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Park & Field hosted its second annual “Best of Logan” brewery event Oct. 17, a collaborative idea of brothers and owners, Dan and Dave Nalezny to honor some of the neighborhood’s quality businesses.

The winner was Pipeworks Brewing Co., for their fried molasses chicken wings cooked using their New England IPA, NvU vs. The Haze.

This year, six Logan Square breweries were featured: Maplewood, Pipeworks, Off Color, Revolution, Middlebrow, and Hopewell. Park & Field (3509 W. Fullerton Ave.), added a twist to make this event more than just your standard brew event: each brewery brought a beer featured at the bar and it was then used to create a custom dish. Participants voted on the brewer’s food to see who won the “Best of Logan.”

Brewers with their own kitchen, such as Revolution and Maplewood, brought along their recipe for beer-infused cheese curds. For brewers who don’t have an onsite kitchen, the chef at Park & Field created a menu item using their beer.

Park & Field hosted its second annual “Best of Logan” brewery event Oct. 17. Photos: Matt Mehr

“Off Color won last year, and we used their porter to make a skirt steak chili,” Dan Nalezny said. “So we went back with the dish again this year. It’s a nice way to sit outside in October before you need to be inside for the next two months.”

As the winner, Pipeworks’s New England IPA will be on tap for a month, he said.

“The idea is to show more love to Logan Square and the breweries,” he said. “Before Off Color opened The Mousetrap, nobody really knew it was down there. I love going to Maplewood, and I tell all the people who moved over here who come in to check out Maplewood. Also, sharing that Pipeworks Brewing has their dojo and tasting room, hopefully [helps] the news spread.”

Unlike many other locations with a patio, Park & Field keeps their outdoor space open all year.

“We host a variety of events throughout the year to try and get everybody through winter with a smile on their face. You’d be surprised—when you come here on a Saturday night in January and it’s 10 degrees, they’ll be 60 people outside, sitting around the fireplace making s’mores. It’s actually really warm,” Nalezny said.

In addition to s’mores by the fire pits, they’ll also be hosting a variety of events through the next few months, some of which include a Friendsgiving Dinner on Nov. 24, a Black Wednesday Stout Night on Nov. 27, and their ever-popular indoor Bocce League. 

Photos: Park & Field

Even though the establishment’s offerings cater to adults, its event lineup has something for youngins too.

“My brother has two little ones, and he started a kid’s night every Tuesday from 4 – 6 p.m., and it’s really taking off,” Nalezny said. “We’ve had story-tellers, a kids band, a puppet show, and we make sure to put up a bouncy house with some bubbles, which the kids love. A mom or dad can bring their kids here for a 30-minute story, and the parent(s) can enjoy a couple of drinks and de-stress.”

The variety of events throughout the year, a focus on local breweries, a well-designed space, and a dedication to the neighborhood have made Park & Field a staple in the continued growth of Logan Square. The concept, layout, walls, artwork, and designs were all handcrafted by the owners, and the attention to detail can be felt throughout the space. From roasting s’mores on a crisp winter night to challenging friends to a game of bocce ball, to sampling on local brews and voting on the “Best of Logan,” Park & Field really does have something for everyone.

Find out more about all of the events at Park & Field here.

LoganSquarist wouldn’t be possible without the hard-working efforts of our dedicated staff. Hailing from all across the country, with a number of interests and professional aspirations, our team has one thing in common: a passion for Logan Square. Discover the people behind the scenes that bring you articles, events and more in our LoganSquarist Staff Highlight column.

What’s your role with LoganSquarist?

I’m a staff writer (and sometimes photographer).

When did you join the team?

January 2018.

What have you been working on recently?

I just finished my review of the new Spanish-Mediterranean Tapas bar, Papa Cenar. I am super excited about this restaurant and had such a fun time dining there, basking in the 1920’s European ambiance of the space and learning more about the inspiration behind it through partner, architect, and designer Jordan Mozer. That’s going to be my next story.

Where are you from originally?

