Explore Chicago CTA Edition: This is Belmont

Explore Chicago CTA Edition: This is Belmont

This is Belmont. Doors open on the right at Belmont, transfer to Purple and Brown line trains at Belmont. This is a train to Howard. Hey everyone, welcome back to the sixth installment of Explore Chicago CTA Edition! As always, I’m your blogger, Miguel Molina! Today, we are going to be having some fun with both eats, treats, and sights down at the CTA’s Belmont stop. Be sure to bring your student ID card, ventra card (u-pass), and as always, a hungry belly. So come on, let’s go out and explore!

  • Getting There:

There are three ways that I would recommend getting to Belmont, depending on where you live and with time considered. The first way is the easiest. You can take the CTA Red line down from Loyola straight into Belmont station (toward 95th). This may take around 25-30 minutes, give or take. Or, you can take the Intercampus shuttle from the Lakeshore Campus to the Water Tower Campus and take the El from Chicago and State north toward Belmont (only four stop away). Lastly, you can always take an Uber or a Lyft, depending on the size of the group you are traveling with, and what time of day you are planning to visit the area.

  • Main Attractions:

Unabridged Bookstore: If you know me, you know that I love bookstores! Of the many bookstores that I have visited this one has one of the greatest selections as well as the best deals (for a college student’s budget). One part of the store is dedicated solely for bargain books. No, it is not like a Barnes & Noble bargain section where all the books that people do not want to read are on the shelf. Instead, it is the complete opposite. Here, all the books are new and cost typically between $6-8. One time, I was able to buy James Joyce’s Ulysses for $7 and F Scott Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise for only $6. They also offer an extensive selection of nonfiction/fiction, history, and surprisingly a quality foreign language selection. This is where I go to get my Spanish literature! If you are into classics, the bookstore also has bookshelves stocked with Penguin Classics as well as other classics from Wuthering Heights to Origin of Species to The City of God. You will be booked!

http://www.unabridgedbookstore.com 

Reckless Records: Oldies but goodies! Do you consider yourself to be an old soul? This is the place for you! This shop feels like you are back in the 1970s with a calming atmosphere with place decked out with records, CDs, and more. Whether you are a collector yourself or looking for an LP for your dad’s/mom’s collection, check this shop out.

https://www.reckless.com

  • It’s Time to Eat:  

Jennivee’s Bakery: With tasty cupcakes, cakes, and pastries; Jennivee’s Bakery pays homage to traditional baking techniques with a modern, unique twist! Owned by Jennivee herself, this shabby-chic style cafe is a place to try Filipino flavors (such as coconut, mango, and purple yam) in a slice of cake or beautiful cupcake. Her goal is to make these flavors and bring them into the mainstream for all to appreciate an underappreciated cuisine in a sweet way. This is a great place to visit with friends and have a sampling of her different desserts. I suggest trying her mango creme cake and her Ube cake and/or cupcake while you are there!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/restaurants/ct-jennivees-bakery-filipino-american-food-0802-20170727-story.html

Aloha Poke: What is the best way to describe Hawaiian poke? A deconstructed sushi roll! Poke is a simple dish with a beautiful presentation. It is healthy, fresh, and tastes so good!!! Here is what I recommend (Miggy’s choice): Get a little poke bowl, have a base of white sushi rice, marinated salmon (has sesame and shoyu sauce), cucumber, seaweed, crunch, tobiko (fish eggs), avocado, and a drizzle of yuzu ranch! This is a great place for a quick and tasty meal!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/aloha-poke-chicago-6

BIG & little’s Restaurant: This cash only restaurant is a great place to eat on a student budget for QUALITY food! This place has a true smorgasbord of different types of foods for you to sample. Unlike the others on this list, this restaurant has a selection from many various types of flavors. For example, there are seven types of fish tacos, nine meat tacos, two poke tacos, eleven unique burgers, and five po-boy’s, just to name a few! Most of these items are under $7-8. Make sure you check out their tasty fries as well to pair with your food.

https://www.bigandlittleschicago.com

Still hungry and looking for more to visit? Be sure to tune in February 20, 2018 as we go and start to explore more of the north side as we stop at Addison, Home to the Chicago Cubs on this edition of Explore Chicago CTA Edition. Doors closing.  

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