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Old 02-22-2018, 11:54 AM
 
1,748 posts, read 2,560,394 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hkhan21 View Post
River north also has the most galleries in the US outside of manhattan, and some good jazz is in the south loop

Is that true? More than Wynwood?
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Old 02-22-2018, 12:23 PM
 
1,068 posts, read 1,430,030 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by projectmaximus View Post



Just want to be clear that I meant no negativity with my comment. But it is unusual that you ask for recommendations for a neighborhood in Chicago while simultaneously asking for recommendations on how to move your stuff to the west coast. I guess you don't plan to be in Chicago very long?

Good luck!!

No worries at all. Yeah, I was looking at moving advice, not so much because I gave up Chicago but rather other factors. That situation changed, so I have an opportunity to stay in Chicago for longer than I'd thought. Agree - 3 months is not long enough to live in a place to fully know it, and that's why I'm here asking for advice. Hopefully I can find a neighborhood which would be a better fit than North Loop. It's a beautiful city, and I'd like to give it a chance before calling it quits

Last edited by Flavia84; 02-22-2018 at 12:58 PM..
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Old 02-22-2018, 01:44 PM
 
Location: River North, Chicago, Illinois
4,620 posts, read 8,125,407 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBideon View Post
Is that true? More than Wynwood?
I think it was true in the 1980s when River North was still cheap with a lot of intact warehouses that made for cheap live/work lofts and retail spaces were still dirt cheap. But I think Wikipedia still lists it that way - in fact their River North page is called "River North Gallery District," which is actually an official subset of River North that actually has property tax advantages in the area roughly bounded by Chicago Ave, Huron St, Lasalle St, and Orleans. Commercial spaces in that zone that rent to galleries or artists get a property tax break, but that break is no longer enough to overcome the sharp increase in retail rents that landlords can get from non-artists.

Since about the late-mid-1990s, River North has lost a lot of galleries and even more working artists as prices shot up. People priced out of River North went to parts of the West Loop or Wicker Park/Bucktown. Then they moved to the areas that currently have the widest variety of young, working artists, places like east Pilsen, Bridgeport and, to a certain extent, Woodlawn and Washington Park.

So, currently, I don't believe any one neighborhood in Chicago has a concentration of like existed in River North in the 1980s because the art scene has spread out to more neighborhoods. That may not be quite as much fun as having them concentrated in one area, but it's probably good for the City to the extent that it means more areas are being invested in by the small-time artists and landlords who are early gentrifiers but don't put so much price pressure on the place that locals get rapidly driven out.
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Old 02-22-2018, 03:21 PM
 
Location: Taipei
7,775 posts, read 10,087,057 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flavia84 View Post
No worries at all. Yeah, I was looking at moving advice, not so much because I gave up Chicago but rather other factors. That situation changed, so I have an opportunity to stay in Chicago for longer than I'd thought. Agree - 3 months is not long enough to live in a place to fully know it, and that's why I'm here asking for advice. Hopefully I can find a neighborhood which would be a better fit than North Loop. It's a beautiful city, and I'd like to give it a chance before calling it quits
Gotcha! Hope you find a spot you enjoy. I moved away 8 years ago so I am not in any position to make recommendations, although I definitely enjoy visiting.
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Old 02-22-2018, 06:36 PM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flavia84 View Post
Hi all,

I've lived in Chicago for a few months now. My impression is that it's a beautiful city with amazing architecture, plethora of cultural activities, very midwestern (duh) compared to coastal cities (could be good or bad depending on your needs). I've enjoyed it so far but I do have a couple of gripes, and hoping that city data folks could give some advice.
1. Vibrance - or lack thereof. I live in North Loop (clark/lake), and this area pretty much shuts down after work hours. I have to Uber to all the "happening" places which defeats the point of living in a neighborhood without a car.
Even walking around Near North is kind of slow and empty unless it's in the middle of the rush hour. Stores seem empty'ish, museums seems empty'ish... The good thing it's not very crowded but as a single woman I do want the vibrancy and the crowds.

2. Safety - or lack thereof. After living in NY which is a relatively safe 24/7 city I was shocked to see so many sketchy individuals in Chicago any time of day or night. Walking to Symphony - have to watch my surroundings. Walking on State St south of Randolph - have to watch my surroundings. Talking CTA blue line going east in the daytime and especially on weekends - getting harassed by weirdos. Not that there are assaults happening out in the open but I had never been so concerned about my safety before moving here (and I lived in about a dozen major cities prior to moving to Chicago). It's sad because it's such a GORGEOUS city, especially at night after dark, and I feel like I can't fully enjoy it because of the sketchiness.

