Chicago's Neighborhoods - Wicker Park

[chitowndiva]

This seems to have gone over pretty well, so I'm going to keep posting them. If you missed it before, here's the deal. I'm going to post some basic facts about various neighborhoods in the city, pulled from various sources. Then, it's your turn to chime in down in the comments section. Post your impressions of the neighborhood: what you like,

Comments

[obfuscate]

I just wanna say the "hipster" component of WP cannot be stressed enough. There are few neighborhoods in Chicago I would refuse to live in just because of their demographics, but WP is one of them.

There are, however, some freaking awesome shops and restaurants there. I'm all about visiting; I just wouldn't live there.

Traffic on Damen is a fucking CRIME during the evening rush hour. Doesn't matter whether you're on a bike, in a car, or on a bus, it is HORRIBLE. It's frequently faster to walk than anything else around that time of day.

[obfuscate]

They're amusing to watch in small doses, but generally people who are "amusing to watch" are not the people I want to be surrounded with in my day to day life.

[super_hoodzie_x]

I can agree with the above comment (the uh...original comment.) Hipster overload. But i LOVE going to wicker park just to hang out, eat at some neat restaurants (i LOVE Sweet Thang, the French cafe and baker on North Ave.) and do some thrift shopping (ragstock, buffalo exchange) I have thought many times that i would love to live there, unfortunately it gets a little grim at night, especially around the edges (as does most of Chicago, but i'm quite wary of riding the blue line at night, it's always seemed a little skeezy to me.) Overall, i'd agree that Wicker Park is somewhere i love to visit, but it's a little too hip and a little too far for me to live there. The price is right, though.

[alisonwndrlnd]

I don't mind the hipster scene, and truthfully coming from Boston it was a welcome for me when I moved here 4 years ago...since Boston's scene was lacking and missing lots of great music venues. You might hate the hipsters, but because of them the music scene in that area is quite good. (I guess if you aren't into cover bands, of course)

Anyways, yes this area is not for everyone-but some would really enjoy the night life there. My fiance lived right at north and division, and I loved going out in that area on the weekends. Unfortunately, he had to move in where I live...in good ole viagra triangle...but we still make it to the crappy dives in that WP area.

that's one thing I did like about that area...there are some great dives.

[exeuntsl]

Do Ukrainian Village next.