what are chicago's italian neighborhoods?? (Lincoln, Humboldt: price, move to, pub)

[ToriaT]

Bloomingdale

[Vespatian]

Current:
Dunning/Belmont Heights (heavily Sicilian)
Galewood
Clearing (you'd be suprised; there's Italians by Midway airport)
Edison Park
Norwood Park/Union Ridge
O'Hare/Norwood Twnshp.

Former:
Belmont-Cragin
Montclare
Roseland-Pullman
Humboldt park
Near-North side
Austin
Parts of Englewood-Hyde Park
Heart O'Chicago
Old Irving Park
western Logan Square

I want to place Grand-Milwaukee, Bridgeport and Taylor St in a separate category. Those were once large Italian neighborhoods that now have a very small Italian minority, mainly politicians and city employees of Italian descent that stayed through the demographic changes.

[scorpiogirl39]

I used to go to St. Brendan School from 1973-1977. I received my first communion and confirmation at this church. My grammar school graduation was held here. I wish I had the forethought to get a picture of this building before it was torn down in August of 1989. Englewood was almost all Black by then and there was also another catholic school close by, Sacred Heart, on 71st and May. There wasn't the crime problem in Englewood then that there is now. It's extremely frightening and very very sad.

[North Side Brandon]

In the old days I guess about 2/3 of Italians in Chicagoland lived on the West Side of the city. Their presence from Harrison Street to Roosevelt Road went from the Near West Side all to Austin. The Italian prsesence along Chicago Avenue went from Kedzie all the way to Austin and the Oak Park border. The Italian Presence was also very strong along North Avenue from Kedzie all the way to Harlem in the city then of course in Elmwood Park and Melrose Park.

[Larry Siegel]

Interesting that there are so many people here who personally remember the white, middle-class South and West sides. I was thinking this board was mostly a young person's game. I'm 60 but I was a little kid when those areas started to change.

[North Side Brandon]

Originally Posted by Larry Siegel

Interesting that there are so many people here who personally remember the white, middle-class South and West sides. I was thinking this board was mostly a young person's game. I'm 60 but I was a little kid when those areas started to change.

North Austin North of Division didn't change until 1978-1981. South of Division Austin changed from 1965-1973. West Humboldt Park South of Division changed from 1969-1972. West Garfield Park changed in between 1955-1965, North Lawndale from 1950-1960 and East Garfield Park also in between 1950-1960. My Irish Great Grandmother on Mother's side moved out of East Garfield Park in the late 50's. My Grandmother moved out of Austin in 1971 and then out of West Humboldt Park Pulaski and North Avenue in 1981.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by North Side Brandon

In the old days I guess about 2/3 of Italians in Chicagoland lived on the West Side of the city.

Which is probably why it's so hard to find a decent pizza or beef on the North Side. I gotta go out to Narragansett to find a good beef and in my 2 years in Lincoln Square have yet to find a first rate Chicago thin pizza around here. My latest strike out was Pete's on north Western. My favorite pizza around here is a New York style place run by Chinese. I can get good New York style in St. Augustine.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by prelude91

I would say it has dwindled a bit...to about/close to 0% Itlaian

I want to stress again that this is absolutely incorrect. Chicago Heights isn't like Englewood. There is still a prevalent Italian population and cultural influence.. Chicago heights is actually pretty diverse with blacks, Mexicans, ethnic whites and WASPs.

[North Side Brandon]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

Which is probably why it's so hard to find a decent pizza or beef on the North Side. I gotta go out to Narragansett to find a good beef and in my 2 years in Lincoln Square have yet to find a first rate Chicago thin pizza around here. My latest strike out was Pete's on north Western. My favorite pizza around here is a New York style place run by Chinese. I can get good New York style in St. Augustine.

Elmwood Park has the best Pizza in my view Armands and beef with Johnnies on North Avenue. Cumberland and Harlem also have some very good Piazza joints like Al's.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by North Side Brandon

Elmwood Park has the best Pizza in my view Armands and beef with Johnnies on North Avenue. Cumberland and Harlem also have some very good Piazza joints like Al's.

I used to go to Armand's and Jim and Pete's often when young but I gotta tell you, the Armand's up here on Western has possibly the worst pizza I ever had; bland and tougher than cardboard. My wife couldn't even chew it and she has a new set of choppers.

When I visit an old Elmwood Park buddy of mine who now lives in Villa Park we'll get pizza from the Armand's out there, it's pretty good. My favorite pizza was Phil's at 35th and Aberdeen but I don't get down there now. And Papa's in Bolingbrook makes an outstanding Chicago Thin, when I visit my kid out in Romeo we get from there. There's a Malnati's near me in Lincolnwood but I'm just out of their delivery area, I think Malnati's thin is very good.

Napoli's in Crescent Beach (soon my new neighborhood) south of St. Augustine on A1A is great.