Logan Square

Mexican fare may dominate in sheer numbers when it comes to Logan Square's Latin-American restaurants, but you can also find many family-run eateries serving the native specialties of their home countries in South and Central America as well as the Caribbean. Bonus: Many are BYOB. ECUADORIAN Restaurant Ecuador 2923 W. Diversey Ave. 773-342-7870 This small restaurant on the border of Logan Square and Avondale specializes in the seafood-heavy cuisine of coastal Ecuador, from fish-and-plantain tamales to shrimp soup to whole fried fish.

Bars with live music Ultra Lounge 2169 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-269-2900 This former clubby martini spot has been remodeled into a small-scale live music venue with a separate room for local and traveling acts playing everything from hip-hop to indie rock. Quenchers 2401 N. Western Ave. 773-276-9730 You'd be hard-pressed to find a live music bar with a better craft beer selection not just in the neighborhood, but the entire city.

El Cid 2645 N. Kedzie Ave. 773-395-0505 Don't be fooled by the small sidewalk cafe near the entrance of this Mexican eatery; the real al fresco action is on the spacious backyard patio, where margaritas and fish tacos are churned out into the night. Letizia's Fiore 2456 N. California Ave. 773-342-4400 This Italian bakery, cafe and wine bar beckons with a 90-seat sidewalk cafe along quiet Altgeld Street with a view of the restaurant's rooftop vegetable garden.

Logan Square Kitchen owner Zina Murray sparked a bit of controversy last week when she posted messages to Everyblock and the Logan Square Yahoo Group urging residents to support a change of venue for the Logan Square Farmers Market this season. In her posting, Murray suggested that the market has outgrown its current location on Logan Boulevard and should move to a more spacious location on Milwaukee Avenue. She said the current site "is too small, congested, and restricts commerce.

After a lengthy battle with the city over regulation and permit issues, the Logan Square Kitchen has announced that its business is no longer economically viable and that it will permanently close its doors on June 28. The Logan Square Kitchen is a shared-use kitchen, which currently hosts about 20 active businesses, all of whom will need to find a new kitchen in order to keep their businesses operating. Ed Kraft, owner of The Baked Escape , said he is concerned that he may not be able to find a new home for his baked goods operation, or that his business may suffer from a move to a new location.

Jam 3057 W. Logan Blvd. 773-292-6011 During the day, nosh on unique breakfast and lunch dishes such as pork belly eggs benedict and malted custard French toast with pink peppercorns. Once the dinner hour hits, you can order one of the diner-inspired blue plate specials such as meatloaf with tomato jam or venison stroganoff. Bonsoiree 2728 W. Armitage Ave. 773-486-7511 Got a special bottle of wine or two saved for a special occasion? Make a dinner reservation and then uncork it over a five- or nine-course feast at this contemporary American restaurant, which sells its own wine but doesn't charge a corkage fee for diners who bring their own. Chilapan 2459 W. Armitage Ave. 773-697-4597 The menu at this small but mighty Mexican eatery right under the Blue Line tracks features the flavors of chili peppers with varying degrees of heat - mild, sweet, spicy and everything in between.

Not to be outdone by neighboring 'hoods Bucktown and Wicker Park, Logan Square now will have its own beer festival as well. The Logan Square Beer Fest , set for Sept. 21 at Logan Square Auditorium , is a new event that organizers Dave Watts and Marcus Osacky said will spotlight 20 breweries, most from the Midwest. "We're looking for each brewery to bring one of their regular seasonal beers and a specialty beer like a collaboration or cask-conditioned or barrel-aged beer, something you could only get at this fest," Watts said.

Get ready to head over to two new Chicago farmers markets set to open soon with night hours. Chicagoans will be able to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers at the markets weekly in Logan Square and Uptown, according to the mayor's office, which announced the additions and farmers market schedule on Tuesday. The Logan Square market at Kedzie and Milwaukee Avenues will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning June 26 through Sept. 4. The Argyle market at Argyle Street and Broadway will be open from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays starting June 27 through Sept.

A proposal to erect two signs on Milwaukee Avenue in the landmarked Logan Square Boulevards District has hit a roadblock. VisualCast, an outdoor advertising company, sought approval to put up two signs measuring 60 feet long and 20 feet tall on a vacant five-story building in the heart of Logan Square. But the Permit Review Committee of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks on Thursday issued a preliminary decision to oppose the application for signs at 2616-18 N. Milwaukee Ave. City officials said the signs would adversely affect the district landmarked in 2005.

Chicago-based artist Melika Bass is no stranger to having her work displayed at formal venues like the Contemporary Museum of Art in Chicago and the Torino Film Festival in Italy. Though, for her next exhibit, "Nocturama," she has chosen a small, humble place called the Comfort Station. Once a stopping point for travelers on their way to Chicago, the small building in the heart of Logan Square is a place for artists to pass through and share their artwork with the community.