Neighborhood

There are tons of spots all over the city just waiting to be discovered. Here are five hidden gems Jackson has come across while taking in the city. > > Archery Bow Range Chicago, 1757 N. Kimball (Humboldt Park). Unleash your inner Katniss Everdeen. > > Lagniappe Creole Cajun Joynt , 1525 W. 79th St. (Auburn-Gresham). Authentic creole cooking north of Nawlins. > > Caffe Italia, 2625 N. Harlem Ave (Mont Clare). Colorful décor and tasty eats galore. Cai, 2100 S. Archer Ave. (Chinatown)

Roll up - on a CTA train or bus - for the debut of the Chicago Home Theater Festival, which features 12 days of theater performances at 12 secret locations across Chicago - all residences of artists and activists. Attendees register online and are texted the CTA stop at which to meet a tour guide to take them through the neighborhood and to the host's living room, kitchen or rooftop for a lineup of performances including theater, dance and comedy. "The Chicago Home Theater Festival evolved from the International Home Theater Festival, which launched in the Bay Area four years ago and...

Second City lovers, rejoice--we've finally gotten some love from national media. We were snubbed on the list of best beer cities this year, but Realtor Magazine named Old Town its hottest neighborhood of 2012--according the article, it's the most searched neighborhood on Realtor.com. What we love most about Old Town is that it has the perfect mix of old-world Victorian charm and modern comfort and style. There are some family-run businesses that are ... well, old.  The Fudge Pot, for example, has been around since 1963.

Takito Kitchen 2013 W. Division St.  773-687-9620 Rating:  !!!! (out of four)  Already hot Since opening about a month ago in the former Sabor Saveur space in Ukrainian Village, Takito Kitchen has tried to shine in an already taco-saturated neighborhood. Setting the casual-but-stylish restaurant apart is chef David Dworshak, formerly of Carnivale, and an intriguing cocktail list of tequila- and rum-based concoctions that are as colorful as the spray-painted mural on the rear wall.

Some people are still feeling the afterglow from the largest street fair in the Midwest, Northalsted Market Days , and the monetary windfall will impact the Lakeview neighborhood even longer. With headliners The Pointer Sisters and Olivia Newton-John, Market Days drew tens of thousands of Chicagoans, all out to drink, dance and devour dishes from local favorites like D.S. Tequila Company and the Chicago Diner. An $8 suggested donation granted the masses access to the event, featuring three stages and over 40 musical acts.

Last May, 43-year-old Andersonville artist Chris Gorz undertook the lofty goal of creating a series of unique screen printed posters to represent each of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods. He has completed seven so far, sticking to a small cluster of neighborhoods on Chicago's far north side. Soon, he hopes to focus on a few west and south side neighborhoods as well. RedEye caught up with Gorz recently to talk about the inspiration behind his designs. Are you from Chicago originally?

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.

What started as a way to highlight a neighborhood's liberal, artsy atmosphere 30 years ago has turned into one of the city's biggest street festivals. Northalsted Market Days, taking place Saturday and Sunday, celebrates three decades this year. Organizers expect a crowd of more than 100,000 to converge on Halsted Street, ground zero for the fest that features three stages and more than 40 musical acts, food and arts and crafts vendors. Mickey Hornick, owner of Chicago Diner in the Halsted business district, has been part of the fest since the beginning.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. I used to be a city-dweller - taking public transportation to school, buying exotic ingredients at the open-air fruteria with my mom or grandma, living in a beautifully cramped neighborhood with huddled homes. In my current suburban phase, I mostly drive to chain grocery stores to pick up the usual ingredients. I'm lucky if I can get my hands on a decent avocado. The bus swings past at God knows when. My neighborhood is green and contemptibly peaceful.

After a string of violent shootings near the intersection of Pratt and Ashland echoed through Rogers Park last September, local resident John Warner decided something had to be done to curb violence in a neighborhood plagued by gang activity and open air drug markets. In September 2011, Warner put out a call on Everyblock.com petitioning his peers to occupy the neighborhood and it turned out he wasn't the only one who felt compelled to action. A few weeks later, the Rogers Park Positive Loitering group was formed.

Humboldt Park once again is ground zero for an epic clash between two factions, but the police won't be called in to keep the peace this time. Now that the city's two Puerto Rican parades - the one at Grant Park and the one in Humboldt Park - have combined , the merger is creating a greater divide on Division Street than the one between North siders and South siders. On one end, you have the traditionalists, mostly old-timers who think the older Puerto Rican Day Parade should stay at Grant Park.

