Lakeview

Welp, I grew up living on the south side of Chicago, but attending all 8 years of elementary school on the north side, in Lincoln Park. Traveling from home to school each day, from one side of Chicago to the other daily as a kid was strenuous and as my mother says, helped to build my character. There is a vast difference between the subcultures of the north side of Chicago and the south side. I grew up learning both, so this helped to shape me into the oddball young adult I am today. As a grown person, I have lived in studio apartments in Boystown, Wrigleyville and now the last part of Lakeview. The ballpark is cool in Wrigleyville, but I'm not a fan of baseball and the visiting fans are generally loud and drunk and obnoxious and walk right into moving traffic and curse people out and break into fights on the streets. This atmosphere is not my cup of tea. Boystown is cool, I mean, it doesn't get popping until night time and the Pride Parade has been known to get out of hand. If you want to see a drag queen, this is the place to find one. The bar scene is cray... and there's a lot of karaoke opportunities, if you like that sort of thing. Boystown can be safe, it can be dangerous, I've witnessed both. Roaches and water bugs reside in the lowest rent buildings, since Boystown is near the lake. I'm a straight female and I've gotten that what-are-you-doing-here stare/look from people who are gay, as if I have no business being straight and walking on that particular sidewalk or eating at that particular restaurant. Also, guys don't bother being respectful to hold a door open for a woman or offer a seat on a bus or ask an elderly person if they need help crossing a street or getting over an icy patch on the sidewalk. I'm speaking from experience, so get defensive if you want to, but I can't help what I've seen and experienced. It's not a compassionate area to be in. I will say that I love the cool shops in Boystown. It's the place to buy fun costumes or accessories, if you're into costume parties or drag or stage performing, like dancing or acting. There's pretty good food in Boystown. Nookies serves up delicious eats. There's an awesome Michael's art store in Boystown that steadily offers sales on blank canvas! I have always thought Beatnix was a hilarious store. Decent wig selection there. And finally, the last part of Lakeview, where I live now, is the wealthiest part of Lakeview and one of the wealthiest in Chicago, and I'm living in the cheapest building available here and still can't afford this area, so about to move asap. People are quite ignorant in this area and rude and inconsiderate, not exclusively the residents, either. Again, this has been my experience overall. Occasionally, I've come across polite people, kind people, but so many more rude/nosy/snobby ones. Like I said, it's not only the residents, but also people who only work in this area or visitors. A lot of people who come from other neighborhoods have a chip on their shoulder about Lakeview, because they think everyone who lives here is rich and entitled and well, that's just not fair in their estimation. Truth is, not everyone who has managed to rent here for a time, is rich or even middle class. There ARE poor or lower middle class people who live in this area as well, and college students, who recieve either minimal or no financial help from their parents. There's tons of judgement about fat people and skinny people in this neighborhood. LOTS of uncool and inconsiderate cigarette smokers found here. A very nonsensical, unique breed of chronic cigarette smokers and alcohol drinkers, on a chronic gym-fitness-Zumba-Yoga kick all at once, infest the area, especially. I've got Asthma, so I've detested the cigarette smoke flooding my breathing air at nearly every turn. If you are a struggling student new to the area, hit up T.J. Maxx and Marshalls and the thrift shops for deals and affordable items needed. Also, check out Lakeview Pantry for food if you are one of the many Chicagoans who go hungry, regularly. This IS the happening area of Chicago if you like totally innovative restaurants or businesses. There are mom and pop shops, too, but there's also plenty of Jamba Juice and Starbucks (commercial or chain shops), and places like Landmark Century Cinema, where non-mainsteam films are shown. Oh and between here and Boystown, quite a few establishments sell sex toys, lingere, etc., if you're drawn to the kinky apparel and equipment. You'll find all walks of life in Lakeview, either living here, working here, or just passing through. All races, sexual orientations, old people, young people, students, employed folks, homeless, rich, poor, ugly, cute, boring, lively, etc. It's really something. Not all bad, not all good, like anywhere, but not like anywhere. Prices are inflated, but resourcefulness is key. This neighborhood is dog nation, pet friendly. The crimes that happen here more than any other are theft and rape and moral crimes like bigotry.

Ah, Lakeview. It’s hard for me to like it there, but hard to hate too. There are three main parts to the neighborhood – Boystown, Wrigleyville and West Lakeview. The entire neighborhood is considered very safe. There are a LOT of young people living there, but also families and some older people.

Boystown is a gay community within the neighborhood, home to the annual Gay Pride Parade. This part of the neighborhood is really fun, has tons of bars that have great dancing for both gay and straight people, and has lots of shops that cater to everybody. The atmosphere is always friendly and ready for fun.

Wrigleyville is hands-down one of the most obnoxious parts of the entire city (sorry Cubs fans, but it’s true). Wrigley Field itself is a great ball park and absolutely beautiful. The area surrounding the field is lined with bars that attract loud, rude, drunk frat-boy types who spill out into the streets and act like idiots. I had a friend who used to work at one of these bars and it came to a point where I refused to visit him.

