Master Jay's favorite Chicago neighborhoods (Lincoln, Mark: Valentine's day, condo, house)

[Dorian22]

Haven't been here in a minute. But here are mine (From what I remember since it seems like an eternity since I've been back to the city):

1. Uptown/Buena Park/Little Saigon area. Love this area. Used to live in Buena Park next to the beautiful hidden mansions, Uptown is such a busy area and would cure my hangovers in Little Saigon off Argyle with a huge bowl of Pho and some Banh Mi's to go...

2. Wicker Park/Bucktown: Like someone had already mentioned, it's turning into a generic neighborhood but it still has many artistic and edgy spots. My favorite Gelato spot. And an overall fun crowd for the weekend to let loose from the stress of the work week! That Hipster crowd gets less annoying with the good micro brews you intake. Interesting takes on food which are always welcome!

3. Beverly: Love this place, wish it was well connected to the rest of the city but maybe this is their advantage as they kept the Irish culture untouched. It's beautiful, full of hills, great happy people, amazing pubs (Love the Death Mile on Western).

4. Hyde Park..I can't say enough of this area. It truly has that air of knowledge which had been getting attacked for a while there. The beautiful architecture transports you to the Old World and at times it feels like you're walking around Oxford or Cambridge among the academic crowds. Beautiful parks and the lakefront...what more can you ask for?

5. Pilsen/Little Village: This area has ALWAYS been an artistic hub from people coming in from Czechia to the Mexican Renaissance of the area. The Murals, Churches and Music make it such a festive part of the city and transports you to Mexico through their food from all corners of Mexico (Still haven't found anything from the Yucatan but the northern "vaquero" (cowboy) steaks are always welcomed! Mole de Mayo is always on my list of festivals.

6. West Town/Fulton Market area: Probably my latest favorite spot because of the variety and innovative culinary options as well as hangouts for people my age. Many friends live around here so it's always a good time. The Nightlife on Fulton is always fun as is that new tech crowd carving their "Little Silicon Valley" there. What a way to revitalize an almost abandoned area and it's amazing that some of the old warehouses and meat packing area is still there among Michelin Star restaurants and seedy Adult Stores from the Raegan Era!

7. Devon Avenue/The Desi Corridor/Curry Mile: Love Indian food, love walking around the smell of spices. Reminds me of when I would walk around Brick Lane in London. Finding things from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as Georgian and Ashkenazi Jewish goodies. Like Beverly...it is so hard to get to it has retained their identity.

8. Gold Coast/Old Town/Lincoln Park: I was hesitant about this one BUT it brings back great memories of when I lived in the Gold Coast and explore the whole area by walking and getting lost. From the beautiful architecture in the Gold Coast, to the skyscrapers, the debauchery of State and Division bars, the beauty of Old Town, the churches of Lincoln Park, the beautiful corridor along Armitage, the Joie de Vivre from walking through the tree lined streets and the park and beaches. It might be my most generic one, but it's a lovely one for sure.

9. Greektown/Little Italy/Maxwell Street: Why? because along with Pilsen, Little Village, Chinatown, Bronzeville, and Bridgeport you have a hub of ethnic neighborhoods you can walk to and enjoy their culinary and cultural options. I am saddened by how rough Little Italy and Greektown have been hit, especially Little Italy. I hope that the neighborhoods rise back like the Phoenix stronger than ever. Little Italy had been in bad shape, it was turning into Devon Avenue 2.0 because of the catering to the students of south asian background. But hopefully Italian-Americans and Greek-Americans look to invest in these neighborhoods again and bring them back to life, and some signage for Little Italy would be great. Remnants of the Old World in this pocket of Chicago that will hopefully once again transport us to Greece and Italia!

10. Chinatown/Bridgeport: I love to eat...it's no secret. Even though with this pandemic I probably should have exercised more? But I love the Chinese-American food (Kung Pao Chicken and Chop Suey) and the more authentic restaurants catering to Chinese businessmen and women in Chicago bringing us Chinese regional delicacies from Sezchuan and other regions. Walking around it always a delight, with the Chinese inspired architecture. And Bridgeport is just a no frills type of place. Sad some of the bars have been closing but the people still keep it real. Have my favorite spots to check out and it's becoming another hub for the creative types in the city.

Can't wait to go back and support so many of these businesses if they're still open! Fingers crossed they are! Cheers.

[Master Jay]

Dorian22. Welcome back. Thank you for sharing.

I do not need anymore convincing that I need to get to Beverly, and Hyde Park. It is on my to do list. I promise to report back to you all on city-data.com when I do!

Reading your post made me very hungry, by the way.

Your top choices were not matched with my Fab Four, but the beauty of diversity is what makes the world go 'round!

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by Master Jay

St. Paul's is a beautiful church. The day we went to mass, a man came up to us while in the pews and gave me a $20.00 bill, because he was impressed at how well the children were behaved! That is truly a great memory for me.

Looked up St. Pauls on Google. The marble Gothic high altar is impressive (and even more impressed that it wasn't removed), but there are tell-tale signs of the Vatican 2 wrecking ball with the deformed altar rail and the permanent trip hazard in front of the high altar. It looks like a post-Reformation church in Europe.

