Safety rating: Well-lit and surrounded by shops, restaurants and apartment buildings, Dempster is probably one of the safest stops on the L.
Panhandler rating: Nary a one in sight. (This is Evanston, after all.)
Best known as the home of Northwestern University, Evanston does have its charms. Still, there are plenty of reasons to exit slightly south at Dempster instead. Sample the wide range of cuisine, funky boutiques and spacious bars tucked amidst scores of antique shops and (inexplicably) several Oriental rug stores. The area's combination of old-fashioned neighborhood and hip attitude just might make you skip the city to rock the suburbs for a change.
Place to be seen solo
Prairie Moon
This relaxed bar and grill attracts a sophisticated neighborhood clientele with its overwhelming variety of beer (including Bell's, Anchor Steam and Two Brothers offerings) and mixed drinks. But Prairie Moon is definitely not your average pick-up joint. With its integration of modern cuisine and drinks with historic art and furniture, this classy spot aims a little higher. You're sure to meet someone here that you'll want to see again.
The front bar, known as McCormick's Bar, began its life in a Bridgeport tavern and sat unused from the '70s until 2001, when the owners of Prairie Moon bought it in preparation for the bar's 2002 opening. The back bar, called the Roadhouse, is a bit more casual, making it a good place to strike up a conversation over darts or pool. Weekly events like Wednesday's Latin American night and Sunday's blues-and-rock night guarantee finding a sweetie with mutual interests.
Hold hands when you order the aptly named Get a Room burger off its late-night menu. Celebrate your newfound love next time in one of Prairie Moon's three dining rooms, each serving upscale American cuisine. (Napa Mustard Festival Steak, Eggplant Creole and Pan-Crusted Colorado Brook Trout are just three mouth-watering options.) The candlelit tables create a romantic scene that makes Prairie Moon a good dinner-date destination, too.
In-the-know spot
Body Chemistri
Sweet-smelling soap, quirky bath supplies and more fill this friendly, tiny bath-and-body shop that's sure to make bath time lots more fun. Owner Heidi Sauhammel's energetic cocker spaniel welcomes you at the door and invites you in. Sample Body Chemistri's own line of lotions, shower gel, oils and shampoos, then head to the counter and pick your own custom scent. Comfy pajamas, soaps, candles and makeup (including Chicago's own Maven Cosmetics) round out the stock. Check out the Celebriducks, a line of rubber duckies shaped like famous folks. The James Brown is especially realistic (and creepy).
Possibilities
This quirky shop features all those items you really don't need but simply can't live without, like a brain-shaped Jell-o mold and a heart-shaped key chain that emits a wolf-whistle whenever you squeeze it. Stop into Possibilities the next time you need a one-of-a-kind gift, and its friendly staff will help you decide among the rhinestone-sprinkled journals, carved jewelry boxes, Freud-inspired knickknacks (no, really) and Christmas ornaments. On a less goofy note, Possibilities features a line of jewelry called Fairly Traded. Like the jewelry equivalent of fair-trade coffee, each sparkly piece is $18 and created by Nepali women who receive employment support and good wages.
Best of the nighttime world
Nevin's Live/Tommy Nevin's Pub
The roomy Nevin's Live club features eclectic live music and some of the best local comedy acts in Chicagoland. Nevin's often sets up chairs, but there's usually enough room to dance and get rowdy. Plus, low cover fees (never higher than $12) and well-priced draft beer mean a relatively cheap night of entertainment for you. Check out the Neo-Futurists' "Drinking and Writing" on Mondays through February and the BILLZAK Open Mic comedy shows on Tuesdays. As a bonus, the club is somehow never overwhelmed with smoke, making it a fresh alternative to most city venues.
If you're hungry, head next door to Tommy Nevin's Pub for standard Irish pub fare that's certain to fill you up. Sit down in one of the green leather chairs and enjoy huge portions of shepherd's pie or fish and chips in the comfortable, charming dining room. The bar attracts a fair number of Northwestern students for beer, darts and pool. While Nevin's offers several beer options, you simply must drink Guinness here, helping justify the myriad posters and neon signs advertising it.
Cheap eats
Dozika
Affordable and hip, this cute pan-Asian restaurant serves up a mix of good food and pleasant surroundings, making it excellent for a casual, inexpensive night out. The cherrywood tables, hanging rice-lamps and the watch-them-make-it sushi bar give Dozika a high-end look, but the prices are anything but. Most dishes run between $6.50 and $9.95, with the more expensive dishes featuring seafood. Even the sushi is fairly affordable, with nigiri ranging from $1.50 for cooked egg to $2.50 for fresh-water eel. The array will please finicky eaters; the less adventurous can choose chicken teriyaki, kung pao chicken or curry. Wanna save even more? Go online to dozikapanasian.com/coupon.html for a coupon good for 10 percent off bills over $20.
Evanston Creamery
Be a part of history and finish the night out with a sweet treat at the Evanston Creamery. This building has hosted various incarnations of ice cream shops for more than 30 years, including a Baskin-Robbins until recently. But now the Evanston Creamery serves sundaes, cakes and more featuring Chocolate Shoppe ice cream, an addictive brand imported from Madison, Wis. Try some in a chocolate-covered waffle cone as you people-watch in the windows facing Dempster Street and Chicago Avenue, or pick up a pint to take home.
Dinner date destination
Blind Faith Cafe
This spacious vegetarian cafe and bakery looks like a greasy spoon but offers loftier food that's extremely healthy. Since 1979, Blind Faith Cafe has specialized in innovative, internationally inspired vegan and vegetarian delights for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don't come in expecting the usual garden burgers or tortillas brimming with cheese and refried beans. Instead try corn-and-potato enchiladas, seitan marsala, and shiitake mushroom gravy in a low-pressure, comfortable environment. The entrees are just pricey enough to make it a stop that’s best made as a duo or group. Brunch at Blind Faith is enjoyable, too. Try the whole grain blueberry pancakes and the oven-roasted potatoes. The only occasional downside is the silly smooth jazz that plays over the loudspeakers, but the delicious food and delightful, plant-filled space make it easy to ignore.
Where to chill
Cafe Express
The northernmost outpost of this Evanston coffeehouse, Cafe Express offers a bright, airy space to enjoy a hot cup of joe. For those in a hurry, Cafe Express is located directly across the street from the L entrance. Open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, frazzled commuters can pop in for a quick warm-up before or after a long train ride. On weekends, pack a book and hang out for a couple hours. Outdoor seating makes it a can’t-miss spot in the summer.
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