I was technically born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but shortly moved to the Chicago suburbs with my family when I was very young. I had the pleasure of living in exciting suburbs such as Schaumburg and Grayslake (sarcasm intended)!

Do you write professionally?

Not quite… I am a philosophy professor by day so I am trained in academic philosophy and have published articles on nonviolence/plant-based living along with multiracial identity. I have a vegetarian blog featuring Chicago restaurants and vegetarian recipes but I am not a “professional” blogger nor do I have professional experience with photography (I took two classes a few years ago). These are hobbies that I have been really focusing on cultivating these past few years.

What made you interested in volunteering for LoganSquarist?

I have been living in Logan Square for four years and absolutely love living here. While academic philosophy can feel intense and heavy at times (even though I love it), being able to write about the community and food has been such a fun, creative outlet for me in the midst of our ecological crisis and political turmoil. I wanted to cultivate my creative side more and LoganSquarist is the perfect opportunity to do so. I love the freedom I have with my stories and our editor, Ariel, is super encouraging and open-minded, making it a very comfortable environment to work in.

What is your favorite LoganSquarist story you worked on?

It’s really hard for me to think of just one so I will mention a few because I am long-winded! I especially loved doing the story on Casa Yari because it embodied the intersection of two things I’m passionate about: social justice and food. Chef Yari was so inspiring and very warm. As a vegetarian, it was so great to see that there’s a Latinx woman-owned business featuring distinctive Puerto Rican and Honduran food that is veg-friendly.

I also loved doing the Middlebrow Bungalow piece because it was social justice and food coming together again! I am so impressed with all of the initiatives they are doing in the neighborhood instead of just focusing on making a profit in a gentrifying (or already gentrified) neighborhood.

I also had a blast interviewing the owners of Parlor Salon because it was another example of business owners who care about the community and also belong to marginalized communities carving out a necessary safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.

Interviewing the chefs of Superkhana was also energizing and I was able to connect with their multicultural upbringing and passion for food. I am so excited to see more international spots in the neighborhood that express the stories of the chefs’ multifaceted cultural upbringing.

What is your favorite restaurant or hang out in Logan Square?

Again, too many options!! This is truly a restaurant mecca for vegetarians and a bar mecca for cocktail enthusiasts.

My favorite restaurants are: Spice Room, Lula Café, Ground Control, Dos Urban Cantina, and Chicago Diner. I also love the tacos at L’Patron.

My favorite cocktail bars are: Scofflaw (which also has insanely delicious food—try the eggplant socca when you go), Best Intentions, Whistler, Spilt Milk, and Lost Lake.

My favorite coffee shops are: Gaslight, Colectivo Coffee, Pilot Project, and Passion House (they have incredible tea and ambient electronic music).

What’s your favorite thing to do in the neighborhood?

Hedonistic consumption mostly (let’s be honest); I love eating at one of its fabulous restaurants, drink cocktails and walk/jog in Palmer Square where I can see all of the beautiful, happy dogs hanging out. I also cherish the Farmers Market in the summer, there’s just nothing else like it—so many cute dogs and delicious produce that serve as an inspiration for what I will cook that week.

What has been the best part about joining the team?

It has really given me a deeper, more engaged relationship with the neighborhood. When I walk by some of the businesses and restaurants I have written stories on, it gives me a greater sense of belonging and a sense of intimacy with the neighborhood that I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t part of LoganSquarist. It has also been really fun to meet other passionate community volunteers and business owners.

What have you learned from working with LSQ?

Working with LSQ has given me x-ray vision into this neighborhood. Logan Square is such a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood and it’s easy to feel as if developers/wealthy investors have all the power here. And they do exercise an incredible amount of power but I have learned that there are community members and activists who are creating spaces for artists and long-time community members so they will not be entirely displaced by gentrification. Or at least I hope they won’t.

Are you working on any other projects?

Yes, I am!

