a few miles northwest of Wrigley Field -- used to be the heart of Chicago's German community. Although not much of that tradition remains, a few old world-style delis and European shops (including a terrific old-fashioned apothecary) dot Lincoln Avenue from Wilson to Lawrence avenues. For a dose of Oktoberfest at any time of year, stop into the Brauhaus. German bands perform on weekends, when the older crowd puts the youngsters to shame on the dance floor. The Erdinger, Spaten, and BBK flow freely, and the kitchen serves up big plates of 'wurst, schnitzel, and sauerkraut.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chicago 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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