Chicago equivalent to Portlands Hawthorne (aka young and hipster neighborhood) (Addison: live, moving to)

[Chi-town Native]

Originally Posted by Plzeň

My dad, who visited Chicago as an 18 or 19-year-old in the late 60's when that was still legal drinking age, says Rush Street was a happening young people's bar scene then. Looking at that area now I think it must be the same dudes still hanging out there 45 years later.

Rush Street has definitely always been an entertainment (and "red light," originally) mecca, but I was referring more specifically to what in the 60s was known as the counterculture. North & Wells was a huge hotspot for kids pouring in the city before/after the '68 events, and it was also one of the original LGBT-friendly areas.

I think the key here is "social tolerance," it's why you do often find the weird marriage of punk, hippie, LGBT, etc. shops and clubs on the North Side.

Alas, the South Side just never seems to have developed anything similar - although I think Bridgeport is getting there.

[Plzeň]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Rush Street has definitely always been an entertainment (and "red light," originally) mecca, but I was referring more specifically to what in the 60s was known as the counterculture.

I know you were. I was just sharing another example of how areas have changed since the 60's. (Perhaps Rush street has always been an entertainment district of one type or another, but it sounds like the demographic there has changed considerably.)

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Alas, the South Side just never seems to have developed anything similar - although I think Bridgeport is getting there.

Yep, I think it's well on its way. I would say the immediate area around U of C is that way, too, but I realize that's not quite the same since it's somewhat limited socioeconomically to the people who attend or work at the university. I can't think of anything else on the South Side that really compares, unfortunately, unless you consider Pilsen to be the South Side.

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by Chi-town Native

Rush Street has definitely always been an entertainment (and "red light," originally) mecca, but I was referring more specifically to what in the 60s was known as the counterculture. North & Wells was a huge hotspot for kids pouring in the city before/after the '68 events, and it was also one of the original LGBT-friendly areas.

I think the key here is "social tolerance," it's why you do often find the weird marriage of punk, hippie, LGBT, etc. shops and clubs on the North Side.

Alas, the South Side just never seems to have developed anything similar - although I think Bridgeport is getting there.

A bartender who used to work in Old Town in the 60s told me, I forget the year, but that in the 60s I think a couple college students were murdered by some kids from Cabrini Green in Old Town and that it shut the 'scene' down overnight. He called them 'The Old Town Murders' as if it were something that was well known, but I've never been able to find anything on it.

[Aleking]

lol @ all replies that aren't Logan Square and particular lol @ Wicker Park replies...it's pure yuppie these days.

The answer is Logan Square.

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by MannheimMadman

I want you to explain the above bolded to me, as I:

a) live in Andersonville
b) am a closet hipster. Only on weekends, though.

Ravenswood is yuppier than Wicker Park, by far. And if you think Andersonville is anywhere on the radar of hipsters, you might need to get a better look at the demographic. Older, professional gays are probably the last thing I'd think of when thinking the word 'hipster'.

The element is definitely on the rise around this part of Uptown...not bad but certainly an increase over last year. And Andersonville is certainly a decent fit for the OP's comparison but again...Logan Square is the only perfect fit.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by Aleking

lol @ Wicker Park replies...it's pure yuppie these days.

I still see quite a few hipsters around. Not like it used to be (by a long shot), but Rainbo, Gold Star and some other joints still attract a bicycle friendly/hipster type.

[Ace Rothstein]

I think there are hipsters venues in Wicker Park but not many living there. Hipsters are everywhere now, there doesn't seem to be a mass of them anywhere in particular.

[LakeShoreSoxGo]

I'm more scared of hitting someone on a fixie with my car in bucktown, than I am when driving in Evanston...by Northwestern...

[Plzeň]

Originally Posted by Ace Rothstein

I think there are hipsters venues in Wicker Park but not many living there.

Yep, you hit the nail on the head. People will travel to the remaining hip places in WP just like they will to the remaining hip places in LV or LP. It's especially easy for people who live in Logan Square and Ukrainian Village to make the short trek to WP venues.

[quigboto]

If they do live in WP, they've probably got 5 roommates.