Bucktown: A Cultural Institution

Bucktown is possibly the most contemporary, laid back, artsy neighborhood in Chicago. It’s full of lofts, art galleries, funky shops and upscale boutiques, and has some great people watching. But what’s up with the name? You might think “Bucktown” would mean it’s expensive…but no, the name isn’t indicative of how much money you need to live there. The place supposedly got its name from the Polish community that lived there in the 1800s. Apparently they raised a lot of goats, the male of which is called a “buck.”

Since artists have claimed this area for decades, rent has stayed cheaper here than in lots of other Chicago neighborhoods. You can get a studio apartment for about $800, a one bedroom for near $1,000, a 2 bedroom for close to $1,500, and a 3 bedroom for around $2,100.

While you won’t find goats walking the streets of Bucktown today (though maybe we shouldn’t discount it, depending on what the crazy artists are up to), you will find a colorful, unique neighborhood with something for everyone. You can satisfy all of your personalities in this neighborhood – have Italian at the retro hipster-attracting Club Lucky; eat with the fake-it-till-you-make-it professionals at Spring; or hang out in your jeans and hoodie at any of the neighborhood bars you come across, like Cans, which tend to offer more than your run-of-the mill beers. This bar, which holds true to its name, offers all of its beer, both upscale and cheap, in cans only. For your inner health nut, Vella Café will deliciously and creatively cater to your desire for healthier and/or meat-free fare. But regardless of your herbivore or carnivore tendencies, you must, must, must have the pizza at Piece, which many argue is the best pizza in Chicago (and there’s a lot of competition).

In addition to all the art galleries to check out in Bucktown, you can hit the Gorilla Tango Theatre for cheap improv shows, or get your bowl on at the Diversey River Bowl, a.k.a “the Rock ‘n Bowl.” When the weather gets hot Bucktown has even more to offer with the Bucktown Arts Fest, which is held each year in August. This massive festival has visual, performance, and any other type of art you can imagine, and draws about 30,000 people to the area.

Public transportation is incredibly easy to find in Bucktown. The Blue Line Damen stop is located at the six-way corner of Damen, Milwaukee, and North Avenue. (This stop is shared with Wicker Park, Bucktown’s sister neighborhood.) City buses run along the major streets of Armitage, California, North, Milwaukee, and Western. The North Avenue bus will take you to the Brown/Purple Line stop at Sedgwick, the Red Line stop at North/Clybourn, and the Blue Line stop at Damen.