Sure, Beverly is a quiet community with a nice, comparatively affordable housing stock, but how do you really get to know the neighborhood? I’m glad you asked. From a true-blooded South Sider born in nearby Evergreen Park, here are eight steps to help you on your way to finding the true Beverly.
1. Take a walk along Longwood Drive and the scenic, hilly streets that surround it, where you’ll see homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Daniel H. Burnham. Make sure to check out the Givens House, a replica of an Irish castle built to woo an Irish bride to America, while you’re there. (The Beverly Area Planning Association Web site has info for a self-guided tour of these homes.)
2. On the first hot day of summer, get an ice cream at the Original Rainbow Cone, 9233 S Western Ave. My parents still recall the long lines they waited in for a taste of this famous ice cream.
3. See a film at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W 111th St, home of the Chicago Irish Film Festival. The center also offers classes in visual arts, music, theater, movement and dance.
4. While you’re still thinking about the Old Country, have a pint of Guiness at Cork and Kerry, a nice pub at 10614 S Western Ave that’s heavy on wood and outdoor space, light on kitschy shamrocks and plastic leprechauns.
5. Eat at Koda at 10352 South Western Ave, a new French bistro that has been getting good reviews. That’s right, a French bistro. And you can park on the street near this one.
6. The next night, buy dinner to go at Dicola’s Seafood, a Southwest Side institution at 10754 S Western Ave. The popular fish market has terrific fresh fish, which you can also buy cooked from the “prepared” menu.
7. Attend the annual Beverly Hills / Morgan Park Home Tour on May 20.
8. Sign up for the Ridge Run, a 10k on Memorial Day, May 28.