The mental stroll continues in the ‘far’ southwest.
To the south and west is the Lincoln Square neighborhood; only ‘far’ when measuring Chicago neighborhoods. It is a good stretch of the legs, an easy bike, and a relaxing 30 minutes on the CTA (Lawrence Red Line Station to westbound 81 or 56 buses). It is a personal favorite of mine.
Lincoln Square was settled by Germans (mostly Bavarians, I think) and their influence is still there. There are two great butcher shops - the longstanding Lincoln Quality Meat Market and recently Gene's Sausage Shop with its ADA accessible rooftop bar where friends and I have enjoyed ‘encased meats’ and adult beverages. The iconic Chicago Bauhaus will fill you like your Oma’s favorite! I’m eager to get to Band of Bohemia.
I really, really enjoy the neighbor’s central public square and fountain where kids of all ages play.
The Krause Music Store is inside an historic Louis Sullivan building. Various other very good restaurants, and cool mom&pop shops of all sorts abound. It is also home to the Old Town School of Folk Music (formerly of the Old Town neighborhood). The School teaches kids and adults and is a concert venue where you can see really, really good performers.
The Sulzer Regional Library calls Lincoln Square home and is a great resource but I typically head to the beautiful new Edgewater Library or the Bezazian Library.