The beloved Elaine Place giraffe statues that disappeared from the Lakeview neighborhood last November are for sale--but only if they will be rightfully replaced. Erin Duffy, community outreach coordinator for Ald. Tom Tunney's office, said she received a call from Milton Zale, the former owner of the properties where the sculptures sat, Thursday afternoon. She said Zale informed her that restoration on the giraffe sculptures is nearly complete, and they will be for sale for $45,000 a piece with one catch.

There are tons of spots all over the city just waiting to be discovered. Here are five hidden gems Jackson has come across while taking in the city. > > Archery Bow Range Chicago, 1757 N. Kimball (Humboldt Park). Unleash your inner Katniss Everdeen. > > Lagniappe Creole Cajun Joynt , 1525 W. 79th St. (Auburn-Gresham). Authentic creole cooking north of Nawlins. > > Caffe Italia, 2625 N. Harlem Ave (Mont Clare). Colorful décor and tasty eats galore. Cai, 2100 S. Archer Ave. (Chinatown)

Thinking of taking the neighborhood plunge? Make sure you're ready. These are Rob Jackson's five survival items you'll need when urban exploring. > > CTA bus pass: "It'll come in handy for getting around. " > > Walking shoes: "Sometimes we just explore the neighborhoods, so having comfortable shoes is key. " > > Camera: "You'll probably want to take a few pictures while we're out. " > > Journal: "So far, people have liked being able to write down and remember some of the things that stood out to them.

Second City lovers, rejoice--we've finally gotten some love from national media. We were snubbed on the list of best beer cities this year, but Realtor Magazine named Old Town its hottest neighborhood of 2012--according the article, it's the most searched neighborhood on Realtor.com. What we love most about Old Town is that it has the perfect mix of old-world Victorian charm and modern comfort and style. There are some family-run businesses that are ... well, old.  The Fudge Pot, for example, has been around since 1963.

At the city's northern point, Rogers Park is the end of the line for suburbia-averse Chicagoans - but don't let that stop you from visiting. This fall's addition of three new restaurants cements this eclectic neighborhood's reputation for having something for everyone. Hamachi Sushi Bar 2801 W. Howard St. 773-293-6904 Opened: Late September Small, minimalist and modern, this sushi bar on the neighborhood's north border has something for sushi newbies and die-hards alike.

Humboldt Park is no stranger to foot traffic, but for an hour on April 21 all the steps will be in the right direction. That's when the Earth Day 5K is expected to draw hundreds of runners to the West Side park. Sure, there are dozens of road races in Chicago each year, but most showcase the lakefront and the North Side - not neighborhoods that have fallen on such hard times as Humboldt Park. The race, which loops through the park, was the brainchild of native Roberto Chavez and his brother Carlos five years ago. "We thought it would be a great way to get people out in the neighborhood," said...

The beloved Elaine Place giraffe statues that disappeared from the Lakeview neighborhood last November are for sale--but only if they will be rightfully replaced. Erin Duffy, community outreach coordinator for Ald. Tom Tunney's office, said she received a call from Milton Zale, the former owner of the properties where the sculptures sat, Thursday afternoon. She said Zale informed her that restoration on the giraffe sculptures is nearly complete, and they will be for sale for $45,000 a piece with one catch.

Logan Square is about to get a buzz--a caffeine buzz, that is. Intelligentsia, the makers of what is arguably the best coffee in the city (or the world, according to some die-hards), plans to open a location in the up-and-coming neighborhood. Look out for the next Intelligentsia at 2642 N. Milwaukee Ave. The company's director of marketing, Stephen Morrissey, said the store will open sometime in the early part of 2013.    “We've wanted to be in the neighborhood for some time now, if only so we're closer to Lula's and the Logan Theater,” Morrissey said of the company's...

Grab a book and your laptop and get ready for a day-long cafe-hop. You may be craving decaf by the last stop, but you'll have successfully toured the neighborhood's best beaneries. Start your morning at Buzz: Killer Espresso (1644 N. Damen Ave. 773-366-8377), which serves its own house-roasted coffee made with beans from lesser-known producers. Next, walk over to The Wormhole (1462 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-661-2468), where you can grab a pastry and latte and plop down next to your choice of '70s and '80s kitsch (movies posters, Star Wars toys and...