If you are into food (who isn’t, right?), check out my blog on ethical eating in Chicago, ChiVeg. I have restaurant reviews from a pescatarian/vegetarian/vegan perspective and many of my reviews take place around Logan Square along with my own carefully crafted vegetarian recipes and collaborations with other ethical Chicagoans.

I am also starting a new venture in the neighborhood! I recently launched an Airbnb experience called “Logan Square Coffee/Tea Tour with a Splash of Philosophy.” I have partnered up with Colectivo Coffee, Pilot Project, Easthill Tea Co., and Caffe Umbria to feature some of the best coffee, lattes, and tea in Logan Square while infusing philosophical themes (e.g. Existentialism and Buddhism). I love the coffee shop/tea house culture we have here and I get to frequently work remotely in these spaces so I figured I would provide my own insight that could potentially be interesting for travelers and other Chicagoans. Check it out here!

Read more of Shanti’s articles here, follow her personal blog and be sure to say hi to her next time you see her jogging the neighborhood or eating at one of the many places nearby!

Interested in joining the team? Meet the rest of our the staff and check out our opportunities.

Over 500 students, parents and community members rallied together at the Logan Square monument to show support for the thousands of CPS teachers on strike for a fourth day.

The rally included teachers from local schools, who marched from their classrooms to the monument, where the energy was high with passion as members of the community spoke to the crowd, danced and sang songs.

Bilingual education, support for Latino students and more counselors was the main focus of the rally, which was organized by Logan Square Neighborhood Association.

Photos: Tom Vlodek

“I’ve been involved with LSNA for 11 years, and this whole time we parents have been asking for nurses, counselors, smaller class sizes, and a real commitment to bilingual education and special education,” said Monica Espinoza, CPS parent and education organizer for Logan Square Neighborhood Association. “This is our time! We’re not here to ask anymore. We are here to demand.”

Espinoza was part of a 2008 rally at the monument that addressed similar issues for teachers, according to LSNA.

Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th) spoke about the importance of fair contracts, addressing key issues for teachers to succeed and standing in solidarity with CTU and SEIU73.

The alderman’s office, along with Neighbors of the 35th Ward and DSA Chicago offered free lunches to students and teachers.

The rally included a joyous performance by Caballo Dorado dance group, who performed Mexican folkloric dance and a song rapped by Rachel Brown, the teacher whose Lizzo cover has gone viral. 

Logan Square Representative Will Guzzardi also attended the rally, showing that “Logan Square stands united for education justice.”

The negotiations between CTU and the city sat deadlocked as of last night but the mayor said talks are continuing today. Lightfoot said it is “deeply concerning to hear that CTU is pulling members of its bargaining team away from the negotiating table at this crucial juncture” to go out and continue to strike.

In a press conference this morning, Lightfoot said she wants the public to know the human cost of the strikes and how it affects students. She said the strikes pose consequences to them and hopes that CTU will come back to the table to talk “in good faith” even though they rejected yesterday’s proposals.

“Real progress has been made on the key contract issues that CTU identified, and written proposals to boost staffing and support overcrowded classrooms have been exchanged,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “Our full team will be ready first thing [this] morning to continue working toward the fair contract our teachers, students, and families deserve.”

Featured photo: Tom Vlodek

There are so many wine and beer-tastings and networking events in Logan Square: whether you’re new to the area or a long-time resident, it’s hard to keep track of all the comings and goings. So where should you get your info, other than good old LoganSquarist?

The Taste of Logan Square, a brand-new event hosted by the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce (3147 W. Logan Blvd.), happens Oct. 22. And due to the popularity of their gatherings, the event sold out almost immediately around mid-September.

But don’t worry—it’s just one of the many events held throughout the year, sampling drinks and “bite-sized items” from such up-and-coming places as BiXi Beer, Merchant, and Papa Cenar.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to schmooze or you’re a business person looking to make new contacts, then The Logan Square Chamber of Commerce is a great resource.

While the name might sound as imposing, like some Iron Bank of Braavos, they’re actually a really friendly group of civic-minded people who contribute to the commercial unity and personality of Logan Square.

