Chicago's Lincoln Park Neighborhood

Welcome 

Lincoln Park, located directly adjacent to Chicago’s picturesque lakefront and just two miles north of downtown, is the quintessential Chicago neighborhood. The Lincoln Park neighborhood comprises the area north of North Avenue, south of Diversey Parkway, west of Lake Michigan and east of the Kennedy Expressway. With its exceptional shopping, rich mix of restaurants, world-class theaters and entertainment, renowned cultural institutions and, of course, lakefront park and activities, we know you’ll agree that Lincoln Park offers an authentic and unparalleled Chicago experience. 

In addition to our endless entertainment options, Lincoln Park is home to Children’s Memorial Hospital and DePaul University as well as top Chicago schools including Francis W. Parker and Lincoln Park High School. 

Getting Around 

Whether you’re using public transportation, driving or walking, Lincoln Park is an easy neighborhood to navigate.  

• Download or request a complimentary copy of the LPCC’s Lincoln Park Neighborhood Map 

• Learn more about the Chicago Transit Authority 

Cultural Institutions 

Some of Chicago’s most notable cultural institutions are located in Lincoln Park. Every year, millions of visitors come to Lincoln Park Zoo and the adjacent Lincoln Park Conservatory. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum houses the region’s only year-round butterfly haven where, on any given day, visitors will see at least 75 different species of butterflies. The Chicago History Museum cares for, showcases and interprets millions of authentic pieces of Chicago and U.S. history. 

Lincoln Park boasts an active theater and entertainment community with Steppenwolf Theatre, Second City and Victory Garden Biograph Theatre where John Dillinger was shot among many. 

Fantastic shopping opportunities await at boutiques along Armitage near Halsted or up Clybourn to Jayson Home & Garden. 100's of walkable restaurants include world class Charlie Trotter's and friendly neighborhood haunts including Four Farthings Bar & Grill. 

Parks and Outdoor Recreation 

Lincoln Park and the lakefront offer exceptional outdoor experiences. Run, bike or walk the lakefront path and enjoy beautiful city views. If a game of volleyball or softball is more your style, a number of recreational sports organizations await your participation.  

In addition to Lincoln Park, you’ll find a number of smaller parks throughout the neighborhood. Don’t miss Oz Park, where statues of the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy and Toto are waiting to welcome you to the "Emerald Garden" and "Dorothy's Playlot."
From May through October, the Lincoln Park Farmers Market and Chicago’s Green City Market offer the freshest seasonal produce around.
 

Chicago's Lakeview Neighborhood

Location & Area 

North Boundary: 4000 N Irving Park
South Boundary: 2800 N Diversey
East Boundary: ~200 W (follows Lake Michigan)
West Boundary: ~2400 W (follows the Chicago River)
Primary Zip Code: 60657  

Lakeview is one of the city's most livable and walk able areas. It is home to many smaller neighborhoods, including Lakeshore East, West Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Graceland West, Southeast Ravenswood, Belmont Harbor and Wrigleyville, home of the Chicago Cubs. Lakeview neighborhood residents enjoy the charm and beauty of tree-lined streets and parks, Sydney R Marovitz Golf Course and Lake Michigan, just minutes from the bustle of downtown Chicago, a short commute on Lake Shore Drive.  

Current Trends and Facts of Lakeview Chicago 

Lakeview is found on Lake Michigan's shoreline, giving Lakeview neighborhood residents many opportunities for boating, jogging, volleyball, golfing, skating, biking, fishing and more. In Lakeview, you can find scores of sports bars, especially near Wrigley Field, where you might catch a few games. For cultural endeavors, you can walk to Lakeview's many restaurants, small theaters, intimate concert venues, galleries and nightclubs. Lakeview also offers some of the most diverse shopping in the city.
 

Chicago's West Loop Neighborhood

History 

The West Loop neighborhood is one of the city’s newer neighborhoods. It has only recently begun to be developed, and thus its history is short and rather straightforward. The area was first inhabited in the 1800’s by immigrants looking for employment. While these first settlers did find homes here, much of the area was a warehouse district, full of factories and businesses. When Greektown was founded in the late 1800’s, some commercial sites were brought into the area.  

