Living in East Side, Chicago - what to expect, is it safe, lots to do?

East Side is pretty nice, very residential and sorta suburban, so if you're going for the 'big city' feeling you probably won't find it. That said, it's pretty safe, the homes are cheap and you can find some good Mexican food, as there's a heavy latino population. There isn't much for nightlife though, so it's not exactly the most exciting neighborhood.