BMO Harris Bank Presents
"Bon Appetit" 2012:
Restaurant Crawl of Albany Park & North Park
on Tuesday, May 22, 2012
5:00pm - 9:00pm
Event check-in begins at 4736 N. Kedzie Avenue
at the International Plaza
pick up your tickets, map and "passports"
Join us for our 3rd Annual Restaurant Crawl featuring the delicious and delectable food of award-winning restaurants of Albany Park and North Park! Get out of downtown and away from all that NATO hoohah into some good old fashioned Chicago neighborhood goodness!
Event details and FAQs
Event co-hosted by Albany Park Chamber of Commerce, North River Commission, North Park University and Hollywood-North Park Community Association
Buy your tickets now! CLICK HERE to buy your tickets on the Brown Paper Tickets website.
Confirmed restaurants for 2012 Crawl:
2 Asian Brothers, 3222 W. Foster Ave - Vietnamese cuisine
Al Khymeih Restaurant, 4748 N. Kedzie Ave - Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine
Beijo de Chocolat, 3334 W. Foster Ave - Chocolatier & patisserie
Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen - 4911 N. Kedzie Ave - Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine
Fruityland Ice Cream - 4610 N. Kedzie Ave - Mexican ice cream parlor
Foremost Liquors, 4616 N. Kedzie Ave - Samples of Budweiser beers and drinks
Golden Crust Pizzeria - 4620 N. Kedzie Ave - Italian cuisine / Pizza parlor
Jaafer Sweets - 4825 N. Kedzie Ave - Middle Eastern / Mediterranean bakery
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches - 3234 W. Foster Ave - Gourmet sandwiches and sides
La Baguette North Bakery, 4734 N. Kedzie Ave - Mexican bakery
Lindo Michoacan Restaurant - 4811 N. Kedzie Ave - Mexican cuisine
Marie's Pizza & Liquors** at check-in only - Italian cuisine
Merla's Kitchen, 5207 N. Kimball Ave - Filipino cuisine
Mi Lindo Palmar Mexican Restaurant - 4612 N. Kedzie Ave - Mexican cuisine
Nazareth Sweets, 4638 N. Kedzie Ave - Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean bakery
Noon O Kabab Persian Restaurant, 4651 N. Kedzie Ave, Persian cuisine & wine tastings
North Park Pizza, 3352 W. Foster Ave - Pizza parlor with sandwiches and sides
Restaurant El Mogote, 4911 N. Kedzie Ave - Mexican cuisine
Roots Room Social Club, 5207 N. Kimball Ave - Family-friendly reggae club/after hours host
Sahar International Supermarket, 4851-57 N. Kedzie Ave - Middle Eastern grocery w/ food
Salam Restaurant, 4636 N. Kedzie Ave - Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine
Starbucks North Park, 3232 W. Foster Ave - Coffee and specialty drinks
Thai Valley** at check-in only, Thai cuisine
**food only provided at the check-in location
How does this whole thing work?
We're glad you asked. It's so fun and really easy. Come to the check-in location at 4736 N. Kedzie Ave to get your ticket, map & "passport" for the evening. Guests will depart on their walking taste tour of Albany Park and North Park on Tuesday, May 22 any time after 5PM with passports in hand, to enjoy eclectic and cultural samples from each restaurant. Venues will provide small dishes of food and drink until 9PM. We recommend arriving before 6 pm if you want to visit all spots - 23 restaurants is a LOT to visit and it usually takes between 3 and 3 1/2 hours to hit them all. Walk at a leisurely pace (to walk off the food) or hop on the complimentary shuttle that runs all night between the free parking on Foster to the check-in on Kedzie.
How do I get there?
The check-in location is conveniently located 1 block from CTA Kedzie Brown Line station.
If you are driving to us:
There is free parking provided by Foster Bank and WOCH Channel 41 in their lot at 5225 N. Kedzie Avenue at the NE corner of Kedzie/Foster behind the McDonald's. Jump on the shuttle to the check-in to get started! Shuttle will run until 9pm.
