City Living??? (Chicago, Downers Grove, Darien: townhomes, neighborhoods, school)

[dfw2ord]

We are looking to move to Chicago this summer. I grew up in Darien/Downers Grove, but have been gone since '89. We are interested in living in the City, but know NOTHING about the neighborhoods/where to go...it's been a long time.

Can anybody advise on what we're looking for? Short list:

-Restaurants!
-Small boutique shopping (clothes, books, art, espresso, etc) Looking for a "village" type setting
-Relaxing drinking establishments...NOT clubs/dancing...more like mellow music and a Guinness
-Not too young of a crowd...we're late 30s/early 40's, not interested in the "just out of college" scene
-No kids, just a dog.

Cubs and 'Hawks fan (I know, sadistic), so close access to both would be nice

We've heard of Bucktown (young crowd), anything else out there?

Looking forward to getting 4 seasons again--Thanks!!!

[Drover]

I'm thinking Lincoln Square (centered around the 4000 to 4800 block of Lincoln Avenue) fits the bill. It's a combination of old-school German and new-age hipster with some arthouse-type folks thrown in. Andersonville (centered around the 5100 to 5800 blocks of Clark Street) might fit the bill too but I notice the crowd there is getting younger and more standard-grade yuppie. I think Andersonville probably has more of the restaurants you're looking for than Lincoln Square, but there's certainly no shortage in Lincoln Square either. A third destination to consider would be the Southport corridor of Lakeview (3200 block to roughly the 4000 block of Southport Ave). It has one of the best restaurant scenes in Chicago but I don't care much for the bar scene there. They always seem crowded in the evenings. All three offer decent boutique shopping, particularly Andersonville.

I'd say the best combination of decent restaurants and quieter bars with a more mature crowd would be Lincoln Square. I also prefer a quiet pub scene and Lincoln Square is typically where I go.

All three of these neighborhoods have quick access to Wrigley Field via L or bus; all three can get you to the United Center via the L system; figure 45 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes to the U Center, depending on which neighborhood.

[Attrill]

My wife and I are pretty much the same as you (with the exception of a recently born child). I completely agree that Lincoln Square should be the first place you check out, it definitely fits the "village" type setting you're looking for. Bucktown is worth checking out as well, we bought a house just west of Bucktown (south end of Logan Sq.) a few years ago and are really happy here.

Some other areas to check out would be along the Blue line on the NW side. Neighborhoods like Jefferson Park and Albany Park are a little less expensive than Lincoln Square. They don't have as many restaurants and bars, but there are some good ones there that would fit the bill, and being close to the Blue line lets you get to the strip of restaurants on Division very easily (which is full of great restaurants). There are also great restaurants on other stops - Buena Terra and Lula's in Logan Square, Matou and Irazu by the Western Stop, Spring by Damen, there are far too many to list! Chicago has become a great restaurant city in the last 10 years.

West Town would also be worth checking out if you are looking for something closer to downtown.

[SloopyJ]

I'd throw in the South Loop, particularly the Museum Campus/Central Station area. Lots of good restaurants, great access to the Museum Campus, Soldier Field, and much better access to downtown than the northside 'nabes. Definitely a neighborhood for more established folks (not youngsters) due to the lack of clubs. Since so much of the South Loop has developed in the last 10 years, the only thing lacking is the neighborhood boutique-style retail, though there's a little bit of that. But the access to downtown makes Michigan Avenue, State Street, Oak and Rush Streets, etc. really easy.

[Drover]

South Loop also almost completely lacks anything like a "village" feel. It feels like a high-density modern urban development that just sprang up less than a decade ago, becuase that's exactly what it is.

[SloopyJ]

Drover, I can only assume you've never been in Dearborn Park II, the Prairie District, or the Park Place townhomes in Central Station. Yes, large parts of the South Loop are what you describe, but many enclaves are far different. From a neighborhood retail perspective, yes, it lacks that "village" feel, but from a residential perspective those enclaves are much more neighborhoody than anything I experienced when I lived in Lakeview.

[jenniferashley]

I lived in Wicker Park and loved it. It's beautiful and tons of the things you listed. I lived off of the Blue Line/Division. Tons of cafe's and restaurants-