Jackie Taylor: Five Ways To Love Uptown

In honor of the city's 175th birthday, the "Explore Chicago" website is featuring 175 Chicagoans who tell how to love their community.  First up, the tenacious Ms. Jackie Taylor of the Black Ensemble Theater:

• "See Groundbreaking Theater. Your first stop should be the spectacular new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center on the corner of Clark and Sunnyside. The musicals are fun and inviting, and the new theater is divine. You’ll find diverse audiences that are fully involved in the music and action on the stage. Come experience a different kind of theater that you won’t get anywhere else in the city of Chicago!
• Let Loose with Live Jazz. The next stop should be over to The Green Mill on Broadway near Lawrence. Jazz is the main course on the menu. You’ll always hear top entertainers who play a variety of sumptuous jazz styles that will please every type of jazz lover.
• Wine and Dine on Wilson Avenue. For food and wine in Uptown, I have to recommend the delectable Fontana Grill on the corner of Beacon and Wilson. They have an outstanding wine bar, and the food is simply to die for! The ambience is so calm and sweet—no pretentiousness here! Enjoy the easygoing environment they create with their fantastic array of taped music and—to top it all off—their great pizza.
• Find Deals on the Clark Street Strip. For your shopping pleasure, venture over to Clark Street between Montrose and Wilson. Okay, you won’t find any name brands, but there are very cute dress shops and thousands of purses, scarves and sequins. You can always find a bargain!
• Get in on the Games (and Grub). If you’re a sports fan, there’s a great little sports bar called The Spot on Broadway between Montrose and Wilson. The drink specials are amazing. If you’re a karaoke fan, you can hop right up on the stage and do your thing. Chef Ron is the bomb! So if you go, go hungry. Did I mention the huge television screens all around the room? You’ll feel like you’re a participant in the game instead of watching it."

To see all 175 Chicagoans and their suggestions for how to love the city, click here.