If you are taking the CTA to us:
Take the CTA Ravenswood Brown Line to Kedzie Avenue - check-in is 1 block north in the "International Shopping Plaza" next to La Baguette Bakery.
What is there to do after the Crawl finishes at 9pm?
Join us at the After Party! Roots Room Social Club, 5203 N. Kimball Ave (at Foster Ave & adjacent to Merla's Kitchen) is hosting our After Party from 9pm-11pm! DJ, food and BYOB - so pick up some spirits at Foremost Liquors (4616 N. Kedzie Ave) to bring with you and dance off all that food.
Join our mailing list!
Email the Chamber here to get on our mailing list for all upcoming Chamber events, and to learn more about the events celebrating North River Commission's 50th Anniversary this year. Come back this summer for free concerts along the Chicago River, art festivals, outdoor performances, to use those coupons you get from the Crawl, to pick up some essentials along Lawrence and Kedzie and because you miss us!
We are on Facebook!
"Like" us on facebook and join the growing throng of our peeps.
Thanks to our lead sponsor BMO Harris Bank, andto our fellow sponsors Albany Bank and Trust Company, N.A., Albany Park Chamber of Commerce, Budweiser, LISC/Chicago, North Park University.
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Thank you to everyone who participated & supported Bon Appetit 2011!
View pictures from Bon Appetit 2011 Restaurant Crawl of
Albany Park & North Park
Thank you Gordon Walek and LISC/Chicago for these great shots!
For individual pictures, click HERE
Albany Park & North Park
Thank you Gordon Walek and LISC/Chicago for these great shots!
For individual pictures, click HERE
Thank you to event 2011 Sponsors & Donors:
Harris Bank
Charter One Bank
LISC/Chicago
Admiral Theater
Advanced Physicians Pain Management Chicago
Albany Bank & Trust Company, N.A.
Bass Real Estate Group
Foster Bank
Frankenstone Artisians
Jesus House Chicago
Korean Broadcasting Company / WOCH Channel 41
Lawrence Kedzie Self Storage
Mark Mackey State Farm Insurance Agency
MetLife
Northeastern Illinois University
SomerCor 504, Inc.
Thank you to all the restaurants that participated in Bon Appetit 2011:
Ay Ay Picante!, 4569 N. Elston Ave**
Ban Po Jung Korean Restaurant, 3450 W. Foster Ave**
Beijo de Chocolat, 3334 W. Foster Ave
Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, 4911 N. Kedzie Ave
Jaafer Sweets, 4825 N. Kedzie Ave
Jimmy John's Sandwich Shop, 3234 W. Foster Ave
Fruityland Ice Cream, 4610 N. Kedzie Ave
La Baguette North Bakery, 4734 N. Kedzie Ave
Marie's Pizza & Liquors, 4127 W. Lawrence Ave**
Merla's Kitchen, 5207 N. Kimball Ave
Nazareth Sweets, 4638 N. Kedzie Ave
Noon O Kabab Persian Restaurant, 4651 N. Kedzie Ave
North Park Village Pizza, 3352 W. Foster Ave
Rice & Roll, 3312 W. Foster Ave
Roots Room Social Club, 5203 N. Kimball Ave
Salam Restaurant, 4636 N. Kedzie Ave
Semiramis Lebanese Restaurant, 4639 N. Kedzie Ave
Smokey Bear's BBQ House, 3312 W. Foster Ave
Starbucks North Park, 3232 W. Foster Ave
Ssyal Ginseng House, 4201 W. Lawrence Ave**
**Food only provided at the check-in location
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Charter One Bank
LISC/Chicago
Admiral Theater
Advanced Physicians Pain Management Chicago
Albany Bank & Trust Company, N.A.
Bass Real Estate Group
Foster Bank
Frankenstone Artisians
Jesus House Chicago
Korean Broadcasting Company / WOCH Channel 41
Lawrence Kedzie Self Storage
Mark Mackey State Farm Insurance Agency
MetLife
Northeastern Illinois University
SomerCor 504, Inc.