Now, there are lots of good things about Chicago as well, and I do want to make it work. Perhaps relocating to another part of town would help? Here is what I'm looking for:

- walkable, relatively safe neighborhood - that I can walk around day or night without having to clench a pepper spray in my fist.
- vibrant - I'm not into the bar scene and prefer jazz clubs (preferably not loud ones like Winter's), coffee shops, wine bars., art galleries.
- prefer an area with a high concentration of white collar singles in mid-30's - early 40's. Hipster areas or Wrigleyville probably won't work.

Would appreciate any advice from City-datans.
Lived north of central park and in midtown for years, also London among others now Chicago.

1) NY has 20 million people, Chicago 10. It's going to be different. Stop comparing. That being said, Chicago is very vibrant. I've seen greater masses of people on the streets in both London and Chicago than I ever did in NY (at rush hour). You're correct outside of rush hour, especially after, it's not as vibrant in the loop as Manhattan. The population is growing though.

2) Sounds like you drank the media kool aid. Yes, Chicago has sketchy people and crime. As does NY. I saw just as many sketchy, crazy, thug people on the NY subway as here. Give me a break. If you're from the big apple, use your common city sense and you'll be fine if you stay in the right (which you have) areas. I feel no less safe in Chicago than I did in London or NY.

As for advice, wait for summer. It changes. Try a lakeside neighborhood like Lakeview, Lincoln Park, etc.
If you can get over what you've "lost" and stop being paranoid about crime you'll love it here.
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Old 02-22-2018, 08:55 PM
 
Location: Chicago
50 posts, read 47,110 times
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THe rapper 6ix9ine is from Brooklyn, need I say more
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Old 02-22-2018, 09:12 PM
 
Location: Edmonds, WA
8,975 posts, read 10,132,184 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flavia84 View Post
No worries at all. Yeah, I was looking at moving advice, not so much because I gave up Chicago but rather other factors. That situation changed, so I have an opportunity to stay in Chicago for longer than I'd thought. Agree - 3 months is not long enough to live in a place to fully know it, and that's why I'm here asking for advice. Hopefully I can find a neighborhood which would be a better fit than North Loop. It's a beautiful city, and I'd like to give it a chance before calling it quits
If you want the west coast, come to Seattle! I love it here (though Chicago is still my dream city - I'm the homer who never lived there). But if you want the closest West Coast in Chicago, Wicker Park or the West Loop would be it. It just really has that feng shui to me. I also really like Lincoln Square for different reasons. It's just an amazing little village inside of a big city where I've never felt unsafe.
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Old 02-25-2018, 02:33 AM
 
6,438 posts, read 6,877,340 times
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Didn't the OP get some pretty strong advice on this board not to live at Clark and Lake?

If you're going to stay in Chicago, live in a residential neighborhood on the north side.
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Old 02-25-2018, 06:55 AM
 
1,022 posts, read 766,632 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO View Post
You might want to check these out - though you have to walk around yourself to get the feel, you might feel differently than anyone making recommendations -


Wicker Park (Damen and North Ave to Division) - vibrancy, cool restaurants.
Lakeview East
Lincoln Square
Clybourne area (Halsted going north) lots of stores and restaurants and stuff
white Collar singles - Viagra Triangle, on Rush St and Division area. Your on your own there, haha as I don't visit that, since I'm not dating.


I don't live there, but I consider them safe.


As to walking around at night, even East Lakeview which I used to walk from the gay bars home, at 3:00 a.m. you could about 10 years ago, now not, based on stupid criminals coming into the neighborhood who cause trouble. You just cant do that without taking some normal city-life precautions.


that's it for me!
I know it is sad lakeview has become that way where you no longer feel safe
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Old 02-25-2018, 08:04 AM
 
2,755 posts, read 4,388,345 times
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What are the types of "vibrancy" (very vague word) and activities you want to be near?

Because I'll be honest... most people your age do not want to live in close walking distance to the Symphony, museums, theaters (unless you are a 70 year old retiree!). Those are the things that many of us travel to by train/car, and live closer to things that we use every day.... cafes/restaurants/bars/clubs/smaller live music venues/smaller shops etc... And although I love the Symphony, museums, theaters.... most people in your age group do not and visit them sparingly.

If you move to more of a neighborhood feel area of the city, it will be outside of downtown/the loop and you will be away from the Symphony, museums, theaters. These neighborhoods can be wonderful with lots to do and more people in your age range. But if you want to be walking distance to them you need to stay closer to the loop (a dead area off hours and kinda blah in my opinion).

And many of the best Chicago theaters are not the big downtown one that get the traveling musicals (is that your preference?). Chicago is known for places like Steppenwolf and there are dozens of small, quirky, amazing, crazy cheap theaters that are scattered in the neighborhoods. Those are great experiences, in my opinion.
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