Mount Greenwood - Chicago, IL

The well-known cemeteries were the first structures built in Mount Greenwood. Business establishments sprung up to meet the needs of mourners, and a neighborhood was born.

The area sheltered the city's sole surviving farm, which ultimately became the Chicago High School for Agricultural Studies. The school maintains a farm stand which is open to the public five mornings a week.

The Beverly Arts Center brings theater, visual arts, music and dance to the south side neighborhoods. Learn to entertain in theater classes, or be entertained at one of the center's many performances. Meet local authors and discover what inspires them, or find your own inspiration in the art gallery exhibits. Classes and tickets are reasonably priced and sell out quickly, so make plans in advance.

Pizza places in Mount Greenwood greet you from almost every corner, and burger joints flourish. 111th Street accommodates most of the eateries and pubs, but small restaurants are distributed throughout the area. Mount Greenwood lacks upscale dining opportunities, so special occasions necessitate trips downtown or into the suburbs.

While Chicago is famous for deep dish pizza, thin crust reigns supreme at Tata's Chicago Pizzeria. The BYOB outdoor patio always draws a crowd. Bring friends and a favorite bottle of wine, and try a slice of pepperoni. The pizzas cook in a traditional pizza oven and never taste soggy or greasy. Remember to include vegan friends, as Tata's caters to special dietary needs with non-dairy cheese.

If your idea of heaven includes 70 different milkshakes, spend eternity at Wojo's. To avoid long lines, arrive after the high school crowd. Ask for the "Elvis," a creamy blend of banana and peanut butter ice cream. The grilled onion burgers are flavorful and juicy, but the garlic butter fries play the starring role. With health concerns tossed aside, the waffle-cut potatoes are fried golden brown, then drenched in real garlic and herb butter.

When you miss Mom's Italian home cooking, make a reservation at Joseph's Restaurant & Bar. Order the Shrimp Diavolo, a shrimp spaghetti with a devilishly spicy red sauce, then cool off with tiramisu for dessert. Many mid-range Italian restaurants serve frozen tiramisu, but Joseph's is the real deal. Dine on Tuesday through Saturday to enjoy live piano music.

If you have a taste for Chinese, but your date wants Thai, visit Chi Tung to experience a variety of Asian cuisines in one restaurant. Whether you choose a Japanese, Chinese or Thai dish, your meal is expertly prepared. After a long day at work, pick up a shrimp pad thai to go. The dish features a combination of tender shrimp, sweet tamarind sauce and fresh sprouts.

Mount Greenwood confines its nightlife to Irish Pubs and corner sports bars. If swanky clubs suit your style, don't despair; it's easy to make a trip to downtown Chicago.

For the quintessential Irish pub experience, choose Blackthorn Pub. Several nights a week, experience live music direct from Ireland while enjoying one of the many Irish imports on tap. The old-fashioned steel tipped darts are a rare find, so make sure you play a round or two.

115 Bourbon Street occupies the space of an entire city block, and it's no cliche to say the place has everything. Play bocce ball and beanbags in the beer garden. The restaurant serves Cajun specialties and, depending on the night, you can listen to folk singers croon alongside acoustic guitars, move to the hottest electronic beats, or sing along with your favorite rock ballads. With regular costume parties, singing competitions and more, Bourbon Street celebrates Mardi Gras all year long.

For transportation, Mount Greenwood depends on cars more than other Chicago neighborhoods. Unless a walk to the bus stop in January appeals to you, it's probably best to own a car. Many necessities are within walking distance, but not all intersections are friendly to pedestrians.

Younger residents and college students frequently bicycle around the neighborhood, although bike lanes are nonexistent. With local drivers accustomed to watching for bikes, it's a reasonably safe place to ride in the city.

Bus stops stand at most corners and provide transit to the Metra train, shopping centers, the airport and the Orange Line CTA train. A monthly bus pass is the cheapest and easiest way to get around.

For trips downtown, both the Orange Line and Metra are fast and convenient. The elevated CTA trains run every hour on the hour, so you never need to worry about missing a ride. Neither train runs around the clock, so take the car if you plan to have an especially late night.

Mount Greenwood rests on the very edge of Uber car availability, so it is not considered a viable means of transportation. Taxis typically keep to the areas with a concentration of bars and restaurants but may be called from any location.

The drive to Chicago Midway International Airport is just 20 minutes, making it the area's most frequently used airport. Ask your guests to choose Midway instead of O'Hare to save hours of stress in heavy traffic.

Instead of placing several small park facilities throughout the neighborhood, Mount Greenwood created a huge 25-acre park complex. At Mount Greenwood Park, residents enjoy sports, swimming, ice skating and more. Many activities are free, and any fees charged are low. With colorful stone mosaics and immaculate landscaping, the delightful park brings beauty and recreation to the community. Children engage the senses of sight, sound and touch in the interactive musical playground, while adults participate in the community garden.

Signs remind visitors that even leashed dogs are not welcome in Mount Greenwood Park, but dog lovers need not travel far to picnic with their pets. Pulaski Dog Park is nearby and provides local dogs with a shady place for off-leash play.

Mount Greenwood offers a variety of homes that truly capture the essence of Chicago living. For those considering a one-bedroom apartment, expect to pay around $1,930 per month. Alternatively, if a house is more your style, the average house for rent costs around $2,200 per month. For those dreaming of homeownership, the average house price typically hovers around $285,000.

Independently owned shops endure around Mount Greenwood, much as they did before chain stores conquered the shopping world. Although any high-end department store shopping necessitates a visit to the suburbs or downtown, if your tastes trend toward the eclectic, you're in luck.

When a new baby arrives, a special gift is in order. Belle Up is a mom and baby paradise specializing in unique maternity wear and baby gear.

Indoor and outdoor cycling enthusiasts frequent Chicagoland Bicycle. In addition to bikes, the store sells accessories and gear. Bike mechanics work on-site to get damaged bikes back in working order as soon as possible. When you grow tired of your current bike, ask about Chicagoland Bicycle's bicycle trade-in program.

Shopkeepers stack new and used books from floor to ceiling inside The Bookie's Paperbacks and More. Get lost in the aisles for hours while you browse through thousands of paperbacks. The three-books-for-a-dollar shelf allows bibliophiles on the tightest budgets to expand their libraries.

A few minutes to the east of Mount Greenwood lies Beverly Records and Costumes. This compact shop, which carries everything from rare records to recent CDs, is a music lover's paradise. Spend an hour browsing through old LPs, or ask the knowledgeable staff members for help finding your favorite artist. The shop also features a large selection of costumes for sale and for rent.

For convenient grocery shopping, Jewel-Osco, Aldi and County Fair Foods are all located nearby. Just outside the neighborhood, the locally beloved Mariano's caters to your specialty food needs. Stop by the smoothie bar for a sip while you shop.