Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 14, 2009 at 5:00pm

Restaurants, cafes and coffeehouses - 79th to 95th

79th St.: Lagniappe Cajun/Creole deliciousness

83rd St.: Dat Donuts - this one is a bit off the trail, but could be on your way if you're coming from points further east.

87th St.: mostly chains, largest number of restaurants from Ashland to Halsted

91st St.: take a little detour west beyond the 91st St. Metra station, up to Leavitt, over to 92nd Place, then west to Western for ice cream at Rainbow Cone

95th St.: mostly chains near the trail, more independents further west, such as Markland Hubbard (open for coffee weekday mornings), Jimmy Jamm sweet potato pies and other goodies, Top Notch Beef Burger (some of the city's best burgers), and Kingston's Jerk Chicken (tasty Jamaican food, recently moved to 2235 W 95th). Lots of choices between Ashland and Western.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 14, 2009 at 5:14pm

Restaurants, cafes and coffeehouses - 99th to 111th

99th St.: Blue Moon Coffeehouse - coffee, sweets, salads, soups, sandwiches and more 2 blocks west of the on-street section of the trail; Janson's Drive-In at Western - burgers, shakes, fries, etc.

103rd St.: Calabria; Cafe 103; Starbucks - all near the Metra tracks between Walden Pkwy and Longwood

107th St.: Favia Cafe just east of Metra tracks

111th St.: a new location of Dat Donuts just west of the Metra tracks between Hale and Longwood - yum! open Mon-Sat from early morning to early evening

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 20, 2009 at 3:53am

More parks:
Palmer Park (201 E. 111th - bit of a detour) M-F 8 am-8 pm, Sat-Sun 10-4 - water, bathrooms

Cooper Park (11712 S. Ada - access from 115th St.) M-F 10 am-8 pm?, Sat-Sun ?? - water, bathrooms

West Pullman Park (401 W. 123rd) M-F 8 am-8 pm, Sat-Sun 9-4 - water, bathrooms

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on August 20, 2009 at 4:12am

Restaurants south of 111th:

Many small places on Halsted and Michigan. Also 115th from Michigan east to St. Lawrence. BBQ, Chinese, fried chicken, pizza and sandwiches are the most common cuisines.

I confess that I haven't checked these out yet, other than Cal Harbor (546 E 115th) - basic diner food.

Downtown Blue Island, a few miles west of Whistler Woods (south end of trail) has MANY options, including some tasty bakeries.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 16, 2010 at 2:35am

The Trib did a nice write-up on Jimmy Jamm. Check it out, a few blocks west of the trail on 95th.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 21, 2010 at 8:53am

Parks and libraries:
Ada Park, 11250 S. Ada (112th Pl to 113th Pl, Racine to Loomis) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. (maybe earlier) to 7 p.m. weekends - bathrooms and water available.

Dawes Park, 81st & Damen, water available, summer hours for bathrooms 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (not confirmed)

West Pullman Public Library, 830 W. 119th St. (just west of trail at Halsted)
Mon, Wed: Noon - 8:00 PM - bathrooms and water available.
Tues, Thurs: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Fri, Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun - CLOSED

Beverly Public Library, 1962 W. 95th St. (1/2 mile west of trail at 95th)
Mon, Wed: Noon - 8:00 PM - bathrooms and water available.
Tues, Thurs: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Fri, Sat: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun - CLOSED

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 12, 2012 at 11:26am

Blue Moon is gone, replaced by Pizzeria Deepo, which is only open in the evenings.

Old Fashioned Donuts on Michigan near 113rd has amazing donuts.  Not sure whose apple fritters are larger, theirs or Dat Donuts', but both are excellent.

Anne Alt said:

Restaurants, cafes and coffeehouses - 99th to 111th

99th St.: Blue Moon Coffeehouse - coffee, sweets, salads, soups, sandwiches and more 2 blocks west of the on-street section of the trail; Janson's Drive-In at Western - burgers, shakes, fries, etc.

103rd St.: Calabria; Cafe 103; Starbucks - all near the Metra tracks between Walden Pkwy and Longwood

107th St.: Favia Cafe just east of Metra tracks

111th St.: a new location of Dat Donuts just west of the Metra tracks between Hale and Longwood - yum! open Mon-Sat from early morning to early evening

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 12, 2012 at 11:30am

There's now a vegan place not far from the trail, Sistah's, just east of Western on 95th.

If you're looking for good breakfast food, Hearty Cafe on Western near 96th is worth a detour.

Iona's at 95th & Wood is a friendly little place for southern comfort food.  They're open for Sunday brunch, too.