What neighborhoods have I missed?

[shy_extravert]

 Yes, this is a "where should I live" question.  Yes, I checked the tags & memories first.  I hope that my question is specific/somewhat-researched enough that you'll be willing to help.

I grew up in Chicago (far NW-side--Edison Park) and plan on moving back in 2009 or 2010.  Right now I live in CA.  I have a short-list of neighborhoods, but I'm hoping that someone can point me to other neighborhoods that I might have missed.

About me and what I'm looking for:

• I've always been a northsider, and am only really familiar with north side neighborhoods.  I'm open to south side neighborhoods; I just don't know many of them yet. 
• I'm looking to rent for a year, hopefully a single family home, duplex, or two flat, and then I'm looking to buy a SFH.
• I have a spouse, a kid, and 2 cats.  
  
  • The spouse likes woodworking
  • The kid is extremely active
  • In other words, we would be the worst upstairs neighbors ever, so a SFH or duplex is best
• I need a walkable neighborhood with at least one restaurant, park, grocery store, and coffee shop within walking distance.  
• Ideally the neighborhood would also have walkable bookstores and a library.
• My ideal is Metra and el within a mile.  One or the other is ok.  
• I'd like to be able to get to the Loop w/in 45 min on Metra or el.
• My entire family moved out of the city to Plainfield/Joliet.  The far SW suburbs are definitely not for me, but I do want to be able to drive to visit them in less than 1.5 hours.  
• We can afford about $2,500/month for a rental
• I'd like a neighborhood with more families/kids and a good park district with lots of activities
• I grew up in a homogenous  white Catholic neighborhood, and would prefer that my kid grow up in a more diverse environment
• I prefer older homes, even with all their problems

My neighborhood/suburb short list so far:

• Evanston
• Lincoln Park (can't actually afford what I want there, but would love to live there)
• West Rogers Park
• Oak Park
• Forest Park
• River Forest

I admit that I'm (irrationally) biased against the Edison Park/Norwood Park/Norridge/Jeff Park area because I think of it as still being very homogenous.