North by Northwestern

Rogers Park, commonly and lovingly referred to as “RoPa” by the hip youngsters that sometimes frequent the Northern Chicago neighborhood, is a mere $2.25 and 20 minutes away by train. Whether you get acquainted with the area by choice or by class (thanks, Medill), this is a guide to some sights, eats and drinks less than a block away from the Morse stop, only two stops south from the Red Line transfer at Howard.Though the neighborhood has changed over time, Rogers Park has been able to retain its unique sense of identity by housing thriving small businesses and unique artistic hubs.

J.B. Alberto’s
1326 W. Morse Ave

This family-owned and locally-operated pizza place has been serving the area for over 45 years. Though it's known for its pizzas, offering sizes of up to two feet in diameter, J.B. Alberto’s offers everything from steak dinners to half-pound burgers. While their prices vary from item to item, J.B. Alberto’s offers hamburgers for as low as $3.25 and a personal pizza (of 10 inches in diameter) for $7.50. You’ll have to make this a late-afternoon trip, however, as J.B. Alberto’s doesn’t open until 4 p.m. (though it stays open until 1 a.m.). A staple in the community, J.B. Alberto’s has the atmosphere of a small family restaurant but does the business of a large chain, having successfully competed with larger national companies as they’ve descended on the neighborhood.

Mayne Stage Concert Venue & Act One Pub
1330 W. Morse Ave

This historic theater, situated at the corner of Morse and Wayne (does the name make sense now?) opened originally as the Morse Theater in 1912 as a vaudeville and movie theater. It served as the Co-Ed Theater from 1936 until its closure in 1954. After housing many different ventures, “from synagogue to a shoe repair store” according to its website, the venue was renovated back to its original purpose in 2008. An 18+ venue, Mayne Stage offers multiple shows a month, with tickets as low as $5. The attached pub is used for weekly trivia nights and “Boheme in a Bar,” an adaptation of the 19th century opera using the bar as their stage.

The Glenwood Bar
6962 N. Glenwood Ave

If you’re part of the 21-and-up club, The Glenwood Bar offers a cool neighborhood atmosphere, as well as weekly trivia nights, television show viewings (most recently American Horror Story) and a local art gallery. The Glenwood also serves as the home of the Sunday Market throughout the winter (ending on May 4, when it will move outside). 

Though “gay-owned and operated,” The Glenwood doesn’t brand itself as exclusively a gay bar, but rather a gay-friendly neighborhood bar. The bar also hosts a “Pride North” street festival every June to complement the Chicago Pride Parade and Festival further south in the city. Regardless of your sexual orientation, you’ll be in good company at The Glenwood, either with Rogers Park regulars or their canine pals that are allowed to hang out inside. The Glenwood opens at 3 p.m. during the week and noon on the weekends if you really want to get your day-drinking on. 

The Common Cup
1501 Morse Ave

Conveniently located right next to the Medill storefront, The Common Cup proudly displays a “Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks” sticker on its coffee bar, and offers a wide variety of drinks and bites to eat for relatively low prices. Common Cup offers not only Intelligentsia coffee, homemade pastries, soups, sandwiches and even made-before-your-eyes frozen yogurt, but also weekly Friday performances, serving as a hub for the artistic community in Rogers Park. Each month, The Common Cup chooses a different local nonprofit organization to give the contents of its tip jar, so be sure to not stiff on the tip. 

No Exit Café & Theo Ubique Cabaret Theater
6970 N. Glenwood Ave

Right next to The Glenwood Bar, No Exit Café has been home to the Theo Ubique Cabaret Theater since 2004, further solidifying Rogers Park’s reputation as an artistic hub on the north side of the city. A small and rather sparse venue, No Exit Café transforms itself nightly into the stage for Theo Ubique, a small and intimate theatrical experience. The “complete Theo Ubique” package includes dinner before the show, served by the actors themselves, with dessert served during intermission. Through April 27th, No Exit will be showing the Stephen Sondheim musical “Passion” nightly, with tickets going for $29 with a student I.D.

Noon Hour Grill
6930 N. Glenwood Ave

Right at the corner of Morse and Glenwood is Susie’s Noon Hour Grill, a Korean restaurant that you might miss if you’re not looking for it. Not quite a hole-in-the-wall, but far from a flashy 5-star, the Noon Hour Grill is a local favorite. Specializing in Korean breakfasts and lunches, the Noon Hour Grill opens at 8 a.m. every day. The menu mixes regular breakfast staples with Korean specialties, featuring omelets and hash browns next to kimchi and ramen dishes. The prices are definitely student-friendly, with the most expensive dish sitting at a cheap $8.50.