Thank you to all the restaurants that participated in Bon Appetit 2011:
Ay Ay Picante!, 4569 N. Elston Ave**
Ban Po Jung Korean Restaurant, 3450 W. Foster Ave**
Beijo de Chocolat, 3334 W. Foster Ave
Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, 4911 N. Kedzie Ave
Jaafer Sweets, 4825 N. Kedzie Ave
Jimmy John's Sandwich Shop, 3234 W. Foster Ave
Fruityland Ice Cream, 4610 N. Kedzie Ave
La Baguette North Bakery, 4734 N. Kedzie Ave
Marie's Pizza & Liquors, 4127 W. Lawrence Ave**
Merla's Kitchen, 5207 N. Kimball Ave
Nazareth Sweets, 4638 N. Kedzie Ave
Noon O Kabab Persian Restaurant, 4651 N. Kedzie Ave
North Park Village Pizza, 3352 W. Foster Ave
Rice & Roll, 3312 W. Foster Ave
Roots Room Social Club, 5203 N. Kimball Ave
Salam Restaurant, 4636 N. Kedzie Ave
Semiramis Lebanese Restaurant, 4639 N. Kedzie Ave
Smokey Bear's BBQ House, 3312 W. Foster Ave
Starbucks North Park, 3232 W. Foster Ave
Ssyal Ginseng House, 4201 W. Lawrence Ave**
**Food only provided at the check-in location
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2010 "Bon APpetit" Restaurant Crawl in Albany Park a Rousing Success!
View pictures from 2010 "Bon APpetit" Here
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On a beautiful spring night, over 150 participants and 18 local restaurants took part in the successful “Bon APpétit” Multicultural Restaurant Crawl in Albany Park on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 co-hosted by the North River Commission (NRC) and the Albany Park Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber). “Crawlers” experienced tasty samplings of food, drinks and entertainment at venues up and down Lawrence, Kedzie, Kimball, Foster, Elston and Francisco Avenues in the downtown Albany Park and Mayfair communities.
Restaurants provided excellent food and hospitality and were well received by participants. One “Crawler” said, “The hospitality at Marie’s Pizza was the best, I felt like I came to a party.” Another noted, “The Ssyal Ginseng House had delicious Korean food; Mrs. Cho, the owner, went above and beyond.” Participants overwhelmingly said they would be back to enjoy Albany Park this summer and would attend the next Crawl NRC and the Chamber hosts.
The diverse spread of venues included award-winning and well-known local favorites like Marie’s Pizza and Liquors, Mayan Sol Latin Grill, Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant and Al-Khaymeih Restaurant, in addition to well-loved hidden gems like The Ssyal Ginseng House Korean Restaurant in Mayfair, and Merla’s Kitchen, the Roots Room Social Club and Beijo de Chocolat at Foster and Kimball Avenues.
Among the residents and out-of-towners attending the event on Tuesday night were 12 culinary students from Alabama attending the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Show downtown. They heard about the Crawl from advertising at the Cultural Center thanks to the City's Department of Cultural Affairs, and took taxis up to Albany Park to participate in the event. “We really enjoyed seeing and visiting Albany Park,” said a student. “Ay Ay Picante’s owner, Jaime Chamuca, was so gracious he fell over himself providing a great selection of Peruvian dishes.”
Staff, interns, and volunteers from NRC and the Chamber and consultant Big Buzz Idea Group worked tirelessly to organize the event, Albany Park’s first ever Restaurant Crawl. “This event showcased our neighborhood’s diversity and assets,” stated NRC Executive Director Rev. Rodney C. Walker. “We are excited that so many new visitors came out to experience all we have to offer.”
Many local businesses, Chamber members and foundations helped sponsor “Bon APpétit” including: Charter One, LISC/Chicago, Harris Bank, The UPS Store, Jesus House Chicago, Albany Bank & Trust Company, N.A., Baladna Jewelry, Celebrity Properties, Chicago Chocolate Tours, John Tunnell Allstate Agency, Lawrence Kedzie Self-Storage, New Compass Solutions, and Rieck & Crotty, P.C. Gordon Walek, photographer from LISC Chicago, captured the evening in full color (see pictures).
