The ballots have been cast, votes tallied and news reported. The Chicago Reader published its Best of 2014 edition Thursday and LoganSquarist compiled a list of neighborhood winners (and runners-up!).
Although our neighborhood couldn’t defend last year’s title of Best Overall Neighborhood, Logan Square is home to this years Best Florist (Fleur, @Fleurinc, 3149 W. Logan Blvd.) and Best Barbershop (Joe’s Barbershop, @JoesBarberShopp, 2641 W. Fullerton Ave.), among plenty of other award-winning businesses.
As a neighborhood, Logan Square took runner-up in the Best Overall Neighborhood, Best Neighborhood for Nightlife and Best Neighborhood for Culture categories. The Logan Square Farmers Market (@LSFarmersMarket) beat out the Green City Market as Best Farmers Market.
First Ward Alderman Joe Moreno (@Alderman_Moreno) was the runner-up for Best Alderman, and the city’s Best Street, Milwaukee Avenue, happens to run through the the center of our neighborhood.
Galerie F
You’ve probably passed by Galerie F (@GalerieF, 2381 N. Milwaukee Ave.) before, but have you ever gone in? If not, you have all the more reason to now, as Reader readers voted it Best Established Galerie. Two of Galerie F’s exhibits, “The Bird v. The Bear: Art War Chronicles” and “In A Perfect World,” tied for Best Gallery Exhibit. Matthew Hoffman (@heyitsmatthew) now owns the title of Best Established Visual Artist, and Sentrock (@sentrock) is the runner-up for Best New Visual Artist. The Best Street Artist title goes to Don’t Fret, with JC Rivera (@JcRivera) as the runner-up.
Lula Cafe
Logan Square staple Lula Cafe (@lulacafe, 2537 N Kedzie Ave.) has been in the neighborhood since 1999 and was voted Best Brunch. The Lula’s waitstaff is clearly the cream of the crop as they were voted Best Waitstaff and Best Looking Waitstaff (Here’s looking at you, Kyle Kissel!). Lula also took home the Best Neighborhood Restaurant award.
Revolution Brewing
Revolution Brewing (@RevBrewChicago, 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave.) shined in the beer and brewing categories bringing home awards for Best Local Brewery and Best Brewpub. They’ve also claimed a win for brewing the Best Local Brew (Anti-Hero IPA), and the brewpub is runner-up in Best Pub Grub.
East Room
Logan Square newcomer, East Room (@EastRoomChicago, 2828 W. Medill Ave.), is 2014’s Best New Bar as voted on by Reader readers. The bar opened in February in a former mental health clinic and also holds the unique title of Best Nightclub Trying Its Damnedest Not To Be a Nightclub.
Cocktails
If you are more of a cocktail connoisseur, Reader readers voted Danny Shapiro of Scofflaw (@scofflaw, 3201 W. Armitage Ave.) as Best Mixologist. Scofflaw is also runner-up for Best Cocktail List, and Longman & Eagle’s (@longmanandeagle, 2657 N. Kedzie Ave.) Old Fashioned won runner-up for Best Cocktail.
Logan Square Recreation
Our neighborhood doesn’t fall short when it comes to recreation. Holstein Park (2200 N. Oakley) holds the title of Best Public Pool and Fireside Bowl (2648 W. Fullerton Ave.) is runner-up for Best Bowling Alley. Across the street from Fireside is Bob Inn (2609 W. Fullerton Ave.), which moved from runner-up for Best Sox Bar to winner of the category this year.
Additionally, The Bike Lane (@bikelanechicago, 2130 N. Milwaukee Ave.) holds their ground as Best Bike Shop, and Logan Pets (@loganpets, 2659 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is the runner-up for Best Doggie Day Care.
Telegraph Wine Bar
Telegraph Wine Bar, which is the soon-to-be Webster’s Wine Bar, was voted Best Wine List, and sommelier Jeremy Quinn was runner-up for Best Sommelier.
Irazu
Readers chose Irazu (@IrazuChicago 1865 N. Milwaukee Ave.) not only as Best BYOB, but also Best Restaurant For a Cheap Date. Head’s up to the dating crowd!
Cole’s
Not only did Cole’s (2328 N. Milwaukee Ave.) score Best Dive Bar, but they also defended their 2013 title of Best Neighborhood Bar. Have you been to this double-whammy bar?
Additional Logan Square Winners
Best Barcade runner-up: Logan Arcade (@LoganArcade, 2410 W. Fullerton Ave.)
Best Boutique With Odd Hours of Operation: Tusk (3205 W. Armitage Ave.)
Best Place to Buy Local Wares: Wolfbait & B-Girls (@WolfbaitBGirls, 3131 W. Logan Blvd.)
Best Tattoo Artist runner-up: Esther Garcia at Butterfat Tattoo (3129 W. Logan Blvd.)
Best Liquor Store runner-up: Vas Foremost Liquors (2300 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Best Local Grocer runner-up: Dill Pickle Co-op (@dillpicklecoop, 3039 W. Fullerton Ave.)
Best Dirty Rice: Analogue (@AnalogueChicago, 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Best Bread runner-up: Cellar Door Provisions (@quichencountry, 3025 W. Diversey Ave.)
Best Desserts runner-up: Bang Bang Pie Shop (@bangbangpie, 2051 N. California Ave.)
Best Taqueria runner-up: L’Patron (2815 W. Diversey Ave.)
Best Vegan: The Chicago Diner (@chicagodiner, 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Best New Gallery runner-up: Sideshow Gallery (2219 N. Western Ave.)
Best Movie Theater runner-up: Logan Theatre (@TheLoganTheatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Best Late Night Movies runner-up: Logan Theater
Best 4 am Bar: The Owl (@theOwlChicago, 2521 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
Best Smoking Area runner-up: The Whistler (@WhistlerChicago, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
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