Part of the fun of traveling to big cities is planning a day around a neighborhood that may not get as much publicity as others. The Southport Brown Line station in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood is an underrated stretch that offers a good variety of food, drink, and entertainment options. After walking less than a half mile southwest to the Merchandise Mart stop, board the brown line station headed toward Kimball and depart at the elevated Southport stop. Brunch Southport Grocery and Café is about a five-minute walk from the Southport station and a great place to start your morning. With a menu covering baked goods, quiche, bread pudding pancakes, chicken and grits, and even avocado toast, Southport Grocery and Café is sure to please your morning taste buds. Corridor Brewery & Provisions is more known as a microbrewery, but their brunch is surprisingly good. The vibe is hip and inviting, with records selected and played by the bartender from a selection donated by Reckless Records. I would suggest the Croque Madame Brioche Waffles, but the menu extends out to chicken & waffles, omelets, and chilaquiles. CB&P is the second iteration from the Dryhop Breweries, so unique-tasting craft beers fill the drink menu. You should definitely head back for a beer before returning to River North. Mid-day Entertainment The Music Box Theatre happens to be one of my favorite places in the entire city. The theatre opened in 1929 and is slightly different than the traditional movie palace architecture, with Italian and Spanish influences, culminating in a style known as atmospheric. If you're hoping to meet the biggest film buffs in Chicago, this is the place to do it. Music Box features current films deemed slightly more artistic than you'd find at chain theaters and continually rotates through themed festivals highlighting essential movies from all genres. Upcoming festivals include the works of Stanley Kubrick, Juggernaut sci-fi and fantasy film festival, the works of Michael Curtiz, and the Cinepocalypse Genre Film Festival, mainly highlighting horror films. There's a constant inflow of influential actors and directors at the Music Box that do screenings and Q&A sessions, so check out their website and find a date that works for you! In addition to great films, they also have a comfortable bar inside where you can sip your favorite cocktail and discuss the intricacies of film with friends or fellow patrons. Dinner Coalfire Pizza has one of my favorite thin crust pizzas in all of Chicago. Coalfire uses literal coals to cook their thin crust pies to perfection, leaving them slightly charred and very bubbly. All of them are fantastic, but the “White Pizza” with dabs of ricotta cheese dispersed over the toppings remains my personal go-to. Coalfire has received accolades from a number of publications through the years, so if thin crust pizza is your thing, definitely give them a chance. Other fantastic bars, restaurants, shops, and options for dessert are scattered throughout Southport, so you may find something you like even more than what's listed here. Go and explore the wonders of Southport!