“It’s clear that people loved this event,” Walker said. “The demand is out there for the Crawl to become an annual tradition. Mark your calendars for next year!”
Restaurants provided excellent food and hospitality and were well received by participants. One “Crawler” said, “The hospitality at Marie’s Pizza was the best, I felt like I came to a party.” Another noted, “The Ssyal Ginseng House had delicious Korean food; Mrs. Cho, the owner, went above and beyond.” Participants overwhelmingly said they would be back to enjoy Albany Park this summer and would attend the next Crawl NRC and the Chamber hosts.
The diverse spread of venues included award-winning and well-known local favorites like Marie’s Pizza and Liquors, Mayan Sol Latin Grill, Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant and Al-Khaymeih Restaurant, in addition to well-loved hidden gems like The Ssyal Ginseng House Korean Restaurant in Mayfair, and Merla’s Kitchen, the Roots Room Social Club and Beijo de Chocolat at Foster and Kimball Avenues.
Among the residents and out-of-towners attending the event on Tuesday night were 12 culinary students from Alabama attending the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Show downtown. They heard about the Crawl from advertising at the Cultural Center thanks to the City's Department of Cultural Affairs, and took taxis up to Albany Park to participate in the event. “We really enjoyed seeing and visiting Albany Park,” said a student. “Ay Ay Picante’s owner, Jaime Chamuca, was so gracious he fell over himself providing a great selection of Peruvian dishes.”
Staff, interns, and volunteers from NRC and the Chamber and consultant Big Buzz Idea Group worked tirelessly to organize the event, Albany Park’s first ever Restaurant Crawl. “This event showcased our neighborhood’s diversity and assets,” stated NRC Executive Director Rev. Rodney C. Walker. “We are excited that so many new visitors came out to experience all we have to offer.”
Many local businesses, Chamber members and foundations helped sponsor “Bon APpétit” including: Charter One, LISC/Chicago, Harris Bank, The UPS Store, Jesus House Chicago, Albany Bank & Trust Company, N.A., Baladna Jewelry, Celebrity Properties, Chicago Chocolate Tours, John Tunnell Allstate Agency, Lawrence Kedzie Self-Storage, New Compass Solutions, and Rieck & Crotty, P.C. Gordon Walek, photographer from LISC Chicago, captured the evening in full color (see pictures).
“It’s clear that people loved this event,” Walker said. “The demand is out there for the Crawl to become an annual tradition. Mark your calendars for next year!”
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Participating Venues included:
Marie's Pizza & Liquors, 4127 W. Lawrence Ave
Mayan Sol Latin Grill, 3830 W. Lawrence Ave
Cambodian American Heritage Museum/Killing Fields Memorial, 2831 W. Lawrence Ave
Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant, 4821 N. Elston Ave
Ay Ay Picante! 4569 N. Elston Ave
Salam Restaurant, 4636 N. Kedzie Ave
Nazareth Sweets, 4638 N. Kedzie Ave
La Baguette Bakery, 4734 N. Kedzie Ave
Al Khaymeih Restaurant, 4748 N. Kedzie Ave
Noli's Pizza, 4839 N. Kedzie Ave
Baladna Restaurant, 4835 N. Kedzie Ave
Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen, 4911 N. Kedzie Ave
Merle's Coffee Shoppe, 4642 N. Francisco Ave
Beijo de Chocolat, 3334 W. Foster Ave
Merla's Kitchen, 5207 N. Kimball Ave
Roots Room Social Club, 5203 N. Kimball Ave
Ssyal Ginseng House, 4201 W. Lawrence Ave
Pollo Campero, samples at check-in location, 4650 N. Kedzie Ave
The Albany Park community boundaries are roughly Montrose Ave to Foster Ave and the North Branch of the Chicago River to Cicero Ave (approximately 4400N to 5200N, 2900W to 4800W.)
For more information, please contact Liz Griffiths DeChant at (773) 478-0202 ext. 116 or email her at lgriffiths@northrivercommission.org.
