When the Red Line reaches Howard, things change. L patrons must shift to the Purple Line, Chicago comes to an end and Evanston opens itself up to train-riders. One thing that doesn't change is the myriad of entertainment options just steps from the L. Evanston's Main Street stop is surrounded by enticing options for shopping, gazing and plain ol' walking in every direction. Whether you want to come home with bags full of new stuff or just a relaxed mindset, the peaceful avenues around the Main Street L are a good place to start.
Panhandler rating: There's a few, all of them quite friendly.
Safety rating: Be careful at night; there's not a whole lot of people around.
Cheap eats
Cross-Rhodes
A good Greek meal is hard to come by, but Cross-Rhodes delivers time and again. The traditional favorites like mousaka and souvlaki are as good here as they are anywhere in Greektown, and Cross-Rhodes probably stands up pretty well against Athens's finest as well. Of course, a Greek restaurant will only go as far as its gyros will take them, and in this regard, Cross-Rhodes soars. Whether of the normal size, king-size or topped with cheese, Cross-Rhodes delivers in this vital department. The meals also veer into unfamiliar territory for a Greek joint, with plates of fried shrimp, burgers and grilled chicken sandwiches joining the tsatziki and pita.
With its comical placemats (a silhouette of a table setting for a formal dinner) and comfortable atmosphere (white walls, pink and white linoleum tile floor) Cross-Rhodes has none of the pretensions of a fancier restaurant. The food is always good, always a little greasy and always cheap. Whether you're dining in the sea breeze of the Adriatic, or stomaching the painful winds of Lake Michigan, what more could you ask for in a restaurant?
Where to chill
Kuni's
With its dull blue carpet and simple wooden tables and chairs, Kuni's initially feels more Scandinavian and almost Ikea-esque than it does Far Eastern. Subsequent glances at the decorations, which reveal posters of samurais and Pacific Coast fish, offer some indication that the first guess was less than dead on. A quick read of the menu makes it clear that Kuni's is Japanese through and through.
To open an evening of eating, Kuni's offers 23 appetizers, but the best decision is to head straight for the miso soup and save room for the main course. The sushi options will draw the most attention. With tuna, fluke, salmon, shrimp, yellowtail and maki options, Kuni's skilled chefs can deliver raw fish to you exactly how you like it. The entrees favorites like shrimp tempura, sashimi, and teriyaki chicken, fish or beef are all in effect, and Asahi and Sapporo beers are always on hand to wash the food down. Although alcohol may not be appropriate so early, Kuni's does offer lighter meals in the daytime hours. The meals aren't cheap, but are better than they would be in Tokyo, which a Mercer consulting group survey recently found to be the world's most expensive city.
Sure-bet for shopping
Feirin O' Eire
There's no better place to kick start a St. Paddy's Day weekend the Feirin O' Eire, a boutique specializing in Irish clothes and souvenirs. The piles of smaller items work as stocking stuffers or, if gift-buying time of year is months away, as a good, inexpensive way to indulge yourself while waiting for the giving season to arrive. Hand-made knit hats and sweaters look as though they came straight from the other side of the Atlantic, and are fantastic finds regardless of the continent.
Although Feirin O' Eire is tucked into a relatively small space, shoppers can spend hours examining each item in the inventory. If they need a little companionship while they search, the resident cat, often relaxing from the front window, is unafraid to rub up against them. And, unlike its competitor stores, Feirin O' Eire's wares don't cost the equivalent of a plane ticket to Dublin.
For the artiste
Goods of Evanston
Goods of Evanston stocks the supplies you need for every step of your artistic project. This expansive, three-lot store just west of the tracks is the perfect place to put the finishing touches on your personal masterpiece, be it painted or photographic. The roomful of custom-made frames offer a high degree of quality and craftsmanship for the pieces that need to last a lifetime, while the racks of assembled picture frames proffer an easy way to make the vacation snap shots look pretty. For artists just starting out on a new undertaking, Goods of Evanston has canvases, sketch pads, pencils and erasers to support the artistic process. Whatever miscellaneous item may be needed as your creative genius takes you from vague idea to finished product, this art emporium probably has it, too.
