Chicago Advice - Uptown/Edgewater (Leland: apartment, lease, violent crime)

[rocknroll]

Yet another moving to Chicago thread...

I just signed a lease for an apartment in Uptown (off the Argyle stop on the red line). I am getting an incredible deal on a one bedroom and think that the neighborhood looks good (excellent mix of people (not totally white college scene of wrigleyville, safe to walk around alone in, near public transportation, etc.). I am a 26 year old who will be living alone and making decent money but wanting to save to pay off graduate school loans.

I am curious to hear from other people who might really know the area. I don't know about restaurants or bars I should check out in the area. What is parking like around there (I'm told there's tons of street parking). I want to hear people's thoughts on the area - good and bad (although hopefully more good than bad since I already signed the lease!).

Thanks in advance.

[rocknroll]

No one has anything to say about this area?

[Drover]

Well, that's the "Little Saigon" part of town. It's a bit rough on the edges, a little more so than your average North Side neighborhood, but it's not like you're going to hear gunshots at night. You'll see the occasional drug dealer and thug-wannabes, nothing terribly serious. There are an unusually high number of robberies in the immediate area. So far this year there have been 8 robberies within a two-block radius of Argyle and Broadway; four of them with weapons, two of those handguns. No murders anywhere near there within the last year and a half. As for restaurants.... well, you'll have your pick of Vietnamese restaurants there, for sure. A fair dose of Chinese too, since many of the immigrants from Vietnam in that particular neighrohood are actually ethnically Chinese. A particular favorite in the area would require a bit of a walk from Argyle, or just hop on the Red Line and take it to the Bryn Mawr stop: a French-Vietnamese fusion place on Broadway just south of Bryn Mawr called Pasteur. Absolutely outstanding (and pricey!) food.

EDIT: Aw crap, Pasteur just closed a month ago. Dammit. I guess the same folks just opened up Viet Bistro a little further north, on Devon, one block west of Broadway.

[k3200n]

I used to live over there, by the corner of Winona/Broadway. It's a great little neighborhood, within walking distance to some of the best bars, restaruants and concert venues in the city. For music, you have the Aragon Ballroom and the Riviera, which draw some of the biggest names in music. There's also the Green Mill, an historic and classy jazz joint (Al Capone used to have his own booth here). Walk a few blocks west and you're in Andersonville, and just about anything you want in terms of cuisine, you can get. There's also a lot of fun local pubs. My favorite has always been Hopleaf, although it has gotten a little too crowded for me over the past couple of years. It has a very European feel, with wooden tables and booths filling the whole room...everyone sits practically on top of each other, but it has a very neighborly, old world feel. And as far as imported Belgian beer...well, you'll just have to check out the 6-foot wall mounted beer menu to fully grasp the scale.

You're moving to a great neighboorhood...enjoy!

[AngelEyes35]

Back in the 80s i got the nick name Angel I grew up in uptown for all of the 80s and into the 90s as a young teen i loved it there it was not that bad of a place to be raised there was alot of crime at first but there were alot of good people that lived there as well some of my best friends were there it has changed alot but for the people that grew up there well we will never for get the old uptown so if anyone reads this and remembers a tall girl the only one from uptown arouund the malden,Leland area and around that area that they all called Angel feel free to send me an email at [mod cut] would love to hear from ya

[jdiddy]

Embrace the power of the period, Angel.

I wouldn't say that area is dangerous, but you have to keep your guard up a bit. There's more than a few crackhead/drunks/lowlifes hanging out around that Argyle strip at all hours of the day.

[urbansagacity]

I work in Uptown and have friends who live there. Yes, it can seem sketchy at 1st, but it really is not. I walk and bike around all times of the day and evening and have pretty much have always felt safe. It actually reminds me a lot of nyc

[Lookout Kid]

It's a little bit dangerous at night in most of Uptown, but I assume you've visited the area--and it looks worse than it actually is. Just keep your eyes open and keep your street smarts about you. Most of the people in Uptown who give it a bad reputation are harmless, but there are also some gangs and "gooning" incidents. And if you're a woman, be really careful.

Most of the crime in Uptown is the quality of life stuff that can really drive you crazy (public drinking/urination, property damage, etc.). But there is definitely more violent crime in parts of Uptown than in a typcial North Side neighborhood--particularly robberies and "goonings".

[Lookout Kid]

Aw crap, got sucked into an ancient post again. Look at the date of the OP... Ugh!