Anbritt

Anbritt, 33, is founder of Sports Traveler, a global sports tourism business based here in Chicago, and author of the award-winning book, Sports Traveler Chicago, a sports fan's guide to the city.  Anbritt is a lifelong Chicagoan and has lived in Beverly for the last 30 years.
  

What do you like best about living in your neighborhood? 
Beverly Hills is known as the ‘Village in the City’, and with good reason. The area is located on the far south side but still close enough to the Loop for an easy commute. The neighborhood is known for two different sections – North Beverly and Beverly. North Beverly backs up to the Dan Ryan Woods and the area is filled with tall trees. Some areas of the neighborhood are so forested that you can easily forget you are in the city of Chicago. When you enter the Beverly neighborhood you drive up a big hill. Geologists have discovered that this hill was once the edge of the Lake Michigan shoreline. The neighborhood was at one time filled with streams that all lead to the lakeshore. The water has since receded (Beverly is about 10 miles from the present Lake Michigan shore); however, what has been left behind is a hilly and green, tree filled community. The fantastic scenery aside, I also love the location of Beverly. I’m 20 minutes from downtown by train or car. The neighborhood is gorgeous with large and impressive historic homes on nearly every corner. There are also a tremendous amount of community events that take place throughout the year in the neighborhood – there is always something fun to do.

What do you consider to be your neighborhood’s best hidden or undiscovered gem? 
The Beverly Arts Center is what I consider to be the best hidden gem in my neighborhood. This center is host to weekly themed films, film festivals, intimately staged concerts, and performances of all types. The center also offers group classes for both children and adults in ballet, yoga, Pilates, plus extensive classes in the arts including painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, drama, and acting.

What is the best way to explore your neighborhood?

The best way to see Beverly is by bike. The streets are tree-lined and filling with hundreds of historic homes. Traffic is light making for very safe paths for bikers. I highly recommend biking Seeley between 103rd and 107th and Pleasant Ave. between 95th and 89th. If you are a tourist, bike rental is available at Beverly Bike and Ski located at 9121 S. Western Ave. If you are a winter sports enthusiast, you can even rent cross-country skis for use on one of the many ski paths at neighboring Dan Ryan Woods.

What would you consider to be not-to-be-missed restaurants in your neighborhood?
Franconello is my favorite. It is an Italian restaurant located at 10222 S. Western Ave. I rarely order off the menu because the daily specials are so incredible. It’s a dining adventure because there are constantly new entrees every week. The desserts, especially the chocolate mousse is a ‘can’t miss’. The restaurant is owned by two men – Franco and Nello, hence the name. The owners are often at the restaurant to greet you and ask how you are enjoying your meal. The servers and staff are like family and are extremely accommodating. 

Are there any big festivals or popular public events that take place in your neighborhood?
There are several great events in Beverly every year. In May there is the Breast Cancer Walk on Mother’s Day with a festival in Ridge Park. On Memorial Day weekend there is the Ridge Run with a festival in Ridge Park. The neighborhood was most famous for the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade, however the parade has now been changed to a St. Patrick’s Family Festival that takes place at the Beverly Arts Center. This weekend festival includes live entertainment, food, etc. set up in a large tent. 

Are there any noteworthy or unique retailers to be found only in your neighborhood?
Optimo Hats, located at 10215 S. Western Ave., is a world famous hat maker located in Beverly. Featuring fedoras, derby’s, and their most popular Panama Hats, this hat maker has created hats for everyone from locals to international celebrities to Hollywood movies including Tom Hank’s movie Road to Perdition and the recent Johnny Depp movie Public Enemies. Stepping into the Optimo Hat shop is like taking a step back in time. The shop is newly remodeled to reflect the old-time hat shops of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Big band and jazz music plays in the background and a two-story hat wall displaying the shop’s extensive selections is truly impressive. 

What are five words you would use to describe your neighborhood?
Historic, Family-Friendly, Trendy, Classic, Fabulous 

What is a popular gathering place in the neighborhood?
Cork and Kerry is the #1 bar/gathering place in all of Beverly. And it is also a place I have never been! I don’t drink and Cork and Kerry doesn’t offer food so there has never been a reason for me to visit. However, the bar fills up most every weekend and often has a line to get in during St. Patrick’s Day. They have recently added an outdoor beer garden and a separate party room for special event rental.

