Ukrainian Village vs Wicker Park vs Hyde Park (Chicago: cliquey, neighborhood)

[cgarciaquijano]

Which best to live? Which safest? Which more culturally diverse?

Thanks!

Carlos

[Puguglies]

My vote goes to Hyde Park.

UofC rocks!!

[palaceman71]

A repost from my own previous response to a question about living in Hyde Park may shed light on your decision-making process....

Originally Posted by palaceman71

Are you a party person?

If you aren't, Hyde Park is great. The museum is beautiful. There are also two golf courses that are cheap. A country club that has since been opened up to the public. Tons of beach space. Good (b.y.o.b) restaurants. An art gallery with rotating exhibits and intellectual occassions put on by the University of Chicago, which I hear is an Ivy League school with people from all over trying to get in. Tons of picnic areas, beautiful boat harbors. VISUALLY, it is the most beautiful part of all of Chicago in my opinion hands down and without the least bit of over-exaggeration.

If you are a party person, commute from some other neighborhood. (Buses and trains are cheap and easy to use.) Hyde park is on the southside and there aren't a ton of bars, restaurants nor clubs. Furthermore, much of Hyde Park is owned and operated by the University of Chicago and they keep a tight clamp on the number of liquor licenses, etc. The few bars they do have do not tend to be mixed crowds. You may be surprised to find that at some of the livelier places you may be the only one of your particular race there. Nothing wrong with that. Personally, I don't mind and have made a lot of friends cuz people are still very nice. Or you may find that some of more college type bars (there's one) are very cliquey because, well, they are smarter than us.

I boil it down to one question so that you don't feel you're missing out on the experiences that the north side offers. Which traditionally is probably what the majority of people move to Chicago for; the hustle bustle, meeting new people, etc. goes on 20 minutes or more north of that Museum. But, if you want to walk a couple blocks to the beach with a good book though, you will be in heaven in Hyde Park.