Goods of Evanston is a great place to check out, even if, like your correspondent, you aren't much of a painter or sculptor. Not all of the materials are exclusive to serious artists, and much of the inventory is ideal for a novice. Whether you are a sixth grader working on a school project or an emerging Picasso looking to paint something that will wind up at the Art Institute, you will find all you need (except the Encyclopedias for the kids) at Goods of Evanston.
In-the-know spot
Thrift House
We all get the urge to buy something new, but often nagging credit card debt and an empty wallet can make fulfilling this impulse a daunting proposition. That, of course, is what thrift stores are for, and Thrift House is perhaps Evanston's best. With its evening gowns and dapper suits in the front window, Thrift House makes clear that it will offer more than just endless racks of T-shirts. Offering a clothing inventory with more variety makes Thrift House a great place to outfit yourself for a costume party or upgrade your wardrobe on those days when, for sanity's sake, you just need to buy something. But Thrift House delivers more than just clothes. The decades-old wooden tennis racquets are good for decoration or perfecting that backhand with a new Rod Laver instructional video. Old board games often float in and out of the store's displays. Customers bored with the shopping at Old Orchard float in and out of the store's checkout lines, too, happily struggling with bags full of new cargo.
Arena for the a.m.
Sher-Main Restaurant
When waking up at 5:30 a.m., your choices for a hot meal are limited. If you can't bear the thought of another Egg McMuffin, the best option is to wait half an hour and head to Sher-Main. And even if you rise and shine a little later in the morning and the possibilities are more abundant, Sher-Main is still a great place to start your day. This Evanston greasy spoon serves up the kind of griddle-cooked eggs, pancakes and sausages that you learned to love during long nights in college. The omelet section, the heart of Sher-Main's breakfast menu, has a list of traditional diner favorites, with Denver, Greek and steak omelets highlighting the roster. All egg plates come with potatoes, toast and jelly, and you shouldn't hesitate to throw piece of bacon or a sausage into the mix as well. For lighter eaters, Sher-Main delivers an assortment of cold cereals as well as rolls, bagels and muffins. A long list of grill sandwiches caters to the lunch crowd, but the restaurant does its best work before noon.
With its booths of olive plastic leather, dull grey linoleum floor and faux wood walls, Sher-Main won't win any contests for restaurant atmosphere, but the comfort provided by the style-deficient dining room is perfect for the early hours. The small row of booths and handful of diner stools tend to be occupied by quiet folks nursing their eggs and coffee, so your early morning can be as sedate as you want it.
No wallet needed
Grey Park
Sometimes, specifically between the months of November and April, our beautiful lakefront is less than inviting. The crashing waves, the miles of ice blocks and, most significantly, the raging wind make the banks of Lake Michigan a less-than-ideal place to evade the hustle of city life. But that doesn't eliminate the need for a small, green spot in the midst of nature to gather our thoughts from time to time. At the Main Street L, Lake Michigan's wintertime pinch hitter is Grey Park. Surrounded by old apartment buildings and large houses, Grey Park is a quiet area just a quarter-mile from the L.
A somewhat small patch of unpaved land, Grey Park doesn't have the natural beauty or traditional popularity of the lakefront, but its enormous trees and relative seclusion are more than enough to lull you into a serene state of mind. Located just steps from the Main Street shopping district, it makes a good place to park your shopping bags and rear end to reflect on all the new stuff you just purchased. Grey Park has benches, a jungle gym and occasional dog-walkers, but you won't find yourself competing with other pedestrians for room to breathe. Most importantly, it offers an often-needed respite from the cruel elements of a wintertime Lake Michigan.
Subscribe in your favorite reader using the links below. To learn more about feeds and RSS, click here.
