Neighborhood Spotlight: Evanston not just for students anymore

For many Chicagoans, Evanston remains unexplored territory. Occupying prime residential space along the North Shore of Lake Michigan, the area is best known as the home of Northwestern's ambitious co-eds, and Downtown Evanston contains enough national chain stores and restaurants in one small area (Barnes & Noble, North Face, and Bravo!, Wolfgang Puck's new replacement) to send any Chicagoan looking for independent boutiques in the closer, safe waters of Rogers Park or Belmont. But wait, there is hope!

Despite Evanston's commercial glory, enough undiscovered gems are hiding in its nooks and crannies to make the hike up north worth the time and effort. For those looking to get away from Chicago's busy streets to the North-North Shore, Evanston's unique offerings can keep you busy day and night.

SPACE, formerly known as the Society for the Preservation of Art & Culture in Evanston, can suit all your dining, music and recording needs at its three-in-one venue. Grab a meal at Union Pizzeria, move farther in to catch a live show in the cozy 200-square-foot concert room and record your own tracks in the venue's back studio. For acoustic, blues and jazz shows cabaret tables are set up for an intimate setting; the venue hosts a slew of indie, rock and funk shows, too. In efforts to develop Evanston's music scene, General Manager Jake Samuels hopes music lovers come to SPACE as an alternative to downtown venues like Schubas, Martyrs and the Hideout. “Once people get in here it just clicks,” he says.

SPACE's musician-friendly recording studios work more like a “co-op arrangement as opposed to a commercial recording studio,” according to Samuels. Artists can join up for a year, as compared to buying up blocks of studio time, and use SPACE as a place to write, record, rehearse, and perform.

Bill's Blues Bar, a long-time Evanston staple, offers a dirtier, older venue for music fans. Drinks are cheap ($2 PBR cans, $3 Jager shots) and music is constant. True to its name, blues rules at Bill's: Every Tuesday is Blues Jam Night, no cover, and weekend acts are usually Chicago blues artists, with Eddy Clearwater, Lil' Ed Williams and Melvin Taylor regulars (cover is typically $10-12). Open mic nights are frequent, and Monday's Pub Quiz at $5 a head are popular with NU students (beware competitors). Check Bill's out on Wednesdays if jazz jams strike your fancy, and don't worry, there's no cover.

Kafein, one of the few truly late-night coffee shops around, is a local favorite of stressed out Northwestern students and java connoisseurs alike. Opened until 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends, Kafein's full bookshelves and comfy couches make it a comfortable place to relax day or night. Desserts are their forte, expect a nice selection of pies, cheesecake, sundaes and milkshakes. Sandwiches and salads, with plenty of vegetarian options, are available for hungrier patrons.

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Welcome to the City of Evanston, Illinois