Cragin Chicago, IL

The community area now known as Belmont Cragin came to be through commerce and industry. Sometime after 1835, a saloon run out of the home of George Merrill catered to truck farmers carrying produce over the plank road to the city, constituting the area's first business. The area remained rural until 20 years later when "Cragin Brothers & Company" moved their tin plate and sheet iron processing plant to the area. The presence of these companies with large workforces prompted railroads to be built that would reach the area, and in turn, these new railroads helped spur residential growth in the surrounding neighborhoods. By 1920, jobs drew Polish as well as Italian immigrants, allowing the population to triple during the next decade. During the 1930s, the community area became known as Belmont Cragin.

The Chicago area as well as the interlacing neighborhoods such as Cragin have culinary variety when it comes to eating out.

The place for authentic Cuban has to be Senor Pan. For breakfast try the pan con timba (sandwich de guayaba y queso), a toasted guava with cream cheese sandwich. Not to be missed, the classic Sandwich Cubano has classic Cuban ingredients consisting of smoked ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. Other authentic dishes include the sandwich de lechon asado, a roasted pulled-pork sandwich, complete with Cuban seasonings and the especial de fritas Cubanas, two mini burgers paired with two beef empanadas.

Leadbelly Burgers grinds its own special blend of meat daily, including top-quality beef and smoked pork belly. The restaurant also bakes its own bread, hand-cut French fries and makes all sauces from scratch using locally sourced ingredients. Thanks to these factors, Leadbelly Burgers serves as the go-to place for drinks and food as well as live music. Try the chipotle fries with pico de gallo, chili cheese fritos and chipotle cream sauce, or choose one of the other five types of fries for a flavorful dining experience. Good Night Irene, a fried crab cake atop juicy meat with pico de gallo and spicy remoulade sauce, makes a great choice for vegetarians sans the meat. Dozens of bottled craft beers plus a couple of reds and whites that change monthly round out your meal perfectly here.

Small and intimate, The Portage Restaurant & Bar opened in 2010 after owner Quay Tao identified a neighborhood need for a casual hangout with menu options that go beyond expectation. Soups like the curry sweet potato bisque with shrimp wonton, edamame and lime pair nicely with entrees such as butternut squash and mushroom pot stickers made with aged cheddar, brussels sprouts, tatsoi, pear vinegar and white sesame.

For entertainment, head to The Stereo Nightclub to dance the night away on Fridays from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Free parking across the street makes it simple to enjoy a night out with friends.

For a fun little joint to grab a few drinks with friends while enjoying local acts, The Burlington fits the bill. With two bars and nightly drink specials, this establishment entices locals looking for a trendy nightspot to dance the night away. Don't forget to go through the secret door marked "music," where you will find a small back space with a stage and open dance floor.

Bim Bom Lounge hosts events such as bad movie night held once a month as well as Polish heavy metal bands. This establishment has a pool table, free on Wednesdays and otherwise $1, and a foosball table that runs 75 cents per play.

Most errands can be accomplished on foot or by public transportation in Cragin. Residents can walk to an average of four restaurants, bars and coffee shops in a matter of only 5 minutes. Two airports lie within 30 miles of Cragin as does an Amtrak train station. Local public transportation, provided by Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA), has fares that run from $2 to $5 to get to and from downtown Chicago. Uber can be used, or you can arrange for a taxi at standard rates plus a $2 booking fee. With plenty of street metered parking as well as one of the only free parking garages around, Belmont-Central Parking Commission makes Cragin a hidden gem when it comes to finding a space for your vehicle. The streets are somewhat bike-friendly, with certain streets providing adequate access for safe biking. Available bike lanes can be found on-line.

Discover the wonderful world of nature, spark your curiosity, and then explore the fun, educational contributions of Kibourn Park, the Chicago Park District’s only park with a teaching greenhouse. Annual events held here include Garden Buddies, a fun-filled family event that celebrates the seasons of the garden through hands-on activities. Visit the Annual Plant Sale or the Harvest Festival, celebrating the summer garden bounty through hands-on crafts, organic gardening and cooking demonstrations with Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse volunteers.

Cragin Park has a small fieldhouse that sits on almost three acres. Outdoors, the park provides close to a quarter-mile walking path, two softball fields, a combination football/soccer field, two tennis courts, a basketball court, a volleyball court and a playground with a wading/spray pool.

Riis Park, located within the Belmont/Cragin community, totals 56 acres and features a fieldhouse with a gymnasium, including an assembly hall with stage and other multipurpose rooms. Outdoors, the park provides a water park for children, a large pool that includes a changing area for everyone and an ice rink for those who enjoy the winter weather. For those looking to get some exercise, take a run or walk around the track or kick back and watch a soccer game on the artificial soccer field. For fans of tennis, ten courts stand available.

Located in the Cragin Community, just south of Fullerton Avenue, between Cicero and Laramie avenues, Blackhawk Park’s fieldhouse sits on a little more than 6 acres, providing an indoor pool, a gymnasium, several meeting rooms and a kitchen. Outdoors, the park has a quarter-mile walking path, two junior baseball fields, a softball field, a combination football/soccer field, five tennis courts, a basketball court and a playground with a spray pool. Blackhawk Park offers both fitness classes and aquatic programs for patrons of all ages.

The Portage Park Dog Friendly Area located in the northwest corner of Portage Park provides a safe place for dogs to exercise, play and socialize off the leash. The Halloween Pet Parade/Costume Contest here serves as a must-attend event for many local residents.

The cost of living in Belmont Cragin has comparable prices found in the city, averaging 0.6 percent less than the Chicago average and 15.1 percent greater than the national average. The price of gas in Cragin sits on par with pump prices in Chicago, which runs on average 21.6 percent higher than the national medium. A beer at your local pub costs less than if you head downtown, with domestic pints ranging from $2 to $5 and imported bottles running around $4 to $8. Public transportation via the CTA runs $2 to $5, depending on your destination. A one bedroom apartment goes for an average of $685 per month.

The majority of shopping for residents of Cragin can be found closer to downtown central Chicago, while smaller chain stores and a few scattered speciality shops lie within range for local shopping.

Markski CDs & Tapes specializes in Eurodance-style music. Large selections of rare Eurodance CD maxi singles, The Ski Mixes (DJ Markski's own non-stop mixes), Deep Magic Dance mixes and Studio 33 mixes make it worthwhile to stop by the store. Best of all, this establishment lets you listen to any of its CDs before you purchase.

Carrying huge selections of new, used and vintage instruments for every price point, Midwest Buy & Sell has been a best kept secret for musicians since 1991. Choose from notable names such as Fender, Gibson and Rickenbacker guitars or bass guitars along with new or used electronics from Boss, Electro-Harmonix and more.

ALDI serves as an area mainstay for grabbing food and household essentials, however a few farmers markets delis comprise the choices for Cragin goodies. Old school Polish butcher and delicatessen, Gene's Sausage Shop has been around since 1972, serving local residents high-quality meats, deli items and other Polish delicacies. Truly feel like family when you walk into Family Fruit Market. This farmers market has plenty of fresh produce selections and a wide variety of imported grocery and dairy products. Fast, friendly service coupled with competitive prices help to keep budgets under control.