For a person connecting from a bus, it is decent. However, the station is out of date. It fells…read morelike you're falling. The smell is good and bad. For the el, it is better than most.

Currently at this stop to take the red line down to the loop. Decent train station. It's really old…read moreand isn't up to date. It doesn't have real time train updates or any heat during the winter. Thankfully it's the red line so trains usually appear no more than every 9 minutes at least

The Ravenswood Metra station is finally, at long last, complete. I won't say it was worth waiting…read morefor, because I am impatient and a little pissy on my best days, but boy oh boy, it is a massive improvement. It's big, it's organized, it's got ramps that make it easy for anyone to get to the platform, and there is a lot more roofing over the platforms for protection from the weather. I'm almost sad I don't work downtown anymore, because I'm only using the Metra to make personal trips north. I can't comment on washroom facilities because I didn't need to use them, so I didn't look. Maybe next time, if the train is delayed. . . It's been a years-long effort to rebuild bridges and embankments, lay new track, and build a completely new and modern station for this busy stop, but now it's all done, and it's terrific.

So I don't really know how to feel about this Metra stop. All I know is that everytime I catch the…read moretrain here, the train is ALWAYS late. I do like how there is a Mariano's located right across the street, but as far as the platform itself....meh. There is no shelter whatsoever from what Mother Nature can spurn on you. Also, the platform is not that wide so every time a fast train comes blasting by, you can feel the wind trying to push you along, so make sure you are on solid ground! Also, it seems like this stop is always crowded, and the platform is not big enough to hold everyone without feeling like you're a sardine stuck in a can. If there is ever a Metra stop in need of revamping, I vote for the Ravenswood stop.

Many of the poor reviews of this station come from literally 5+ years ago (many even like 10-12…read moreyears) well before the station was remodeled. As someone who moved into this area in the past year or so, I have to say that this station is fairly clean, modern, provides great shade, and is easy to navigate. I usually always enter from the north side of Wilson since I live closer to that side of the street, and there is literally only stairs on that side (which is fine fine for me personally), but if you are handicap, or just have trouble walking up stairs, the bigger entrance across the street on the south side of Wilson would be your entrance/exit. This is a very long station too so you can even enter here from the side of Target/Aldi as well. I love that the Wilson station is a major Purple line stop as well which makes it convenient during rush hour to get to other places quicker than just the Red Line.

I don't know if things have improved since the remodel of the Wilson station or if Uptown is a…read morelittle more balanced in recent years, but I feel safe at the Wilson stop. It's a pretty clean station. It feels very high in the sky and the breeze is nearly constant there, a bit rough in wintery conditions and refreshing the rest of the year. There is an on-demand heated metal shelter on the platform if you're cold. The ramp at the Sunnyside entrance and exit (on the southern end of the station) is a nice option if you're wheeling stuff with you or don't want to deal with stairs or the elevator. The architecture is pleasant with the covered arch over the platform. It feels spacious, functional and comfortable. I like that there are three places to embark or to depart: Sunnyside Avenue, Wilson (south) and Wilson (north side). The Wilson south is kind of the main entrance, with Sunnyside a close second (especially convenient for Truman College, Aldi or Target), and the north as a distant third, though convenient to not have to cross the street or if you're transferring westbound. Safety: a number of transient people hang out at or near the station, but most are just minding their own business, struggling internally. You'll likely see the most between the Sunnyside entrance and the northward path or shortcut leading to Truman College, so keep that in mind if you're feeling unsafe or unsure. Others hang out between Sunnyside and Wilson on Broadway. Again, your own levels of comfort and familiarity will determine your feelings about security. Be aware, undistracted and compassionate, with relaxed intent. Wilson, Wilson, Big station Wilson, Alight or depart I sing Harry Nilsson? Bleh.

CTA has an L station on Damen. It's not the one you're thinking of, but the one on the Brown Line…read more Of course, this one is a lot quieter. Even though there's not as much going on, there's some things worth checking out if you're around here. There's some nice bars and restaurants. About the best thing to say about it is that it's a classic. It serves the Brown Line. The station has a hell ton of stairs. It's a bitch to climb. Of course at the top of it you have some good views. It's one of the best ways to get to Ravenswood. There's a few bars and restaurants close to it that don't have the crowds like the Blue Line station. Also check out the suitcase furniture. There's nothing like sitting on a wooden suitcase, that's for sure. Besides the nearly endless stairs, this station is a favorite. It maintains history while slightly modernizing. The only thing is there's often some kind of track issue so it can take awhile waiting for trains.

A nice historic L stop that is wonderful when it's not rush hour and the weather is pleasant. The…read moreneighborhood around here has changed so much over my lifetime but the station is a constant. Much safer now than decades ago. The climb seems steeper than before but of course it's me that's changed. As with elsewhere, CTA employees are unfriendly and disinterested at best, hostile and loathing more typically.

