Old Town Triangle and LIncoln Park

Just north of the Gold Coast (the area I showcased last week) are 2 interesting neighborhoods worth visiting: Old Town Triangle and Lincoln Park. Each offer lots to do for free.

OLD TOWN

OldTown lies just west of the Gold Coast, but don't let the name fool you. It is not the oldest neighborhood in Chicago.

Head west to Wells Street, the main drag, and spend some time in the interesting shops south of North Avenue. These include a spice house, chocolate shops, an oil and vinegar emporium, a florist with outdoor space during the summer, an interesting aquarium store and a smoke shop.

Also in this stretch of the street is Zanies Comedy Club. Tuesdays are "Good Neighbor" nights with free admission if you live or work in zip codes 60610, 60611, 60614. Sunday is "S.I.N." (Service Industry Night) with free admission with proof of qualifying employment in any service industry. 

As you walk along Wells Street look for the decorative gates welcoming you to the neighborhood...

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the public art...

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and the historic markers giving you interesting facts about Old Town.

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OLD TOWN TRIANGLE

Continue north of North Avenue on Wells Street and you are in the Old Town Triangle. This is another great area if you are interested in architecture. Three streets: North Avenue, Clark Street and what used to be Ogden Avenue form the "triangle".

Just north of North Avenue is the world-famous Second City improvisational and comedy club. While the shows are not free, stop by and walk up the stairs to the lobby. The walls are lined with photographs of Second City alumni. I think you'll be surprised at how many comedians got their start there.

As you walk around the neighborhood look for the clapboard (wooden) homes. They are an indication this area was outside the city limits in 1871. After the Great Chicago Fire that year wooden buildings were banned within the city.  Also look for the tiny houses called Fire Homes. These were meant to be temporary shelter for those displayed after the fire. The original footprint is the size of a horse-drawn wagon -the means by which the houses were transported to the area.

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 LINCOLN PARK

Directly north of the Gold Coast is Lincoln Park. This is another lovely neighborhood but as the name implies it is also the home of one of the many extensive parks in the city. The Park stretches along the lakefront and is a great place to spend some time. Not only will you find tree-line paths for walking and biking there are ponds and expansive green spaces and lots more to do for free. Many of the statues in the Park are part of the Statue Stories Chicago. 

Near the southwest corner of Lincoln Park is a building housing the Chicago History Museum. which holds more than 22 million artifacts and documents.
The Museum curates the Encyclopedia of Chicago available for free online. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and admission is free for children 6-12 years of age. Note children ages 5 and under are not permitted in the Museum. Illinois residents also enjoy free admission on certain days throughout the year; check the website for dates.

The Green City Market is a year round farmers market of local, sustainable-grown food. From May through October the market is held outdoors every Wednesday and Saturday from 7 AM (7:00) to 1 PM (13:00 . Farmers set up just north of the Chicago History Museum between Stockton and Clark Streets. From November through April the market i held indoors every other Saturday at the Peggy Notebeart Nature Museum from 8 AM (8:00) to 1 PM(13:00). Admission to the Museum is not required to attend the winter market.

In addition to the regionally grown foods for sale, a wide variety of activities are offered at the market and all of them are free. Activities include chef demonstrations at 10:30 AM, educational workshops, live music and children focused programs including Club Sprouts tastings available from 8 AM (8:00) to 12 PM (12:00).

Check the website for a complete list of activities and sign up for their free enewsletter.  All Green City Market locations accept the LINK Card and SNAP.

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 Keep heading north on Stockton and you will come to the Farm-in-the-Zoo and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Both are open every day of the year for free. Staff and volunteers often set up free educational activities throughout the zoo and farm.

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 Stop by and see the Edible Garden at the entrance to the Farm. It is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 AM (9:00) to 12 PM (12:00) April through September and Wednesdays and Saturdays October through November. The Edible Garden is run by the Green City Market. 

During the Christmas season the Zoo is decorated with millions of holiday lights. "Zoo Lights" is one of the "must see" free events at this time of year. Included are visits with Santa and free holiday crafts activities.

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Just north of the Zoo is the Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Alfred Calwell Lily Pond. The Conservatory was built in 1890 and contains 4 display houses: the Palm House, the Fern Room, the Orchid House and the Show House which is used for seasonal flower shows. 

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The Lily Pond is a quiet oasis amidst the busy city open only during the warmer months. Admission is free and free docent lead tours of the Conservatory and the Lily Pond are offered every Friday afternoon and all day Saturday and Sunday and other days by request. For group tours donations are welcome. Drop in on these days or to arrange a tour at another time call 773-883-PARK.

Other unique features of the Park worth exploring include the new Nature Boardwalk, a rowing canal and the North Pond Sanctuary.

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The Peggy Notebeart Nature Museum where children under 3 are always free and every Thursday is "suggested donation days" for Illinois residents. My favorite spot in the museum is the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven a tropical home to 1,000 butterflies. Stop by when they are releasing the butterflies that have just hatched from their chrysalises.

​Along the lakefront are the paths for walking, running, rollerblading and biking, parks, North Avenue Beach, volleyball courts and Diversey Harbor. At North Avenue is a chess/checkers pavilion with boards marked in the tables. You can stop by just about any time on a nice day and watch or join in on the friendly competition.

A bit farther west at 2021 North Burling Street is Oz Park. As the name implies it serves as a tribute to L. Frank Baum who wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" while he lived in Chicago. The park features statutes of Dorothy and Toto, the Scarecrow,  Tin Man and Cowardly Lion.  Three of them are part of the Statues Stories Chicago. Click on the icon on the sign and the statue will tell you his story. 

You will also find Dorothy's Playground, a community garden, tennis courts, ball fields, basketball courts, and soccer/football fields.  Check the website for the park for the free special events like movies in the park held during the summer.

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On the northeast edge of the Park is the Elks Veterans Memorial. The beautiful neoclassical building is open to the public for free from mid April to mid November each year. The hours are noon to 4 PM (16:00) Monday through Saturday. To get an idea of the spectacular interior take the virtual tour online. 

I hope you will spend some time in Old Town and Lincoln Park. You won't be disappointed.

All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the websites to get the most up-to-date information.
  
If you know of any free events in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at chicagofreeforall@gmail.com
 
Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit (1/1/2016 post) at www.chicagogreeter.com
 
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Next week I’ll showcase another nearby Chicago neighborhood and all it has to offer that is free for all.

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