Edison Park Fest is a fantastic weekend neighborhood festival located in, well, Edison Park. If…read moreyou're not familiar with Edison Park, it's a neighborhood of Chicago north of Harlem Ave, on Northwest Highway, just south of Park Ridge. Edison Park fest spans several blocks and runs parallel to the Union Pacific Northwest Metra line. The festival totes two music stages, plenty of port o potties, several good vendors, a kids section, traveling carnival games,and several business vendor tents. There's pretty much something for everybody. Edison Park fest was well organized and spaced-out. I really had a good time walking around, sipping a beer, and perusing the many business tents. Metal barricades stops any temptation to trample on any residential front lawns running along this neighborhood festival, so make sure you get in on either Oliphant Ave or Ozark Ave. I had a really good time. So if you are in the north side and looking for a street festival without the crazy amount of crowds, definitely check out Edison Park fest.

Edison Park fest is a decent street festival located on the far North side of the city. The fest…read moreruns in mid August and always draws a healthy crowd. Edison Park is home to many police / first responders so you know it is going to be safe here. The crowd from here can get a little sketchy, but it is always a good time. The fest is between the Metra stop and Moretti's and spans a few city blocks. The food here is standard carnival fare. Nothing too great that I saw, but I enjoyed the fresh squeezed lemonade. They have vendors that serve up everything - most unhealthy, but delicious. Prices aren't too bad and the lines were pretty short when I went on a Saturday. There is a giant area of kids bouncy castles. These are pay as you go and is managed by an outside company. Some rides are good and take a few minutes, others are over in 30 seconds. They all cost $2-$3 each, so choose wisely if you don't splurge on the $30 day pass. There are several live music acts performing all weekend. It isn't my cup of tea, but people seem to like the 80s/90s rock cover bands. Rock on!

Great place to go and get some practice in for baseball - builds confidence in a youngster . Has a…read moreconcession stand and also mini golf $1 tokens for batting cages gives you 15 pitches $10 is more than enough batting time

Pioneer Park is a great park with decent amount of parking, located on the northeast corner of…read moreHarlem and Touhy. The mini-golf course consists of 18-holes and has various obstacles, including some water fixtures and stream in the middle of it. My kids really enjoyed the mini-golf course. The batting cages were a lot of fun too! They have several different spots/pitches, including slow/fast softball and slow/fast baseball. The machines were in good working condition, although occasionally you would have to hit the button to reset it, but it's not a really big deal. We only did the slow softball pitches, and they were mostly balls vs strikes, but adjust accordingly and you'll be hitting them in no time. They also have a concession stand where you can order some food and drinks, ie hotdogs, pop, chips, etc. Overall, the place doesn't get too crowded, at least the times we went on Friday night. Smack some balls to relieve some pandemic stress yo.

What a fun place to be in!! So many new game machines and activities and every time we come in,…read morethere is something new. Over the years, this place has kept on investing on more items more exciting things while utilizing the space so cleverly. I think the owners are very intelligent people, they do disinfect this place pretty often as they say, and keep bathroom and floor clean too. The only downside would be the prizes, but other than that, it is awesome.

I would give this place zero stars if I could. The worst birthday party experience ever! Avoid at…read moreall costs. They (conveniently) never got back to me before the party to answer basic questions about their packages, confirm details about the food, etc. This is all part of their plan - to be as shady and ambiguous as possible about the party packages. It's a true bait-and-switch scam. They position the arcade package as "unlimited." Buyer beware - there are only like 4 games that are unlimited, all of the other games require an upgrade, which was super frustrating for the kids (and for us). Because their game cards only lasted about 5 minutes, we had to add laser tag to our party package to avoid having the kids just running around aimlessly. Turns out, only about 1/2 of the kids were able to participate because of their shoes. The party planner didn't help us whatsoever with serving the pizza, cupcakes, or cleanup. And then had the nerve to charge a mandatory "service fee" (tip) of over $100. It was a MISERABLE party experience from start-to-finish....and it cost us over $700! Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs!

