Scoping out the Chicago 'hoods tomorrow, need advice! (Lincoln, Roscoe: best neighborhoods, neighborhoods)

[EastBoundandDownChick]

I am visiting here in Chicago to get a better sense of what neighborhood to move to. My cousin James suggested Wicker Park and Ukranian Village to me, which is where I'm planning on looking first. Are these good places for a single person new to the city and just starting out? They looked nice on Google Earth lol.

[Aleking]

I'm sure they'll meet the criteria you outlined (and got plenty of feedback on) here.

//www.city-data.com/forum/chica...red-artsy.html

[Odina_123]

Originally Posted by EastBoundandDownChick

I am visiting here in Chicago to get a better sense of what neighborhood to move to. My cousin James suggested Wicker Park and Ukranian Village to me, which is where I'm planning on looking first. Are these good places for a single person new to the city and just starting out? They looked nice on Google Earth lol.

Yes they are

[Vlajos]

Both should work quite nicely.

[chikid]

Originally Posted by EastBoundandDownChick

I am visiting here in Chicago to get a better sense of what neighborhood to move to. My cousin James suggested Wicker Park and Ukranian Village to me, which is where I'm planning on looking first. Are these good places for a single person new to the city and just starting out? They looked nice on Google Earth lol.

Yes, I think Wicker Park, Bucktown and Ukrainian Village are probably the best neighborhoods (imo I think they are more interesting and have more character than places like Roscoe Village, Lake View, Lincoln Park, etc). They got a great mix of bars, restaurants, people, architecture and feels very urban. I suggest if you want to get an awesome vibe go to the six corner intersection North Ave, Damen Ave, and Milwaukee Ave. Easily one of the most vibrant and coolest areas in the city. Those neighborhoods are gritty while at the same time being very clean. You just gotta check it out, very cool vibe in that area. The restaurant scene is great. The nightlife is great. It never gets too crazy in terms of nightlife like it does in Lakeview or Viagra Triangle, but it's a close third and has bars/clubs that should fill anybody's needs.

In those hoods you have yuppies, hipsters, ethnic minorities, so there is a decent balance. It's not overly hipster but it's also not overly yuppie either.

[Attrill]

Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village are both worth checking out. Be sure to walk the areas along Damen and Chicago Ave. to get a general feel for the area, and check out the strips along Division St (West of Ashland) and Milwaukee/North areas. Since you've mentioned that you want "artsy" you may want to check out Happy Village (great beer garden), Rainbo, Handlebar, Club Foot, The Darkroom, and the Innertown.

I'd also check out the areas North of there - around the Western, California, and Logan Square Blue line stops (basically Logan Square and parts of Bucktown). Go to Revolution Brewing, Lula's, The Whistler, or Cole's while you're around there. Logan Square Farmer's Market is on Sunday Mornings and would be worth visiting as well. Also, there are a couple large thrift stores on Milwaukee Ave. between the California and Western stops that you might be interested in too.

If you're going to be taking the Blue Line at rush hour it helps to be a little north of Wicker Park. The trains start getting full around Western, and after that stop it isn't unusual to have to wait for a few trains to go by before there's one that has room.