Things to Do in Lakeview

Free lakefront tennis. No reservation. Batting cages and driving range nearby too.

Free public tennis courts on the lakefront in Lakeview. First come, first served, no reservation. Well-maintained and popular for casual play. Waveland Park next door also has a batting cage, driving range, and outdoor basketball courts.

3700 N Recreation Dr, Chicago, IL 60613 · Daily dawn to dusk · outdoor

Free open gym hours. Basketball, volleyball, badminton. Lakeview location.

Free indoor gymnasium in Lakeview with open gym hours for basketball, volleyball, and badminton. The fieldhouse also offers free Park District fitness classes and youth programs. A solid option for staying active in winter without paying for a gym membership.

833 W Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60613 · Fieldhouse: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-5pm · indoor

311 seats, full bar, $16 tickets. Touring headliners most nights.

Chicago outpost of the LA chain. 311-seat theater with a 100-seat balcony, full bar, solid sound. Touring national headliners and local favorites most nights. Tickets from $16.

3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Show times vary, check schedule · indoor

165 capacity. The room where everyone plays before they blow up. $10-20.

165-capacity back room of a Schlitz brewery tavern, booking singer-songwriters, indie folk, and smaller touring acts since 1989. This is the room where artists play before they graduate to Lincoln Hall or Metro. Cheap shows, great sound, and a kitchen that does solid brunch.

3159 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 · Show nights, doors vary · indoor

Open until 3am on weekends. The post-bar Italian beef at 2am is a Chicago rite of passage.

Same Italian beef as the Taylor Street original, but this Wrigleyville location stays open until 3am Thursday through Saturday. After a Cubs game, after the bars close, there is a line out the door of people who need a dipped beef sandwich immediately. This is correct behavior.

3420 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657 · Mon-Wed 10:30am-1am, Thu-Sat 10:30am-3am, Sun 10:30am-9pm · indoor

Chicago's original third-wave roaster. They were doing direct-trade sourcing before most coffee shops existed.

The OG Chicago third-wave coffee roaster, founded in 1995. They pioneered direct-trade sourcing and seasonal blends before it was standard. The Broadway location in Lakeview is the neighborhood flagship — bright, good workspace, serious baristas. Multiple locations downtown too. Pour-over, espresso, cold brew all excellent.

3123 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60657 · Mon-Sat 6:30am-7pm, Sun 7am-7pm · indoor

Lakeview dry cleaner on Broadway. Suits, shirts, dresses, comforters. Same-day if you drop off before 10am. $5-8 per garment. Also does minor alterations.

3000 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm · (773) 348-5510 · indoor

Self-service laundromat in Lakeview on Broadway. Multiple machine sizes, clean. Small loads from $2.50, large from $6. Wash-and-fold drop-off available.

3475 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Daily 6am-10pm · (773) 528-6799 · indoor

Custom tailor in Lakeview offering suit alterations, hemming, tapering, and custom fitting. Pants hemming starts around $12, suit jacket sleeves from $25, full suit alterations from $60. Known for precise work on both men's and women's garments. Walk-ins welcome but appointments recommended for custom work.

3748 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613 · Mon-Sat 9am-6pm · (773) 549-9131 · indoor

Highly rated tailor on the Southport corridor with a 4.9-star rating. Specializes in same-day and next-day turnaround for basic alterations. Pants hemming from $12, waist adjustments from $18, full suit alterations from $50. Walk-ins welcome for most jobs. A go-to for Lakeview residents who need something done fast.

3517 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 · Mon-Sat 9am-6pm · (773) 665-7778 · indoor

Modern self-service laundromat in Lakeview with eco-friendly detergent dispensers, large-capacity machines, and a clean waiting area. Small loads from $2.75, triple-load machines $5.50. Wash-and-fold drop-off at $1.75 per pound. Free Wi-Fi. Open seven days a week with extended hours.

1101 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 · Daily 6am-11pm · indoor

Lake swimming without the Montrose crowds. Smaller beach, calmer dogs, same $5 DFA tag requirement.

Smaller than Montrose but closer to Lakeview and Lincoln Park. Off-leash beach area with lake access for dogs. DFA tag required. Less chaotic than Montrose on weekends. The water can get sketchy after big storms — check before going.

Belmont Harbor, Chicago, IL 60657 · Sunrise to sunset, year-round · outdoor