Still a great go-to event in the suburbs of Chicago. Definitely not as crowded as the Taste of…read moreChicago, with enough food vendors to try out and spend an hour or so on. Venue is setup with lots of space and shaded seating area near the Park Ridge Metra station. There is a large stage area with entertainment on the east-side of the venue. This place sells food by the ticket, so the layer of abstraction helps with not knowing you're paying $12 worth of tickets for two chicken skewers and rice. Most food items worth trying out are around 8 to 12 tickets, with prices, as of 2023, being $10 for a strip of 8 tickets. No surcharge for cash, but if you only have plastic, they do apply a surcharge. In either case, still better than $30 for a piece of lettuce at the Taste of Chicago, wading through a large crowd, while hoping to not have your food bumped out of your hand from an unaware crowd. BATHROOM REVIEW: Plenty of port-a-potties, with mine being pleasant and clean. Not a lot of use so far when I went around 2PM on a Saturday afternoon. We'll see, as the festival goes on with drunks destroying the bathroom. But for now, sit or squat? Squat... it's still a port-a-potty.

Well now I can say I've been to Taste of Park Ridge, so I'm glad about that. There were at least a…read moredozen food booths, which I don't think is bad for a small town like this. Even Joseph's Finest Meats was there with some sausages, Italian beef, and some yummy ribbon fries. We wandered around for about an hour and a half because it was really hot. It's nice that they have some tables with umbrellas, but I wonder if like one of those little water misting things would be nice... because it was so incredibly hot this year. In addition to the food booths, there's entertainment throughout the day at the stage. We were here during one of the more kid-oriented performances and my babe had fun bopping around. However, I don't think it's a festival I'll be returning to very frequently. There's nothing wrong with it; it's just expensive. This year (2026) tickets are $10 for 8 tickets, and a bit more if you used a card--I think it was $21.75, as you had to buy a minimum of $20 worth of tickets (the extra was the card fee). A single scoop of ice cream cost 7 tickets, but it was my kiddo's birthday so of course she was going to get ice cream... but we're talking something like $9 for a scoop of ice cream. That feels excessive. The location is fantastic, though. Part of the reason we stopped by is because we came from the library directly across the street. The Metra station is right here; you couldn't be closer to the train unless you were in the station, so that's a great option for transportation. Parking is available, but if you want to drink or have an easy time with parking, it's best to use the train.

I went here to see Tower Of Power in Concert it was a very memorable experience . The parking is…read moregood and the staff friendly and professional . Thank you for making this a memorable experience !

Easy parking, good variety of games, and cheap table minimums during the daytime. I wish the…read moreseating area was larger in the Sportsbook area. I really liked finding outdoor patio access (non-smoking) with outdoor TVs on this side. I brought over my food purchased from Flipt (a flipt burger with American cheese and lettuce) and enjoyed the weather outside! Just not sure why there was SO much flour on the bun...tasted good though! Very juicy and decent price!

This place is a hoot!  I dropped in here after a nearby lunch just to see what this place was like…read moreafter seeing a review, and having never been in their predecessor Chicago store of some 25 years on the northwest side of Chicago.  This store has been in Uptown Park Ridge for only about a year now, and for being on a busy commercial strip, they keep a low and quiet profile and are kind of easy to pass by and skip, because that's what I did for a year apparently! I was going to rate the store 4 stars, but I gotta give it 5 just because it's really a one of a kind shop.  They have all kinds of eclectic, random, fun, goofy, and also educational stuff and gadgets.  It's all supposed to have a bias towards science and education though.  Random things like military helmets, plastic wheels of various sizes, telescopes, microscopes, old typewriters, a Big Foot crossing sign, beakers and flasks, science kits, goofy models, toys, and trinklets, rubber mice, plastic ants for your next picnic, and whatever.  It's a great store for getting that unique geeky gift for someone, and also a place where inquisitive kids and adults alike can putz around and learn and laugh as well. They have their own convenient parking lot.  Their only other stores are in spread-out Geneva IL and Milwaukee WI.  Their prices ranged from cheap to modest from what I saw. The staff seems appropriately on the geeky side, but also friendly.  I met staffer Deborah and she showed me the signs depicting the company's history (since 1937!), and also informed me that coincidentally just two days ago they were featured on WGN-TV's Around Town morning show.  Here is the clip: https://wgntv.com/video/around-town-american-science-and-surplus/8385863/ Deborah told me after this TV clip, there was a big demand for their Bubble Blaster, which she happily demonstrated for me, and they sold out and had to restock their supply!  They also occasionally have free science party nights (next one is Feb 24 from 6:30 - 9pm) and those sound like a hoot for the kiddos.  I didn't buy anything this time, but do plan on bringing the grand-darlings back to putz around and probably walk away with who knows what next time lol.

