Chicagoing: Romantic Winter Southport Dog Walks

Miss M has lived in 3 different neighborhoods since I adopted her. Though she only lived with with me in my apartment on Southport , near Wrigleyville, for about a month, we took so many walks during that time that Miss M still remembers the neighborhood. It's too far from our current neighborhood to walk to, but sometimes if I have errands there I take Miss M along. Since I needed to take some shoes to the cobbler, and I knew we'd be snowed-in for the next few days, I took Miss M with me back to her old hood.

The one thing she automatically remembered was how many stores leave dog treats outside and she immediately turned into trick mode. Unfortunately, with the colder weather, there weren't any treats so she just had to eat what I brought.

With the colder weather, we basically just walked up and back the strip. When it's warmer out we love sitting outside at Coobah, a Latin-fusion restaurant. They have an amazing brunch, I especially like their Coobah Cakes: Blue corn buttermilk pancakes with Mexican canela-cinnamon butter and dark ancho rum maple syrup. All for under $9!

Then it's fun to sit outside at Julius Meinl. A unique Viennese coffee shop complete with pastries, an occasional orchestra and a feeling of Europe in the States. This is one of their first US locations.

While there isn't much to do there with the pooches, while we were on our walk I noticed what an amazing, cozy winter destination it really is. The restaurants are all decked out:

But are even more cozy inside. I like Cullen's , a cozy dark-wood Irish restaurant with amazing pot pies and mac and cheese and loads of winter decor.

And one of the best BYOB restaurants in the city, Tango Sur an Argentinian Steakhouse, is also on Southport. It's candlelit with huge portions and a meat-lover's paradise.

And it's fun to follow up dinner with a trip to the Music Box Theater, one of Chicago's last independently run movie theaters. They show a lot of independent and foreign films with the occasional Sound of Music Singalong or Rocky Horror Picture Show. Plus they often have a live piano player before each screening.

It was fun being back in our old hood and remembering how many cozy options we have to help us ride out the winter. Though with the cold weather options are a bit limited with the dogs; I miss our neighborhood walking routine, but even they don't enjoy being outside in this weather. Is anyone else venturing outside, or is hibernation the preferred method?