Straight Male in Boystown? (Chicago, Lincoln: sales, apartments, neighborhoods)

[eauyea27]

Hello,

(For starters, please excuse my ignorance. I am very unfamiliar with Chicago and the people of the city.)

I recently graduated from college and have accepted a job offer in Chicago. I will be moving to the city in the next couple of weeks. This afternoon (Sat, March 12th) I came to Chicago to view a couple apartments, and found one located on Belmont Ave near Lake Shore Dr. After researching the area a little more I found out this is likely in the heart of Boystown.

I am a straight male and was curious about what Boystown is really like, and if I would feel out of place at this location? I have tried to find out more about the area, but am having a hard time finding any solid information. I am not "homophobic" by any means. My main concern is the nightlife. Are the majority of the bars in this area gay bars or are there straight bars nearby? I want to be able to go out on weekends and when friends come to visit and not feel like "the straight guys hanging out at the gay bar" if that makes sense.

I guess an easy way to find an answer is to ask; if you are a straight male, would you live here?

If not, do you have any specific buildings or management companies you could recommend where I could find a studio for $800 - $930 a month? I will be working on Michigan Ave so I don't want to be terribly far from that.

Thank you

[tonythetuna]

"Wrigleyville" is basically adjacent to "Boystown." I don't think you ever have to go more than four blocks in Lake View to find a straight bar from any part of "Boystown."

If you think you will feel uncomfortable living around a larger than normal amount of gay men, find a place west of Sheffield or look into a place north of Grace or south of Wellington.

Btw: very few people consider Belmont and L.S.D. to be part of "Boystown."

Will you be driving to work or taking the train or bus?

[chikid]

Yeah boystown is only really considered between irving park and belmont on halsted and broadway between irving park and diversey. Really LSD and Belmont is not considered Boystown and no one will think you are.

Honestly, if you live on Halsted from Irving Park and Belmont that is the only thing I would be worried about that, but really worried about what? Who cares if you live in boystown, no one will care. Some of your friends might make fun, but really it shouldn't be that big of a deal. If it is then you need to re-evaluate.... Wrigleyville is plenty close to find enough chicks, you have nothing to worry about. I would live in Boystown, and I am not gay, all depends how open you are to people.

[OhAcid]

Originally Posted by eauyea27

Hello,

(For starters, please excuse my ignorance. I am very unfamiliar with Chicago and the people of the city.)

I recently graduated from college and have accepted a job offer in Chicago. I will be moving to the city in the next couple of weeks. This afternoon (Sat, March 12th) I came to Chicago to view a couple apartments, and found one located on Belmont Ave near Lake Shore Dr. After researching the area a little more I found out this is likely in the heart of Boystown.

I am a straight male and was curious about what Boystown is really like, and if I would feel out of place at this location? I have tried to find out more about the area, but am having a hard time finding any solid information. I am not "homophobic" by any means. My main concern is the nightlife. Are the majority of the bars in this area gay bars or are there straight bars nearby? I want to be able to go out on weekends and when friends come to visit and not feel like "the straight guys hanging out at the gay bar" if that makes sense.

I guess an easy way to find an answer is to ask; if you are a straight male, would you live here?

If not, do you have any specific buildings or management companies you could recommend where I could find a studio for $800 - $930 a month? I will be working on Michigan Ave so I don't want to be terribly far from that.

Thank you

If you're going to be there that soon, try checking apartments in Edgewater or Uptown - you'll get a lot more for your money than you will in Lakeview. Not to mention, Edgewater and Uptown have an express bus (147) that will take you directly along Michigan avenue. So you'd be living a little further north than Lakeviwe in general, but the commute wouldn't be much different at all. Plus for the summer, you'll be living right along the beach in either neighborhood most likely. Although, if you're already not sure about Boystown, avoid Hollywood beach in Edgewater, as it's primarily a LGBT beach.

[Feeling Brackish]

I'm a straight male living in the same area. My building is mostly full of elderly people and young couples, so there are plenty of straight people here. As long as you don't have a problem seeing gay men holding hands in public, then you'll be fine here and won't stick out at all.

As for bars, the nearest "strip" of bars is on Halsted, and they are gay bars; however, there are a few non-gay bars on Broadway south of Belmont. Also, as someone already mentioned, Wrigleyville isn't far away at all, and you can also go a little further and hang out at the college bars on Lincoln in Lincoln Park.

[Chi-town Native]

Boys Town looms large more as a gathering mecca than an actual demographic, and one that is increasingly limited in age to boot. Gay friends of my parents I grew up who are in their 60s, 70s, etc have all expressed frustrations about living in an area dominated by 20 and 30-something nightlife. Personally, I think it's great that Chicago is now seen as tolerant enough to attract these folks - many neighboring cities would kill to get this highly-educated demographic back that unquestionably (far fewer kids) contributes vastly more resources to to the City than they get back.

[eauyea27]

Alright, thanks every one. It's great to get some honest feedback. From what you guys have said I don't think I will have a problem at this location.

Thanks again.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by Feeling Brackish

I'm a straight male living in the same area. My building is mostly full of elderly people and young couples, so there are plenty of straight people here. As long as you don't have a problem seeing gay men holding hands in public, then you'll be fine here and won't stick out at all.
.

If you are uncomfortable with that I would say you shouldn't be living in Chicago altogether, or any major metro, as you will see that anywhere. Pretty much all of the neighborhoods on the northside have a few gay bars.

[tb4000]

You'll get used to it living here, as mentioned before. I have sales clientele in the area and have to take the el up there every other week to attend meetings. It is what it is.

[eauyea27]

Can any one recommend some good bars in the area?