar and Dunlay’s on the Square offer pricier options – tapas and upscale bar food, respectively – to Logan Square residents. The New Wave Cafe, decorated with framed 80's LP covers, opened in 2009. It is more than a hit with hipsters and yuppies alike, providing a local option to the Starbucks a half-mile east at California. And just down the street from that chain are two other very popular institutions. Hatchi’s Kitchen has some of the freshest and most accessible sushi around, while Buona Terra has a line out onto the street for it’s $21.99 Italian fare on price fixe Thursday night.
More is coming soon. The owner of Wicker Park’s Handlebar is due to open his newest bike-friendly brewpub destination at the corner of Fullerton and Milwaukee later this year. And rumors are swirling about the Trader Joe’s grocery chain and the soon-to-be-razed lot three blocks west at the Kedzie intersection.

Some in the area hope that the gentrification that arguably destroyed the character of other hot neighborhoods, Lincoln Park and Wicker Park, can be held in check by the significant amount of historic zoning in Logan Square. Unlike those two neighborhoods and their meteoric rise in popularity in the late 80’s and mid 90’s, respectively, Logan’s potential for development is limited primarily to the diagonal Milwaukee Ave. corridor.

The east-west and north-south axis of Logan Boulevard and Kedzie Avenue are largely residential and historically-landmarked. This, along with the still-large Hispanic population and wary alderman, seem to be holding the neighborhood’s growth back a bit. Milwaukee Avenue still has large swathes of abandoned commercial property and an ongoing battle over the Mega Mall has been fought for years between developers and residents.

Nobody could ever accuse Logan Square of being a staid and boring neighborhood. Whatever will happen, development-wise, these streets will always include bicycles.

Streets for cycling

Milwaukee Avenue:
• Northwest to Avondale, Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Gladstone Park, Norwood Park, Edison Park
• Southeast to Bucktown, Wicker Park, West Town, West Loop, Downtown
 

Logan Boulevard/Diversey Avenue:
• West to Hermosa, Belmont Craigin
• East to Roscoe Village, Lincoln Park,
 

California:
• North to Irving Park, Albany Park, Ravenswood
• South to Humboldt Park, Ukrainian Village

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