Chicago North Side Tour - Belmont

Belmont is arguably one of the most ecclectic places in Chicago (and intentionally so). While Devon St. blocks dedicated to different ethnic cultures, Belmont is a huge mix of culture from all over the world. Belmont store owners are not the most open to letting people take pictures of their rare goods, though, so many of the pictures I took inside stores were snapped in secret.
(Hey, a photo researcher's gotta do what she's gotta do!)

I took the El Purple Line Express to Belmont which was about a half hour ride from Northwestern. Right away I noticed the extraordinary variety of restaurants. The Cigar shop above not only sold cigars and tobacco, but also hookahs and shisha.

More restaurants, Mexican near a Polish pierogi shop -- what's also neat about Belmont is the diverse architecture. The Mexican Restaurant is a pink stucco building whereas right next to it was the more traditional old brick.

There's a Japanese Cultural Center (closed when I visited) right near a German dance club (Berlin) and another Mexican restaurant.

Tanning is popular amongst many people with lighter complexions -- they like to have that beach-induced glow. I stopped in one of the many shoe stores (I'm a girl, I love shoes, I couldn't resist...) and found out that the owners were Japanese and that many of their shoes were from Asia. I pass the famous hookah lounge Samah -- storefront below, hookahs in the window above -- where I went for a friend's birthday. Samah is often sold out and reservations are highly recommended.

As I kept walking, I saw this religion idol in a store window and took a picture. I also passed the very famous Ann Sather Scandinavian Restaurant -- instead of bread that most restaurants serve prior to a meal, Ann Sather serves cinnamon rolls.

The Shanghai gallery sold Asian dresses and other related merchandise. There were many many Thai restaurants in Belmont; most people I know enjoy Thai cuisine.

Also common in Belmont are thrift or resale stores. People bring in clothes they no longer wear to resale shops, where they are sold at a much lesser price. For example, men's t-shirts only cost a dollar at this one resale shop I visited. I bought a hooded sweatshirt from this shop not too long ago for only $3.00 -- the price of the same item at American Apparel (the store that manufactured it) is over $30.

Look -- a Moroccan restaurant! (Actually the first one I've ever seen in Chicago). I'm sure it's not as good as the eats in Fez, but not bad to have one not so far away either! Also, as I said earlier, many stores didn't allow me to take pictures of their merchandise. However, I finally just got the nerve to take pictures without asking because I wanted to show you all how prevalent the practice of selling religious items is in many Belmont stores. Belmont admittedly caters not only to an eclectic crowd, but somewhat of a neo-hippy/drug culture crowd. There are many sex shops and other shops selling drug paraphernalia. The shop I took these next few pictures in was one of those, and I just found it really interesting how religious idols I'm familiar with having grown up in a Hindu household, were being sold first, at very extraordinary prices ($200/statue) and also next to drug paraphernalia. My mother would not be pleased.

Finally the store owner noticed what I was up to and kicked me out of the store. That's okay, I got the pictures! On my way back to the El, I passed a Switzerland Bank next to a Chinese Restaurant, and of most interest, a Ghanian Restaurant that was totally packed. Nothing like a trip to Belmont to get a little taste of every continent's cuisine.

Next stop: North Avenue Beach!