After the modernization project this station was re-done. I was happy to see the stop re-open, but…read morethought they might widen the track platform a little. They didn't and it would have gone a long way to make the stop more manageable. There is just one narrow platform in the middle between the trains going in either direction. The rest of the station is new and nice and clean. Hope it stays that way

CTA Argyle has a lot of great restaurants in the area; Uptown Pho, Sun Wah Bar-B-Que, Miss Saigon,…read moreand Pho 777. It is also home to Chicago's second Chinatown. I make stops here when visiting the post office or either "Fat Cat", but there are many more things that catch my interest; the more I get off at this stop. This area just opened up a Uptown Bikes store; that sits right outside of CTA Argyle. Enjoy!

Post-Renovation Review:…read more Berwyn station was closed when I moved to Chicago. Recently, the renovated station opened, and looking at old photos, the CTA made excellent choices! It seems like the old Berwyn resembled the current Thorndale - too narrow and cramped. The new Berwyn is clean (for now), wide, has more than ample, clear signage, and is fully accessible. While not the work of art some of Sweden's T-Bana are, the lobby has splashes of color, and the platform is sleek, modern, and offers protection from the elements. My biggest criticism is to do with the benches. The angled, metal benches that require sustained effort to not slide off are more discomfort than they're worth. So much so I chose to stand rather than sit for 10-ish minutes. I get it, the CTA wants to discourage loitering, but it seems they've done so almost *too* well.

I get a lot of crap from my girlfriend for reviewing CTA stops, but I still think it is important…read more Truth is, despite the fact that CTA regulates all stops, not all stops are created equal. As a rule, I never give less than three stars to a transit stop simply because they do what I need them to do... get me from somewhere to somewhere else. I really enjoy the Berwyn stop. For a station pretty far out of the loop, it is generally clean and feels safe at all hours of the day. With the recent construction on the Argyle stop, I have had the choice between walking to the Lawrence stop or Berwyn for my Red Line needs... and though Lawrence is a bit closer I go to Berwyn more often than not because it is a more pleasant experience. Now I understand that this stop will be going through some maintenance. Hopefully this will only make one of my favorite stops better.

I had to write a paper and didn't have a lot of time. Rockwell Coffee was recommended because it…read morewas very likely to be quiet. Although I was initially disappointed that they don't have an espresso machine and only offer drip coffee or cold brew, I got over it when I realized that my drip coffee (which was delicious) and tip were only $4. It was also a super quiet, comfortable spot to write my paper, which was the most important thing. Although that was my main focus, I noticed that they sold carry out wines and beer and they had jars of amazing looking small batch pickles for sale.

CTA has a station on Rockwell. It was renovated more than a decade ago as a part of the Brown Line…read moreimprovement project. Surely it needs to be said this is an unique looking station. For one, it's neither underground or elevated. Two, this goes through a very nice looking neighborhood and it's not insanely busy like most stations can get. As with many of the stations, the location is the best thing about it of course. It serves the Brown Line. This is one of the best ways to get to Ravenswood. It's different from many other stations because the tracks go along the ground. Yes, the ones between the expressways also go along the ground, but those trains don't cross streets. It's more like how Metra goes. The trains come and the gates block traffic. A few bars and restaurants are located close to here. There's not a ton as this is more of a residential area, but there's a few coffee shops and cafes outside. Getting in and out is the worst thing about it. It seems many others have problems with the doors, which suck. The good thing is with this near the end of the Line, there's usually not a long wait for trains.

It's ok as far as CTA stations go. It's one of the major stations in this part of town, and the bus…read morestops here as well. The station has a Dunkin Donuts inside, but what really makes it unique is the memorial in the southwest corner of the station. The Berlin Wall Monument is a large section of the wall which once faced West Germany, and that side is filled with graffiti; the side facing East Berlin is blank. This makes sense when you consider that East Germany was under communist rule, but West Germans were free to express themselves and not face the sort of severe consequences their counterparts across the wall would have. The monument has a plaque expressing its dedication to Chicago and the gratitude of Germany toward the United States for the support of destruction of the wall.

Regardless of my option of this CTA station, I live very close to here and this is the closest and…read morebest station to get downtown and to points South in Chicago. At the time of this review, I have been living in Lincoln Square and using this station almost everyday for about seven months. First, it's dirty. You will often find trash inside the station or on the platform. Also, the platform is often covert in bird poop that is rarely cleaned. Second, it smells. I've smelled worse things on the CTA, but it a constant low level damp bad smell that is omnipresent. Third, the escalator is often broken. Recently, at least, it seems the escalator had been out of order more times that not. It makes the long walk up the stories tiring. There, however, some good points. First, the station has some amenities. There is a piece of the Berlin Wall located on the ground floor. It's worth popping in to view this even if you're not catching a train. There is Dunkin' Donuts on the ground floor. The downside is that it closes early (6:00 pm). Also, you can catch the the 49, 49B X49 and 11 buses here. Third, the platform is wide and accommodates a good number of people. If you live in, or want to visit, either the North Center or Lincoln Square neighborhoods this the best and most convenient L stop to use. I just wish they kept it in better repair and much cleaner.

