Clark Street is a north-south street in Chicago that runs from Evanston in the north to its intersection with Cermak Road on the south side of the downtown area. The street was named after George Rogers Clark, a Revolutionary War hero. Because Clark Street runs through much of the city, the thoroughfare offers a diverse range of activities.
Jogging
Jogging is a popular, healthy activity on Clark Street. This is an urban run; be prepared to wait at intersections for "walk" signals and run side by side with cars and pedestrians. A popular area to jog on Clark Street is on the northern end of the city, through Wrigleyville or Lincoln Park. You can start at Clark and Fullerton in Lincoln Park and run six miles south to downtown Chicago. There are sidewalks the entire way and the neighborhoods between Wrigleyville and downtown on Clark Street are safe to jog through, though you should consider running with a partner, especially at night, just to be on the safe side.
Dining
There are plenty of healthy dining options along Clark Street. Visitors will find that it has everything from African restaurants to organic cafes, pasta houses, Asian noodle restaurants and famous Chicago hot dog places. Literally hundreds of restaurants are located along Clark Street, on just about every block, except for the stretch of Clark Street that runs next to Graceland Cemetery near Wrigley Field.
Some of the healthier dining options include Topolobampo, an organic Mexican food restaurant; Kopi Cafe, a vegan-friendly and vegetarian cafe; Ch'ava Cafe, a coffee shop that also serves vegan and vegetarian food; and Ian's Pizza, a vegan and vegetarian pizza place.
Shopping
Clark Street is lined with shopping areas. Most shops are boutiques and tend to be on the funky and trendy side. Clark and Belmont, on the city's north side, has several shops that cater to fans of psychedelia, heavy metal style, leather and edgier clothing. Travel a few blocks south to Lincoln Park for more fashionable urban wear. Less retail stores are south of Fullerton on Clark Street, so if you like to shop 'til you drop, stay on the north end of the street. A day shopping on Clark Street provides both a variety of fashion options and a good way to see several neighborhoods in Chicago and get some exercise on foot.
Night Life
A night out with friends is a way to relieve stress and unwind, and Clark Street offers plenty of options. The blocks surrounding Wrigley Field on the north end offer plenty of sports bars, as well as Metro and Smart Bar, which regularly host live music events. A few miles south, in between Diversey and Fullerton, you will find several classic Chicago bars and pubs frequented by DePaul University students and other young professionals that live in the Lincoln Park area. Keep going south near the downtown area to mingle with businesspeople grabbing a drink after work or wrapping up a deal over a cocktail.
Attractions
A variety of Chicago attractions exist on Clark Street, that give both visitors and residents alike a glimpse of Chicago culture and history. Wrigley Field is on Clark Street, which is where the Chicago Cubs play baseball, and one of the most popular Chicago landmarks. A Cubs game at historic Wrigley Field, built in 1914, is a must for even casual sports fans. The Chicago Historical Society is located on Clark Street near La Salle Drive, just south of Lincoln Park. The Chicago Historical Society is a museum offering exhibits of various periods in Chicago history. The Lincoln Park Zoo is a famous Chicago zoo, located in Lincoln Park on Clark Street. The zoo is free and open daily.
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