Cragin

The Cragin neighborhood is kind of split in half. The northern half is mostly Polish, while the southern half is mostly Hispanic (although historically more Polish as well). It’s a pretty quiet, residential area with a lot of small homes and fewer apartments.

Along Belmont Avenue there are tons of Polish shops and restaurants. The area around Belmont and Central is a major shopping intersection for the neighborhood, and many people go there for anything from clothing to European foods to books and home décor.

A lot of the neighborhood bars are simple corner joints where you’ll hear a lot of Polish or Spanish. There are a few places that are a little bit more ‘upscale’ and get clubby in a very European way at night. There used to be a great Polish dance club in the area on Diversey and Central where everybody drank vodka with apple juice, but it closed down pretty recently.

You’ll find a lot of good Polish food along Belmont – there’s both restaurants and delis. Fullerton has more Mexican restaurants to choose from.

There are 2 large sports stores, one on Belmont and one on Fullerton, that carry a ton of soccer equipment and jerseys.

The area is fairly safe and doesn’t have a whole lot going on, but there’s plenty to keep you busy.

The Cragin neighborhood, which is often referred to as Belmont Cragin, is found on the northwest side just outside Belmont Central. Like its many neighboring communities, Cragin is a mostly residential area that doesn’t have much appeal for visitors. It’s not a place a visit often unless I’m going to see a friend that lives there. The main points of interest in Cragin are the several parks found here, which include Cragin Park, Blackhawk Park, and Riis Park.

The parks make Cragin a great place for families, dog-lovers, and anyone that likes being able to enjoy the outdoors. Residentially, it’s a great place to live, but not so much of a place for visitors. There really aren’t any restaurants worth mentioning and not much to do in the way of entertainment. It is a charming area and one with several great schools, making it perfect for families or couples that are ready to start a family.

The architecture of Cragin is my favorite part of the neighborhood. When I do have occasion to visit the area, I like to check out the unique homes. If you’re looking for a quiet area that is affordable, Cragin is worth a look, otherwise there’s just not much to see here.

Craigin is a fairly limited area, and I can't claim to have a ton of experiences with the neighborhood. There aren't a lot of great restaurants and no nightlife that I can remember, but there are some good nearby dining locations and some good local bars for a drink. It won't satisfy the younger crowd looking for a fun clubbing experience, but you can at least get a drink.

The housing options tend to be older homes going back over 50 years, but most have been kept up fairly well, so it isn't a problem. There are a lot of families here, and it's pretty safe, so not a bad place to raise your kids. The homes aren't terribly expensive, but not cheap either, so it has that nice middle ground for a lot of younger families who need something affordable while not wanting to live in the projects. I'd give it a solid recommendation for a family, although it won't be considered terribly fun for visitors.