I recently spoke to Jessica Wobbekind, the executive director of the LSCC, and asked her what the Chamber of Commerce is, and what it provides for the neighborhood:

“The Chamber is a membership organization that exists to support, promote and advocate for the local business community,” Wobbekind said. “We work for economic development that preserves and enhances all that makes Logan Square the neighborhood we love. “

The LSCC has many events that are fun and informative for everyone, touching on subjects like finding affordable healthcare, informal meetings with the local police department, and conflict management training.

My first interaction with the LSCC was at one of their partnerships with the Wicker Park/Bucktown Chamber of Commerce Networking Mixer, one of their many team-ups with WPBCC.

It was a great introduction to both organizations because I got to talk with local vendors face-to-face, hand out business cards and meeting interesting-yet-laid-back people who are also on their grind. For a mere $10 entry fee I learned a lot and I made quite a few friends that night.

It was also Jessica’s first year as Executive Director. It’s been two years this month, and she’s loving every minute of it. “What I enjoy so much is that it’s a little bit of everything,” she tells me. “(The) strategic planning, community and economic development– but also the super fun things, such as public art installation, pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives, event planning: even a huge (Logan Square) Farmers Market!

The Logan Square Farmers Market is a vibrant and vital extension of the LSCC. In the spring and summer, it’s abuzz with sounds, smells, live music and friendly dogs at its outdoor location across the street from the Logan Square Monument. It’s something we all can say makes our community a vibrant place!

In the fall and winter season, the market is cozily placed inside Emporium (2363 N. Milwaukee Ave.), a great place to come in from the cold and get fresh veggies, try new cuisine and play arcade games.

While meeting with Wobbekind at last week’s Farmers Market I got to meet Rosie Fitz,
market manager of the Logan Square Farmers Market. And the three of us agree that the fall season rocks in Logan Square. As much as we all enjoy warm weather, the fall colors make for a stunning backdrop.

“As the market manager, I have to say my favorite event is the outdoor season of the market,” Fitz said. “Especially during the later months in fall. Most farmers set up “tentless” and all of the fall crops look stunning on the boulevard.”

A Logan Square native since she was “a tot”, this is Rosie’s 4th year with the LSCC, specifically managing the Logan Square Farmer’s Market.

“Seeing pups in their sweaters, kids in their coats, and farmers in their Carhartt gear– I love it all. It’s so fun to watch everyone prepare for the winter and embrace the bounty of the fall.”

So if you want to cure your FOMO in whatever season you’re into, follow the LSCC on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about their many networking events, and check out the Logan Square Farmers Market.

Featured photo: Erik Island

A local CVS Health is hosting a series of free biometric health screenings starting today and going through December.

A CVS on the border of Logan Square and Hermosa (3940 W. Fullerton Ave.) is offering free screenings Oct. 17, Oct. 19, Dec. 19 and Dec. 21. to detect early risks for chronic conditions. 

The screenings are part of CVS’s Project Health, a campaign that connects multicultural communities with large numbers of uninsured or underinsured residents to no-cost comprehensive tests.

The screenings are part of an expansion effort by the project to better serve low-income communities. So far this year, CVS has included the kick-off of Project Health events statewide in California. Events are taking place throughout 2019 in Los Angeles and during some months in San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego. The company also expanded Project Health screenings across the greater Houston, Texas, area during the month of April.

The expansion is also working to screen more for the social determinants of health, including family, education, housing and access to fresh food. Project Health participants who receive abnormal screenings are referred to treatment and advised on follow-up care. CVS will provide a directory of low- and no-cost primary care options for uninsured and underinsured patients, the program said.

A spokesperson for the company said its goal is to reach 180 million people in 16 U.S. markets and Puerto Rico, for a projected consumer value of $8.5 million. 

Since its founding in 2006, Project Health has delivered more than $127 million in free health care services to nearly 1.7 million Americans, according to the project’s website. These screenings are often how an estimated one-third of attendees first become aware of a health concern or condition.

You can find nearby free screenings events here.