West Lakeview is mostly young people too, but a little calmer than closer to the lake. There are similar bars, but they are nowhere near as bad as in Wrigleyville. It’s definitely much quieter with more young families.

All of Lakeview has lots of great shopping and dining options – you can find a wide variety of foods and shops for just about anyone. I get the feeling that almost no one who lives in Lakeview is actually from Chicago – everybody seems to be from some suburb or other state. It’s a fun area for the most part and attracts a lot of people.

The Lakeview neighborhood is one of the city’s most diverse and exciting areas. Known as being the home of Wrigley Field, where the beloved Chicago Cubs play, Lakeview includes the neighborhoods of East Lakeview, West Lakeview, and Wrigleyville within its boundaries. This fun area is ideal for sports fans, shopaholics, and just about anyone that loves the beauty of the Windy City.

Aside from the area surrounding Wrigley Field, which is found on the corner of Clark Street and Addison Street, Lakeview is also known as being the home of the exciting Boystown neighborhood. Located along Halsted between Diversey Parkway and Grace Street in the East Lakeview area, this vibrant area is home to nearly 300,000 of Chicago’s LGBT residents. This exciting village is one of the many parts of Lakeview that make this one of the most unique areas in the city.

Lakeview residents also enjoy a wide variety of shopping opportunities. From local boutiques for children and adults to popular depar

Lakeview is a fantastic community. There are a number of really good restaurants, nightclubs, and plenty of entertainment possibilities.

The first thing I want to mention, and arguably the most important part of the neighborhood is Wrigley Field. I don't care if you love or hate the Cubs (I love them), you still have to admit that Wrigley Field is one of the nicest baseball fields in the world. On a nice, sunny day in the summer watching a ball game is probably the most fun thing you can do in Chicago. Think of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. You might catch a baseball. You can have a drink, hot dog, and a good time. There must be countless examples of fathers bringing their kids to their first big league game. My first was there. There is an endless number of possible memories for Wrigley Field, so it has to be the main attraction.

Outside of baseball, there are some great restaurants and a good nightlife in Lakeview. It has a big gay community, which gives the neighborhood a cool energy. It's also a fairly young area. Prices can be a bit high at times, but not so bad that you have to be wealthy to live there.

I'd also have to say Lakeview is safe. Any of the bigger tourist areas, which it has to be for Wrigley Field, are well protected by the city to make sure the city doesn't come across as dangerous to those just visiting. One downside is that it can get real busy and loud when there's a ball game.

Boundaries: North – Montrose Avenue, South – Diversey Parkway, East – Lake Michigan, West – Damen.

Includes: East Lakeview and Wrigleyville

This neighborhood hasn’t changed much since I lived there in the early 90s. It’s a very eclectic area on many levels. The side streets are filled with vintage single-family homes and apartment buildings, and modern high-rises. Meanwhile the commercial areas along Clark Street, Diversey Parkway, Halsted Street, and Belmont Avenue are bustling with numerous boutique shops, quaint restaurants, and of course, several nightlife spots. It is also the home of “Boys Town” – a large, thriving gay community.

My favorite section is the East Lakeview area, between Halsted and Lake Shore Drive. At the shoreline is the beautiful and scenic Belmont Harbor and surrounding park-like setting with its winding walking/bike paths. It’s a nice and nearby escape from the hustle and bustle of Central Lakeview, which is usually quite congested – like downtown during rush hour. Ironically, with all that traffic there is very little public parking. On the side streets, parking is by permit only. I was lucky enough to live in a high-rise building with its own indoor parking lot. Public transportation is the way to go here, and it’s plentiful both by bus and the El. It’s also very easy to flag down a cab.

Wrigleyville as the name implies, is home to the Cubs’ Wrigley field and many of their die-hard fans. As one might expect, it is a huge draw for tourists and fans alike. Residents are mostly the “young and restless” but there is a significant population of seniors, especially in East Lakeview, due to a couple of assisted living, high-rise communities.

I liked living in Lakeview. The only reason I moved away after 5 years was because I wanted a larger apartment and still longed to live Downtown.

As a history nerd, I’m very partial to Lakeview. It’s not only one of the more diverse Chicago neighborhoods – with a number of greatly varying enclaves within the neighborhood – but the area’s street names contain in them a certain amount of history. (Just about every street was named after someone who has made a significant contribution to society.) Within Lakeview there are unique sections of the neighborhood: Lakeview East, North Halsted, West Lakeview and Wrigleyville.
It’s the latter that is the big tourist draw, of course – and no doubt sports fans don’t mind checking out Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs. This is also a great area, naturally, for sports bars, and there are many of note, including Slugger’s and the Cubby Bear.

North Halsted is one of Chicago’s largest gay communities (it was actually the first officially recognized gay enclave), and there is no shortage of gay, lesbian and transgender hotspots – including bars, restaurants and clubs.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any more diverse, there’s Lakeview East – a very gentrified slice of Chicago that has seen the recent installations of Whole Foods, DSW, and Borders.

Though diverse, Lakeview is a safe and generally very affluent area. It’s close to the tourist wonders of the Loop and its Magnificent Mile, and hosts a number of El lines and buses that will take you down the North Shore.