I really admire St. John Cantius and attend the 12:30 Sunday Mass when I visit Chicago. Can't believe that it was across the bridge to Cabrini-Green and Fr. Philips' vision and the timing was just right to revitalize the parish into the premier Tridentine Mass Center in the nation.

(Of course Cardinal Cupich happily goes to Pilsen, but sends Bishop Perry to St. John Cantius in his stead.)

[ChicagoMeO]

My fave neighborhood is - unfortunately gone - 1970's Old Town! was fortunate to enjoy it while it lasted, and i mean the true Bohemian Old Town of the 1970's!

My other fave current neighborhood is East Lakeview, formerly known as Boystown, now they have had to rename it to Northalsted because someone thought that "Boystown" was not inclusive of women and other people - smh! but it was my fave place to go dancing and enjoy the people, and there will never be another place like it was when i enjoyed it.. but now like old Old Town, it is going thru changes like condos, the old bars have moved out, and so its not the same.

My other fave is - anywhere i can sightsee some of the old buildings because i feel like im seeing history - i.e. Taylor Street where all the restaurants are, (look down the side streets over there); Pullman where you can see actual history with the row houses that were built in the 1800's or early 1900's, south/west Loop where immigrants first lived there (i think it was the 1st Chinese immigrants); and a few streets like Altavista in Buena Park, and Astor Street in the Gold Coast, wow!!! walk down that street and you will see absolutely stunning homes!!

[japster28]

Dorian22, you and I share many favorites.

Thank you for mentioning Buena Park's homes. People tend to overlook these lovely Craftsman and Prairie style mansions. They truly are hidden gems.

Wicker Park is going through the next phase of gentrification. So many of the types that made it cool are leaving. It is sad to see but I am happy that it continues to retain much of that appeal in its businesses and overall atmosphere.

[Master Jay]

KerrTown, one day when St. Paul's was hosting it's festival a couple of years ago, they gave us a tour of the inside and outside. Beautiful church. Beautiful history. I took our colleague, jfre81 (the photographer) on my Chicago tour (yes, I know I am NOT a Chicagoan but I've been down there enough!) I believe he posted some picture on her that he took of the church!!

St. John Cantius, unfortunately, I have never paid much attention to when driving around the city. Chicago is blessed to have many beautiful churches and synagogues with beautiful architecture!

Thank you, KerrTown, for sharing.

[Master Jay]

ChicagoMeO, no time to get TOO political. But I thought calling that section Boystown was supposed to celebrate the strength and pride that gay men were finally able to be open about, making Chicago on the map for having one of the first gay community areas. And there were obviously women around back then!

Well maybe people from the south side of Chicago will be offended and excluded by the name NORTHalsted?!?! I don't get very political as you have probably gathered. But it seems petty to me... Moving on...

You mentioned Taylor Street and Buena Park, areas on both NORTH and SOUTH that are indeed nice to spend some time walking through.

Pullman needs to go on my list when I take my far south journey!

[Master Jay]

japster28, good morning.

You never mentioned if, like ChicagoMeO, you had great dancing experiences in the East Lakeview area!

For what it's worth, I am a heterosexual male and believe in inclusion. I have been to Boystown numerous times and support the pride parade. I have had nice meals and drinks in that area. It is very clean and very safe.

[Dorian22]

Originally Posted by japster28

Dorian22, you and I share many favorites.

Thank you for mentioning Buena Park's homes. People tend to overlook these lovely Craftsman and Prairie style mansions. They truly are hidden gems.

Wicker Park is going through the next phase of gentrification. So many of the types that made it cool are leaving. It is sad to see but I am happy that it continues to retain much of that appeal in its businesses and overall atmosphere.

I remember when I moved to the area I was not expecting it to be this beautiful hidden gem. I liked it because it was close to the craziness of Wrigley and Boystown but secluded enough to be able to sleep at night haha. But those mansions and Altavista are some great parts to just walk around as well as in Uptown around the roundabouts and hitting random Buddhist temples.

It is sad to see that Wicker Park is changing, which worries me with Pilsen. Even though it seems the trend has been that many of these younger and artistic types are heading further north towards Logan Square and Avondale. I also know many are heading towards Jefferson Park around the Polish area. But Wicker Park will always have those beautiful buildings and I hope some remnants of the old artistic part...and places like Evil Olive or what was it called? Where they had Porn and Chicken Mondays? haha

[Dorian22]

Originally Posted by Master Jay

Dorian22. Welcome back. Thank you for sharing.

I do not need anymore convincing that I need to get to Beverly, and Hyde Park. It is on my to do list. I promise to report back to you all on city-data.com when I do!

Reading your post made me very hungry, by the way.

Your top choices were not matched with my Fab Four, but the beauty of diversity is what makes the world go 'round!

Thanks! That's why I love Chicago and it's a worldly city, this beautiful diversity which comes with so much food haha I hope I can start jogging soon but this weather is just the excuse not to!