Moving to chicago with my gf (Aurora, Evanston: apartment, crime, how much)

[amer7]

Hi! i'm trying to research where it's best to move to Chicago for lesbians.

I am moving from CA, from a pretty suburban neighborhood and my gf just moved to Aurora IL a month ago. We are planning to move in together, probably this summer. Any advice on safe locations? is there a specific community where there are a lot of LGBT's?

thank you in advance for those who are gonna reply and help! i appreciate it!

[jwaiter]

You'll love Andersonville...

Edgewater, Chicago - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[chet everett]

I recommend that you find an apartment close to where you work.

Some folks say Andersonville is the most lesbian friendly neighborhood, there are bars that cater to homosexual women in a whole host of places such as Lakeview, Irving Park, Bucktown, and Streeterville. All those areas are relatively lower crime than the more notorious parts of the city.

If you want something more suburban parts of Evanston or Oak Park might work well, though honestly homosexual couples barely get a raised eyebrows in any 'burb compared to the rougher parts of Chicago. Well educated affluent family types seem to care a whole lot less about such things that the more openly macho urban crowd...

[chirack]

Yeah I would agree with Chet about finding an apartment close to where you work(or go to school). You can set up a nasty commute within the city itsef if you live on the far north side and work on the southside and travel durring rush hour. Even worse if one needs to be in the burbs to work.

If one of you works downtown(the loop) then you want to be near public transit to the loop. Part of lakeview the area around halsted street, contains "Boy's Town" and Andersonvile has lots of lesbians(and some gays).

[Gunner0325]

Check out Edgewater too...it's just North of Andersonville and is a little bit more affordable. Stay closer to Clark St. if you can and I wouldn't go too much farther North then Devon. Edgewater is very gay friendly and an awesome neighborhood and you have all the Clark St. restaurants and bars to walk to.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by amer7

Hi! i'm trying to research where it's best to move to Chicago for lesbians.

I am moving from CA, from a pretty suburban neighborhood and my gf just moved to Aurora IL a month ago. We are planning to move in together, probably this summer. Any advice on safe locations? is there a specific community where there are a lot of LGBT's?

thank you in advance for those who are gonna reply and help! i appreciate it!

Is there a reason she's in Aurora now? That's a long commute from any north side Chicago neighborhood.

[s0nginmyheart]

How old are you girls? I ask because it seems like gays/lesbians prefer their gayborhoods in this order:

20's Lakeview
30's Andersonville
40's Roger's Park

[oakparkV]

If your girlfriend works in Aurora, she'll be facing a hellish commute from just about anywhere in the city (especially the GLBT-friendly areas on the northside).

I'll throw in another recommendation for Oak Park. This is a very GLBT-friendly neighborhood. My neighbors are a lesbian couple. They're in their 50s and have been partners for 20+ years. They love the community, and they're active OPALGA, the Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Alliance.

Depending on your age and how much you like to go out, Oak Park can be a little "sedate," but we're so close to the city, you can get downtown in 20 minutes via the El. Plus, if your GF is working in Aurora, the commute won't be quite as awful as living in the city. (Not saying it'll be great from Oak Park, just not "as bad.")

[paytonc]

Originally Posted by chet everett

there are bars that cater to homosexual women in a whole host of places

Are there pure lesbian bars anywhere? I know of mixed places (including some, like T's, that are predominantly women) and places that are women-centric one night a week, but I thought that Stardust was the last of the actual lesbian bars. Andersonville does still have Women & Children First, the feminist bookstore, among other women-first businesses.

Originally Posted by chirack

Part of lakeview the area around halsted street, contains "Boy's Town" and Andersonvile has lots of lesbians(and some gays).

Hmm, it's been a long time since I've seen many lesbians in East Lakeview -- there's a reason why it's called "Boystown." Unlike SF, Chicago has neighborhoods with lots of gay men (mentioned above) but not many where lesbians are a substantial and visible plurality.

[amer7]

thank you all for your very informative responses! i appreciate everything. she will be moving in with me so Aurora will be out of the picture now.