DePaul

The DePaul area of Chicago is a mixture of businesses, restaurants, bars and of course the large presence of DePaul University one of Chicago's largest universities. With over 25,000 students, the DePaul University presence is well felt in the area. Located within the Lincoln Park section of Chicago, the DePaul area has an a great deal of different activities to offer.

If you want lots of restaurants, nightlife and bars, then this is one of the major areas within Chicago that you should be considering, especially if you are one of the college age demographic. The DePaul area is home to thousands, it is also home to a high concentration of businesses that cater to the large student body of DePaul University in the area. In fact, the influence of the university on the area is undeniable as in addition to bars, restaurants and nearby clubs there are no shortage of coffee shops, apparel stores, recreational facilities and other areas that cater to a decidedly younger and hipper crowd.

Many parts of the DePaul area a very accessible and walkable, helping to make the area a good choice on bright and sunny days in the spring and summer. Numerous bus lines dot the area which makes it a possible to explore on foot and without a car.

DePaul isn’t a neighborhood – it’s a school – but it looks like this is considered to be the area in Lincoln Park surrounding DePaul University’s main campus.

I actually got my undergrad degree at DePaul, so I spent a ton of time in the area. At the time, it was a really fun place to be. The neighborhood is really clean, well-kept and generally safe. There are college students everywhere, so it can be obnoxious if you aren’t one.

I wasn’t able to live near campus because the apartments in Lincoln Park are so expensive, but I know many students do (where they get that much money from is anyone’s guess, but mine is Mom & Dad).

Most of the businesses directly surrounding DePaul cater to students, but are great for anyone. There used to be an awesome hot dog place called Demon Dogs right under the El, but they tore it down when they rehabbed the station. I think it may have moved somewhere else, but I haven’t seen it. There are tons of other affordable, casual places to eat. Ther

If you go to DePaul or you're in that age group, the DePaul neighborhood might be the perfect place to live. Its location in the Lincoln Park neighborhood certainly puts the DePaul area as one of the most sought after locales in the city. Like the rest of Lincoln Park, living in this area comes at a price. For those going to this popular University, the cost of living is balanced by convenience to the city’s most exciting areas.

The main drawback of the DePaul area is for those past college age. If you aren’t a student, this neighborhood becomes annoying pretty fast. Late night noise, parties, and generally feeling overrun by students make it difficult for anyone of career age or beyond to live here.

The pluses of DePaul include proximity to the Lincoln Park neighborhood, including the park itself and Lake Michigan. You’ll find plenty of fun bars and eateries that cater to students and the younger generation. The area is generally safe because there are always plenty of pe

If you look through many of my posts, you'll notice that I tend to prefer younger, more energetic neighborhoods. DePaul certainly ranks amongst my favorite parts of the city.

First things first. DePaul is obviously dominated by the university, so there are plenty of younger people around. It helps that they tend to be students, so I personally feel safe in the area, and while you can always have problems, it isn't very bad here at all. The young population makes eating out good for me, as many of the local restaurants can only stay in business if they cater to the college crowd. Nightlife is also very good. You'll always find a good time without having to look too hard.

The one problem I have with DePaul is how expensive it is. I can't imagine how any student could afford to live here without having rich parents. I haven't looked for apartments in some of the other expensive areas of Chicago, but I have here, and it is unbelievable. I seriously doubt I'll be able to live here for the next for years at least, and that's too bad, because I'd love to.

Overall, DePaul is a great place to visit if you want to have some fun. Tough on the bank account if you're going to stay, but great for a day.