Seeking Suburb with Short Commute and Nightlife (Chicago, Cicero: fit in, apartment)

[hawkeye918]

Hello, my boyfriend and I are seeking suggestions for suburbs with short commutes into the loop. Ideally we want a total commute time of 40 minutes or less.

Our budget for an apartment would be $1,000 a month for a one bedroom (Including utilities)
We would also like an area with somesort of nightlife as we're in our twenties. Also we both have cars, so having available parking is important.

We've currently have looked into Oak Park and are wondering if there are other options since we've heard parking can be difficult.

Thanks!

[JTW2013]

Are you planning to drive to the Loop or take the Metra?

[ToriaT]

Evanston or Oak Park. Night life, depends on your definition of what that is. No it will not be like Chicago with trendy bars and the urban vibe but it still might be okay. Also Berwyn and Forest Park are close in. Berwyn has a strip along Roosevelt Road that borders Oak Park with places like Fitzgeralds and Wire as well as some bars, such as the Friendly Tap, Side Car and Oak Park has Kinderhook, there are a bunch of other bars/restaurants in Forest Park too. There is also an Irish Pub in Berwyn as well somewhere. So yes there are things to do, I suggest you go visit these places sometime and see if this is what you mean by nightlife and whether you think you would fit in there. There are plenty of young people there. I went to Freddy's in cicero with my son and there was a table full of twenty something hipster types eating at the next table. Also visit the Buzz Café in south Oak Park's Art District. Plenty of young people drop in there for coffee you would think you were in the Wicker Park of old as you sit there sipping your brew. Surprise!!! You are in Oak park.

P.S. You can park on the street overnight in Berwyn with a Berwyn vehicle sticker. They actually plow the side streets and alleys there. You will be able to
find a place to rent at your price point. They have some beautiful older building there.

Here is a link to Hotpads. There is a nice one in Riverside not exactly a hotbed of night life but close enough to other places in the area.
http://hotpads.com/rentals/56-Forest...hotoGallery=14

[allsunny]

Nightlife means different things to different people once you get some ideas for neighborhoods go to yelp to judge nightlife for yourself. You can use general words to search as "nightlife Berwyn" oak park or "bars" "lounge" . Best part about it is most places have pictures to give you better idea if its has the vibe you looking for.

[hawkeye918]

We would like to use public transit to get into the city. Also for nightlife we're mainly just looking for things to do in general. A few bars/restaurants, a movie theater, and some shopping would be good!


Thank you for all the suggestions so far!

[ToriaT]

The Metra runs through Oak Park as well as Berwyn. The blue line goes to Forest Park, the green line to Oak Park and you can get on a Cermak rd bus and go east to the Pink Line in Cicero which will take you to points east. There is great shopping, there are movie theatres and bars in this area. One thing I have grown to like about the near western suburbs of Berwyn, Oak Park, Riverside and Forest Park is how close they are to each other. Its no big deal to pop over from one to another to go out to eat or to shop. Trader Joes and Whole foods in Oak Park, some cool boutiques in Forest Park, Costco and Tony's in Berwyn. Its very convenient. Since my son has moved to Berwyn, we've gone to eat in Cicero, Riverside, Lyons, Oak Park, Forest Park as well as Berwyn. We checked out a few thrift or consignment shops in Oak Park and a few little boutiques in Forest Park.

[mr roboto]

Evanston though I don't know about 1,000/month.

[4122]

Evanston is very expensive. You probably won't get anything in a nice area for $1,000 a month.