Hopping on a CTA #81 (Lawrence) bus used to be my daily commute to/from work when I lived in Albany…read morePark. This particular route runs 24/7, and many TSAs and ORD workers catch this one. Yes, together in the same bus we were like a large, happy family. At around 10pm, working professionals coming from ORD and Rosemont would get on the blue line train. As many of us were getting discharged at the Jefferson Park stop, we had the last exercise of the day: running all the way to #81 and hoping everyone of us had a seat (unlikely...because this one is always crowed during that time). Eastbound #81 begins at Jefferson Park Transportation Center. Immediately there's the first point of interest: - Copernicus Center: the annual north side Polish Fest on Labor Day weekend is hosted here. They have different activities going on throughout the year. Let's get back on the bus and continue our journey, or you may remain in the neighborhood and get a new tattoo at Chitown Tattoo, off Leclaire and I-90. I've heard many good reviews on their work. As we are heading east, we will be passing Mayfair and Albany Park. Albany Park is known to be one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Chicago. There are a few hole-in-the-wall places that actually were gems in my opinion: - Fish N' Go (cash-only): ask Nick, the owner, if there are oysters available. My parents used to surprise me with their delicious fried oysters after a long day of work. - Lawrence Fish Market (cash-only): affordable prices on quality sashimi, sushi, and maki rolls. Put their number on your speed dial and call ahead. - Markellos (cash-only): lights are on 24/7. I guarantee that you will never go hungry cruising through Albany Park. Ladies and gentlemen, now you've arrived at the CTA Kimball Brown Line station. That's probably what I'm missing the most living in Albany Park. The brown line provides an easy access to the Chicago Loop. From there it connects to other transportation options to the south/ southwest side of neighborhoods. By the way, "Hot Dog Station" on Kimball by Kimball Brown Line station is a good place to grab a quick bite. I don't know or can't recall the owner's name, but he resembles "Aiden" from Sex and the City. Wow, this review is becoming very long, and I should wrap it up ASAP. "Ravenswood" is the next neighborhood. It overlaps with Lincoln Square, near CTA Western Brown Line station. Many people love to hang out here during summer for the farmer's market on select Thursday evenings, trendy bars, and cool small businesses. Metra Union Pacific/North Line has a stop at Ravenswood. This particular Metra routine starts at Chicago-Ogilvie Transportation Center (OTC) and goes to all the way up north in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Attention passengers...we are approaching to Uptown. "Little Vietnam" is within the Uptown neighborhood. Many Vietnamese or other Asian-themed restaurants, bakeries, and businesses are nearby. If you ever wanna see some skimpily-dressed young men and women, come to "Aragon Ballroom" across from CTA Lawrence Red Line station. I almost got hurt by random glass bottles flying over my head while I was waiting for the bus on a late Saturday night. The CTA #81 (Lawrence) bus tour is officially coming to the end. Now it's time to take a quality break at the beautiful, magnificent Lakeshore Path.

The magic #81 Lawrence bus is open 24/7/365, is as clutch and critical as it gets. It starts by…read moreLake Shore Drive and flows through Uptown to pick you up from The Green Mill, Uptown Lounge, Kinetic Playground, The Aragon, The Riv, WIld Pug, or Crew. It goes on west in quick fashion, passing by El Quijote for late night eats, passes by Crafty Beaver and also Golden Nugget. If you need to hop on the Metra, the #81 Lawrence can drop you off at Lawrence and Ravenswood to hop on over. A giant Chase branch exists there that used to be BankOne that used to be First Chicago. Keep going west and you'll find Wendy's, CVS on Damen and Lawrence, El Taco Loco for late night snackery and Walgreen's open until Midnight. Not going to Lincoln Square? That's all right, the #81 will take you on over past Harvest Time for groceries, past by Restaurant Sarajevo, Greek bakeries and a world of small businesses. If it's late and you still haven't stopped try some George's Kebob by Kedzie and the new Mediterranean joint on the corner. Want something less ethic? How bout some Huddle House diner food that's open 24/7? The Filipino grocery is nearby, Popeye's Chicken, Subway, Donut Doctor and a world of $5 hair salons. Want some late night high carb fare? How bout some 24/7 Markello's Bakery? You can take the bus all the way to Jefferson Park, but I am getting off here, see you.