I can't believe i refused to tag along with my husband and kids.....its a delight for all STEM…read morestudents and nerd parents who are very hands-on and love to create stuff--enjoyed checking out the various aisles and playing with the gadgets. The kids at the counter seemed knowledgeable and helpful. Prices were very reasonable as well. I will certainly come back

I gather a group of girls for a Galentine celebration. The…read morereason why I gave it a 5 stars becuase it was deal. For a 3 hour session and for a group of ten girl. It was only $40 per person. The first hour was drink and mingle then you'll start the painting session. I also enjoy the fact that it was a BYOB. You bring your own drink, which you don't break your wallet. Bottle and Bottega provides you all the utensils that you'll need. (napkins, ice, glasses , plates, etc). No need to worry about that. We had a great host and he was very helpful. The site is so clean and great place to have a hang out. The next date we plan on doing the palette.

I had a date here and theme was northern lights. My date selected this specifically to go with vibe…read moreof my Iceland trip. As we got seated, our instructor greeted us and provided housekeeping rules. He gave all brushes and colors. He was very gentle and friendly. He shared his personal journey as well as got to know us. Overall our 2.5 hour was very well spent and being my first time, I really enjoyed the whole process.

The Park Ridge Park District puts on an excellent October Fest the last Saturday of every…read moreSeptember. It is located in Hodges Park which is right in front of City Hall. The fest is free to enter, but there are charges for food, beer and kids activities. A wrist band for all the bouncy castles and kids games is only $5. There is plenty of parking in the neighborhood behind the event or you can try by the library. There is live music at night and plenty of activities during the day. There are a ton great food vendors including Holts, Harp and Fiddle and a few other places that serve German fare. The giant pretzels with dipping sauce were a hit and the beer list was extensive. Prices were pretty reasonable for a festival and the lines to get food/drinks were not bad at all. You could use credit cards for beer, but everything else was cash only. This is a great way to celebrate the beginning of fall and hang out in the park.

We booked The Liven Room for my son's birthday party, and it was perfect…read more The space is bright and clean, with modern decor and a cozy vibe. They offer 4 large modern, farm tables with beautiful thonet style chairs, 4 bistro tables, a cool mid-century modern couch, and lots of smaller, benches for your use. The owner even has 2 additional tables for a buffet set up (should you need them). The layout and furniture available allow you to set up for any type of event. It is helpful that the space is at the end of the mall site and there is plenty of parking for all guests. The Liven Room was very family friendly, ADA accessible and the owner even provided a high chair for our son. The Liven Room was clean and well-stocked with a microwave, a coffee maker, and a small fridge. It was helpful that we could bring in our food and drinks and have them chill before serving to our guests. The bathroom was clean and also well stocked. Per COVID, we felt safe because Michelle cleaned and sanitized the space before we arrived. We also felt comfortable using our own COVID guidelines for our guest's safety while entertaining. Michelle, the owner, was extremely knowledgeable about decor and helped us set up the day of. She was also very responsive with questions and concerns. Thank you, Michelle. I highly recommend The Liven Room and working with Michelle.

A great space for events! Easy to get to, lots of parking available and very adaptable for a wide…read morerange of guests. We held a baby shower for about 35 people and it was a perfect space for our event. Bringing in your own food and drinks made this a very affordable option and we were able to customize the space with our own decor too. Michelle is great to work with, quick to reply to questions and made the process of reservation and preparation super easy.

DUDE. Game Show Battle Rooms was so much FUN. We celebrated a bachelorette party here, and they…read moretook such good care of our two brides. Our host Angelo kept the energy up the whole time, and producer Joe kept us going with the JAMS. We had 25 in our group, and Angelo did a good job of making everyone feel included, while picking up on little details within the group and bringing them up again later in funny ways. If you're looking for an unconventional bachelorette party option, this is IT.

My work friend had her birthday party here and we all joined her. This is such an amazing place and…read moreconcept - just friendly games against two groups. Our hosts were fantastic as well. Everyone in our group laughed and enjoyed a lot. I highly recommend this as your team building or birthday party event.