smyles1

I had a friend that lived on Oakdale and spent a good deal of time at his house. Parking nearby was virtually impossible - any time of day, any time of year. Access to the lakefront was amazing, however, and the views from his high-rise apartment were astounding. A few blocks southwest, there were several good restaurant and retail options (along Diversey and Clark or Broadway), but in the winter, we didn't ever want to walk that far. This was basically a Peapod-grocery-delivery, order-in, ride-a-crowded-bus-to-work residential location...and he only lasted there for one year!

North Stockton Drive runs directly through Lincoln Park and offers a wide array of tourist attractions. At the south end, one can find the Chicago History Museum, followed by the (free) Lincoln Park Zoo, Cafe Brauer boat house, Lincoln Park Conservatory and Nature Museum. During the summer months, Stockton provides access to the Green City Market, an outdoor farmer's market with local produce and flowers. When the leaves are changing colors, Stockton is a beautiful place to drive. When the snow is on the ground, Stockton is a great place to snowshoe. Bicycle and walking paths line both sides of the street and views of the city skyline near Cafe Brauer on a clear day can't be beat! This is a must-see for tourists and locals alike! Unfortunately, there are no residences on Stockton in the heart of the park. If there were, I'd live there!

Located in the heart of Streeterville and just steps from Michigan Avenue, East Pearson is contemporary and chic, with lots of historical panache as well! The street is home to the famous Water Tower Mall and the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Fashionable people grace the sidewalks at all times of the day. In fact, Oprah use to live in the Ritz Carlton Towers! Pearson also serves as the northern boundary for a great playground/park as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art. Many of the residential buildings, however, are older and exude the charm of years gone by. Parking is difficult, if not impossible, and there tends to be quite a bit of noise during the day, but as shoppers return home and children revert to their beds, the street quiets down and becomes predominantly residential. If you want to be steps from Lake Michigan and steps from the Mag Mile, close to one of the best hospitals in the country (Northwestern) and in proximity to fabulous cultural activities, East Pearson may be your home (if you can afford it!).

Clybourn Street runs on a diagonal through a large chunk of the north side of Chicago. The street is littered with strip malls and stand-alone retail stores - a great place to find anything you could possibly need. Whether you're looking for grocery stores (ranging from Whole Foods to Treasure Island to Dominick's) or furniture (Arhaus, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel), Clybourn will take you there! There are tons of restaurants, doctor's offices, fast food chains, and clothing stores too. Consequently, the street is well-trafficked and can be very noisy. Also, if you live on the east side of Clybourn, there are many spots where the "eL" tracks will be right outside your back door. Not a quiet thoroughfare, but a very useful one!

Perhaps ten years ago, when several of the residential units were built, this street had a different reputation. Goethe dead ends at Sedgwick, which is home to the subsidized Marshall Fields Garden Apartments and a large women's shelter. Not a place to be walking alone at night. However, with the tear-down of Cabrini Green, the addition of a Dominick's-anchored retail center, a Starbucks (Goethe has arrived!), and beautiful townhomes/single family homes, Goethe is now a happening spot in the heart of Old Town. Wells Street, just to the east, has great shopping, restaurants and nightlife, and conveniences (banks, dry cleaners, salons) as well. The neighborhood is known for being quirky and a little hippie, but is quickly being taken over by yuppies and their kids. Franklin Magnet School borders Goethe and has a great baseball park, as well as a playground. Public transportation abounds, with bus lines just to the east on LaSalle, Clark and Dearborn, and multiple subway lines within a 2-3 block walk. Four blocks from the lake and six blocks from the zoo - what more could someone living in the city want?

Want a quiet place to call home in the heart of Lincoln Park? This is the street for you! Steps from Lincoln Park High School, Oz Park, Armitage Shopping, and public transportation, but still tucked away on a dead end, North Burling Street is a sought after location! The street has a mix of residential options including single family homes, 2 or 3-flat units, and apartments. Parking can be problematic both in the summer and winter, so if you have a car and want to live here, but sure to get a dedicated spot. The farmer's market is held right in the high school parking lot during the summer months - so convenient - and on a nice day, you might even consider this location walking distance from the lake. Because the street is a dead end, there's virtually no traffic, so street noise is kept to a minimum. Hard to believe you're still in the city from inside a Burling Street home.

North Mohawk Street provides an interesting dichotomy, depending upon where on North Mohawk you stand. If you are south of North Avenue, the street is still kind of sketchy. The street hosts lots of older buildings, some of which have been torn down and replaced by new condos and single family homes, and plenty of subsidized housing nearby. Although undergoing a face lift and rejuvenation, I probably wouldn't feel comfortable walking alone here at night. However, the area is still in the heart of Old Town/Lincoln Park, so lots of amenities are nearby. It might be a good place to buy real estate with the hopes of appreciation as the area continues to improve. North of North Avenue, however, gentrification has taken over! There are more single family homes (that sell for millions of dollars) than dilapidated two and three flats, and no subsidized housing in sight. The closer one gets to Armitage, the more shopping, dining and recreational options exist, but the area is predominantly residential. In the next 5-10 years, my guess is that the south end of Mohawk will continue to improve, especially with the destruction of Cabrini Green.

Bellevue Place is a quiet residential street that runs for just two blocks (if that) between Rush Street and Lake Shore Drive. There are a few high- and mid-rise buildings, but most of the houses are old brownstone mansions for wealthy Chicagoans. The best part about the street is its proximity to Lake Michigan and Oak Street Beach, but residents also benefit from the nearby shopping, access to public transit (bus and subway lines), restaurants and nightlife. A true Chicago institution stands at the corner of Bellevue and State - the Original Pancake House. Rain or shine, summer or winter, lines form and wind their way out the door. If I lived on Bellevue, I'd be at the Pancake House every morning for breakfast! Bellevue has great access to Lake Shore Drive and is only about 1.5 miles from an entrance to the highway.

North Canal Street is a great place to own a condo if you work in the Loop or need access to public transportation. There are several residential buildings directly across the street from Northwest/Ogilvie train station, which is convenient for people who want an urban lifestyle but work in the 'burbs. The street is also just a few blocks east of the highway, so people who drive to work or want faster access to the airport also might enjoy this location. And, most importantly, the street is on the west side of the Loop (borderline "West Loop" neighborhood), so walking to a downtown office building is simple! Also on the positive, the East Bank Club, one of Chicago's most prestigious work-out facilities, is nearby. On weekdays, residents have access to a plethora of fast food restaurants for lunch. However, on the weekends or in the evenings, the dining and nightlife options diminish tremendously. There are still a few decent places within walking distance (N9NE, Greektown, Italian Village, etc.) because Canal Street isn't too far from the large theatres, but overall, the area is dead. Fortunately, a newer grocery store was added just over the highway, so at least you can buy food and prepare it at home! Not a lot of parks or recreational areas real close by - maybe a mile east or so. Easier to live elsewhere in the city with kids or pets.

West Elm begins at the intersection of State Street and runs west for a few blocks to LaSalle. It is predominantly a residential street, with a few local bars/restaurants along the way. Closer to State Street, you have amazing access to the Division/Rush nightlife and restaurants, as well as a Barnes and Noble and Anthropologie. Living here means you are just steps from Michigan Avenue shopping, a block from the lakefront, and have access to public transportation - bus lines and subway - within steps of your front door! There are also several pharmacy/convenience stores in the area (some 24-hours), dry cleaners, banks, nail salons, fast food restaurants, etc. If you're looking for a place to live in Chicago with the conveniences of NY but not as much of the grime or noise, this is the spot for you!