What is your favorite thing about the city of Chicago?
I love the diversity of our city. There is truly something here for everyone, whether you are sports fan, art enthusiast, tourist or native. I travel the world for my business but I can tell you this is the best city in the world. Our transportation is tremendous, the city is clean, and the community is friendly. The accessibility to all different forms of entertainment just keeps getting better and better. There are over 20 professional sports venues in the area. We have the finest art and history museums in the world. We host dozens of acclaimed theatrical productions every year. And we are the concert capital of the Midwest. If you can’t already tell, I’m a fan of Chicago! 

If you have a favorite neighborhood beside the one in which you live, what is it and why?
I like the Ravenswood area to visit. It reminds me of Europe with narrow streets and a lot of small shops to peruse. There are also plenty of restaurants to explore. 

Where do you like to go for fun?
I love to attend sporting events especially with my family. There is still nothing like attending a Chicago Bulls game at the United Center. I have also become interested in college gymnastics at UIC. When I was researching for the Sports Traveler Chicago book I realized that we have fantastic Division I gymnastics going on right here in our city. These events are inexpensive to attend and very interesting, even if you aren’t a gymnastics fan. 

What is your favorite restaurant in the city?
Bandera is my very favorite restaurant in the city. It’s southwestern themed cuisine. I have only had great meals at this place. I love the Macho Salad and the Grilled Fish sandwich best however, the Daily Catch of Simple Grilled Fish never disappoints. The atmosphere is trendy with spectacular second floor view overlooking Michigan Ave. After 6 pm there is live jazz. 

What is your favorite pizza place?

Fox’s Beverly Pub located at 9956 S. Western Ave. The pizza is thin crust and freshly made to order while you wait. 

What is your favorite season, and seasonal Chicago activity and/or event?
I like Spring because the city seems to come alive. I like to go to Buckingham Fountain when they first turn the water back on and take a walk on a warm spring day. I also enjoy Autumn in the city when the trees are starting to turn. Being a sports fan, one would probably expect me to say Opening Day, but I really enjoy going to baseball games toward the end of the season, when the days are still long and the playoffs are (possibly) on the line. Also, going to a Bears game in September is awesome. The weather is still warm and I love to go take a nice walk by the lakeshore after the game.

Cubs or Sox fan?
My grandfather was from the North Side and raised me a Cubs fan. My grandmother was from the South Side and raised me a Sox fan. As my grandfather would say, ‘Root for all Chicago teams…to keep peace in your house’.

Do you have a favorite Chicago tradition?
Christmas time on Michigan Avenue is one of my favorite city traditions. I have never been able to make it down for the Mag Mile Lights Fest but I enjoy going down in the evenings to walk amongst the shoppers and the brilliant white tree lights that line the street. There is also a festive marketplace set up at Daley Plaza in the Loop with the “official Chicago Christmas Tree”, many vendors both local and international, food, and entertainment.

What’s the best place to view the city skyline?
I think the best Chicago skyline view is from The Planetarium. I always try to take my friends from out-of-town to this location to take a good picture.

Where do you like to bring visiting friends or out-of-town guests?
Depending on the guest… For sports fans, I like to bring guests to a Cubs game and to hang out in the Wrigleyville area. Another hidden gem for sports fans is the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in Taylorsville. This makes for a fun outing followed by some excellent local Italian cuisine on Taylor Street. For the non-sports fan, depending on the weather I would go to either the Lincoln Park Zoo or to a Broadway in Chicago production downtown. I also enjoy taking guest for lunch and to view the art at the Art Institute.

What is your favorite hidden Chicago treasure, a spot or activity that few else know about?
I think one of the best kept secrets in Chicago is the Beverly Cycling Classic. I profiled this fantastic sporting event in my book Sports Traveler Chicago. This professional cycling race is the first leg of the 17-day International Cycling Classic Superweek Pro Tour that travels throughout the states of Illinois and Wisconsin. The Tour’s first stop every season is the one-mile cycling course that weave’s through the Beverly Hills/Morgan Park neighborhood. The race is 62 miles long, so the athletes race around the same route 62 times, for about 2 hours. More than 125 professional and elite level amateur cyclists compete in the event. The format is similar to the Tour de France and some of the great cycling champions have competed in this race including Levi Leipheimer, Bobby Julich, Fred Rodriguez, Chris Horner, Gord Fraser, and the legendary Lance Armstrong.