St. Ben‘s
St. Ben’s is a tiny neighborhood of about eight square blocks, situated within the North Center community, about five miles north of the Loop. It is primarily residential with scattered businesses along the two main roads Western Avenue and Irving Park Road. The neighborhood is named for the church located at its center, St. Benedicts, which is both a parish and a parochial school.
Although the parish was built well over 100 years ago, St. Ben’s remains a prominent institution and the co-ed elementary and high school continues to attract families to the area. Originally, the first German families to move here sent their children to St. Matthias, the closest Catholic school at the time. But when the mile-and-a-half commute got to be too tough, the community established their own school – St. Ben’s.
The elegant Victorian homes are well maintained in this part of town and there is a good mix of brick two-flats and single-family homes that offer home buyers a range of housing options. New developments and renovations to old residential buildings complement much of the community’s original architecture, and for those who crave natural beauty, this is one Chicago neighborhood with no shortage of greenery. Rows of trees shade the residential blocks where healthy lawns and landscaped yards are tucked in between front curbs and back allies. Most lots even have room for Fido to run around and these outdoor spaces are definitely big enough for the impromptu backyard barbeque.
Past the front doorstep, St. Ben’s residents find a delightful strip of restaurants, bars and markets on Irving Park Road and Western Avenue. Raise your liters of beer at Laschet’s Inn, a German-inspired ale house, or if you’re hungry for a bite from the other side of the globe, Sticky Rice has some of the best authentic northern Thai cuisine in the Midwest. O’Donovan’s Pub & Restaurant is another local favorite, especially when you and your friends are looking for a great beer garden to hang out in. However, if you prefer a martini to beer, the Blue Stem Martini Lounge, has a divine selection of tasty cocktails.
In Chicago, outdoor street fairs are big. And no matter how small the neighborhood, it’s sure to have its own summertime celebration. In St. Ben’s, the most-anticipated festival is BenFest, a two-day block party that consumes the pocket-size neighborhood every July with live music, family fun, food and beer.
- CLICK HERE FOR NORTH CENTER & ST. BEN'S NEIGHBORHOOD MAP
- CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT REAL ESTATE IN NORTH CENTER & ST. BEN'S
Dining in St. Bens & North Center
| Europian Pastry Shop & Cafe 4701 N Lincoln Ave Cuisine: European |
Chicago Brauhaus 4732 N. Lincoln Cuisine: European |
| Daily Bar & Grill 4560 N. Lincoln Cuisine: American |
Grecian Taverna 4761 N. Lincoln Cuisine: Greek |
| La Boca della Verita 4618 N. Lincoln Cuisine: Italian |
Woody's 4160 N. Lincoln Cuisine: American |
| G & L
Fire Escape 2157 W. Grace |
Lincoln Restaurant 4008 N. Lincoln |
Resources in St. Bens & North Center
| Hospitals Advocate Ravenswood Medical Center 4550 N. Winchester Methodist Hospital 5025 N. Paulina Ravenswood Hospital 4055 N. Western |
Post Office 2011 W. Montrose |
Entertainment in St. Bens & North Center
| Lincoln Square W. Leland & N. Lincoln |
North Center W. Belle Plaine & N. Damen |
| Martyr's 3855 N. Lincoln |
Lyon's Den 1934 W. Irving Park |
| Johnny Hardtails 3937 N. Lincoln |
American Theater Company 1909 W. Byron |
Shopping in St. Bens & North Center
| Play it Again Sports 2102 W. Irving Park |
Sears 1900 W. Lawrence |
Schools in St. Bens & North Center
| Amundsen High 5110 N. Damen |
Coonley Elementary 4046 N. Leavitt |
| McPherson Elementary 4728 N. Wolcott |
North Park Elementary 2017 W. Montrose |
| Queen of Angels School 4412 N. Western |
Ravenswood School 4332 N. Paulina |
© 2010 Chicago City & Neighborhood Guide
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