What's it like to live in Winnetka? (Chicago, Glenview: best suburbs, 2009)

[geoc]

How is Winnetka distinct from the towns around it?

How convenient is it to live there? Can you walk to grocery stores and do other errands by foot? Is there a vegetable market conveniently located there? Seems like most chain stores are a bit of a distance.

Looks like homes are more pricey and I am wondering what you get for the extra cost to live there...Is it more beautiful than, say, Glenview or Northbrook? What are the traffic patterns like, especially going west and south? How would you describe the personality of the town?

Thanks for your feedback!

[Chummy Waters]

It's paradise. When the rest of the area is cloudy or there's rain, there's sunshine and rainbows in Winnetka. People give you money on the street and open doors for you. A wink and a nod, and you ride the train or taxi's for free. The streets of Winnetka are paved with gold. The road reflectors have Swarovski crystals in them. There are no potholes, they salt every street and they rinse your car of road salt with a big machine that drives around town.

[crbcrbrgv]

If you worship on Saturday, it'll help. Unless you are a plain old Isrealite. You might consider changing your name at least to Levi Seriously, Winnetka is a goregous town, it's not all Jewish, it's a bit pretentious, the high school is outstanding and everything you would need is located downtown. The commute downtown is a bit cumbersome as you have to take Tower or Willow west away from the city to 94 (although riding the Metra eliminates this). Drive down Green Bay Rd and you'll find everything you need.

[nanannie]

Yes, I would say its more beautiful then Northbrook or Glenview, easily.
Yes, you can walk to the very nice downtown village area where there are alot of stores/shopping.restaraunts, schools,library,lake. I would imagine veggies are in the grocery store. Dont know of a specific veggie store. On the lake, excellent schools make for more pricey I would guess.Very desirable area.

[hsw]

Arguably Eastern Winnetka and LakeForest are Chic's two most desirable suburbs

Winnetka's advantages are shorter drive to Loop (where vast majority of Chic's high-income jobs are) and New Trier schools

LF is arguably more elegant than Winnetka nr lakefront....larger lot sizes, more elegant curvy streets, etc....but public schools suck in LF and longer drive to Loop

Both suburbs share a duopoly for Chic's most powerful suburban residents, esp those w/young families...would argue these two suburbs offer a QOL only rivaled by best suburbs of SiliconValley (Woodside) and NYC (Greenwich); ironically, land costs in lakefront Winnetka/LF generally exceed those of best areas of Woodside/Greenwich....rest of world's suburbs pale in comparative infrastructure/QOL

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by hsw

Arguably Eastern Winnetka and LakeForest are Chic's two most desirable suburbs

Winnetka's advantages are shorter drive to Loop (where vast majority of Chic's high-income jobs are) and New Trier schools

LF is arguably more elegant than Winnetka nr lakefront....larger lot sizes, more elegant curvy streets, etc....but public schools suck in LF and longer drive to Loop

Both suburbs share a duopoly for Chic's most powerful suburban residents, esp those w/young families...would argue these two suburbs offer a QOL only rivaled by best suburbs of SiliconValley (Woodside) and NYC (Greenwich); ironically, land costs in lakefront Winnetka/LF generally exceed those of best areas of Woodside/Greenwich....rest of world's suburbs pale in comparative infrastructure/QOL

I agree with much of your post, except western Winnetka include Indian Hill & Wodley Road, two of Winnetka's most prestegious neighborhoods.

OP there is NO east/west traffic. The lake sort of stops traffic. There are two local grocery stores in Winnetka, and two next door in Glencoe.

[dcisive]

You could pretty much take your pick of towns from Winnetka to Lake Forest and not go wrong. All pricey but then you knew that. They all coddle the rich so if you've got the ticket to ride you're all set.

[sittingduck41]

Having come from east Winnetka, attended New Trier, then moved to the city, I can say that I really didn't take how great it was for granted. I guess that's pretty typical of people that grow up around there.

Walking/jogging/driving down Sheridan Rd. is great, good views of lake and stunning houses.

I will say there are a lot of arrogant people and I'd never want to work there and deal with them (I did). And not to be sexist, but the women around there cannot drive.

I will say that I think the drug usage has gotten higher since I left (4-5 years ago). This is what I see and what I hear from people who attend NTHS.

Overall I'd say it is the Beverly Hills of Chicago.

Edit: traffic going west is rarely a problem except around rush hour, and it is definitely better looking than Northbrook and Glenview.

[Avengerfire]

"By Sarah Schulte

February 26, 2009 (WINNETKA, Ill.) (WLS) -- Several north suburban teenagers allegedly turned an unoccupied home in Winnetka into their own party house, causing more than $10,000 in damage.

Police say the teens drank alcohol, smoked and partied for several days before it was discovered they were using the home.

Pabst Blue Ribbon and Milwaukee's Best beer cans all over the house, clothes dumped everywhere along with cigarette butts. Police say the trashed Winnetka home is the work of several uninvited high school students..."

And get away with it...

Teens turn Winnetka home into party house - 2/26/09 - Chicago News - abc7chicago.com

[60-minutes-II]

Originally Posted by hsw

LF is arguably more elegant than Winnetka nr lakefront....larger lot sizes, more elegant curvy streets, etc....but public schools suck in LF and longer drive to Loop

The public schools in LF suck? That can't be right.