Montclare Neighborhood

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Montclare is a small family-friendly Chicago neighborhood located 9 miles northwest of the Loop. Culturally diverse eateries such as the Polish Ferajna restaurant and the Italian Agostino’s Ristorante reflect the region’s diverse ethnic heritage. Equally diverse are Montclare’s nearby entertainment attractions, ranging from family fun at the Montclare Banquet and Lanes to shopping at the Brickyard Shopping Center to unique theatrical productions at the Aguijon Theater. Charming city parks such as Bell Park and Shabbona Park provide public art classes, intramural sports, and educational programming for all ages.

Montclare real estate is also richly diverse, accommodating everyone from young couples to older families. Properties range from classic city bungalows to stately Tudors and Victorians. Most homes are walking distance from the convenient Montclare Metra, which runs on the Milwaukee District West Line.

Location

Montclare is a Chicago neighborhood located 9 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop. The neighborhood is conveniently sandwiched between Diversey and Grand Avenue and is bordered by Dunning to the north, Portage Park and Irving Park to the northeast, Belmont and Cragin to the east, Galewood and River Forest to the south, Elmwood Park to the southwest, Ellsworth and River Grove to the west.

Information

Population (2000)- Total 12,646
Density 12,794.1/sq mi
White 54.5%
Black 2.09%
Hispanic 38.5%
Asian 2.66%
Other 2.28%
Median income $46,636

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montclare,_Chicago

History

Montclare earned its roots in 1836 when William Sayre laid claim to 90 acres of rolling land “by right of possession.” In 1849, he married Harriet Lovett and set up a newly built frame house. From there, Sayre and his neighbors cleared hay fields and tended crops, including corn and oats. The farmers’ produce was sold in markets downtown at Randolph Street.

In 1872 the Chicago and Pacific Railroad Company built the Sayre Station over Sayre’s farm, bringing developers to the area. The neighborhood and its station were named Montclare after Montclair in New Jersey.

Major growth occurred in 1912 when the Grand Avenue streetcar extended service to the area. A number of parks and single-family bungalows were built. Gradually, the community took on a suburban-style family-friendly character. A large immigrant population flooded the area until the late 1980s, including Poles, Italians, and Germans.

Real Estate

Montclare properties range from classic city Bungalows to brick Ranches to 2 flats, 4 flats, and stately historic Victorians. Home features include hardwood flooring, cozy furnace heating, finished basements, and picture windows for people watching. Summer kitchens and backyard pools are also common features, great for entertaining children and guests alike.

Transportation

Montclare is served by the Mont Clare Metra Station (7007 West Medill Street) on the Milwaukee District West Line. The line runs from the Big Timber Metra Station in Elgin to Chicago’s downtown Union Station, providing a convenient public transit option for city and suburban commuters.

The community is also served by Pace Bus Route 307-Harlem. Route 307 stops at the Metra BNSF Line Harlem Station, Morton West High School, the North Riverside Park Mall, the CTA Blue Line Forest Park Branch Harlem Station, Oak Park Hospital, Oak Park's Central Business District, the CTA Green Line Harlem Station, the Metra MD-West Line Elmwood Park Metra Station, Concordia University, Dominican University and the Elmwood Park Village Hall.

Montclare bus routes also include the CTA Route 65 Grand, Route 74 Fullerton, and Route 90 Harlem. Route 65 stops at the Red Line and the Blue Line. Route 74 hits the Blue Line and the Sheffield Station, which connects to the Red Line, Brown Line, and Purple Line. Route 90 stops at the Green Line in Oak Park and the O’Hare Blue Line.

Convenient Montclare driving routes include Grand Avenue, Diversey Avenue, Narragansett Avenue, and Harlem Avenue. To the north, Narragansett and Harlem link with the I-90 Kennedy Expressway. To the south, both roads hit the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway. To the west, Grand and Diversey link up with the Kennedy Expressway and provide a direct route to downtown Chicago.

Montclare is a very walkable neighborhood with a walk score of 77/100, making on foot travel convenient for errands.

Schools

Montclare is served by a number of fine public and private institutions, including world-class college preparatory high schools such as the Chicago Academy. Wilbur Wright College is the nearest school for higher education.

Elementary

John Mills Elementary- 2824 North 76th Avenue (708) 452-3560
St. Francis Borgia- 3535 North Panama (773) 589-1000

High School

Notre Dame High School for Girls- 3115 North Mason Avenue (773) 622-9494
Chicago Academy High School- 3400 North Austin Avenue (773) 534-0146
Steinmetz Academic Centre High School- 3030 North Mobile Avenue
(773) 534-3030
St. Patrick High School- 5900 West Belmont Avenue (773) 282-8844

University

Wilbur Wright College- 4300 North Narragansett Avenue (773) 777-7900

Nightlife

The nightlife within Montclare tends toward the casual side, featuring relaxing sports-themed hangouts and billiard bars.

