A 36-acre namesake park at Irving Park Road and Central Avenue anchors this Northwest Side residential neighborhood. The Six Corners intersection of Irving Park, Milwaukee and Cicero is the site of a historic shopping district dating back to the 1840s. It later became one of Chicago’s busiest off-Loop retail areas in the 1940s and ‘50s. The recently reopened Portage Theater shows classic films in a 1920s-era Art Deco building at the Corners.
Portage Park is a neighborhood usually defined by the namesake park and by a three-street intersection called Six Corners.
Six Corners, where Cicero Avenue and the diagonal Milwaukee Avenue meet Irving Park Road, was once a major retail hub anchored by a Sears department store. Sears is still here; however, the rest is in transition, which means that for now, this intersection is of interest mainly to visitors intrigued by possibilities.
Portage Park the park is as lovely as ever, one of the city’s more attractive green spaces. It’s home to an Olympic-size pool with an Olympic-size legacy: Here, Mark Spitz, during the 1972 Olympic trials, set world records; that August, he would win seven gold medals in Munich.
Attractions
Contents
Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse
- Parks & Gardens,
- Sports & Recreation
Discover the wonderful world of nature at Kilbourn Park’s Organic Greenhouse! Spark your curiosity and explore the fun & educational offerings at the Chicago Park District’s only park with a teaching organic greenhouse.
3501 N. Kilbourn Ave. | 773.685.3351
Portage Park Outdoor Pool
- Beaches & Pools,
- Parks & Gardens,
- Sports & Recreation
In the heat of summer, Portage Park is the place to keep cool. Its Olympic-size pool features a large deck for sunning, misting sprays, and an interactive water play area with slide.
4100 N. Long Ave. | 773.685.7235
Sears at Six Corners
- Other Attractions
This location of the popular America retailer is one of the oldest in the City. For decades it has stood as an anchor for Six Corners and continues to be one of the strongest Sears locations in the country. It was also the very first Sears to have an air conditioning system!
Free Admission | 4730 W. Irving Park Rd. | 773.202.2402
The Rising Stars Theatre Co.
- Theater & Dance
The Rising Stars Theatre Company is dedicated to providing quality theatre at reasonable prices to the Chicagoland community. It was founded by the late Ann Dunn in 1979 as an Explorer post, a co-educational division of the Boy Scouts of America. Today the company puts on about two full-length musicals per year in the Stahl Family Theater at Saint Patrick Performing Arts Centre.
5900 W. Belmont Ave. | 773.736.2490
Dining
Alexandra Foods Company
- Polish
Founded in 1992 by Polish natives, Alexandra Foods distributes 15 different pierogi styles and a variety of other native products. The Polish delicacies are produced in this factory outlet store, and you can buy them directly from the retail counter.
3300 N. Central Ave. | 773.282.3820
La Peña
- Latin American
Spend an evening at La Peña eating Ecuadorian specialties like shrimp ceviche, drinking a full selection of alcohol including several Ecuadorian imports, and dancing the night away on their small dance floor. The Live music adds to the great atmosphere on the weekends. Reservations are only accepted on Friday and Saturday.
4212 N. Milwaukee Ave. | 773.545.7022
Las Tablas
- Columbian,
- Steakhouses
A traditional Colombian steakhouse, Las Tablas offers a daily lunch buffet for $9.95 and live music on Saturdays. Their popular dishes are the Bandeja Paisa, Matrimonio, grilled skirt steak, and their highly regarded empanadas.
4920 W. Irving Park Rd. | 773.202.0999
Lucky Grill
- Diners
A neighborhood favorite, Lucky Grill’s huge menu satisfies everyone’s American diner craving, from breakfast to dinner items and a children’s menu.
4454 N. Milwaukee Ave. | 773.282.2325
Trattoria Porretta
- Italian
Whether you are in the mood for pizza, pasta, or other Italian specialties, Trattorria Porretta will deliver the delicious items to your table or your door.
3656 N. Central Ave. | 773.736.1429
Shopping
City Newsstand
- Newspapers and Magazines
City Newsstand offers the current issues of 60 newspapers and 6,000 magazines. They boast the best selection of magazines in Chicago and even offer a reward if someone brings in a magazine they do not carry that was purchased recently from another Chicago area newsstand.
4018 N. Cicero Ave. | 773.545.7377
Fantasy Costumes
- Costumes
A block long store with over 1 million items in stock, Fantasy Costumes has literally any costume you want any time of year.
4065 N. Milwaukee Ave. | 773.777.0222
Hats Plus Ltd.
- Accessories
With over 35,000 men’s hats in stock, Hats Plus Ltd. has the largest selection of hats in the state. Whether you are looking for winter hats or summer hats, dress hats or sports caps, fedoras or cowboy hats, you can find it at Hats Plus Ltd.
4706 W. Irving Park Rd. | 773.286.5577
Refined Rustic
- Furniture Stores
Using primarily uncommon and “reclaimed” items, owner Philip Sassano and his design team create beautifully artistic furniture. They offer interior decorating services, workshops, and events.
3924 N. Milwaukee Ave. | 773.685.4670
Events
Portage Park Farmers Market
- Farmers Markets,
- Kid and Family Events
The market runs various Sunday’s June through October. We offer a variety of locally grown produce as well as baked goods, food to eat at the market, specialty items and a weekly musical guest.
Free Admission | Central & Berteau