In the 1920’s more people moved into the area; these new inhabitants were of diverse ethnic and religious groups. The opening of the Chicago Campus of the University of Illinois brought even more inhabitants to the area. However, despite these new inhabitants the area was still of questionable safety and was far from being a desirable place to live.  

The West Loop began to take shape just two decades ago, when a slow but steady transformation began to take place. Several warehouses were converted to loft buildings and restaurants began to open up around the area. The neighborhood’s proximity to the Loop began to be seen as a valuable characteristic and its demographic began to shift.  

Today this transformation is nearly complete. The contemporary West Loop is a trendy neighborhood, full of spacious lofts, cozy cafes and popular nightspots. It is bordered on the north by Fulton Street, on the south by Congress Parkway, on the east by Halsted Street and on the west by Racine Avenue. 

Shopping 

Shopping in the West Loop is not yet extensive; while the area is becoming increasingly popular, it is not yet a shopping destination. There is a French boutique, Ouest, which offers upscale women’s clothing, only the beginning of what will surely become a haven for retail therapy in the near future. 

Restaurants 

While shops cannot be found in abundance in this area, restaurants abound. There are establishments of every ethnicity and cuisine in the West Loop; you need only choose a genre, and there are several choices available to you. 

For some of the West Loop's best resturants try: Marche, Red Light, Sushi Wabi, Meiji, Alahambra Palace Restaurant, Ina's or Vivo 

Since the West Loop area has become one of Chicago’s trendier neighborhoods, you will find a high number of bars and clubs. Some of the popular ones include Beer Bistro, La Criolla, Chromium and the well-known Plush (see review). 

Community 

Known as the Loft District of Chicago, the West Loop is full of condominium and loft buildings that were once warehouses. This results in sunny, airy residential spaces with large windows and unique floor plans.  

Inhabitants of the area span a spectrum, but due to the public and private schools in the area, there are several young families living here. Its proximity to the Loop results in many professionals also living in the neighborhood. 

There is more to the West Loop than simply lofts, however. Home to a gallery district with dozens of art galleries, the West Loop is one of Chicago’s cultural hubs. The FLATFILEgalleries deals primarily in photographic art, and provides art to such clients as Ralph Lauren. The Fassbender Stevens Gallery is a 5,000 square foot gallery with a focus on minimalism, abstraction and installation art. Kavi Gupta presents artists in several mediums including paint, photography and drawing. Gescheidle also presents several mediums, while its genre is contemporary art. The Thomas McCormick Gallery emphasizes mid-century modernism and Abstract Expressionism, in a variety of mediums including painting and sculpture. 

Once you’ve had your fill of art galleries, check out some of the other attractions the West Loop has to offer. Hailed as an urban treasure hunt, the Chicago Antique Market runs between May and October on the last Saturday of each month. It is an immense indoor and outdoor market selling everything from furniture and housewares to clothing and jewelry. Also in the area are Harpo Studios, home to the world-famous Oprah Winfrey Show. Harpo is where the show is taped and where Oprah’s offices are situated.  

The Museum of Holography is a virtually unknown gem that is often forgotten in the shadow of the city’s giant museums. The Museum features an exhibit area as well as a school, and is dedicated to the “advancement of holography as an art form.” Finish off your day at The Tasting Room, a wine bar that leaves pretension at the door and caters to those who want to taste fine wines without having to know everything about them. You can try over 100 wines by the glass or in a less expensive tasting portion. Order appetizers that complement your wine and enjoy the sumptuous surroundings. 

The West Loop has changed drastically since its beginnings as an industrial area. Now home to some of the city’s most sought-after residences, locals know that their neighborhood is, in many ways, the place to be. Visitors, drawn by the wide variety of attractions and events the neighborhood has to offer, are quickly persuaded of the same.
 

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