Eva’s Sports Bar (7173 West Grand Avenue (773) 622-3556) is home to some of the friendliest bar tenders you’ll ever meet. Free drinks and conversation are offered to Eva’s regulars, so the crowd is always filled with familiar faces. Grand Billiards (7110 West Grand Avenue (773) 237-2966) is a classic pool hall offering cheap $5 games with a full bar and well-maintained tables.

Montclare is also conveniently near the hot nightclub scene of the Belmont Cragin area.

Martini Club (3124 North Central Avenue (773) 622-9444) is another unique nearby night spot. The joint was converted from a rundown bowling alley and is now one of Chicago’s boldest nightclubs. The club offers dancing and delicious food in a classic Euro club atmosphere, featuring high-hammered ceilings and mysterious red lighting.

Entertainment

Montclare Banquet and Lanes (2957 North Harlem Avenue (73) 237-5500) offers a classic bowling alley with plenty of lanes and inexpensive games. Monday nights feature an $8 All-You Can Bowl Special for bowling fanatics and Tuesdays feature games for just $2. Fridays and Saturdays are Cosmic Bowl Nights, perfect for an evening with friends. The Candelite Bowl is a fun and unique date night option offering a special menu of dinner rolls, garden salad, pasta, whipped potatoes, roast sirloin, chicken marsala, and more! The lanes are also home to a full bar which offers Half Price Bar Nights on select days of the week.

With a number of special Banquet Packages, Montclare Banquet and Lanes is a fine spot for parties and large group meetings. The lanes also cater to Birthday Parties, Fundraising Events, and Corporate Events.

Shopaholics love the convenience of The Brickyard Shopping Center (2600 North Narragansett) in Montclare. The Brickyard is home to a number of major outlets including Target, Lowe’s Hardware, Express Wear, Marshalls, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Pier 1 Imports, and more. The mall is also home to quality food chains such as Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, and Pollo Campero.

Montclare is just a few miles from the Aguijon Theater (2707 North Laramie Avenue (773) 637-5899). This performance arena was established in 1999 by actors from Truman College and other locations. The theater is committed to promoting the works of Spanish and Latin American playwrights such as Mario Vargas Llosa and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz.

Restaurants

Mr. D’s Shish-Kebobs (6656 West Diversey Avenue (773) 637-0042) is a popular gourmet fast food spot in Montclare, serving some of the best hot dogs, steak sandwiches, and fresh cut fries in the city. The joint is run by a husband and wife team committed to providing the freshest ingredients for their loyal patrons. Locals especially recommend the shish kebob sandwich, which features well-seasoned skewered beef, layers of soft-grilled sweet onions and peppers, a drizzle of tangy gravy, and a lemon to squeeze on the top.

Kolatek’s Bakery and Deli (2445 North Harlem Avenue (773) 637-3772) is a fantastic local lunch spot, bakery, grocery store, and catering venue all in one! The deli features prime sausages, pork cutlets, and other Polish meat specialties. The bakery cooks a fine loaf of Polish rye along with sweets such as pastries, apple turnovers, and moist oven-fresh brownies.

Agostino’s Ristorante (2817 North Harlem Avenue (773) 745-6464) is the go-to classy Italian restaurant for a distinguished date night. The Agostino’s Menu is filled with classic home-style dishes such as mussels marinara, risotto pescatore, tortellini al prosciutto, and eggplant parmigiana. The restaurant offers an extensive wine list of bottles and wines by the glass, including champagnes, Italian Whites, Italian Reds, Chiantis, and Cabernets. The service is swift and accommodating to large crowds, and the seafood is especially fresh. Residents recommend the extra coffee-charged Tiramisu for an after dinner kick!

Ferajna (6714 West Belmont Avenue (773) 427-0727) is a warm and inviting Polish restaurant with a classic menu of poached rainbow trout, prime tenderloins, pork chops, and every kind of potato imaginable. The restaurant is also known for their juicy pierogis, offering them in a wide variety of flavors such as Russian, cheese and potato, meat, sauerkraut and mushroom, and even blueberry. Ferajna is also a great place for evening get-togethers, offering European style draft beer and live musical entertainment.

Festivals/Parks

Bell Park (3020 North Oak Park Avenue (312) 746-5008) is a charming small park in Montclare with baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a small playground, and a spray pool for hot summer days. The main building is an ideal meeting hall and hosts a wide variety of after school programs, including Arts and Crafts classes, Foosball, Kids Fitness, Fun with Food, and Jewelry Making.

Shabbona Park (6935 West Addison Street (773) 685-6205) is Montclare’s larger park, offering a full-size swimming pool for summer fun and sports. The park is also home to a spray pool, playground, and baseball and tennis facilities. A large indoor gymnasium provides a space for working out or gymnastics practice. Park district programming includes classes on Badminton, Basketball, Dodgeball, Aquatics, Floor Hockey, and much more!

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